Ignoring That You've Grown Up

"Cough, cough..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's old face turned red.

He coughed awkwardly twice.

The crowd fell silent again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite pleased. It seemed the prestige he had built up over the years still had its uses.

"All right, how about this? Naruto, when you get back, I'll find you a new house. Or you can pick one wherever you like."

"I'll also increase the amount of gold you receive each month."

"Konoha would never mistreat the orphan of one of its heroes!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi declared righteously.

If he didn't show some consideration,

the other ninjas around them would inevitably lose faith in the village.

That was the last thing he wanted to see.

Before he could train the next generation of successors,

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to see the village fall into further turmoil.

It had to be said,

Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions had won back some of the people's support.

"I knew Lord Third wouldn't abandon us frontline ninjas."

"Naruto, are you free tonight? Come have dinner at my place."

"Come to my house. By the way, Naruto, don't you like Ichiraku Ramen? I'll treat you with my own salary. How about unlimited Ichiraku Ramen for a whole week?"

"Just a week? You're so damn stingy. Naruto, come to my place. Eat as much as you want for a whole month! I'll cover the bill. We really do owe your family."

"..."

The crowd cheered loudly.

Now, Naruto was no longer some terrifying Nine-Tails in their eyes.

He was the Fourth Hokage's Son!

The child of their village's hero!

The child of a hero deserved to be treated accordingly.

Iruka looked at Naruto with mixed feelings.

At some point,

the barrier in his heart had disappeared without a trace.

Just as he'd thought before,

the one he hated was the Nine-Tails that had taken his family from him!

Not his innocent student, Naruto Uzumaki.

"All right, all right. Everyone, go on home!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

At his words, the crowd finally left, though reluctantly.

Their opinion of Naruto had changed completely tonight.

"Take the Scroll of Seals back to my room and put it away."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke to the Anbu members beside him.

"Yes, Lord Third!"

Iruka handed the Scroll of Seals to one of the Anbu members.

Then they took the scroll and disappeared into the darkness.

"Naruto, come here. Let Grandpa Third have a look at you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a kindly smile.

There was a faint note of guilt in his voice.

It wasn't that he didn't want to look after Naruto.

There were simply so many things in the village giving him a headache.

Like the Uchiha Clan's extermination not long ago.

For the greater good, sometimes sacrifices had to be made!

There was no right or wrong.

It was like how, without the Qin Dynasty's rise, the people of the Nine Provinces might never have developed such a deeply ingrained notion of unity!

Anyway, the old fox wouldn't hurt him.

Naruto boldly walked over.

"I'm sorry. I've had so much to deal with that I overlooked the fact that you've grown up."

"There are things I'd planned to tell you when you were older. Perhaps by then, I might no longer be alive."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rested a hand on Naruto's head, his voice sincere.

He was telling the truth.

One day, Naruto would learn who his birth parents were.

And the one who told him the whole truth then

probably wouldn't be an old man like him, already on his last legs.

Naruto could tell that Hiruzen Sarutobi meant what he said.

So he replied politely,

"You'll be fine, Grandpa Third. You'll live to be a hundred."

"Hahaha... I'll take your word for it. I'll have someone find you a nice house when I get back."

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed happily.

There was still a little sadness in his voice.

"Ah... Iruka, why don't you come along too?"

"I... Yes!"

Iruka froze for a moment, then hurriedly replied.

"That's enough for today, Grandpa Third," Naruto said.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked a little surprised. "What? Didn't you ask to pick out a new place to live?"

"I did... but it's too late now. How about tomorrow?"

"Oh, I see. Sorry, Naruto. Look at me, forgetting things again."

"How about this? I'll send someone over tomorrow morning to take you to pick out a new place."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

Tomorrow???

But I have school.

Besides, there's a lot I need to do when I get back. I've got plenty to plan in advance.

No time!

Naruto smiled. "Grandpa Third, just have someone find me a decent house. I have class tomorrow..."

"Ah, all right. You focus on your studies. Don't worry about the house or the other supplies. I'll take care of everything."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back."

"Hey, Naruto, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Come get some Ichiraku Ramen with your teacher."

Iruka suddenly spoke up.

Given how much trouble Mizuki had caused, there was no way Naruto had had time to eat along the way.

Even if he had eaten, he was probably hungry again by now.

Might as well take this chance to bring him out for a meal.

"Sure."

Why turn down a free meal?

To be honest, Iruka was a genuinely good guy in the story.

He really treated Naruto well.

Naruto agreed immediately.

There was no point sticking around with that old geezer, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He might as well go eat with Iruka, then slip back home.

"By the way, Grandpa Third, would you like to come too? Ichiraku Ramen is delicious."

"No, you two go ahead."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile was a little forced.

This kid really did think that kind of plain food was delicious.

It's my fault!!!!

"Then we'll be going, Lord Third Hokage."

"Mm. Make sure Naruto goes home early after dinner. It's getting late."

"Yes."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Naruto and Iruka disappear from view.

Only then did he look away.

His brow furrowed.

He murmured,

"The Anbu said they sensed the Nine-Tails' chakra and suspected the seal was weakening. Perhaps they were mistaken."

"But the most troublesome matter right now is still that Masked Man who brought the Nine-Tails here all those years ago!"

"Damn it. We worked so hard to bring about peace, and now the village is going to be thrown into turmoil again?"