For the second day of his training, Minato taught Haruto how to throw shuriken and kunai, taijutsu and basic jutsus like the transformation and clone technique. All of which Haruto mastered easily, proving himself once again a prodigy. Despite seeing Haruto quickly mastering everything he was being taught. Menma still arrogantly believed he would be no match for her in their upcoming spar.
The following day Naruko and Haruto decided to go for lunch at Ichiraku Ramen, taking a break from their training. They didn't notice as they left the house Minato's eyes narrow in displeasure over the fact Naruko was so close to Haruto when it should be Menma. Walking down the street towards Ichiraku Ramen, Naruko and Haruto were talking and having a laugh when they were interrupted by a voice.
"It's good to see you gain Lord le Fey," turning around Haruto saw Kurenai Yuhi standing behind him smiling pleasantly at him.
"Hello Yuhi-san it's a pleasure to see you again, how are you today?" Haruto asked formally.
"I'm fine today thank you, I was wondering if you would like to join a friend and me for lunch, she's very interested in seeing you," Kurenai said. Before Haruto could ask why her friend is interested in meeting him Naruko interrupted them.
"Haruto and I already have plans for lunch, so he can't join you," Naruko said, wrapping her arm around Haruto's and getting ready to drag him away. Kurenai then looked at the girl next to Haruto and realised it was the Hokage's daughter Naruko the pariah.
Deciding it wouldn't hurt to be seen with Naruko as it was commonly known she was friends with Anko the apprentice of the traitor. Kurenai saw no harm inviting Naruko along to join them since she appears to be Haruto's friend and it would be rude to invite only one of them.
"You're more than welcome to join us if you want to, Naruko?" Kurenai asked. Naruko looked surprised to be asked and suspicious as to why, before realising she's being invited to come along because she's friends with Haruto.
"What do you think, Haruto?" Naruko asked.
Haruto, after considering for a few seconds, said, "I would be delighted to have lunch with you Yuhi-san lead the way."
"I'm glad you could join my friend and me, you won't regret it," Kurenai said with a smile leading them to a dango shop.
"Over here Kurenai." a woman said loudly waving her arm around with a stick of dango in her hand. The woman has violet hair in a short, spiky ponytail and she has brown eyes. She's wearing a mesh bodysuit and over that, she's wearing a tan overcoat.
Well, she's not certainly shy in showing off her body. Morgan commented disapprovingly.
She is a kunoichi and they are supposed to seduce people on missions, Haruto replied.
Even if that's true, there's no reason to wear those clothes when not on a mission, she must like the attention she receives that harlot, Morgan said distastefully.
"Anko I see you've already ordered," Kurenai said exasperatedly.
"I wasn't going to wait around for you, not when I could be having my dango," Anko said, waving her hand dismissively. Kurenai just sighed already having heard this a million times before.
"Anyway, introductions are in order Lord le Fey Naruko this is Anko Mitarashi, Anko these are Naruko Namikaze and Lord Haruto le Fey," Kurenai said. The other customers watching the interaction looked surprised when Kurenai introduced Haruto as a Lord.
Once Kurenai introduced Haruto as a Lord, Anko looked him up and down, studying him. Haruto refused to show any discomfort he was feeling from Anko studying him. Not wanting to show any weakness.
"Are you sure you're a Lord? You sure don't act like one I've ever met," Anko said once her studying of him was done.
"Yes I'm a Lord, and I guess I'm just different to most Lords you've met," Haruto said, showing Anko his le Fey ring, showing her proof he's a Lord. Anko studied the ring for a few moments before nodding your head.
"Well I will be damn your an actual Lord, I thought Kurenai might have been duped by you, but you were actually telling the truth," Anko said surprised, gaining a twitch of the eye from Kurenai.
"I would not have been duped that easily, Anko," Kurenai said, annoyed at her friend for doubting her abilities.
"Anyway, sit down and order some food, they serve the best dango here in the entire village," Anko said, ignoring Kurenai's comment.
"I'll take your word for it since I've never had dango before," Haruto said, sitting down gracefully.
"WHAT how can you never have dango before, it's the food of the Gods," Anko said surprised.
"You're an idiot, ramen is the food of the Gods," Naruko said, joining in on the conversation.
"You take that back, nothing can compare to the sacredness that is dango," Anko said, annoyed.
"You're clearly insane if you believe dango is better than ramen," Naruko said sadly and condescendingly. Anko turned angry from hearing her tone.
"Ramen has clearly done nothing for your chest unlike dango has with mine," Anko said cupping her large breasts and looking at Naruko's none existing chest. Naruko leant over the table and clashed heads with Anko.
"Please those breasts are clearly implants, anyone can tell that," Naruko said, smirking.
"You take that back there all natural, shame you can't say the same," Anko said smugly, infuriating Naruko.
Haruto and Kurenai couldn't help but let out simultaneous sighs having to deal with such eccentric friends. They both shared a look of understanding in their eyes, seeing their friends acting in such a manner in public.
"Excuse me Lord le Fey, if you would like I could move you to another table, away from such filthy monsters," a voice said. Turning to his side, Haruto saw an older man in his late fifties, probably the owner.
"Could you repeat that?" Haruto asked coldly. The owner didn't seem to pick up on his cold tone and if he did he ignored it. Anko and Naruko had stopped their argument and watched the byplay in interest.
"Of course my Lord, surely someone of your stature wouldn't want to eat in the company of such disgusting monsters, I can easily move you to another table, where you can eat without being disturbed by such monsters," the owner said smiling happily.
"And who would these monsters be exactly?" Haruto asked curiously but the coldness in his voice was obvious.
"Why that freaky little demon and the traitor's apprentice of course," the owner said like it should be obvious. Naruko and Anko both flinched hearing the owner speak of them like that. Seeing Naruko flinch, Haruto's eyes suddenly turned ice cold.
"That demon as you speak of her is my friend, and the traitor's apprentice invited me for lunch, so I would prefer it if you didn't speak of them that way," Haruto said in a voice as cold as the arctic sea. The owner, hearing his voice, froze in place. As soon as he looked into Haruto's eyes and saw they held unimaginably suffering for him he started stuttering in fear.
"Since you have just insulted my friend and this lovely woman who invited me for lunch, it's only fair that as compensation that our meal is free don't you think?" Haruto asked sweetly though it was clear to everyone it wasn't a request. The owner, still scared for his life to speak, only nodded his head.
"Then leave my presence and never return, and send over a waitress to take our orders of free food," Haruto stated coldly. The owner then left as fast as his legs would carry him. Turning back to the table, Haruto saw Naruko was smiling gratefully at him, Kurenai looked surprised and appreciative of him defending her friend and Anko looked at him like he was the greatest thing to walk the Earth.
"YES free dango you're now one of my favourite people," Anko said, hugging Haruto's head against her breasts while Haruto was trying to break free.
"Hey let go of him you harlot," Naruko said annoyed and a little bit jealous.
"He got me free dango the least I could do is give him a hug," Anko said smiling smugly at Naruko recognising her jealousy.
"I think you should let him go now Anko, you've hugged him long enough," Kurenai said, used to her friend's antics.
"Fine," Anko said, pouting letting Haruto free, who moved back trying to create as much space as possible and tried glaring at Anko but the effect was ruined by his blush.
"You could have just said thank you, you know," Haruto said annoyed.
"You got me a free dango that deserved a hug," Anko replied, shrugging her shoulders.
"I think you like dango way too much," Haruto said dryly.
"It's the food of the Gods," Anko replied, smiling at him, seeing his annoyance at her. When Naruko didn't respond, Anko looked to see her looking at Haruto unsurely. Piecing together it was probably about the demon comment from before she decided to do something about it.
"I suppose you're wondering why Naruko was called a demon just then," Anko said causally to Haruto ignoring Kurenai's warning look. Naruko looked mortified hearing Anko say this.
"I'm sure it has something to do with why she receives looks of disgust and fear from the civilians, but she can tell me when she's ready, not before," Haruto said, strongly telling Anko to drop it.
"Sure no problem," Anko said smiling, seeing how much of a caring person Haruto is towards Naruko. Naruko relaxed when she realised Haruto wasn't going to inquire about why she was called a demon.
"Why did the owner call you traitor's apprentice anyway?" Haruto asked. Anko gained an annoyed look hearing this title before shrugging.
"My former Master turned traitor and fled this village after getting caught conducting horrific experiments on people. This resulted in people not trusting me and giving me looks of disgust and fear simply because I was his apprentice, despite the fact I had nothing to do with his experiments," Anko said like it was no big deal though Haruto could hear the hidden anger, disgust and sadness.
"That's a stupid reason to hate someone," Haruto said plainly. Anko blinked a few times hearing his response before saying.
"What do you mean stupid?" Anko asked.
"Exactly what I said, your former Master performed those atrocities, why should I judge you for something you're Master did and not you," Haruto said like it was obvious.
"B-but," Anko said, surprised.
"Would you have stopped your former Master, if you knew he was experimenting on people?" Haruto asked.
"Of course," Anko said passionately.
"You didn't agree with your former Master's actions and would have stopped him if you knew about them, therefore I have no reason to distrust you," Haruto said.
Anko studied Haruto for several moments to see if he was lying or not. When she saw he was telling the truth, Anko pulled him into another hug, this time one that was more appropriate and heartfelt.
"Thank you," Anko whispered gratefully to Haruto in his ear. Kurenai smiled seeing this heartfelt scene. Naruko, seeing this, wondered if Haruto would accept her for what she carried as he did with Anko. Once Anko let go of Haruto he smiled at her.
"Are you ready to order some free dango now then?" Haruto asked, hearing the words free dango Anko immediately returned to her loud brash self.
"Of course waitress, get your ass over here, we're ready to order some free dango," Anko said impatiently across the restaurant to the waitress. Haruto could only shake his head in disbelief at her actions.
After having several portions of dango everyone relaxed in their seats resting their full stomachs. Kurenai seeing that Haruto and Naruko were done with their meals decided to ask them a question that had been on her mind since she met them earlier.
"I was wondering how you two became friends by the way? You two seem very close for just having become friends," Kurenai said. Haruto and Naruko were surprised by the question, not expecting her to ask how they became friends.
"I met Haruto here at Ichiraku Ramen, and before I knew it we were friends," Naruko said happily thinking of how she made her first friend.
"Just like that it seems a bit fast," Kurenai said surprised.
"I was as equally as surprised by how fast we became friends, but I enjoyed her company and before I knew it we were talking like old time friends," Haruto said. Anko, who was bored hearing this discussion, decided to interrupt.
"Why are you two wearing training clothes, especially you little Lord?" Anko asked.
"That's because I've been training with the Lord Hokage and his family for the past few days, and don't call me little Lord," Haruto said, causing Kurenai to look surprised and for Anko to smirk at him.
"The Lord Hokage is training you?" Kurenai asked, flabbergasted.
"Just for a week, since I was interested in learning how to use chakra," Haruto replied.
"And what has the Hokage been training you in?" Anko asked.
"He's taught me the basics for everything except for genjutsu," Haruto said.
"What a coincidence, Kurenai here is a genjutsu specialist, I'm sure she could teach you a few things," Anko said.
"Really that's impressive to be recognised as a specialist in one justsu category," Haruto said amazed. Kurenai blushed slightly not used to people complimenting her on what many considered to be a useless branch of jutsu.
"Thank you for the meal, but Haruto and I need to get back to our training," Naruko said, annoyed that she couldn't hang out with her friend alone.
"I could teach you the basics of genjutsu if you want, it's the least I could do for you standing up for my friend," Kurenai replied.
"That would be great, thank you," Haruto said appreciatively.
"Before we go I need to ask the little Lord a very important question," Anko said seriously, drawing surprised looks from Kurenai and Naruko because of her tone.
"What do you need to ask me?" Haruto asked.
"Now that you've tasted both ramen and dango, which one is better?" Anko asked seriously, earning an annoyed look from Kurenai for her joking around.
Naruko leant over the table, annoyed and said, "Ramen is the best, of course, isn't that right Haruto."
"And I told you brat dango is the food of the Gods the little Lord will agree with me," Anko replied.
"ENOUGH I like both foods equally is that a good enough answer," Haruto said, annoyed to be having the same discussion again. Anko and Naruko slumped down in their seats depressed hearing Haruto's answer.
"How can he say he likes both foods equally? What's wrong with him?" Naruko asked depressed
"I know right and here I thought he was a decent person, now I found out he's weird," Anko said miserably.
"Cut out your act. I know you're only pretending, it's only food for Goddess sake, it's not that big of a deal," Haruto said exasperatedly.
"It's only food you take that back," Anko and Naruko said at the same time. While those three were arguing Kurenai could only drop her head in embarrassment seeing the looks their table was receiving and was wondering why she hangs out with such eccentric people.