Naruto, You Are the True Hero

"Naruto! You inherently evil little Uzumaki brat!"

"I will personally—"

Amid Nine-Tails's furious roars, Naruto directly withdrew from the Sealing Space. When he opened his eyes, he saw the ceiling of Konoha Hospital.

He looked outside at the sky. The sun was high overhead. Although he had fought Nine-Tails in the Sealing Space, time flowed differently between the two places. He had only been unconscious for an hour or two.

Perhaps because his strength had increased, he felt incredibly refreshed now. He did not feel the slightest shame over fleeing in the middle of battle.

What a joke. Nine-Tails was about to fire a third Tailed Beast Ball. That guy treated his ultimate move like a basic attack. Uzumaki Naruto could not do that. Even if Bishamonten could absorb Chakra, it still consumed Dojutsu. One Tailed Beast Ball was probably worth nearly several hundred Kakashis.

What Naruto had not expected, however, was that the Dojutsu of his Mangekyō Sharingan could recover as well. Was it because of the Uzumaki Clan's special physique, or because of Nine-Tails's Chakra?

Whatever the reason, it was already great that he did not need to worry about going blind.

He wondered whether absorbing Sharingan could increase his Dojutsu. If he absorbed Mangekyō Sharingan, would it directly turn into an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?

Naruto suddenly wanted to find an Uchiha who had awakened their eyes and test it out, but he quickly suppressed the thought.

He would soon turn six and enter the Ninja Academy. By that point, Uchiha Clan Massacre Night would be drawing close as well. When the time came, he could get a share of the spoils.

He would see if he could find an opportunity to absorb a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan. If he could truly gain an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, he would be able to use his ocular techniques freely, without the trouble of exhausting his Dojutsu.

But given the current situation, he first needed to find someone to test the effects of his ocular techniques on.

Who should I start with?

Naruto stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. After all, too many people had annoyed him over the years. Before Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, he might as well think it over.

The moment he left the Sealing Space, he sensed two sources of malice around him suddenly vanish through Nine-Tails's Malice Perception. Presumably, one had gone to notify Sarutobi Hiruzen, while the other had gone to notify Shimura Danzō.

But now, he no longer needed to curry favor with Sarutobi Hiruzen and that group of old farts like before. Back then, he had been too weak, so he had chosen to endure. Now that he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, he had at least some ability to flip the table. If he still acted as he had before, then would he not have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan for nothing?

Naruto continued thinking, like a college student deciding what to eat for lunch. If he chose this one, he would regret missing out on the other; if he chose the other, he would think this one was better. He was utterly torn.

Knock, knock, knock!

At that moment, someone suddenly knocked on the door. Before Naruto could respond, the door was pushed open, and Sarutobi Hiruzen walked in wearing his Hokage Hat, his face still carrying that kindly smile.

You really didn't need to knock first. Uzumaki Naruto could not help complaining inwardly.

"Little Naruto, how is your recovery?"

Naruto smiled. "Much better, Third Hokage."

"!"

Naruto's sudden change in address made Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart skip a beat. Though his expression remained kindly, Naruto could already sense the sudden increase in malice coming from him.

"Little Naruto, why aren't you calling me Grandpa Third anymore? Are you still feeling upset?"

You old fart, I'm only calling you Third Hokage to give you face. If I didn't, I'd call you straight into the grave.

Naruto wanted to say that, but he held back. He still planned to dig out a few more pairs of eyes in Konoha. Besides, the Sarutobi Clan seemed quite strong. Their bodily energy must be abundant. Absorbing them should greatly improve his physical constitution, right?

Sarutobi Hiruzen could not read minds, nor did he possess Nine-Tails's Malice Perception. Seeing Naruto's lifeless eyes, he assumed the boy had suffered a tremendous blow.

"Little Naruto, this isn't your fault. Many people in the village misunderstand you."

"Third Hokage, I really am the Demon Fox, aren't I?" Naruto lowered his head, trying his best to look dejected.

Why did acting suddenly feel harder?

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpened slightly as he said in a low voice, "Naruto, this is not your fault."

"But I really did turn into the Demon Fox just now."

Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent. After thinking for a moment, he let out a long sigh and said hoarsely, "Naruto, let Grandpa tell you a story."

"A story?" Naruto raised his head curiously, wondering what method this old fart planned to use to brainwash him with this time.

A nostalgic expression suddenly appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, grief and reminiscence mingling together.

"This begins with the Fourth Hokage. The Fourth Hokage was a very sunny, gentle child. Though he was shy by nature, he could also be stern and cautious when facing enemies. Even when he was at the Ninja Academy, I thought very highly of him..."

"..."

"Finally, during the Nine Tails Rampage five years ago, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life to seal Nine-Tails and save the village. He was hailed as the hero who protected Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen went on and on, talking the entire time about what an outstanding ninja Minato Namikaze had been, what a great Hokage he had been, and what a hero he had been for protecting the entire village.

Naruto could not help reflecting on everything he had experienced over the past few years. Minato Namikaze, what exactly had you protected?

His wife died, he died, his son became a rat everyone wanted to beat, and all his inheritance was taken away, leaving nothing behind.

The villagers of Konoha had never bullied Naruto because they believed he was the Demon Fox. They had never truly believed Naruto was the Demon Fox. They merely needed an outlet for their emotions. The losses Konoha had suffered after the Nine Tails Rampage were impossible to estimate. Someone had to bear responsibility, but the Fourth Hokage was dead, and the Konoha Higher-ups cherished their reputations. Naturally, Naruto became the target to bear the village's hatred.

When they saw that Naruto truly was the Demon Fox, there was nothing left in their hearts but fear.

"Naruto."

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly called Naruto's name, snapping him out of his thoughts. Naruto looked at the suddenly solemn Sarutobi Hiruzen with a puzzled expression.

"Although it was the Fourth Hokage who sealed Nine-Tails, you also carry the hopes of the entire village. If you had not become the vessel for Nine-Tails's seal, Konoha would not have the peace it enjoys today."

"Naruto, although I am the Third Hokage now, you are the true hero."

"?"

When I put out this question mark, it wasn't because I had a problem. It was because I thought you had a problem.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's brainwashing skills truly were no joke. He had nearly gotten Naruto's blood boiling. No wonder he was the Professor of Ninjutsu who invented the strongest genjutsu—Will of Fire.

Naruto immediately burst into tears and shouted, "Third Hokage, I'm Konoha's hero! I'll definitely make everyone 'acknowledge' me."

"I'll make everyone in the village the motivation for me to grow stronger!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction. Although Naruto had not changed back to his previous form of address, at least this Will of Fire had not diminished. It still burned fiercely.

"Since you want everyone's acknowledgment, you must first become a ninja. Once you graduate from the Ninja Academy, you can become a true ninja."

"I'll work hard, Third Hokage."

Naruto stared fixedly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes filled with longing.