Naruto decided within fifteen minutes that Ciri was officially the coolest person alive.
Mostly because she let him hold one of her swords.
Briefly.
Very briefly.
"WOAH."
Naruto held the silver blade carefully with both hands while staring at the glowing runes etched across the metal.
Rainwater reflected off the polished steel while his blue eyes practically sparkled with excitement.
"It's so cool!"
Ciri leaned casually against the playground shelter watching him with open amusement.
"Careful," she warned lightly. "That sword's older than your village."
Naruto's jaw dropped instantly.
"No way."
"Yes way."
Drake stood nearby beneath the shelter roof with his arms crossed while rain poured steadily beyond them.
The playground around them remained empty now.
Dark.
Quiet.
Lonely.
Except for Naruto's laughter echoing softly through the storm.
And honestly?
That alone felt strangely important.
Naruto turned the sword carefully in his hands.
"How old are you guys anyway?"
Drake answered immediately.
"Rude question."
Naruto blinked.
"…You're definitely old then."
Ciri burst out laughing while Drake looked deeply offended.
"I am emotionally youthful."
"That sentence physically hurt me," Ciri replied.
Naruto laughed loudly again.
Bright.
Unrestrained.
Like he wasn't used to being allowed to simply enjoy himself.
Drake noticed every little thing now.
The way Naruto kept glancing toward them like he expected them to disappear.
The way he tried acting louder whenever silence appeared.
The way his smile dimmed briefly anytime nearby adults walked past the playground and looked at him strangely.
Too observant.
Drake hated that he understood the feeling immediately.
Naruto handed the sword back reluctantly afterward.
"So you guys are like…samurai?"
"Something like that," Ciri answered.
"We travel around killing monsters."
Naruto froze instantly.
"…THAT'S SO AWESOME."
Drake sighed quietly.
"You were not supposed to encourage him."
Too late.
Naruto was already vibrating with excitement.
"What kinda monsters?! Giant snakes?! Demons?! Evil ninja?!"
"Yes."
Naruto gasped dramatically.
"All of them?!"
"Unfortunately."
Ciri smirked slightly while Naruto stared at them like they'd stepped out of one of his dreams.
Which honestly—
Maybe they had.
Because no one in Naruto's life usually entertained his excitement.
Most adults ignored him.
Others glared at him.
Very few listened.
But Drake and Ciri listened.
Talked to him normally.
Treated him like he mattered.
And Naruto noticed every second of it.
The rain slowly eased into a softer drizzle overhead while evening settled deeper across Konoha.
Naruto's stomach growled loudly enough for everyone to hear.
Silence.
The little boy immediately looked horrified.
Drake raised one eyebrow slowly.
"…You eaten today?"
Naruto instantly looked away.
"…Maybe."
Ciri narrowed her eyes immediately.
"That wasn't a yes."
Naruto kicked lightly at the wet ground.
"I had ramen yesterday."
Drake stared flatly at him.
"Naruto."
"It was a big ramen."
Ciri sighed softly while Drake rubbed one hand across his face.
Children should not sound that used to hunger.
That thought made something ugly twist sharply inside his chest.
Ancient instincts stirred again.
Protective.
Possessive in a way that surprised him slightly.
Then calmly—
"We're getting food."
Naruto blinked.
"Huh?"
"You're hungry."
"I'm okay."
"No," Drake answered immediately.
"You're pretending to be okay. Different thing."
Naruto froze slightly.
Because again—
No one usually noticed that.
The little boy stared at the puddles quietly afterward.
"…You don't gotta."
Ciri crouched slightly until she was eye-level with him.
"We know."
Naruto looked at her silently.
Something vulnerable flickered briefly across his face.
Then softly—
"…Okay."
The three began walking through Konoha afterward.
Rainwater reflected lantern light across crowded streets while civilians hurried home carrying groceries and umbrellas.
Naruto walked between Drake and Ciri excitedly talking almost nonstop now that someone genuinely listened.
And honestly?
The kid had terrifying conversational stamina.
"…And then Iruka-sensei got REALLY mad because I painted all the Hokage faces!"
Ciri looked deeply impressed.
"You climbed the giant mountain?"
"Yep!"
"That's honestly iconic behavior."
Drake sighed.
"Please stop validating the chaos gremlin."
"Never."
Naruto grinned triumphantly.
For someone who spent most of his life alone—
He filled silence naturally.
Like quiet scared him.
Like if conversations stopped, people would remember they didn't actually want him around.
Drake noticed.
So did Ciri.
Neither said anything.
Naruto pointed excitedly down the street afterward.
"THERE."
A small ramen stand glowed warmly beneath hanging lanterns despite the rain.
Steam drifted from the open kitchen while rich smells filled the air instantly.
Naruto practically lit up.
"Best ramen in the village!"
The little shop felt warm in a way few places truly did.
Comforting.
Safe.
A tired-looking man behind the counter glanced upward as they entered.
Then blinked in surprise seeing Naruto with company.
"Well I'll be damned."
Naruto grinned brightly.
"Old man Teuchi!"
The ramen chef smiled warmly despite obvious confusion.
"You actually brought friends?"
Naruto hesitated briefly.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But Drake noticed.
"…Yeah."
The uncertainty behind the word "friends" hurt more than expected.
Like Naruto still wasn't fully sure he was allowed to call people that.
Teuchi's expression softened immediately.
"Well then sit down already."
Naruto practically launched himself onto a stool while Drake and Ciri sat beside him.
Warmth wrapped around them instantly.
The rain outside faded into background noise while broth simmered nearby.
For the first time all evening—
Naruto looked completely relaxed.
Safe.
Teuchi leaned across the counter afterward.
"So what'll it be?"
Naruto answered immediately.
"MISO CHASHU EXTRA PORK!"
Then suddenly looked nervous.
"…If that's okay."
Drake stared at him quietly for half a second.
Then softly—
"Order whatever you want."
Naruto blinked.
"Really?"
"Really."
The little boy's face lit up instantly afterward.
And somehow—
That reaction alone made Drake want to buy the kid the entire restaurant.
Dangerous instinct.
Very dangerous.
Ciri noticed the expression immediately.
"Oh no."
Drake glanced sideways.
"What now?"
"You're doing the dad thing again."
"I am not."
"You looked emotionally proud because he ordered noodles."
"That sentence sounds fake."
Naruto laughed loudly beside them.
And for a while—
Things became simple.
Warm food.
Laughter.
Stories.
Naruto talked animatedly between bites while Ciri asked questions about ninja training, academy classes, and village life.
Drake mostly listened quietly.
Watching.
Learning.
The little details mattered most.
Naruto inhaled food like someone used to meals disappearing quickly.
He kept glancing toward Drake and Ciri occasionally like he expected them to vanish if he looked away too long.
And every time Teuchi smiled kindly at him—
Naruto brightened like sunlight.
Small kindnesses meant everything to neglected children.
Eventually Teuchi placed another steaming bowl in front of Naruto with a grin.
"On the house."
Naruto looked genuinely shocked.
"Really?!"
"Really."
The little boy looked moments away from exploding with happiness.
"BEST DAY EVER."
Drake smiled faintly into his drink.
Then suddenly—
The atmosphere shifted.
Subtle.
Immediate.
The door to the ramen stand slid open quietly.
Conversation outside dimmed slightly.
Naruto's smile faded almost instantly.
Drake looked toward the entrance instinctively.
An old man entered slowly wearing white and red robes beneath a weathered hat.
Calm eyes.
Measured presence.
Power hidden beneath age and exhaustion.
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage.
The old shinobi paused after spotting Naruto.
Then his gaze shifted toward Drake and Ciri.
And instantly sharpened.
Naruto brightened slightly despite himself.
"Old man!"
Hiruzen smiled warmly toward the boy.
"Naruto."
But Drake noticed immediately—
The Hokage never relaxed fully.
His attention remained fixed carefully on Drake and Ciri.
Studying.
Analyzing.
Because powerful people recognized danger instinctively.
And Drake—
Even heavily restrained—
Did not feel human.
Not entirely.
The old shinobi approached slowly afterward.
"I don't believe we've met."
Polite words.
Suspicious eyes.
Ciri noticed immediately too.
Drake smiled calmly.
"Probably not."
Hiruzen stopped beside the counter.
"You're not from Konoha."
Not a question.
Naruto looked between them curiously while slurping noodles loudly.
Drake answered easily.
"No."
Silence followed briefly.
Then Hiruzen looked toward Naruto.
"You've spent the evening with these two?"
Naruto grinned instantly.
"Yeah! They're awesome!"
The Hokage's expression softened slightly toward Naruto before hardening again subtly while looking back at Drake.
Because the old man saw it.
The unnatural stillness beneath Drake's posture.
The impossible awareness in his eyes.
Predatory in a way even elite shinobi rarely were.
Ancient.
And beside him—
Ciri carried herself like a swordswoman who'd survived wars beyond imagination.
Dangerous pair.
Hiruzen folded his hands calmly into his sleeves afterward.
"And what brings travelers like yourselves to my village?"
Drake met his gaze steadily.
"Curiosity."
Not technically a lie.
The Hokage studied him silently.
Then softly—
"And Naruto?"
Naruto looked up immediately.
"What about me?"
Hiruzen's eyes never left Drake.
"Why him?"
The question carried real weight.
Protectiveness.
Suspicion.
Fear.
Drake understood all three.
Naruto looked suddenly nervous beside him.
Like he thought he'd done something wrong simply by being there.
That alone irritated Drake slightly.
So he answered simply.
"Because he was alone."
Silence.
The ramen shop became very still.
Hiruzen's expression shifted faintly.
Almost invisible.
But there.
Pain.
Regret.
Naruto looked downward quietly afterward.
And for several long seconds—
No one spoke.
Then softly—
"He shouldn't have been."
Drake's words landed gently.
But the meaning behind them cut sharply through the room.
The Hokage understood immediately.
Because deep down—
Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed completely.