Chapter 4: First Impressions of Konoha

“It’s little Harano! You’ve just woken up and already came to see Grandpa? Such a good child.”
Standing up, the elder swept up Harano, who was running toward him on short legs, his face beaming with joy.
“Grandpa, I’m sorry for worrying you today,” Harano apologized earnestly, warmed by the elder’s pure and unreserved care.
After chatting for a while longer, Harano noticed that there were already a dozen or so ninja queuing up, waiting for his grandfather’s signature. Sensibly, he bid his grandfather farewell and left.
As he stepped out of the administrative hall, Harano decided to go for a stroll. “Tomoko, let’s take a walk around the village,” he said, looking up at her.
These past years, he had spent most of his time within the clan, only venturing out occasionally with his grandfather to visit other families—those like the “Boar, Deer, and Butterfly,” second only to the Hyuga and Uchiha clans.
So now, aside from that towering Hokage Rock, Harano realized he had almost no impression of the Hidden Leaf Village itself.
“This won’t do. If I’m going to make a life here, I need to know the lay of the land,” Harano mused, tilting his head.
He began to piece together memories from both his lives, analyzing the village’s power structure.
“Ever since Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha joined forces to found the Leaf, the Senju and Uchiha clans have naturally been the two strongest.”
“Though both Hashirama and Tobirama are long gone, the Senju still have Tsunade. Who knows if that sly old Tobirama left her some secret force.”
“The Uchiha aren’t easy to deal with, either—geniuses keep popping up. Best leave them to Danzo to sort out in the future.”
“At least our clan isn’t weak,” he thought. Beneath the Senju and Uchiha stood the Hyuga, famed for their taijutsu and the Byakugan bloodline.
Pondering these matters—once of no concern, but now crucial to his future—Harano followed Tomoko out through the grand gates of the Hyuga compound.
As staunch supporters of the Senju, the Hyuga estate was, of course, situated in the heart of the bustling village.
The moment he stepped outside, Harano was greeted by the sight of throngs of people crowding the commercial street, and not far away, the towering Hokage building.
And behind it, even grander, loomed the Hokage Rock—the very one that, in years to come, would be battered by Naruto and his son.
“Tomoko, where can we get something good to eat? I’m starving,” Harano asked expectantly.
He truly was hungry; he’d skipped breakfast and worked himself to exhaustion before he knew it.
Now, with the sun already setting, he hadn’t had a single bite or sip all day.
He’d rushed off to see his grandfather, but now, after just a few more paces, his stomach was starting to protest loudly.
But faced with the maze of streets and the crush of people, Harano suddenly realized—he had no idea where to go!
Chuckling, Tomoko replied, “Come on, young master, let’s head to the food street,” her smile gentle as she heard his stomach rumble. She led him into a small alley.
They hadn’t walked ten minutes before a tantalizing aroma drifted toward them. Harano instinctively sniffed the air.
“Yes, that’s it,” he thought, eyes lighting up as the scent teased his senses, and he quickened his pace.
Sure enough, two minutes later, they emerged from the alley onto a not-so-wide street.
But that narrow street was packed to the brim with food carts, each offering a medley of delicacies whose mingled aromas made Harano take deep, greedy breaths.

“Harano, you mustn’t tell the elder I brought you here, or I’ll be in for it,” Tomoko suddenly whispered, squatting beside him with a pitiful look just as he was about to loosen his belt for a true feast.
Though she looked pitiable, Harano could see the laughter in her eyes.
After their earlier conversation in the courtyard, he realized Tomoko had grown livelier—a far cry from the gentle but almost mechanical girl she’d been before.
Perhaps she had hope now, Harano mused.
“Alright, since you brought me to all this good food, I won’t tell Grandpa,” he replied, purposefully stern.
Tomoko broke into a broad grin.
“Come on, Tomoko, I want to try that one…” Harano said, tugging her through the crowd, pointing excitedly at every treat he fancied and having her buy it.
Half an hour later, as they reached the end of the street, both of their arms were laden with all manner of snacks.
At the corner, Tomoko, busy devouring her own food, glanced over and caught the smile on Harano’s face.
“Ah… Young master, I was just taste-testing, really…” She hastily whipped out a hidden handkerchief and wiped her mouth, but the flush on her cheeks betrayed her.
So she’s a little glutton after all!
“Forget it, I couldn’t eat another bite anyway. Tomoko, you can finish the rest for me,” he said, handing over his food and turning away with an air of mock seriousness.
Tomoko, seeing his grown-up manner and her own armful of snacks, smiled and hurried after him.
Ichiraku Ramen!
Harano paused, lost in thought at the sight of the freestanding building ahead.
If there was any place in the shinobi world that could claim the hearts of all, it would have to be Ichiraku Ramen.
But peering inside, he didn’t see the broad-faced, gentle old Teuchi, only a plump, fair-skinned man and a delicate-looking boy of eleven or twelve.
“Ah! Master Harano, welcome!” The plump man greeted him cheerfully from the entrance.
“Well, since I’m here, I might as well try this legendary dish,” Harano thought, smiling as he stepped inside.
He’d given most of his skewers to Tomoko and hadn’t had his fill, so another meal was more than welcome.
Tomoko, having already polished off her food, quietly followed him in.
“Teuchi, pour some tea for young master Harano,” the plump man said, tossing noodles into the pot and addressing the boy, who was staring at Harano in a daze.
“Oh—yes, Father,” the boy replied, fumbling with the teapot and spilling quite a bit as he poured Harano a cup.
Watching the awkward boy, only one thought crossed Harano’s mind.

Time is truly a ruthless butcher’s knife.
How did this handsome young lad become that broad-faced, greasy uncle in the future?
Sensing Harano’s odd gaze, young Teuchi blushed furiously.
Ten minutes later, the plump man set down a bowl of fragrant, gorgeous ramen. Seeing Tomoko swallow discreetly, Harano smiled and pushed the bowl toward her.
“Uncle, another bowl, please,” he said.
“Of course, young master, just a moment.”
“You should eat first, my lord,” Tomoko protested, pushing the bowl back, unable to hide her longing.
Harano couldn’t help but laugh at her reluctance.
Are all beauties secret gluttons?
He made a show of lifting his chopsticks, and sure enough—
Gurgle!
Tomoko wished she could disappear into the floor in shame.
How mortifying! To actually salivate so loudly in front of the young master!
“Oh, it’s too spicy for me. Tomoko, you have it,” Harano said, feigning distaste and pushing the bowl back toward her.
This time, she didn’t dare refuse and dug in quickly, hoping to avoid further embarrassment.
Soon, another steaming bowl arrived. Harano tasted it—delicious, with firm noodles and rich broth.
After the meal, Tomoko paid the bill, and they left the ramen shop. Unfortunately, young Teuchi, flustered by Harano’s gaze, had retreated to the back and didn’t come out again.
Next, Tomoko led Harano to the ninja academy, but it was the holidays and the grounds were deserted and peaceful.
Harano had wanted to climb the Hokage Rock and look out over the whole village, but with dusk falling, Tomoko adamantly refused.
With no choice, Harano followed her back toward the Hyuga estate.
After a few hours exploring, he finally gained a preliminary impression of the Hidden Leaf.
How to describe it?
If you ignored the darkness and decay lurking beneath the surface, the village at this moment truly was a peaceful and harmonious place.