Hokage, no one knows better than me how to cultivate talent.

This was the first time someone had been willing to accompany him home, and he was afraid that if he spoke too slowly, Teacher Qiushui would not come.

Shusui and Naruto walked side by side on their way home, the setting sun casting long, long shadows of them.

"Shusui-sensei..." Naruto hesitated for a moment before suddenly speaking.

"Hmm?" Qiu Shui turned her head to look at him.

Why are you so good to me?

From childhood to adulthood, adults would either avoid him, look at him with disgust, or whisper about him. Only Qiu Shui, on the first day she met him, not only treated him like a normal person, but today she even treated him to ramen and accompanied him home.

Qiu Shui didn't answer immediately, and remained silent for a moment, "Because you look a lot like one of your teacher's saviors."

Naruto blinked: "Who is he?"

Qiushui said, "His name is Namikaze Minato. You probably don't know this name, but he is the Fourth Hokage."

He wasn't lying; Minato had indeed saved him. In fact, most of the ninjas who participated in the Third Shinobi World War were saved by him, either directly or indirectly.

Naruto asked curiously, "What does he look like?"

Qiu Shui's gaze fell on Naruto's face. "He has blond hair, just like you, and his smile is warm, like the sun."

Naruto nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Naruto's home is located in an inconspicuous residential building in the main urban area, on the top floor.

The lights in the corridor were dim and old, and you could hear the echo of your footsteps on the cement steps. When Qiushui followed Naruto up the last step, he saw an old man with a kind face, wearing a divine robe, leaning against the railing of the corridor, holding a pipe in his hand and slowly exhaling wisps of white smoke.

"Third Hokage, what brings you here?" Naruto's eyes flashed with surprise, and he ran forward in three steps.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Naruto running towards him, a gentle smile appeared on his face.

He put down his pipe, raised his hand and gently patted Naruto's shoulder. "I came to see you," he said, then smiled and asked, "Did you pay attention in class today?"

Naruto nodded vigorously and said, "I listened carefully."

He kept in mind what Teacher Qiushui had told him.

After saying that, Naruto seemed to remember something, turned around and pointed to Shusui behind him, introducing him earnestly: "This is Teacher Shusui. Although we haven't known each other for long, he's so nice to me! He didn't look at me strangely like other people do, and he even treated me to ramen today!"

Qiu Shui stepped forward and bowed slightly respectfully: "Third Generation Lord."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

Naruto looked at Shusui, then at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his face full of surprise: "Shusui-sensei, do you know this old man too?"

He thought Qiu Shui was really amazing; he knew everyone he knew.

Judging from Naruto's manner of speaking and facial expression, Akisui guessed that he probably didn't know Hiruzen Sarutobi's true identity yet, but he didn't expose why Hiruzen Sarutobi was hiding it. He said, "Well, this old man is a very strong and respected ninja in the village."

Upon hearing this, Naruto stroked his chin and looked at the old man for a while. He found it hard to associate this short, white-haired, wrinkled old man who appeared regularly every month to deliver his daily necessities and keep him company with the words "powerful" and "highly respected."

He tilted his head and asked curiously, "Grandpa, are you very strong? Are you as strong as Teacher Qiushui?"

Qiu Shui: You can say whatever you want, but don't drag me into this. Don't let his sixty-year-old age fool you; he's still going strong and could kill me with one blow.

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but laugh, his wrinkles deepening. He joked, "A little bit better than him."

Naruto rolled his eyes at him, his face showing a "I don't believe it" expression.

He muttered to himself: Look at your thin and short frame, and then look at Teacher Qiushui's tall and big figure, I'd probably knock you down in a few punches and kicks!

However, he only thought these words to himself and did not say them out loud. After all, before Teacher Qiushui arrived, he was the only person who was willing to talk to him, and he was afraid of hurting the old man's self-esteem.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't angry at all, and laughed, "Naruto, open the door quickly. We can't just stand here in the cold wind with your teacher, Shusui!"

Naruto then realized what was happening, quickly took out his key, and stood on tiptoe to open the somewhat mottled wooden door.

As soon as the door opened, Qiu Shui instinctively covered her mouth and nose, because the greasy smell of instant noodles, the sour smell of fermenting food scraps, and some indescribable stale smell all mixed together and hit her.

His gaze swept across the room. Leftover instant noodle cups were piled haphazardly on the table, and snack bags, crumpled paper, and several pieces of clothing and pants were scattered on the floor.

Qiu Shui frowned deeply. He was a clean person, and it was hard to imagine how he could live in such a dirty and messy environment.

Does it make breathing difficult?

Do you sleep well at night?

Naruto was completely unaware; he was already used to this kind of life. As soon as he entered the room, he ran to the bedside, squatted down, opened the cabinet, took out a box of instant noodles, and then opened the refrigerator to take out two cartons of milk. He excitedly placed them on the table and said, "Shusui-sensei, you're treating me to ramen. This is my treasured limited edition ramen. You can have some too."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi standing to the side and said, "Please have some too."

A strange sour feeling welled up in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.

We've known each other for so long, and you've never treated me to a meal. You've only known someone for a day, yet you've already treated him to a meal, while I'm just an afterthought.

Qiu Shui walked over, picked up the box of instant noodles and milk, turned it over and looked at the date on the packaging. Just as he expected, the expiration date had passed by more than three months.

He turned around, intending to give Naruto a stern warning, but then, remembering Naruto's good intentions, he said gently, "Naruto, these things are expired."

Naruto scratched his head, looking bewildered: "Expired... what does that mean?"

Qiu Shui picked up the instant noodles, pointed to the production date and shelf life on the packaging, and patiently explained it to him.

Upon hearing this, Naruto's smile gradually faded, his eyes filled with grief and indignation. This was something he had secretly bought from a convenience store while wearing a hood, and he usually couldn't bear to eat it, saving it for holidays, New Year's, or when he was in a good mood. After hiding it for so long, he couldn't eat it anymore?

Seeing Naruto's reluctant expression, Qiu Shui, fearing he might eat it later, said seriously, "These things will give you diarrhea. You don't want to eat them, so what if you suddenly get diarrhea in class?"

Naruto paused for a moment, the image of himself clutching his stomach in class flashing through his mind. He shuddered, as if making a firm decision, and said resolutely, "I won't eat it, absolutely not."