"They..." Naruto frowned, his lips trembling slightly as though he wanted to say something, yet seemed hesitant.
"They're all Konoha's villagers. Once little Naruto has power, you must protect them."
The old man's voice was gentle yet firm. He lightly patted Naruto's shoulder and looked at him encouragingly.
Naruto nodded, a trace of bewilderment and confusion in his eyes.
His mouth opened and closed, but only a faint sound came out. "They..."
The old man smiled and patiently waited for Naruto to continue.
"They're all good people. Naruto was the one who did wrong before. They..." Naruto finally gathered his courage and voiced what was in his heart.
Yet his words came out haltingly, as though he were struggling to piece his thoughts together.
The old man listened quietly without interrupting Naruto.
He knew that this child was going through a difficult process of thought and needed time to understand and accept these ideas.
Before this, this kind old man had told Naruto about the actions and behavior of Konoha's villagers, teaching him to cater to them and protect them.
Little Naruto had believed the old man's words and constantly brainwashed himself. Regardless of whether something was right or wrong, his first reaction was always to protect the villagers and try to find fault in himself rather than question whether others were at fault.
Now, after Naruto finished recounting those words in fits and starts, he himself seemed not to fully understand what they meant.
His brows were still tightly furrowed, as though he were still pondering something. His lips kept moving as he tried to come up with reasons to justify his own words.
The sight made Sparkle, who stood to the side, ache with concern.
She looked at Naruto with heartache. This innocent, kind child had been so