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"Looks like he inherited your gentle nature…"
Ikkaku muttered softly as he watched the next scene unfold.
In this scene, Ikkaku could clearly see everything — Iruka was telling Naruto that he couldn't go home until he cleaned all the paint off the Hokage Rock faces.
But Naruto's reply, "So? It's not like there's anyone waiting at home for me," caused Iruka's expression to shift from anger to pity, and beyond that… to sadness.
"He feels sorry for Naruto… It turns out the boy's an orphan who lives alone."
Kohari placed a hand over her mouth to keep herself from crying.
"What a kind kid…"
Ikkaku smiled as he saw the next page, where Iruka suggested taking Naruto for a bowl of ramen after he finished cleaning.
"Pfft~ Haha! Look at his shy face… he looks just like you when I praise you, dear!"
Kohari giggled softly as Iruka's cheeks turned red at the sight of Naruto's bright, happy expression.
"I see… he does resemble you more than me."
Ikkaku smiled; he was truly enjoying this story.
Although he didn't yet understand how this was possible, something inside him screamed it clearly— Teacher Iruka, that academy instructor, was his son…
Yes, it sounded strange, but he and his wife both shared this same feeling.
Who would have thought this manga could predict the future?
Even though the Art Store stated it plainly, no one truly believed they could glimpse the future within its walls while simply relaxing.
Everyone thought it was just a marketing lie.
But the Umino couple felt that the store's slogan — "Come relax and discover the future while you're at it" — might not be a marketing lie at all.
It might actually be the truth.
And that feeling grew stronger with every page they turned.
This wasn't happening just to the Umino couple, but also to the Third Hokage…
And recently, two teenage boys had started to feel the same way.
…
"Hahaha! Naruto is so funny!"
"What an amazing jutsu! I almost lost myself in that sexy beauty…! I totally sympathize with Teacher Iruka!"
"Hahaha! Such a troublemaker! But adorable… I love Naruto-kun!"
"Sigh~ No one's waiting for him at home? Looks like he's an orphan…"
"Teacher Iruka is so kind… he feels bad for Naruto."
Not even half an hour had passed, and many people already found themselves completely hooked on what was called manga.
At this stage, most didn't think the story had anything to do with the future or anything of the sort — they believed it was simply entertaining fiction, authored by Rob, the store owner.
While most had already moved on to later chapters, some perverts were still stuck on the very first page — specifically, the scene with Naruto's "sexy jutsu."
That "creation" alone surpassed all the adult magazines they followed!
A brand-new door of entertainment had just opened for these pathetic individuals.
…
Kushina placed the manga volume on the table and began reading the first chapter with full focus.
Silence… and then more silence.
So quiet that only the sound of her calm breathing could be heard.
Yet Rob could feel the storm of emotions inside the little girl.
It wasn't just her — Minato beside her looked even more stunned…
As if detached from reality while reading the manga.
At that moment, both Kushina and Minato felt as though they had traveled into the future — standing among a crowd of ninjas beside the elderly Hokage, who was yelling at Naruto for painting over the Hokage's faces.
Then the events sped forward to the academy scene, where Teacher Iruka scolded Naruto harshly.
Since Naruto didn't seem affected by the scolding, Iruka decided to conduct a surprise test…
Kushina covered her eyes and blushed when she saw Naruto transform into a seductive girl.
Minato's cheeks reddened too; he quickly turned his head and pinched his nose tightly.
He even pinched himself to feel pain — just to stop his "little brother" from rising.
(N/B: Yes, a 12-year-old boy can easily get aroused. Fight me if you think I'm wrong.)
In the next scene, both Kushina and Minato found themselves sitting atop the Hokage Rock.
Minato's eyes narrowed suspiciously at one familiar face carved in stone — he was standing right on the Fourth Hokage's head, which Naruto was cleaning.
Meanwhile, Kushina watched Iruka telling Naruto he could only leave once everything was spotless.
For some reason, her heart ached when Naruto said there wasn't anyone waiting for him at home…
Without realizing it, two tears slipped down her cheeks.
"Huh? Tears…?"
The 12-year-old girl wiped her eyes and was startled when she felt the wetness on her fingers…
She didn't understand why she was crying.
Minato felt the same sadness.
"Why do I see myself in this kid called Naruto…?"
Being so young, Minato couldn't yet understand why he felt such a connection to a boy his own age from within the manga's pages.
As they turned more pages, the duo was transported again — this time, to a well-known ramen shop in the village: Ramen Ichiraku.
It was clearly depicted in the manga page — Iruka taking Naruto to Ramen Ichiraku.
The name was written boldly on the shop front.
Not only that — the shop itself looked almost unchanged.
Even though nearly ten years had passed since it first opened in the present time, it still retained the same traditional charm, even far into the manga's future.
Minato wiped away drool as he watched Naruto devour ramen with enthusiasm…
The scene made him hungry, too.
He wanted to eat at Ramen Ichiraku as well — he loved it so much.
…
Kushina and Minato weren't the only ones wandering the streets of Konoha through the manga's story — the Third Hokage felt the same connection.
"Heh~ So you're saying you'll surpass all the previous Hokage? What ambition! Hahaha! Seems like the protagonist of this fictional story has a fiery spirit… how wonderful to see such a seed in Konoha."
"He reminds me a lot of Minato."
When the Third Hokage looked at his student, the illusion shattered for a moment, and reality returned.
But it could easily be regained by simply refocusing on the chapter.
Who could have imagined that his student would one day father such a mischievous boy named Naruto?
'But why does he bear the Uzumaki name? Don't tell me…?'
The Third Hokage turned his gaze toward Kushina, sitting beside Minato.
Kushina was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki — a precious asset of the village.
Her connection with his talented student, who might very well become the Fourth Hokage someday, was something he himself would gladly see happen.
But all that was still mere speculation — both his student and Kushina were too young for such matters.
The Hokage shook his head, driving away those thoughts, and continued reading the manga with growing curiosity.
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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):
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Chapter 13: Naruto Fails the Exam.
Chapter 14: Literacy. Ambitious Danzo.
Chapter 15: The Kyūbi Appears!
Chapter 16: The First Villain: Mizuki.
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BlackStar_BH:
The chapters currently available on Patreon are up to Chapter 17.
I will be uploading more over the coming days, heavily, starting today—up to 50 advanced chapters.
But I won't neglect updating here either, and I'll also be updating frequently.
For now, you can read all the advanced chapters for only $5 in the Silver Tier, and also on Ko-fi.