The Path the Third Hokage Wanted Naruto to Take

"Is that so..."

The others in the classroom listened quietly to the lesson. No one noticed what was happening in the last row.

Even Iruka, who had always paid close attention to Naruto from the podium, seemed to have temporarily forgotten he was there.

"Y-you knew?"

Ryosuke's calm reply and expression left the tense, conflicted Naruto stunned.

But after a while, as though he had remembered something, he said, "Right, you're from the Hyuga Clan. You should know about it, but..."

From Third-sama, he had learned where the fox inside his body had come from—the Tailed Beasts.

The Tailed Beasts were ferocious creatures of immense destructive power, gods among beasts.

There were nine Tailed Beasts in the Ninja World, distinguished by the number of tails they possessed. The fox within him was called the Nine-Tails Fox Demon, the strongest of all Tailed Beasts—the god of ferocious beasts.

Because the Tailed Beasts' power was too great, the First Hokage sealed the nine of them and distributed them among the major ninja villages to maintain the balance of the Ninja World and prevent disaster from befalling it.

The Nine-Tails Fox Demon was the Tailed Beast obtained by the Land of Fire.

And he was the container of this generation, meant to imprison the Tailed Beast.

But why him? Why did Ryosuke know about this yet keep it from him? And why had Third-sama only explained it to him now?

So many questions surfaced in Naruto's heart, like countless large hands stirring up the restless unease that had plagued him since yesterday.

"We haven't known each other for long, but in my impression, you're a relatively rational person."

Naruto did not finish what he wanted to say, but Ryosuke understood. He explained softly, "In most matters, you can think calmly. But when it comes to certain specific issues, you're especially prone to being influenced by your emotions and making wrong judgments."

"You were afraid that after learning this, I'd react strongly? That I'd... affect the village?"

Naruto cut him off. His fist, already clenched tightly from tension, tightened further, while the chakra in his body churned violently with his emotions.

To be honest, ever since hearing the truth, he had been overwhelmed. It felt as if a flame were burning within him, ready to destroy all his reason.

He knew he should calm down, but he could not suppress that flame by himself.

With no other friends by his side, the lonely Naruto could only seek help from his deskmate, Ryosuke, who had always seemed so gentle.

"I wasn't afraid you'd affect the village. You wouldn't have the chance."

Seeing how agitated he was, Ryosuke did not seem concerned. He shook his head calmly. "You simply don't have the ability to affect the village. Even with that fox in your stomach, it's the same."

"Since that fox was sealed inside your body, that means the village has ways to control him."

"I was mainly afraid that after learning this, you would do something your future self would regret."

Ryosuke's voice was calm. Though it carried no Genjutsu, it somehow soothed Naruto's heart.

His tightly clenched fist loosened slightly.

Naruto did not quite understand what Ryosuke meant.

"First of all, do you think you are... an outcast?" Ryosuke asked again. His face appeared casual and gentle, but inwardly, he was already on full alert.

Ever since Naruto had arrived at school today, a prying gaze had lingered near them.

Unlike the distant observation from before, this time, Ryosuke could sense that the watcher was extremely close...

It was Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Others might not know, but Ryosuke knew very well who that gaze belonged to.

The Telescope Technique was a technique performed with the aid of a special ninja tool.

Its principle was that once one grasped a person's chakra characteristics, one could directly monitor them from afar.

Though its range was limited, this technique was definitely an A-rank or higher Sensory Ninjutsu.

And since it was ninjutsu, it would inevitably leave traces of chakra.

Ryosuke could detect that Hiruzen Sarutobi was nearby partly because the Byakugan enhanced his sensory abilities, but also because over the past month, he had grown somewhat accustomed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's chakra.

That was why he knew Hiruzen Sarutobi was nearby, hiding in the shadows and watching them—or rather, watching Naruto.

Perhaps since yesterday, when Naruto had pestered him until he had no choice but to tell him the truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi had secretly followed them until now.

If Naruto lost control of his emotions because of the truth during this process and was tempted by the Nine-Tails within him, perhaps he would immediately step in and suppress him.

"An outcast?"

Naruto laughed bitterly. "Am I not? After all this, am I still not an outcast?"

And when he said those words, Ryosuke could clearly sense that Hiruzen Sarutobi was standing outside the tightly shut classroom door, most likely leaning against the wall and listening to their conversation.

Because of Naruto's words, a trace of his aura leaked out. Ryosuke, who had previously only sensed his presence without knowing his precise location, now detected where he was hiding.

"It doesn't matter how others see you. What matters is how you see yourself."

Ryosuke dropped his calm demeanor, a warm smile appearing on his face. "First of all, you are definitely someone with independent thoughts, not some ferocious beast or god among beasts."

"You can see yourself as a prison, a tool used to imprison that savage beast. But you can also see yourself as a hero, someone who bears this responsibility in place of others."

"A... hero?"

Naruto seemed never to have considered that title. He could hardly believe it.

He did not think that title could apply to him. He had grown up being rejected by the people of the village. If someone was a hero, shouldn't it be someone like Third-sama, loved by everyone?

"I told you, what matters is how you define yourself and how you position yourself," Ryosuke continued, as though explaining his own thoughts.

"I remember... your dream is to become Hokage?"

In an instant, Naruto's even more confused and conflicted heart seemed to understand something.

Outside the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi's previously unsettled aura also seemed to stabilize along with Naruto's emotions and Ryosuke's words.

"Compared to those in other villages who go through their entire lives accomplishing nothing and never contributing anything to their village, from the moment you were born, you began shouldering the mission of protecting this village."

"The Tailed Beast inside you is indeed an immensely powerful being. Any wild rampage could directly wipe out a small country. But ever since you became his prison, our village has not suffered even the slightest loss because of him. That is what you have done."

Ryosuke raised a finger and pointed at Naruto.

"As things stand, those villagers do not know what you bear. They do not understand what a Tailed Beast is, because this is classified information. I think Third-sama has reminded you that your existence is very important to the village."

"Because of their ignorance and lack of understanding, they mock your dream and believe it is impossible. But what if one day they understand?"

"If they someday learn the truth of what you carry, would they agree to let you become Hokage?"

"...I."

Those few words deeply stirred Naruto's heart.

Light returned to his once-dull eyes. He felt his blood boil, already unable to wait for that day—for the sight of everyone gathering around him beneath the sunlight.

And those words also gave Hiruzen Sarutobi, standing outside the door, even deeper thoughts.