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"I'm doing fine now."
Before entering the Hokage's office, Naruto whispered to Kushina. He was used to a quiet, peaceful life, and sudden changes made him uneasy. But Kushina misinterpreted his words, she saw it as her son putting on a brave face, refusing to let her worry.
"Naruto, don't lie to me." Kushina pinched his cheek, her voice firm. "I'll handle this. That old man promised Minato, he'd better keep his word."
Naruto sighed but didn't argue. If this was what his mother wanted, he wouldn't stop her.
Their exchange left the escorting Anbu stunned. None of them had realized yet that this red-haired girl was a younger version of Kushina. Without waiting for formalities, Kushina pushed the office door open and strode inside.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat comfortably behind his desk, puffing on his pipe as he reviewed documents. The creak of the door made him glance up, and his pipe slipped from his fingers.
"K-Kushina?!"Â His voice trembled in disbelief.
Behind her stood Naruto and a confused Anbu guard, who immediately scolded, "Hey, kid! You can't just barge into the Hokage's office!"
Hiruzen's stomach dropped. "Dismissed," he ordered the Anbu sharply. The guard hesitated but obeyed, leaving the three alone.
"Kushina⊠how is this possible?" Hiruzen swallowed hard, his mind racing.
Kushina's expression was icy. "Hiruzen. You remember the promise you made to Minato, don't you?" She stepped aside slightly, revealing Naruto behind her.
Hiruzen sighed. "Of course I do. But Kushina, you know Minato's reputation, how many enemies he made. If Naruto's identity as his son and as the Jinchƫriki were public, assassins would never leave him alone."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Minato's legend was built on the corpses of countless enemies, and their surviving kin would leap at the chance for revenge. While Konoha adored the Fourth Hokage, the rest of the world despised him. Exposing Naruto's lineage would paint a target on his back.
Kushina's glare softened slightly, but suspicion lingered. "Then why does he live in some run-down apartment instead of his parent's home?"
"Too conspicuous," Hiruzen replied smoothly. "The Fourth's house would draw immediate attention. The apartment was safer."
"And his living expenses?"
"Plenty was allocated from Minato's inheritance," Hiruzen explained. "But shopkeepers inflate prices when he shops. That's beyond my control."
He had an answer for everything.
He had kept his promise, technically. He ensured Naruto's survival, managed his finances (in theory), and kept his identity hidden. By his logic, he'd done his duty.
But Kushina wasn't satisfied. "Then why does the whole village still treat Jinchƫriki like monsters? Why not tell them the truth, that Naruto is a hero who seals the demon?"
'Ah!!! That.'
In the Hokage's world, if something terrible happened and no culprit could be found, there was always one answer:
'Shimura Danzo.'
Hiruzen sighed. "A regrettable oversight. Danzo spread those rumors. By the time I realized, the damage was done."
Danzo had been cunning. He'd twisted Minato's legacy, whispering that Naruto was the Nine-Tails, the beast that killed the Fourth and ravaged Konoha. The villagers' grief and rage had found an easy target: an orphan with nowhere to turn.
"That bastard!" Kushina snarled. "If you knew, why didn't you stop him?!"
"Root operates outside my full authority," Hiruzen admitted, rubbing his temples. "Removing Danzo wouldn't undo the harm to Naruto. Some wounds⊠run too deep."
What he didn't say was this: every village had its shadows. The taller the tree, the darker its shade. Konoha needed men like Danzo, someone to do the dirty work, to make the sacrifices Hiruzen couldn't stomach.
Naruto and Sasuke were just casualties of the system.
Kushina's fists clenched. "So you let him walk free because punishing him won't fix things? That's cowardice!"
Hiruzen stayed silent.
Naruto, sensing her distress, touched her arm. "It's okay. Really. I've got friends now. My life isn't so bad."
He meant it. The debt with Hiruzen could wait. Right now, he just wanted Kushina to leave in peace, not anger.
Her face crumpled. Her chakra was fading, she didn't have much time left.
Hiruzen seized the chance. "Kushina, you're right. I failed. But I swear, no one will harass Naruto again."
One old man, one boy, both trying to ease her pain. If she couldn't leave happy, at least let her leave without regret.