Seeing the Third Hokage Again

"Big Brother Kei! I heard you were hospitalized. What happened?"

Ueno Kei had just finished being examined by the medical ninja at Konoha Hospital when a loud voice rang in his ears. He didn't even need to look to know who it was.

Sure enough, a flash of yellow appeared in Ueno Kei's field of vision. It was none other than his only friend in the village, Uzumaki Naruto.

Naruto looked at Ueno Kei on the bed with obvious worry and concern. Aside from the Third Hokage, Ueno Kei was the only person in Konoha who was willing to talk with Naruto, smile at him, and play with him.

To the young Naruto, Ueno Kei was like family.

Naruto had even wondered if this was what having a father or an older brother felt like.

So when he couldn't find Ueno Kei at his house and asked a teacher at school, he became extremely anxious upon learning that Ueno Kei had been injured and hospitalized. He had even skipped class to come see him.

In truth, Ueno Kei hadn't suffered any serious external injuries. Just as Kurama Yakumo had said earlier, in a space that existed like an illusion, injuries might be real, or they might be unreal.

Overall, Ueno Kei was in fairly good shape.

His chakra was completely depleted, though, and his body was rather exhausted. After the fierce battle earlier, Ueno Kei was utterly worn out, both physically and mentally.

Ueno Kei smiled gently and ruffled Naruto's hair. "Don't worry, Naruto. I just had a little accident while training and got hurt. I'll be fine after a day or two of rest."

Ueno Kei didn't intend to tell Naruto what had really happened. After all, Naruto was still so young—only nine.

And with Naruto's carefree personality, Ueno Kei didn't trust him to keep it to himself.

Besides...

As soon as he heard Ueno Kei's explanation, Naruto relaxed completely. He folded his hands behind his head and laughed without a care. "Hahaha, you got hurt training? Big Brother Kei, you've still got a long way to go!"

Ueno Kei shook his head helplessly and gave Naruto a firm knock on the head. He knew Naruto's personality inside and out by now.

Well, that was just Naruto being Naruto.

"Heh, it's lively here so early in the morning. But Naruto, you should keep your voice down in the hospital."

As Ueno Kei and Naruto were chatting, an elderly voice rang out.

Ueno Kei turned toward the doorway.

The person standing there was Konoha's Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Ueno Kei was slightly taken aback. The Third Hokage? What's he doing here? No, wait. Ueno Kei reconsidered. What happened earlier was serious: Anbu were killed, the mission target died, and there was the Kurama Clan, among other things. It would be perfectly normal for the Third Hokage to speak with me, since I was involved.

That was what Ueno Kei thought. He couldn't really be blamed for jumping to that conclusion. Of everything that had happened recently, this was the most important matter, and he couldn't think of any other reason the village leader, the Hokage, would come looking for him.

But Ueno Kei hadn't considered that, even if the matter involving Kurama Yakumo was important, his account of what had happened could have been gathered by Yuhi Kurenai, another ninja, or even the Anbu. There was no need for the Third Hokage to come in person.

In other words, the Third Hokage hadn't come to see Ueno Kei solely because of Kurama Yakumo.

There had to be something else, something even more important.

Ueno Kei spoke with a hint of deference. "Lord Hokage."

Naruto, on the other hand, was still as carefree as ever—more accurately, he was being downright "rude."

"Hey, old man Third, what are you doing here?"

"Haha, Naruto, you're as energetic as ever." The Third Hokage held his pipe between his lips and smiled broadly. As he spoke, he reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair.

Naruto looked unhappy. "Hey, old man, don't mess up my hair every time you see me. You've got it all messy! Hey, are you even listening?"

Ueno Kei narrowed his eyes. Once again, he felt that there was something special about Naruto's status. Over the past few years, he had often wondered what Naruto's position in the village was. Everyone seemed to despise Naruto, yet they were also afraid of him.

The children in the village didn't show Naruto any obvious hostility, but because of their parents, they all avoided spending time with him.

Ueno Kei had guessed that Naruto's status was definitely special, and that it must be connected to some secret of the village. That would explain why everyone in the village acted so strangely toward him.

Once his suspicions had reached that point, Ueno Kei had decided not to investigate further. He understood his own position. This was far beyond anything he should get involved in. It was too dangerous.

Naruto had told him that the Third Hokage sometimes took time to visit him and even brought him nutritious food. The Third Hokage's behavior now only reinforced Ueno Kei's suspicions.

No leader of a country or village would pay attention to a child for no reason. Unless that child carried a huge secret—one that could affect the village's very survival!

Even so, Ueno Kei had no intention of asking questions. He hadn't befriended Naruto to pry into village secrets, and he wouldn't distance himself from Naruto just because other people despised him.

He and Naruto were friends, brothers. That was enough. Whatever happened in the future could wait until then.

These thoughts flashed through Ueno Kei's mind in an instant. Then his expression changed, and he immediately put on a stern face. "Hey, Naruto, how can you be so disrespectful to Lord Hokage?"

Naruto was startled at the sound of Ueno Kei's voice. A timid look crossed his face. From that tone, he knew his big brother was genuinely angry.

"I, I didn't mean it like that. I was just, just..."

"Haha, Kei, don't scare Naruto. He's always been like this, and I don't mind." Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily.

Ueno Kei looked at Naruto, who seemed to think he hadn't done anything wrong but was still afraid he'd angered him, and shook his head helplessly. Just as the Third Hokage had said, Ueno Kei knew Naruto's personality well. There was nothing to be done about it.

Ueno Kei's expression softened.

The Third Hokage continued, "Naruto, it's good to visit a friend who's in the hospital, but you shouldn't skip class. Your Iruka-sensei has been looking all over for you! Go back to class obediently for now."

The Third Hokage's voice was still gentle, but there was a hint of sternness in it.

Naruto hunched his shoulders slightly and pouted, muttering under his breath, "He's just an old man. What's so great about him..."

Ueno Kei heard Naruto's mumble and shot him a fierce glare.

Naruto jumped, then dashed out in a flash. "Well, I'm going to class now, Big Brother Kei. I'll come see you again after school!"

Ueno Kei blinked, then smiled helplessly.