Naruto Studies The Analects

Konoha Year 54, December 20, inside the Hokage Office.

A man with silver hair, a black mask, and a forehead protector covering his left eye stood before the desk.

He was Kakashi Hatake, known as the "Copy Ninja" and the "Konoha Technician."

With his listless dead-fish eyes half-lidded, he recounted Little Naruto's daily routine in a flat, emotionless voice:

"Naruto Uzumaki gets up at six in the morning, makes himself breakfast, then reads while exercising in his room. After that, he sits by the window and stares into space."

"He stares into space until his stomach starts growling, then comes back to himself and makes lunch. After that, it's the usual—reading, exercising, staring into space..."

"In the evening, once the sun starts setting and the villagers gradually head home, Naruto Uzumaki quietly slips out. He avoids the busier streets and goes to the creek to fish and train. On his way home, he buys some daily necessities..."

This was a long-term mission assigned to him by the Third Hokage: protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and regularly report on his daily life.

After all, Sarutobi also had to handle government affairs. He could not keep the Telescope Technique active all the time.

That was when ANBU were needed to "watch over" him.

"Phew~"

Hiruzen Sarutobi held his pipe between his fingers and slowly exhaled a stream of white smoke.

A trace of worry appeared on his face.

"Was Naruto like this again today?"

Other than sleeping, he spent more time staring blankly into space than doing anything else. This life had continued for a month.

Sarutobi felt some heartache, but even more concern.

Surely this max-level account had not been ruined already?

A month ago, Little Naruto had discovered that he was the Third Hokage.

The pitiful Little Naruto had begged the Third Hokage to explain things to the villagers and prove that he was not the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.

Sarutobi had agreed, and he had indeed done so.

...Of course, the effect might as well have been a drop in the bucket.

After that, Little Naruto rarely went among crowds anymore.

Every day, he either stayed home reading and staring into space, or ran into the woods to hunt and train. He had become a solitary, withdrawn child.

"Ah!"

After letting out a long sigh, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a hard drag from his pipe. His wrinkled face seemed to grow even older.

In truth, he knew where the problem lay, but he was not particularly willing to change the current situation.

If Little Naruto was hated by everyone, then he would become the only warmth and light in Little Naruto's heart.

That would make it much easier for him to "teach" the Will of Fire, and it would also allow him to keep a firmer hold on the Jinchuriki.

I'm sorry, Naruto. This is the fate of a Jinchuriki.

Sarutobi sighed inwardly and rose to the window.

As he looked down at the vast, prosperous Leaf Village below, the ambition long faded from his heart stirred slightly.

When a person grew old, they liked to dwell on the past, and they lacked a sufficient sense of security.

The only things that gave him even a little security now were the chair beneath him and the Leaf Village he had spent his life protecting.

However, when he looked toward the Hyuga Clan Grounds in the distance, where preparations were being made with great fanfare, he paused in surprise.

"Kakashi, do you know what the Hyuga Clan has been doing lately?"

Kakashi scratched his head. "Third Hokage, the Hyuga Clan is preparing for Hinata Hyuga's Third Birthday."

Understanding immediately dawned on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.

"If I remember correctly, there are still seven days until the Hyuga Main Branch's Young Lady's Third Birthday, right?"

"Yes."

The Hyuga Clan had always placed rules and tradition above all else.

On the day a Main House child turned three, a group of Branch Family children would be branded with the [Caged Bird] Cursed Seal.

Among those Branch Family children, the most outstanding few would have the chance to become the Main House child's personal guards.

As the eldest and only daughter of the Main House Clan Head's line, Hinata Hyuga was very likely to succeed as Clan Head in the future. Naturally, the Hyuga Clan placed great importance on her third birthday.

Phew~

After considering it for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi instructed Kakashi, "Kumogakure's delegation will be arriving soon to establish an alliance. Help me deliver a generous gift to the Hyuga Clan."

"Yes, Third Hokage."

Leaf Village's top combat strength had been reduced to less than a tenth of what it once was. Hatake Sakumo had died because of rumors, Minato and his wife had died in the Nine-Tails Incident, and the Legendary Sannin had left Leaf Village one after another. This was undoubtedly its weakest period in recent years.

The only ones left in the village were a group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people.

Now that Kumogakure had taken the initiative to send people to establish an alliance, it was rare good news for Konoha.

Thus, Hiruzen Sarutobi took the matter very seriously. He had even warned Danzo in advance, afraid that the man would stir up trouble again.

"Leaf Village can no longer withstand any more turmoil..."

Inside Naruto Uzumaki's Sealing Space.

"Someone asked: 'What if one repays resentment with virtue?'"

"The Master said: 'Then what will repay virtue? Repay resentment with justice, and repay virtue with virtue.'"

Little Naruto sat upright and proper at his desk, holding a copy of The Analects as he recited aloud in a clear voice.

Beside him was a stack of books taller than he was.

At a glance, one could see Morality and the Rule of Law, The Analects, Three Character Classic, Konoha History, Ninja World History...

At this moment, Uzumaki Menma had changed into a long-sleeved robe with an old-fashioned style.

He held a ruler in his right hand, tapping it against his left palm with crisp smacks.

Suddenly, he stopped pacing and asked bluntly, "Question! What is the specific meaning of this sentence?"

Little Naruto raised his head slightly and answered confidently, "It means that if good deeds are used to repay evil deeds, then what should be used to repay good deeds? It is better to repay evil deeds with judgment and good deeds with good deeds."

"Very good!"

A smile had just appeared on Little Naruto's face at Menma's praise.

Then Menma abruptly changed the subject. "Do you remember the Morality and the Rule of Law I had you read yesterday?"

"..."

The smile on Little Naruto's lips froze instantly, but he still forced himself to mumble, "I should... probably... still remember it?"

"If someone robbed me of one hundred taels, how should you, as a Judicator, handle it?"

After thinking for a moment, Little Naruto said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, "...Make him return the original amount to you?"

But as a gust of wind cut through the air, he instinctively shrank his neck.

Smack!

"Ow!"

Watching Little Naruto theatrically clutch the back of his hand, Menma laughed and scolded him, "You rigid fool who only knows how to memorize without applying it! You can understand either The Analects or Morality and the Rule of Law separately, but once you put them together, you can't understand either?"

"When this saying from The Analects is applied to the rule of law, it shows that repaying resentment with justice is not a simple numerical equation. Actively robbing someone of one hundred taels and being forced to repay one hundred taels cannot cancel each other out. Beyond repaying the one hundred taels, additional punishment must be imposed for the wrongdoing."

"The development of human society is not a zero-sum process in which good and evil repeat themselves over and over. It is a process of suppressing evil and promoting good!"