"Is there anything else?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, somewhat surprised.
"Today, I saw the teacher's child," Kakashi said, his expression heavy.
After parting with Chiya, Kakashi hadn't returned to report right away. Instead, he'd gone to secretly observe Naruto.
The result had broken his heart.
Naruto lacked discipline and was shunned by everyone in the village.
Desperate for attention and recognition, he often resorted to playing pranks.
But rather than helping, they only made people dislike him more.
His finances were also dire. He was nearly going hungry, and for convenience, he ate instant noodles with little nutritional value almost every day.
Even the milk he drank was expired, because the villagers disliked him so much they would only sell him milk past its expiration date.
And Naruto himself had no idea.
His studies were an even greater disaster. With no parents to urge him on, he couldn't even get basic subjects like chakra right. Aside from the Transformation Technique, he knew nothing about the other Three Body Techniques.
It was hard to imagine how Naruto had managed to survive until now.
"Minato's child..." Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured thoughtfully.
He knew about Naruto's situation.
Danzo's malicious rumors had played a part, but it was mostly the result of Sarutobi letting things slide—or even tacitly approving them.
On one hand, after the Nine-Tails Incident, the villagers needed someone to vent their anger on and redirect their hatred toward.
On the other, as the Third Hokage, he had plenty of ways to ensure Naruto lived the way a hero's son should. Yet he'd still allowed the boy to end up in such a state.
That was because only when the whole village hated Naruto, despised him, and shunned him
would Naruto feel lonely and desperately long for recognition and affection.
Then Sarutobi Hiruzen would appear at just the right moment, give Naruto a hand, and provide the comfort he needed.
He would become the only person in Naruto's life to offer him warmth.
That way, Naruto would grow close to him, worship him, and even regard him as the sole light in his life.
Only then could the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki remain firmly under the Hokage's control.
"That child is having a terrible time. He eats instant noodles and expired milk every day. Lord Hokage, I want to make sure Naruto has at least the basic necessities," Kakashi continued.
"I understand. It was an oversight on my part as Hokage. This will never happen to Naruto again." Sarutobi Hiruzen still had no intention of letting Kakashi get close to Naruto. Instead, he played the victim as usual, took the blame upon himself, and made a promise.
Even if Naruto's living conditions were to improve, it had to be Lord Hokage himself who improved them. It might be a little troublesome, but he couldn't leave it to anyone else.
Hearing this, Kakashi was overcome with gratitude.
Without anyone noticing, Sarutobi Hiruzen had easily resolved a crisis of trust.
And he'd made Kakashi trust him, the "strongest Hokage in history," even more than before.
But if Chiya had been there to hear Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, he would have scoffed.
He would have thought:
Where were you before?
You had to wait for someone else to bring it up before pretending you were going to improve Naruto's living conditions.
And you're acting like you're the one being wronged.
If you'd used even one percent of the Fourth Hokage couple's inheritance, Naruto wouldn't have had such a miserable childhood.
Meanwhile, as Kakashi and the Third Hokage spoke,
outside Konoha,
Chiya had already returned to the mountaintop where he'd trained in ninjutsu with Kakashi.
Lightning crackled around his right hand.
At times, his whole body was enveloped in lightning.
At times, lightning gathered in his right hand and shot out as countless Senbon, piercing through the rock.
At times, it formed a Lightning Chain that bound and sliced apart everything around him.
At times, it took the shape of a dog that pounced on the rocks and smashed them to pieces.
At times, it took Chiya's own form, shifting through a dazzling array of shapes.
Finally, it became a sharp spear that pierced and sliced through everything.
These were all lightning-style jutsu Chiya had created by using perfect Lightning Release Chakra nature transformation and building on the Chidori techniques developed by Kakashi and Sasuke in the original story: Chidori Current, Chidori Senbon, Lightning Chain, Lightning Hound, Lightning Style: Shadow Clone, Chidori Sharp Spear, and more.
Before long, the mountaintop, once covered in rocks, had been left utterly devastated.
"With perfect Lightning Release Chakra nature transformation, combining it with the jutsu Kakashi and Sasuke developed in the original story to elevate Chidori was surprisingly easy. Looks like I can start working on Kekkei Genkai and even Kekkei Tōta next."
Looking at the devastated mountaintop, Chiya nodded in satisfaction and thought, System, open my status panel.
``` [Beep, opening the Lolicon Panel.]
[Host: Fujiwara Chiya
Gender: Male
Age: 12
Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan
Chakra Nature: Fire, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yin, Yang
Chakra Amount: 5 cards (up to 60 cards in Sage Mode)
Secret Art: Heavenly Steel Art (has reached the fifth level; comes with Body Protection Qi and Flash Step)
Ninjutsu: Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Three Body Technique, Body Flicker Technique, Summoning Technique, Chidori Series Jutsu. Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu, Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall.
Summoning Beast: Crow
Special Ability: Zanpakuto Kyoka Suigetsu (once an enemy has seen its initial release, it can act directly on their soul without disrupting their chakra, controlling their five senses, spiritual perception, and more. In the Naruto world, it can also control chakra perception.)
Genjutsu: Kotoamatsukami, Genjutsu: Sharingan, Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind, Genjutsu: Three Absolute Cherry Blossoms
Taijutsu: Konoha Basic Taijutsu, techniques inherent to the Heavenly Steel Art, Uchiha Style Shurikenjutsu, Kunai Throwing.
Chakra Nature Transformation: Fire, Lightning, Earth, Water
Inventory: Zanpakuto Kyoka Suigetsu, Kunai ×225, Shuriken ×311, some clothes, Space Storage Scroll ×5, Substitution Log ×39, River of Child and Mother Water ]
"After the technique advanced to the fifth level, my normal chakra amount increased to five cards. Sage Mode's boost also rose from tenfold to twelvefold. Looks like I'll never run out of chakra again," Chiya murmured to himself.
Just then, he sensed someone approaching at incredible speed. It was Kakashi.
He promptly took out his Zanpakuto and strapped it to his waist, then released Kyoka Suigetsu to alter the overall appearance of the mountaintop, making it look less terrifying and grotesque.
When Kakashi arrived, all he saw were three or four craters left by ordinary Chidori, along with the marks from the earlier lesson where he'd taught Chiya ninjutsu.
"I knew you'd be here." Kakashi glanced around and couldn't help praising him. "Looks like your chakra reserves are far greater than mine. Four Chidori in a day is my limit. You've used four or five, counting this morning, and you're still not even winded. I'm impressed."
"There are trade-offs. If the Sharingan weren't holding you back, Kakashi, I'm sure you wouldn't have stopped here." Chiya smiled and changed the subject. "Did you come looking for me for a reason?"
Kakashi nodded firmly, his expression suddenly serious. "Yes. The Hokage wants to see you."
Before you continue