At the funeral,
In the middle of the gravestone was a photograph of a golden-haired man with a gentle smile, like a sun that could warm people's hearts.
This was Minato's gravestone. He had been the fastest man in the Shinobi World, and during the Third Shinobi World War, just hearing his name had made people abandon their missions.
He had also been Konoha's youngest Hokage ever. But as of today, he had become a part of history.
Naraku's expression was downcast, but he quickly recovered. "I'll make history repeat itself."
Beside him, Kakashi was in even lower spirits. Naraku could understand why: he had already lost too many people close to him—his father, his comrades, and his teacher.
"Kakashi, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself for the village. He gave his life to protect it. As his student, you should carry on his will."
Just then, the Third Hokage approached, wearing his Hokage robes. His face looked somewhat aged.
Kakashi's expression shifted, and he bowed slightly. "Lord Third Hokage."
Unlike Kakashi, Naraku made no move, as if he hadn't even seen the Third Hokage.
Naraku hadn't had any particular issues with the Third Hokage before. In his previous life, he simply hadn't liked the character very much. But now, he felt differently.
He had begun to resent the Third Hokage.
Just as in the original story, the Third Hokage had hidden Naruto's identity and ordered that Naraku not be allowed to see him. Three days had passed since Naruto was born, and except for the first day, Naraku still hadn't seen his nephew even once.
He had tried to see the Third Hokage during that time, too, but had been turned away with one excuse after another. He hadn't even been allowed to meet with him.
Jiraiya had been just as baffled by this. He had even had a huge argument with the Third Hokage over it, but in the end, nothing had changed.
Though Naraku resented him deeply, he didn't dare show it—not yet.
Naraku believed that if the Third Hokage dared to keep him from seeing Naruto, he would just as readily dare to move against Naraku himself.
Naraku was in a bad position in Konoha. Minato was dead, Kushina was unconscious, and he was still young.
Over the past few days, Root shinobi had already come to "invite" him several times, hoping to recruit him.
Naraku had expected as much. Danzo had been eyeing him for a long time because of his Uzumaki Clan physique. Before, Minato's presence had made Danzo hesitate. But now...
Naraku thought about what might happen next.
"Sigh!"
The Third Hokage sighed and began, "Wherever the leaves dance, there will be fire. The fire's shadow will shine upon the village and cause new leaves to sprout."
"Naraku, Kakashi, do you understand?"
"Lord Jiraiya, I'm asking you to take me on as your student." In the hospital, Naraku bowed to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's expression flickered with surprise, but he soon replied casually, "Oh? You want to become my student."
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to become strong. I want to be a shinobi as powerful as you."
At that, Jiraiya's expression changed slightly, and his eyes grew serious. "Why do you want to become strong?"
As he spoke, he studied Naraku closely, as if hoping to hear a particular answer from him.
"Only strength can protect the people you treasure, and only strength can stop tragedies from happening."
"I want to pursue peace, too. I want to use my strength to help achieve it."
Naraku spoke with conviction. Of course, he had another thought he kept to himself: Only strength can help me take my nephew back.
One day, he would make a move against the Third Hokage.
But he couldn't tell Jiraiya any of that. Otherwise, forget taking him on as a student—Jiraiya might kill him on the spot.
When Jiraiya heard Naraku say he wanted to pursue peace, his eyes lit up. The legend of the Child of Prophecy resurfaced in his mind. He had always thought Minato was the Child of Prophecy, but now Minato was dead.
There was another candidate in Jiraiya's heart, though he had begun to doubt that person.
Could it be him? Looking at Naraku, Jiraiya finally nodded. "From today onward, you are a student of the Toad Sage."
"Thank you, Sensei Jiraiya."
Afterward, Jiraiya took Naraku to see the Third Hokage. He made it clear that Naraku was now his student and took the opportunity to warn Root to back off.
When the Third Hokage heard that Jiraiya had taken Naraku on as his student, he seemed delighted. He turned to Naraku with a kindly, grandfatherly expression and even agreed to let him visit Naruto regularly—as long as he didn't reveal Naruto's identity or acknowledge him as his nephew.
In the Third Hokage's eyes, Naraku becoming Jiraiya's student meant he was now one of his own.
"Thank you, Lord Third Hokage." In the Hokage Office, after the Third Hokage told him he could visit Naruto, Naraku put on an expression of gratitude.
"Sigh, Naraku." The Third Hokage sighed, then gestured for the Anbu to leave. He spoke with earnest concern.
"Though Naruto is your nephew, he is also a Jinchuriki. If someone with ulterior motives were to take advantage of him, it would spell disaster for the village. Do you understand?"
As he spoke, his gaze sharpened, and an invisible pressure filled the room.
"Old man..." Jiraiya frowned and was about to say something, but the Third Hokage silenced him with a look.
Jiraiya might already have been nearly as strong as the Third Hokage by then, but the latter was still his teacher, and Jiraiya had always maintained a measure of respect for him.
Even so, Jiraiya was just as disappointed in the Third Hokage as he was now.
That's a warning. No, it's a threat, Naraku thought to himself.
But his expression remained blank. He simply lowered his head and said, "Yes, Lord Hokage. I understand."
Seeing that, the Third Hokage said no more. "All right, you may leave."
"You can visit Naruto once a week," the Third Hokage added at the end.
After leaving the Hokage Office, Naraku went with Jiraiya to see Naruto.
In a central area of Konoha,
the symbol of three half-moons could be seen everywhere. It was the crest of the Sarutobi Clan.
Naruto was being cared for by members of the Sarutobi Clan. Naraku soon got to see him.
In a small room, Naruto lay curled up in his swaddling clothes. No one had revealed that he was a Jinchuriki yet, so the people here showed him no hostility, and no one had hurt him.
Seeing this, Naraku breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't go over to acknowledge Naruto; he only watched him from a distance.
Of course, Naruto probably wouldn't remember him at this age anyway.