Chapter 4 :A fateful encounter

Chapter 4: A Fateful Encounter

Raizen adjusted Naruto in his arms as he stepped out onto the streets of Konoha. The baby nestled comfortably against his chest, wrapped securely in a cloth sling he had fashioned from an old blanket. The morning air was crisp, carrying the distant sounds of hammering and chatter as reconstruction efforts continued.

The moment he stepped into the main street, he felt it.

The stares.

Villagers walking past cast him odd looks—some full of confusion, others of judgment. Whispers followed him, hushed but sharp.

"That boy… isn’t he too young to have a kid?"

"Why is he carrying that child?"

"Tch, he must be using the Hokage’s charity money."

Raizen kept walking, his face impassive. He expected this. Naruto wasn’t just any orphan—he was the child of the Fourth Hokage and the host of the Nine-Tails. The villagers resented him, blamed him for the destruction, and now, Raizen was carrying him through the streets like a father would.

Of course, they’d talk.

His stomach growled, snapping him from his thoughts.

Right. Food.

He had been so focused on getting his business started and caring for Naruto that he had barely eaten properly. Now, hunger gnawed at him, and skipping another meal wasn’t an option.

After some searching, he found a small food stall near the marketplace. The scent of freshly grilled meat and rice filled the air, making his stomach tighten with anticipation.

He sat at an empty table, carefully adjusting Naruto in his lap. The baby stirred slightly but remained asleep, his small fingers gripping Raizen’s sleeve.

“Oi, kid, you sure you can afford this?” the stall owner asked, eyeing him warily.

Raizen glanced up. He was used to these kinds of interactions by now. With a calm expression, he pulled out some coins from his pouch and placed them on the table.

“Yeah. I’ll take a meal set.”

The owner hesitated but eventually went to prepare his order. As Raizen waited, he could still feel the lingering glances from the other customers. He ignored them, focusing instead on Naruto’s peaceful face.

Then—

“Excuse me.”

A soft yet firm voice interrupted his thoughts.

Raizen looked up and found himself staring at a young woman with long, dark hair and striking red eyes. She looked to be in her late teens, wearing a standard Konoha flak jacket. Her expression was a mix of curiosity and concern as she studied him… or rather, the baby in his arms.

“You’re… taking care of that child?” she asked hesitantly.

Raizen met her gaze evenly. “Yeah.”

She frowned slightly, clearly trying to make sense of the situation. “You don’t look much older than me. Are you… his older brother?”

Raizen hesitated for a moment before responding. “Something like that.”

Her expression softened, but the curiosity didn’t leave her eyes. “That must be tough.”

He shrugged. “It’s manageable.”

She sat across from him without asking, resting her arms on the table. “You don’t seem like a local. I would’ve noticed someone like you before.”

“I recently got my citizenship,” he admitted, taking a sip of water.

She studied him for a moment before nodding. “I see. My name’s Kurenai Yuhi.”

“Raizen Kurogane.”

A comfortable silence settled between them as his food arrived. He balanced Naruto carefully in one arm while picking up his chopsticks with the other. Kurenai watched, her lips twitching as if she wanted to say something but was holding back.

Finally, she sighed. “Alright, I can’t just sit here and watch you struggle. Give him to me.”

Raizen blinked. “What?”

She gestured to Naruto. “You clearly need to eat, and holding a baby while eating isn’t exactly efficient. I’ll hold him for you.”

Raizen hesitated. He wasn’t used to trusting others easily, but Kurenai didn’t seem like the type to harm a child.

After a moment, he carefully passed Naruto to her.

Kurenai cradled him expertly, adjusting him in her arms like she had done this before. “You’re lucky he’s not fussy,” she remarked.

Raizen smirked. “Give it time.”

She chuckled. “Fair enough.”

As he ate, he found himself relaxing for the first time in days. Kurenai didn’t ask too many questions, nor did she judge him. Instead, she simply sat there, occasionally adjusting Naruto when he stirred.

Maybe… this village wasn’t all bad.

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