Dawn had just broken.
Naruto appeared at the Third Training Ground with dark circles under his eyes.
He had arrived early.
So early that dew still clung to the blades of grass, and birdsong was the only sound around the Training Ground.
But he did not shout and make a fuss like usual.
He simply stood before a wooden post and drove his fist into it again and again.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
His fists quickly turned red.
Yet he acted as though he felt nothing.
What had happened last night was like a ball of fire lodged in his chest.
Nine-Tails.
Fourth Hokage.
Kushina Uzumaki.
Masked Man.
Monster.
Container.
Father.
Mother.
Those words were a tangled mess in his mind.
He had always thought that nobody wanted him.
But the Third Hokage had told him last night that it was not that nobody wanted him.
His parents were dead.
They had died to protect him, and to protect the village.
Naruto did not know how to describe that feeling.
Should he be happy?
Because he finally knew who his parents were.
But he could not bring himself to be happy.
Because they were already dead.
Should he hate the village?
But the Fourth Hokage had died for the village.
Should he hate Grandpa Third Hokage?
But when Grandpa Third Hokage had said he was sorry last night, he had looked older than ever.
Naruto could not figure it out.
So he could only keep punching.
Thud!
The wooden post trembled slightly from the blow.
"That's not how you use your fists."
A voice came from behind him.
Naruto whirled around.
Shin-getsu stood at the edge of the Training Ground, the hem of his black clothes stirred by the morning breeze.
His eyes were not activated, and he looked no different