The First Warmth

Ron heard the youth's voice and instinctively raised his head to look.

This was... Naruto?

He and Jiraiya both came from the world of "Naruto". He was the future Seventh Hokage, Jiraiya's disciple, the reincarnation of Ashura's Chakra, and the Child of Prophecy.

Because he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and an orphan, he had been shunned by the villagers since childhood.

At this moment, he was on a cultivation journey with Jiraiya.

Ron smiled and replied, "Yes, it was the tavern that sent the invitation to you."

"My name is Ron, and I am the owner of this tavern."

"Welcome to my tavern."

"Hello, Uncle, my name is Naruto!" Naruto saw that Ron had no malicious intent, and his suspended heart finally settled down.

Then, he walked over to the bar and sat down, intentionally choosing a seat far away from the father-and-son duo of Shendu and Heixiaohu.

There was no other reason than the natural fear a child would have upon seeing a demon and a tiger.

This deeply hurt the feelings of Shendu and Heixiaohu...

"Would you like something to drink?" Ron asked softly.

Naruto shook his head vigorously, "I'm not of age to drink yet."

Naruto was only a teenager now. Just the smell of alcohol in the tavern made him slightly tipsy, let alone drinking.

"Then..."

"Could you give me a bowl of noodles, Uncle?"

"I didn't eat very full tonight."

Naruto scratched his head, asking with a red face.

"Sure." Ron nodded, turned toward the kitchen, and said:

"Rem, cook a bowl of noodles."

"Yes, Master." A sweet and lovely voice came from the kitchen.

Before long, a delicious aroma of food wafted out of the kitchen, blending with the smell of alcohol, making one's mouth water.

Quickly, Rem brought a bowl of noodles from the kitchen and placed it in front of Naruto:

"Here are your noodles, please enjoy."

"Thank you, big sister!"

Naruto flashed a bright smile, then immediately began to eat the noodles like a whirlwind.

Perhaps because he was hungry, a bowl of noodles was devoured in the blink of an eye.

"So satisfying..." Naruto leaned back in his chair, letting out a comfortable groan.

"Cultivation is very hard, isn't it?" Ron asked softly.

"It's alright. The Pervy Sage isn't very strict, and the things he teaches are very interesting."

Naruto smiled, but a trace of sadness involuntarily flashed in his eyes:

"But..."

"No matter how hard it is, I must persevere."

"Not only do I have to catch up to that guy's speed, but I also have to bring him back to Konoha!"

Ron smiled and asked, "Are you talking about Sasuke?"

According to the timeline, Naruto was currently following Jiraiya to cultivate, while Sasuke had left Konoha to cultivate under Orochimaru.

After two and a half years of cultivation, the two would meet again.

At this moment, hearing the name that couldn't be more familiar, Naruto's eyes immediately lit up:

"Boss, do you know him too?"

Ron did not hide it and said softly, "We can be considered acquainted."

Naruto crossed his arms and pouted, "Sasuke, that guy is really too..."

The word "annoying" was not spoken in the end, as he lowered his head slightly.

Ron smiled and comforted, "Don't be sad, you will bring Sasuke back to Konoha."

"Can you tell me a bit about him?"

Hearing this, Naruto raised his head, a smile appearing on his face again as he nodded repeatedly:

"Of course!"

"Back then at the Ninja Academy, whenever school ended, other children were picked up by their parents, leaving only Sasuke and me to share the loneliness."

"At that time, we weren't friends yet."

"But... knowing that there was someone just like me beside me made me no longer feel lonely."

"That was the first bond I, someone who had lost everything, established!"

Afterward, Naruto told many stories.

For example, during the battle with Haku back then, Naruto was unconscious. At the critical moment, it was Sasuke who blocked those fatal needles for Naruto.

He didn't even care about his own life, or about avenging his clan!

That was completely an instinctive action...

For example, during the bell test, Naruto was tied to a wooden post. Sakura had failed to feed Naruto, but Sasuke still handed his food to Naruto without hesitation.

For example...

...

Naruto's memory box seemed to be opened. He kept talking about the past, and every sentence mentioned Sasuke.

Perhaps... it was because Sasuke had brought Naruto his first warmth.

Everything he gave, just like Hinata, was without calculation. He had no purpose toward Naruto. Whether he was a demon fox or a hero of Konoha, he treated Naruto as a friend.

Quickly, the story came to an end. It was when Sasuke left Konoha, and Naruto set out on the cultivation path with Jiraiya.

Naruto took a sip of water, his face determined as he said:

"No matter what, I must bring Sasuke back to Konoha!"

Ron smiled and said, "Keep it up, you will succeed."

He said so, but Naruto had to chase Sasuke for 700 episodes!

At this moment, the system's notification sounded in Ron's mind:

[Ding! Customer: Uzumaki Naruto completed sharing his heart.]
[Ding! Customer: Wang Zhi, Kaidou completed sharing their hearts.]
[Customer Wang Zhi: Armament Haki, Observation Haki, Conqueror's Haki... Host can choose one ability.]
[Customer Kaidou: Conqueror's Haki, Observation Haki...]
[Customer Uzumaki Naruto: Rasengan, Harem Technique, Sexy Technique, Sexy: Reverse Harem Technique, One Thousand Years of Death... Host can choose one ability.]

Ron said softly, "Then let's try 'swirling the sphere'."

"Choose Rasengan."

As for Kaidou and Wang Zhi, Ron chose Conqueror's Haki for both.

...

Time passed, dusk fell, and the setting sun shone on the sea, making the entire surface sparkle like scales.

Afterward... Naruto chatted a lot with Ron.

Because he had to go to the red-light district to pick up the drunk Jiraiya, Naruto was a bit reluctant as he slowly stood up:

"Boss, talking to you was very fun. I'll come again when I have time."

"Mhm... the noodles were also very delicious!"

Saying that, Naruto intended to pay but found his wallet was gone. It must have been stolen by Jiraiya again to find "Bodhisattvas" in the red-light district!

Ron smiled and said, "It's fine this time. Welcome to come again next time."

Normally, Ron would definitely keep Naruto to wash dishes. But... Jiraiya's book wasn't read for free either.

"Next time I'll pay double." Naruto scratched his head embarrassedly, then ran out of the tavern.

...

During the following period, the tavern did not welcome any new customers. Regulars like Shendu and his son, Morgana, and Kayle also left one after another.

After eating dinner, just as Ron was about to close the door and end the day's business, the tavern's doorbell suddenly rang.

*Ding...*

The main door was pushed open a crack, and a pair of short legs stepped in.