Everyone's Scapegoat

Outside the door.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi stood at the entrance, their brows furrowed.

"Uzumaki Naruto isn't home?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered to himself.

But listening closely, he could hear footsteps inside the room, indicating there was clearly someone in there.

After a moment of silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Kakashi, open the door."

Kakashi respectfully acknowledged him.

He stepped forward, and through some unknown method, the door clicked open.

"Die!!!"

Uzumaki Naruto roared at the door, holding a basin and pouring its contents over the two people outside.

Splash!!!

The two people outside were drenched from head to toe.

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "…"

Kakashi: "…"

Uzumaki Naruto quickly took two steps back, careful to avoid getting the soup on his clothes. He had underestimated the power of this "bioweapon."

This basin of instant noodle soup was like an invincible mop smeared with feces; just smelling it made him feel faint.

Thinking this, Uzumaki Naruto glanced at the doorway, feigning surprise:

"Huh!?"

"Lord Hokage, Kakashi-sensei… what are you doing here!?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "…"

Kakashi: "…"

Both of them looked dazed, their rigid gazes fixed on the fermenting, spoiled soup, instant noodle bits, insect carcasses, and some unknown bubbles on their bodies…

"Ugh!!!"

Kakashi couldn't hold it in. He clutched the doorframe with his right hand and immediately started to vomit.

"Naruto!!!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen roared.

Without another word.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, moving at eighty miles an hour, like a gust of wind, rushed into Naruto's bathroom.

Uzumaki Naruto sat on a chair with a gentle smile, his azure eyes constantly glancing towards the bathroom door.

A while later.

Two men, their faces dark and bodies red as if they had scrubbed off a layer of skin, emerged from the bathroom.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi's faces were incredibly grim.

They had scrubbed off a layer of skin, yet the smell still lingered on them. What kind of terrifying bioweapon was this?

"Uzumaki Naruto!!!"

"Don't you think you owe me an explanation?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen glared at Uzumaki Naruto, grinding his teeth.

When the door opened, he had noticed Uzumaki Naruto throwing something out, but he felt Uzumaki Naruto was too small, and whatever he threw wouldn't be very harmful, so he hadn't paid it much mind.

The result…

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt like killing someone.

Damn it… that instant noodle soup must have been sitting there for at least half a year!!!

Uzumaki Naruto apologized:

"I'm very sorry, Lord Hokage. I thought you were people who came to beat me up, and I was so scared that I accidentally dirtied you."

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi's faces grew even darker. So, they had taken the blame for someone else!?

It would have been better if it had been aimed at them from the start…

"Phew!!!"

Taking a deep breath, Sarutobi Hiruzen forcibly suppressed the near-frantic irritation in his heart and asked with feigned amiability: "Never mind, it's not a big deal."

"However…"

"Uzumaki Naruto!!!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Kakashi just told me that you got into a fight with other children and stole their Money System. Is that true!?"

Uzumaki Naruto nodded slightly.

"Yes, I fought them to protect Little Hinata."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, his voice deep.

"Naruto, then why did you take their money? While it's wrong for them to hit people, it's also wrong for you to take their money."

"Your goal is to become the Fifth Hokage. As Hokage, you should protect the weak, not bully them!"

By the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone had become very stern, and he stared intently at Uzumaki Naruto.

Uzumaki Naruto displayed actor-level skill, his expression subtly dimming. He clenched his fists and said, aggrieved, "It's because… I don't have enough to eat…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi were both stunned.

They had expected Uzumaki Naruto to argue, but they hadn't expected… Uzumaki Naruto to give such a simple, unadorned reason.

Not enough to eat!

How straightforward.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but say, "Doesn't the village give you living expenses every month?"

Kakashi also nodded.

Uzumaki Naruto lowered his head, his expression downcast.

"It's not enough. No one sells me things. The rice I buy is mixed with sand, and the vegetables I buy are rotten. I can only eat Ichiraku Ramen."

"I eat ramen three times a day, and I also have to buy some necessities… the money isn't enough…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's old face flushed red; he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

He had given Uzumaki Naruto ten thousand ryo, wanting Uzumaki Naruto to suffer a bit more so that he could then act as a savior, making Uzumaki Naruto feel grateful towards him.

But with Uzumaki Naruto stating it so bluntly, especially with Kakashi present, Sarutobi Hiruzen wished he could die.

Forcing himself to calm down, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and asked kindly, "Naruto, what necessities did you buy?"

Uzumaki Naruto said, aggrieved, "Windows, tape, bandages, gauze, disinfectant…"

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi were utterly bewildered.

"Are those also necessities?"

Uzumaki Naruto's expression darkened: "At night, people smash my windows. When I walk on the road, people throw rocks at me. The tape and bandages are for those times…"

Uzumaki Naruto wasn't worried about this being exposed, because… this was his daily reality in Konoha.

Hated by people and animals alike!

Like a rat crossing the street, everyone wanted to beat him!