At the Ninja Academy, Iruka stood on the training ground, looking at the distant Kage Rock.
On that enormous Kage Rock was carved the face of his student, who had graduated from the Ninja Academy only a few years ago.
"In just six years, I never saw that Yeyu would become Hokage so quickly."
"But the Third Hokage had already hinted at it on graduation day."
"I knew then that perhaps Yeyu would become Hokage. I just never expected it to happen so soon. Yeyu is only sixteen now, isn't he?"
"I wonder how Naruto is doing now. I'd thought Naruto would fulfill his dream someday, but instead, it was Yeyu, the least noticeable student in the class, who became Hokage."
"Naruto must be heartbroken."
"Still, Yeyu truly is remarkable. These past few years, Konoha has become better than before because of him, and the people in the village have been living much better too."
Iruka had a close relationship with the Third Hokage, so he had learned from him that Yeyu had handled the vast majority of Konoha's affairs over the past few years.
Iruka was proud of Yeyu as well.
It was just a pity that he had not paid attention to Yeyu back then.
That was perfectly normal. Teachers in a class always paid the most attention to the best students, the most disruptive students, or the students with the worst grades.
And Naruto was the most unusual, the most disruptive, and also the worst-performing student in the class.
The Third Hokage had once told Iruka about Naruto's identity, hoping that Iruka could be more understanding toward Naruto and take better care of him.
Iruka's parents had been killed by the Nine-Tails.
When Naruto first entered his class, Iruka had not thought highly of him, just like