"…At least there was Iruka-sensei… Iruka-sensei was different from the others."
"…And at least there were some companions…"
Just as Naruto was about to continue—
Senju Tobirama suddenly asked: Iruka-sensei?
Umino Iruka: "Lord Tobirama, I'm Naruto's teacher from the Ninja Academy."
Tobirama: "Answer me. Were you different toward Naruto from the very beginning?"
Iruka: "..."
Iruka: "No, Lord Tobirama. At first, I was no different from everyone else—I also harbored hatred toward Naruto. But I am a teacher. I knew very clearly that such hatred must never be imposed on a child. Naruto—"
Tobirama: "So someone guided you? Repeatedly gave you psychological cues to treat Naruto well?"
Iruka: "Th-that's not it! It's because I truly comprehended the Will of Fire, and only then did I awaken to the truth."
Tobirama stopped questioning Iruka.
There was no longer any need.
In that situation… even if Iruka hadn't changed in the end, there would still have been an 'Iruka No. 2'.
At this moment, Senju Hashirama popped up again.
Hashirama: "I see. Fourth Hokage, your son is outstanding. He understood the meaning of companions very early on."
Tobirama: "Shut up!"
Hashirama: "Tobirama… let me finish~"
Just as Tobirama was about to speak—
The old fox Ōnoki jumped in again.
Ōnoki: "Hahaha, Lord Hashirama, you really haven't changed."
Ōnoki: "But with the facts laid bare, dodging the important points is just self-deception."
Ōnoki: "How did the Jinchūriki's identity get exposed, I wonder~? Such a mystery."
Ōnoki: "A child that young couldn't possibly know that much or think that far ahead. When people are at their most helpless, they cling to the last straw—let alone a child."
Ōnoki: "In my opinion, it won't be long before we see Sarutobi Hiruzen's old face appear on this big screen. Hahaha~"
Fourth Raikage: "Exactly! That's the logic!"
Inside the Raikage's office, seeing the Fourth Raikage laughing loudly, Mabui held her forehead and shook her head helplessly.
In the Pure Land—
Kushina's beautiful long red hair stood straight up.
One… two… three…
Exactly nine strands.
Already on the verge of losing control,
after the chatroom discussion, Kushina completely exploded.
Her eyes scanned wildly in every direction,
searching for Namikaze Minato's soul.
In her rage, she had forgotten that Minato was still sealed inside the Shinigami's stomach.
"Ashura…"
The Sage of Six Paths murmured softly in the Pure Land.
Then, with a wave of his hand—
All the surrounding souls were instantly relocated.
He shook his head.
Before long, the Pure Land fell quiet once more.
[Konoha Hospital.]
[Naruto lies on a hospital bed.]
[Bloodstains still remain on his body.]
[His face has been cleaned, but the medical-nin's movements are extremely rough.]
[Clearly, the news that Naruto is the demon fox has already reached here.]
[Naruto closes his eyes and falls into a deep sleep, unaware of how he was brought back to that moldy home.]
[When he opens his eyes again, it's hunger that wakes him.]
[In a daze, he smells food and hurriedly searches the room.]
[Soon, he notices dishes on the table—but they're already cold.]
[Little Naruto doesn't mind. He sits down and devours them. Even though the food has gone slightly sour, he eats with relish.]
["Fishing… I think I know now. Tomorrow I'll try it~!"]
[Suddenly, the voice he vaguely heard earlier echoes in his mind.]
[So the next day, little Naruto runs to the back mountain of Konoha.]
[He doesn't have time to be sad—if he can't find food today, he'll go hungry again.]
[Before long, Naruto fashions a crude fishing rod.]
[He doesn't know why fishing line and hooks are here.]
[Maybe someone left them behind.]
[Splash—]
[As if protected by beginner's luck, little Naruto catches three fish, each about the width of three adult fingers.]
The crowd watches, expressions mixed.
Coincidence. Too much coincidence.
Was it really just good luck?
Why do those fish look like they aren't even struggling?
It almost felt too deliberate to be mere luck.
[The sun shines brightly; soon it's lunchtime.]
[Hungry again, little Naruto imitates what he's seen and searches for firewood.]
[Before leaving the Sarutobi compound, someone had impatiently taught him these things.]
[When the fire finally lights, a smile appears on his cute little face.]
[He threads the fish onto sticks and waits for the coals before placing them over the fire.]
[There's no seasoning—no need to mention the taste.]
[Still, it's enough to fill his stomach.]
[Over the next few days, little Naruto repeats this routine.]
[He doesn't know what can be eaten and what can't.]
[No one is willing to approach him. Even when he helps retrieve a ball, the children chase him away.]
[It's as if the entire world is rejecting him.]
[Every night, little Naruto secretly wipes away his tears.]
[Once, while it was raining, hunger drove him into a ramen shop—where, for the first time, he tasted what it felt like to be cared for.]
This scene completely drives Kushina insane in the Pure Land.
Every time little Naruto wipes away his tears,
it feels as if Kushina's heart is dripping blood.
[Some time later, one day, someone enters Naruto's world.]
[Night falls. Little Naruto places the last fish over the coals.]
[Sizzle—]
[Soon, a thin layer of oil forms on the fish, the aroma spreading.]
[Naruto is already used to this.]
[His eyes are dull as he stares blankly into the flames.]
["Smells good~"]
[An aged voice suddenly sounds out of nowhere.]
["Ah?!"]
[Naruto jumps in fright and falls to the ground.]
[He quickly turns around and sees a white-haired old man walking out of the darkness.]
[The old man wears a kindly smile. Unlike others, Naruto doesn't sense the same malice from him.]
["Who are you?" Naruto asks warily.]
["Me?"]
["Just a passing old grandpa."]
[The old man is the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen.]
[Looking at the fragrant grilled fish, his stomach conveniently growls.]
[The awkward atmosphere breaks. The old man and the child look at each other, then smile together.]
If this scene were shown on its own,
it would undoubtedly feel warm.
But combined with everything before it—
the flavor changes entirely.
["Grandpa, you can have this~"]
[It's the first time someone has been so kind to him.]
[Naruto generously hands over a grilled fish.]
[Hiruzen accepts without hesitation and eats.]
["Thank you very much. This fish looks delicious~"]
["I caught it myself—it's definitely good~!" Naruto happily grabs another fish.]
[The fish is hot, and there aren't many.]
[In the blink of an eye, two of the three fish are eaten by Hiruzen.]
Everyone: "..."
Old man—
do you have no shame?!
There were only three fish!
That was the kid's dinner!
[After eating, the old man and child sit by the campfire, gazing at the star-filled sky.]
["Look at the stars."]
Ōnoki instantly sniffs out something off in those words.
Tobirama does as well.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.