In the blink of an eye, nearly two years had passed.
During this time, Konoha developed well, steadily surpassing the other villages.
Satoshi's two students had also grown a lot and could now undertake more challenging missions.
For example, tracking down the whereabouts of the rogue ninja Kabuto.
Sasuke also found a Kusanagi Sword in one of Orochimaru's old hideouts.
It is said that several times, Naruto or Sasuke almost died on their way.
At critical moments, Naruto would unleash his power, forcefully collecting 'rent,' and exploding with Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak.
Or Sasuke would unleash Kirin.
The two of them, shouting about their 'bonds,' charged forward and took on some of Orochimaru's former subordinates.
It was precisely because of these reasons that their relationship grew much closer. Sometimes they even talked about their innermost thoughts.
Except for one saying that Satoshi-sensei is a very good person, and the other saying that he will defeat him with his Ninjutsu sooner or later.
"Hokage-sama, we're back."
Sasuke and Naruto arrived at the high platform and found Satoshi, who was enjoying the breeze.
Satoshi pointed to a face on the Hokage Rock and asked, "Naruto, do you know who he is?"
Naruto, of course, knew that person was the great Fourth Hokage Minato.
He still remembered many years ago, Satoshi saying that Minato had sacrificed his life to protect Konoha, leaving a son alone in this world.
"Naruto, actually, he is your father. Back then, the village faced Nine-Tails's rampage, and he sealed the Nine-Tails inside your body."
Naruto's head buzzed, and he almost fell to the ground.
"I don't believe it!"
At the critical moment, it was Sasuke who held him up. Of course, Sasuke wasn't doing much better.
All this time, everyone thought Naruto was an orphan, and his popularity in the village wasn't very good.
When he was in school, he didn't have many friends to play with, and he was often alone.
But who would have thought that Naruto's father was the Hokage?
The hero who saved the village, often mentioned by teachers, the Fourth Hokage.
"I don't believe it!"
Naruto pushed Sasuke away and stomped off angrily.
Satoshi told him that what was inside his body was a Tailed Beast named Kurama.
And Naruto also knew that everything he had encountered over the years was because of this terrifying monster.
It was only because he was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki that he had always been shunned by the villagers.
People didn't want to play with him, didn't sell him things, and some even threw trash at his door.
Kurama! Nine-Tails!
Naruto never imagined that the person who sealed it inside him was his biological father.
"Naruto, wait for me!"
Sasuke quickly ran in the direction Naruto had left.
He knew that Naruto had been silently accompanying him all these years, and with him there, Sasuke had gotten through many painful times. And now, it was his turn to save Naruto.
At this moment, Naruto had already run to the riverside. This was a place he often came to as a child, where he picked mushrooms and fished. It was also here that he met his teacher Satoshi.
But now, Naruto's mood was completely different. He was quietly shedding tears.
According to everyone, Minato was the hero who saved the village. But to Naruto, he was nothing.
Naruto hated him very much.
Why did he seal Nine-Tails into his body?
Didn't he know how much scorn his child would have to endure with this action?!
Bastard!
What great Hokage, what hero, he's just an irresponsible father!
While Naruto was secretly shedding tears, Sasuke quietly approached.
"Naruto, are you okay?"
"What are you doing here?"
"I..."
Sasuke realized that he wasn't very good at comforting people.
Before, Naruto would always eagerly run to comfort him, but he didn't expect that today, with the roles reversed, he would be a bit unaccustomed.
Comforting others was more complicated than training.
Sasuke struggled for a long time, not knowing what to say. He just took out a lunchbox from his backpack, which contained several onigiri.
"Here, for you."
"I don't want it."
"Have one, I just bought them."
"I said I don't want it."
"..."
Sasuke wished he could punch Naruto twice.
What an annoying kid.
Wait a minute.
If Naruto is so annoying now...
Then what about himself back then...
Cough, cough.
Sasuke felt a little ashamed.
As the two went back and forth, Satoshi slowly walked over.
"Naruto, I know you've suffered a lot. But Minato believed in you, that you could endure all of this."
"As a ninja, one is someone who can endure what others cannot."
Naruto roughly wiped away his tears. "But..."
Satoshi continued, "Actually, Naruto, on the day you were born, Obito infiltrated Konoha, wanting to kill you."
"It was your parents who desperately saved you, they truly loved you."
After speaking, Satoshi gently patted Naruto's shoulder.
A moment later, Naruto nodded. "I understand, but I still want to see my father and then punch him."
Satoshi scratched his head, looking embarrassed. Actually, it wasn't that there wouldn't be such an opportunity, and it would be soon.
—
Iwagakure.
Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure were discussing their next plan.
They had already decided on a win-win cooperation policy to prevent Konoha from becoming too dominant. It was also based on this situation that the three villages banded together.
To prevent Sunagakure from dragging them down too much, they even implemented some kind of water conservancy project, diverting some of the water from the Land of Rain. This greatly solved Sunagakure's drought problem.
Of course, Sunagakure paid some price. For example, they received very little money when it was distributed, and sometimes they had to work for free.
There was no other way. If you don't contribute something, why would others let you play along?
On many nights, everyone in Sunagakure, from top to bottom, called out Rasa's name.
"Great Fourth Kazekage, with your death, the village's sky is about to collapse."