Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the past.
A trace of guilt appeared on his face.
Just as Naruto had said.
Those of them who had been fortunate enough to survive owed the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, far too much.
They had not only failed to help the couple care for their young son.
Some had even treated him like a monster.
Someone who had destroyed the village.
Thinking about it now, Naruto wasn't the one to blame.
It was they, the shinobi who judged people through biased eyes!
They were the most despicable and shameless ones of all.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was still Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The older, the wiser.
He had seen all sorts of things happen in the village.
After a fierce inner struggle.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his guilt and asked, "Naruto, who told you that the Fourth Hokage is your father?"
That's right. Compared to Naruto's tragic past.
This was what concerned Hiruzen Sarutobi most right now!
He remembered having given an order.
No one in the village was allowed to mention this to Naruto.
But someone had broken that rule.
One thing at a time.
What deserved reward should be rewarded, and what deserved punishment should be punished. One did not cancel out the other.
Naruto said, "I figured it out myself."
As soon as he said that.
Everyone was dumbfounded again.
Were kids these days all this smart?
No.
The era of young genius shinobi like Itachi Uchiha was already over.
It wasn't wartime.
Where were they supposed to find so many shinobi who were geniuses from childhood?
Besides, Itachi Uchiha had been influenced by his family environment.
But you, Naruto, were always getting into mischief.
You had no parents to teach you.
How could you possibly have become so smart?
Strange... far too strange!
Not a single person believed what Naruto said.
Heh... You figured it out all by yourself, kid?
No adult told you?
Who do you think you're fooling?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression suddenly turned serious. "Naruto, it's not right to lie sometimes."
He had no intention of punishing Naruto.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to punish the person who had let the secret slip.
Tch.
That old man was this old and still thought he could trick me?!
What a joke.
Naruto's expression was earnest.
"Grandpa Third, I really did figure it out myself."
"You once let me go to your office, right?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, neither confirming nor denying it.
That had indeed happened.
Everyone's gaze turned to Naruto.
They wanted to see how he had figured it out.
Naruto continued, "All right, there was a photograph on your desk, wasn't there?"
"A handsome man with blond hair—the Fourth Hokage."
"I've observed the village for a long time. He's the only person with blond hair."
"Of course, that alone doesn't prove everything."
"The Nine-Tails rampage happened at the same time I was born. How do you explain that?"
"Coincidentally, both my parents died in battle. And why have some of you been calling me a stinking fox since I was little?"
"Put all these things together, and it doesn't explain everything!?"
His tone was calm.
As if he were talking about something ordinary.
But this was no ordinary matter!
Everyone was left speechless.
Naruto's reasoning was airtight.
He might as well have thrown the evidence right in their faces!
Evidence? Heh...
Wasn't the Nine-Tails Demon Fox sealed inside Naruto already all the evidence they needed?!
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi's weathered face seemed even older.
It was true that he was the Hokage of Konoha.
But being Hokage wasn't easy.
He was old, he had seen a lot, and he had tasted every kind of joy and sorrow.
The Fourth Hokage had died fighting the Nine-Tails.
The village had been left without a leader overnight.
With half his body already in the grave, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to take up the Hokage position again.
There were all sorts of matters in the village.
They needed attention on every front.
It took a great deal of thought.
When Naruto revealed the truth about his background.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt there was no point in being Hokage anymore.
He had failed Minato Namikaze and his wife!!!
When he died, he wouldn't even know what expression to wear when he faced them down below.
They entrusted you with their child, and this is how you took care of him?
Hiruzen Sarutobi often had nightmares.
Sigh... It was hard to put into words...
"Naruto, is there anything you want?"
"Just tell me. If it's something we can do, Konoha will do everything in its power to make it up to you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a deep sigh.
His hair was white with age.
His weathered face was covered in wrinkles.
No one knew how many years he had left to live.
He might as well make it up to the boy while he was still alive.
Then, when he went down below, he could give Minato Namikaze and his wife a proper explanation.
At least it wouldn't be so embarrassing.
That would count as making amends.
Naruto didn't hold back and stated what he wanted.
"Grandpa Third, my place is awful, and the food is even worse."
"I'm not old enough to become a Genin, so I can't take on missions."
"The monthly assistance I get is pitiful. I practically live on instant noodles every day. Sometimes they're even expired, and I've ended up malnourished and underdeveloped."
"I want a better place to live, and I don't want to keep getting by on instant noodles with no nutritional value."
In short, I want a nice place to live.
I want enough money and other material things to make me happy.
After all, my dad was the Hokage.
My dad saved the lives of everyone here.
You should all repay me at least a little.
It wasn't that Naruto couldn't earn the money himself.
Come on, he had all sorts of entertainment ideas from his previous life.
Most people in this world devoted their energy to mastering ninjutsu and completing missions.
Bringing entertainment from his previous life here would make him a fortune.
Even if that didn't work, with his current strength.
He could easily make money by taking a few missions.
But he was sick of these ungrateful bastards.
Every last one of them was stingy as hell.
They were always giving him dirty looks.
Who the hell did they think they were???
Believe it or not, one Tailed Beast Bomb would reduce you all to ashes.
Fortunately, after Naruto said all that, the crowd's consciences stirred.
They turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi with guilty looks.
Someone in the crowd spoke up first.
"So the son of a hero gets treated this badly... Who'll be willing to become a hero for our village after this?"
The others immediately began whispering and chattering.
"Exactly! When I get home, I'm going to tell my son to find another line of work. You risk your life for the village and this is what you get."
"Yeah... It's terrifying. You never know when you'll die on a mission. I've got a wife and kids at home, and if the higher-ups don't pay compensation, what's the point of risking my life for this village?!"
"Sigh... It's hard to be a good person these days..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face grew darker and darker...
I'm not dead yet.
Could you whisper a little more quietly?!!
Besides, I've already realized how serious this is.
I'll change, all right?!
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