Naruto Was About to Live on His Own

"Lord Hiashi!"

The Hyuga Clan Compound, the clan head's residence.

Seeing Hizashi standing so respectfully, Hiashi sighed inwardly. "Hizashi, there's no one else here. Just call me Big Brother."

"..." After a moment's silence, Hizashi finally spoke. "Big Brother."

"Mm." Hiashi nodded, then asked, "Did you come because of the new member who joined your squad?"

"That's right, Big Brother. Lord Hokage asked me to... It's just that there's tension between the village and the Uchiha... and then Danzo..."

After listening to Hizashi explain his concerns, Hiashi said, "Hizashi, remember what our clan relies on to hold its esteemed position in Konoha."

It's only the Main House that holds an esteemed position... Hizashi's expression didn't change. He continued listening respectfully.

"Remember, we Hyuga don't need to fight for power or take part in the struggles among the higher-ups."

"Whether it's the conflict between the village and the Uchiha, or the power struggle between Danzo and the Uchiha, none of it has anything to do with the Hyuga Clan."

"We only need to follow the current Hokage's orders and complete the missions he gives us."

"Other people's opinions of the Hyuga Clan don't matter. What matters is what the Hokage thinks of us."

"Hizashi, do you understand?"

What matters is what the Hokage thinks of the Hyuga Clan... Hizashi's pupils contracted slightly. Then he lowered his head and said, "Yes, Big Brother. I understand."

A week later.

"It's a little strange without Izumi-chan around..."

Sasuke strolled through the streets of Konoha, eating Three-Color Dango.

Although he was only two and a half years old, children in the Ninja World tended to mature early, and his parents already let him go out on his own.

After all, the Police Force belonged to the Uchiha, so they had nothing to worry about...

Uchiha Izumi had become a ninja, and she hadn't joined some newly graduated genin squad, so she wasn't going to stay in the village on missions like catching cats.

In fact, on her very first day, Hizashi had taken her outside Konoha, where she'd seen blood and killed someone.

Now, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's deliberate arrangements, she had gone with Hizashi Squad to the border of the Land of Lightning. The goal was for her to witness the horrors of war and experience the conviction and resolve with which Konoha Ninja defended the border.

That's right.

Though the Third Shinobi World War had ended four years ago, Konoha still had minor clashes with the Mist Ninja and Cloud Ninja along the borders.

Not long ago, Shisui Uchiha had distinguished himself in a battle against the Mist Ninja, earning the name Body Flicker Shisui.

If I remember right, the small-scale battles between Konoha and the Land of Lightning won't completely end for another six months or so.

That means Izumi's mission could last anywhere from a few dozen days to more than a hundred.

Thinking of that, Sasuke's mood dampened as he wandered around.

The first day without Izumi, and he already missed her...

Forget it. She won't die, anyway. Some battlefield experience will be good for her...

I'll head to the hospital and see if any ninjas have died today.

With that, Sasuke promptly returned home, then used the Levitation Technique to hurry toward Konoha Hospital.

He hadn't spent all these years doing nothing.

With his Soul Space, he was naturally a regular at Konoha Hospital.

Over the past two years, he had imprisoned quite a few souls and met plenty of tough ninjas.

But when he threatened their lovers, close friends, or children, none of them held out. They all caved with ease.

Of course, if they still refused, he wouldn't actually kill anyone...

So trying to provoke intense emotions or persuade them with kind words was a waste of time.

Threats were the right way to use the Soul Space. They were also the most direct and quickest way to obtain abilities!

But before Sasuke even reached Konoha Hospital...

"Damn you, Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"How could you do this to Naruto? He's only two and a half!"

Oh? More drama?

Sasuke immediately focused his attention on Cell No. 1. Kushina was clenching her fists, her teeth gritted in fury.

Even Minato Namikaze looked angry.

After getting in touch with the Spore Clone monitoring Naruto, Sasuke immediately understood what had happened.

Naruto was going to live on his own...

Sasuke recalled Hinata's memories in the movie. On the very day Hizashi died, she had escaped from the Hyuga Clan and encountered Naruto wandering around Konoha alone late at night. He had even escorted her back to the Hyuga Clan.

The fact that Naruto could wander around by himself at night meant he had been living alone for a long time.

Sasuke just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

It was already the end of March, which meant Naruto was still more than ten days away from turning two and a half...

The scene shifted.

"Grandpa Hokage, can I really live all by myself?"

Unlike Minato and Kushina, Naruto was excited when he heard the news.

In his mind, living on his own meant he had grown up and could go out to play.

At last, he wouldn't be stuck inside the house, looking out the window every day and envying the world outside and the children playing there.

And he wouldn't have to deal with those annoying, unpredictable people wearing animal masks anymore. How could he not be excited?

Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe and rubbed Naruto's head with a kind smile. "Of course. Naruto's all grown up and can live on his own!"

"That's great!" Naruto's face lit up at the confirmation. He looked out the window expectantly and asked, "Then, Grandpa Hokage, can I go outside and play?"

Children really did love to play. I hope he makes some friends... Thinking that, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with a smile. "Of course you can."

He had already arranged for Anbu to protect—and monitor—Naruto around the clock, so he wasn't worried that anything would happen to him.

"That's so great!" Excited by the confirmation, Naruto jumped up and down, then ran to the window. He gazed at the busy street before fixing his eyes on a swing nearby, where several children were playing.

"Grandpa Hokage, can I go out right now?"

He could hardly wait to go outside, play on the swings, and make friends.

"Of course." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then said, "But Naruto, you have to promise Grandpa that you won't bully other children, get into fights, or..."

"And don't play for too long. Come home on time and eat on time. Do you understand?"

Naruto readily agreed to everything Hiruzen Sarutobi asked of him. "I understand, Grandpa Hokage."

"Good." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with satisfaction, then took out a stack of silver ryō. "Naruto, you learned everything your teacher taught you last time, right?"

A while ago, he had arranged for someone to teach Naruto basic arithmetic, how to identify money, how to buy things, and how to budget his allowance.

Minato Namikaze and Kushina had thought Hiruzen Sarutobi had hired Naruto a private tutor. They had felt a little better about the Third Hokage because of it.

The lessons had seemed a little strange, but they had assumed Hiruzen Sarutobi was getting ready to let Naruto go out, perhaps even giving him pocket money, so they hadn't thought much of it.

But they hadn't expected it was all preparation for Naruto to live on his own.

"Mm!" Naruto nodded vigorously. "I've learned it all. The teacher even said I learn fast."

Hiruzen Sarutobi already knew Naruto had learned the material, though as for the teacher praising him... Well, never mind. He didn't dwell on it and handed over the money he had prepared. "Here, Naruto. This is for you. No one will bring you meals anymore, so remember to spend carefully. This is your food money for the month. Once you've spent it all, you'll go hungry."

He even gets living expenses?... Naruto's eyes lit up. He took the money excitedly. "Thank you, Grandpa Hokage! I definitely won't waste it!"

As he thanked Hiruzen Sarutobi and promised to be careful, he counted the money in his hands. Then he looked up in surprise. "There are really 3,000 ryō here? Grandpa Hokage, this is all for me?"

"Of course." Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed Naruto's head and reminded him, "But remember, Naruto, this is your living money for the month."

"You know how much you can spend each day, right?"

Naruto counted on his fingers. After a long moment, he looked up excitedly, surprise in his voice. "Grandpa Hokage, I figured it out! That means I have 100 ryō a day!"