The Third Hokage Panicked

"Two of these for me."

"Two of these as well."

"Take two of each of these and wrap them separately."

By the time Natsuki returned to Yachimata, Sasuke was buying clothes in a clothing store.

Naruto already had several bags in his hands, filled with shoes, pants, and more.

Waving a stack of bills, Sasuke directed the clerks back and forth.

As an Uchiha Clan store, they naturally recognized Sasuke, the Young Clan Head.

Their service was impeccable, not to mention that Sasuke spent lavishly, never haggled, and bought whatever he liked.

Bang! Natsuki knocked Sasuke on the head.

"Ow!"

"You brat, who shops like that?"

Sasuke pouted in dissatisfaction, then happily handed the items to Naruto and started chattering away with him.

It was not that Natsuki begrudged the money. The Uchiha Clan had vast wealth; they would not go broke no matter how many clothes they bought.

But he could not let Sasuke develop the bad habit of bossing people around.

Naruto gazed excitedly at all the clothes. These were things he had never even dared to imagine having before. Still, he felt a little embarrassed.

"Senior Natsuki, these..."

Natsuki waved his hand. "You're Sasuke's friend. Don't say anything else."

Naruto's eyes brimmed with tears, and he nodded heavily.

"Mm..."

"Greetings, Lord Natsuki." Besides the clerks, two Uchiha from the Police Force stood nearby.

"You two really have nothing better to do, huh?" The two Uchiha gave awkward smiles. Both Sasuke and Naruto had special identities; how could they not leave someone to watch over them?

Natsuki understood as well.

He looked at the sky and saw that it was already getting late.

Several Anbu stood on the rooftops along the street as well.

"It's getting late. Sasuke, come home with me. Naruto, you should head back early too."

"Oh, then can I come play with Sasuke tomorrow?" Naruto asked expectantly.

"Sasuke has things to do over the next couple of days, so he can't come out to play."

Seeing Naruto's disappointment, Natsuki smiled. "School starts in a few days. Won't you see each other then?"

"Hehe, yeah. School's about to start." Naruto grinned foolishly.

"Remember to wear your new clothes when you go register. It'll be a new beginning."

"Mm-hmm!" Naruto felt that this was the happiest, most blissful day he had had in all these years.

Natsuki beckoned to the side. "Kenichi Uchiha, escort Naruto home."

"Yes!" Kenichi Uchiha stood at attention.

"Senior Natsuki, there's no need to send anyone with me. I can find my way home," Naruto said embarrassedly.

Natsuki rubbed Naruto's head. "Be good. Go home."

"Okay, hehe." Naruto grinned foolishly again, hugging the clothes to his chest.

Kenichi Uchiha wanted to take Naruto's things, but Naruto refused to let him.

"Then I'm leaving, Senior Natsuki! Bye, Sasuke! See you at school!" Carrying so many things, Naruto waved with all his might.

Natsuki waved his hand. "Go on."

Sasuke waved back at Naruto too. He had never seen Naruto look so happy before.

"Come on, let's go home."

"Uchiha Natsuki said Kushina Uzumaki had once helped her, and that he only wanted Naruto to eat and dress better. He wanted Naruto and Sasuke to become good friends."

"According to the Anbu's surveillance along the way, Natsuki made no other remarks or movements."

The Third Hokage took a troubled drag from his pipe. He did not believe for a second that Natsuki was being so kindhearted.

As for Kushina having helped him, that had been who knew how many years ago. Who could tell whether it was true or not?

Kakashi hesitated before saying, "Natsuki also said that if Naruto came to feel the Uchiha Clan was better in the future, that would be Naruto's own business."

The Third Hokage frowned in thought. The Uchiha Clan as a whole had become increasingly distant from Konoha.

The Mission Center's figures showed that the Uchiha Clan's Mission Volume had fallen off a cliff.

Aside from there being fewer Uchiha ninja, the remaining Uchiha had become extremely conservative when accepting missions.

They had collectively lowered their mission ranks and refused all dangerous missions.

Whenever there was a compulsory mission, they took leave. Despite this, the Third Hokage had little he could do about it; people needed to repair their own homes.

He could not very well make them work for him when they did not even have a place to live.

Now that Natsuki had suddenly approached the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the Third Hokage was on high alert.

Was the Uchiha Clan preparing to rebel against the village as a group, perhaps even planning to abduct Naruto?

"Lord Hokage, Naruto has had a rather hard life these past years." Seeing the Third Hokage deep in thought, Kakashi could not help saying so.

The Third Hokage took another drag and asked, "Kakashi, are you blaming this old man for failing to take good care of Naruto?"

"Uh..." Though the Third Hokage's tone was not harsh.

Kakashi still bowed in apology. "Not at all. Lord Third Hokage must have had his own concerns."

The Third Hokage nodded. He still needed to keep Kakashi firmly on his side.

He explained to Kakashi earnestly, "Kakashi, you don't understand. When the Fourth Hokage died, everything in the village was in ruins and needed rebuilding. Many ambitious people in the village had differing views on how to handle the Jinchuriki. Some even wanted to imprison Naruto."

"I had to fight from many sides just to ensure Naruto would not be locked up forever."

"But someone leaked the fact that Naruto was the Jinchuriki. I could only spread word that he was the Demon Fox's son, to confuse matters."

"Many villagers lost family members during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, so he was always targeted."

"As for his identity as the Fourth Hokage's son, outsiders could not be allowed to know either. The son of a Hokage, and a Jinchuriki at that, would easily become a target of covetous eyes."

"But over these years, I often went to see him too, as a way to make up for what he had suffered."

By the end, the Third Hokage's tone had become sorrowful as well.

Hearing that the Third Hokage had endured so many difficulties, Kakashi could not help feeling guilty.

"I'm deeply sorry, Lord Third Hokage. I didn't understand the circumstances and even questioned you."

The Third Hokage waved his hand as though understanding. "Naruto is your teacher's son. I understand why you care about him."

"How about this? Naruto's life before was indeed too hard. Now that the Uchiha Clan's purpose in approaching Naruto is unclear, you should watch over Naruto long-term from now on."

"Other than when Naruto is at school, stay with him. You can prevent Uchiha Natsuki from carrying out any schemes. With you watching him, I'll be at ease."

Kakashi was overjoyed. Ever since hearing Natsuki's words, he had felt uneasy.

Now that he could watch over Naruto from nearby, Naruto would no longer be bullied in the future.

"Then, Lord Third Hokage, should I protect him in secret, or...?"

The Third Hokage considered it. "Find an opportunity to make contact with him. It would be best if you could become Naruto's teacher."

"Thank you, Lord Third Hokage." Kakashi thought the Third Hokage was looking after him by assigning him this job.

"You may go."

After Kakashi left, the Third Hokage sighed. Sending Kakashi to watch Naruto was also a reluctant measure.

After all, the Uchiha Clan had approached Naruto in this manner. If he did not send someone to watch him now, Naruto might truly be abducted.

And Kakashi was not only a standard supporter of the Hokage loyalists, but also capable and suitably placed. He was the best choice.