Serve Me As King

Dusk had fallen, and the sky was exceptionally overcast.

Naruto landed beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, chest puffed out. "How was that? Am I strong?"

"You are," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded kindly. "What about me? How was I?"

"Passable," Naruto chuckled. "You did okay, fighting three people at your age."

"Naruto, help me up."

Naruto was already about as tall as Hiruzen Sarutobi. Now, the elder was hunched over, even shorter than him.

He slung the elder's limp, heavy arm over his shoulder. "You get weak after just one compliment. Eat more when we get back."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Take me back to the Hokage Tower."

Naruto jumped off the arena, which was still in chaos.

Might Guy kicked a ninja away, giving a thumbs-up with a flash of his white teeth in mid-air. "Lord Hokage is indeed the strongest!"

He then shifted his thumb towards Naruto. Even though Naruto had severely injured Rock Lee, who was now hospitalized, there was no denying Naruto's uprightness.

"Five more minutes! Go, Might Guy!"

Naruto helped Hiruzen Sarutobi out of the arena, walking at a steady pace. At first, the elder could still move his legs, but later, Naruto almost carried him, only his feet moving.

"Does that forbidden jutsu consume so much chakra? Old man, you're not going to live for many more years, are you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the Shinigami who had been following them. "Perhaps not many years."

Naruto felt a chill and quickened his pace. Before the sun had set, they entered the Hokage Tower. He placed Hiruzen Sarutobi on the sofa where he usually sat, the one with the crystal ball.

"Isn't Konohamaru home?"

Naruto: "He should be at school. He came to find me on the way to the arena this morning to cheer me on."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a pang of regret. He used what little chakra he had left to pour into the crystal ball, activating the Scrying Jutsu.

The orb showed a group of boys and girls huddled in a shelter. He couldn't help but smile.

"It's a shame I can't hear them."

The scene shifted to a man who looked like an ape, his sideburns and beard forming a complete circle. He wore knuckle dusters and was fiercely battling a group of Sound Ninjas, his blows powerful, sending them flying with each punch.

It was his second son, Asuma, the instructor for the new generation of Ino-Shika-Cho.

"Naruto, what do you think makes a good Hokage?"

Naruto frowned. "Old man, you're not going to give your last words, are you? I don't want to hear them."

"I am dying."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lay back, his gaze unfocused. "The jutsu I just used is called the Reaper Death Seal. It originates from your Uzumaki Clan. By making a contract with a Shinigami, you seal your target and your own soul as a sacrifice."

Naruto was silent for a moment. "I think a Hokage with the power to be a dictator is a good Hokage. You have the power, but you're too soft."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was astonished. He hadn't expected Naruto to answer like that.

"For example, today, besides me, no one came to save you," Naruto continued. "If you had been tougher in the past and ordered that anyone who dared not come to your aid when you were in danger would be killed once you survived, do you think they would have dared to hide?"

"If you rely on favors, you have to meet someone with high moral standards like me. How many people like that are there in Konoha? Most of them are beasts."

Hiruzen Sarutobi choked, unable to catch his breath.

Naruto waved his hand. "Enough said. Do you have any inheritance or anything you can give me? Like that Monkey King's Adamantine Staff you just used, I quite like it. Leave a copy of the contract."

"I was trying not to make you sad, holding on!" Hiruzen Sarutobi patted his chest. "I wanted to leave that for Konohamaru..."

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had always treated Naruto like a grandson, there was still a difference between closeness and distance. Even his own son had his preferences.

"Damn it, you've truly disappointed me." Naruto turned to leave.

"Wait! Naruto! I still have something to say..."

"There's nothing more to say. My heart is broken." Naruto stopped at the doorway, his back slumped, his voice filled with sorrow.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt like he truly deserved to die, having disappointed the last child who accompanied him in his final moments. He shakily raised his hand. "The contract is in the third layer of the secret compartment on the right bookshelf in my study..."

"Third Grandpa!" Naruto walked back, tears in his eyes, and clasped Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand, his emotions genuine or feigned.

"Don't worry, I'll find a more suitable summoning beast for Konohamaru. The Adamantine Staff is suited for someone strong like me. He's too thin; he won't be able to handle it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought it made sense. A faint smile touched his withered face. "Naruto, you truly are a good child."

"Naturally."

Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled to raise his hand and place it on Naruto's head. He wanted to pat him but had no strength left. "Didn't you aspire to be Hokage since you were little? If you truly become Hokage, how will you rule Konoha?"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to rest in peace if I tell you," Naruto hesitated slightly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gently shook his head. "Don't worry, Grandpa can accept anything because I believe in your character."

"I will command Konoha to offer absolute loyalty, make the ignorant villagers obey my supreme will and wisdom, and worship me as their king!"

Naruto's tone was fervent yet calm, as if he were talking about ordering a bowl of his favorite Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen for dinner.

"You! You? You..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's small eyes widened sharply, his age spots turning gray. His throat bobbed, and it looked like he wouldn't be able to catch his breath.

Naruto quickly slapped his chest, stimulating his lungs, which finally allowed him to cough out some air. "Don't rush, don't rush. Ask your questions slowly."

"Naruto... why do you think that way? Konoha... everyone is family, we should coexist equally and discuss matters together..."

Naruto pressed his chest while channeling Chakra and said, "I have wisdom, they don't. If I still discuss things with them, wouldn't my brain be sick? Equality is based on having the qualifications for equality. If a person and a dog are eating at the same table, the dog at least needs to be loyal, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's already dizzy head was completely bewildered, but Naruto spoke smoothly and logically, making him feel there was some truth to it.

Konoha would eventually belong to the new generation. Perhaps the old system was simply not suitable for the people of the new era.

His eyes slowly closed, closed, and the Shinigami's pale hand pressed down on his head.

Thump! Thump!

Hiss~

His eyes opened again, and he saw Naruto forcefully pressing his heart, Chakra surging from his palm to restart his heart.

Even the Shinigami's hand couldn't stop, as if fearing something.

"Third Grandpa!" Naruto said, tears welling up in his eyes, "Is there anything left for me? Don't leave so quickly, you're the Hokage after all, with a big family and a large fortune. Anything is fine, I'm not picky."

"You're like a poor child who's had enough of suffering," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a lingering smile, "There's a list under the will in my study drawer. Take whatever you fancy, and be quick about it."

"Will?" Naruto stopped his hand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi touched his Samurai Armor and said, "Wearing armor under the Hokage Robe, ha, I was prepared long ago."

With that, he breathed his last.

The Shinigami ripped out his soul with a claw, cut off his head with a dagger, stuffed it into its fanged maw, and swallowed it whole, its four faces rippling beneath its burial shroud.

Naruto vaguely saw a phantom image, reaching out to touch the air, but felt nothing, unsure if he had made contact.

He straightened the old man with the white goatee on the sofa, resting his arms on the armrests.

He walked into the Hokage's study, picked up the will, a letter sealed with wax and stamped with "Hiruzen Sarutobi." The recipient was not him, and he didn't open it.

He picked up the list and, with red eyes, began to rummage through things.

By the time he reached the rooftop of the Hokage building, the sun had just set. Looking at the four faces on the Hokage Rock, he couldn't help but want to laugh.

All inside the Shinigami's belly.