Hiruzen and Naruto's First Meeting

The Pure Land.

After watching young Naruto in Konoha...

Hashirama Senju was furious. "I've been far too naive all this time."

"Madara was right. What era of peace?"

"A village that big couldn't even make room for one child."

"Even though I lived through the Warring States period, I never imagined a child today could suffer more than the children back then."

Beside him, Tobirama Senju could only stay silent as he watched his elder brother's anger.

He asked himself, Was I wrong to choose Monkey as the next Hokage?

Or did I die too soon, and the Monkey I knew changed after I was gone?

In the end, Tobirama Senju could not hold back. "Monkey, and my other three students..."

"You've all disappointed me."

Tobirama Senju was sharp enough to realize that all four of his students might have changed completely.

He swore to himself, You'd better hope I never get another chance to return to the Shinobi World.

The Light Screen overhead.

The video shifted once more.

The mournful music changed to a tearful rendition of "I'll Warm You a Cup of Milk Tea."

Its heartbreaking melody drifted in, note by note.

I'll warm you a cup of tea.

When darkness falls, don't forget to come home.

The dim road came into view again, revealing little Naruto, battered and bruised.

Exhausted, little Naruto took another step forward.

The dark road gave way once more to a glowing stretch of water.

Drip...

The scene overhead changed again.

After enduring the coldness and hatred of Konoha's villagers...

Little Naruto no longer had the courage to leave the quiet forest.

His small figure appeared among the trees.

Hunger drove him to search desperately for something to eat.

He searched the silent forest for food.

But no matter how long he looked, he found nothing.

By then, he was weak with hunger.

His strength suddenly deserted him, and his vision went black.

He collapsed helplessly into the grass.

After lying unconscious for a while, hunger woke him again.

All he could do was look at the wild grass before him.

He had no strength left to search for food.

With great difficulty, he raised a hand and pulled at the grass.

It took all he had, but he finally managed to uproot some.

Without another thought, he stuffed it into his mouth.

The moment it touched his tongue, he tasted it.

So bitter, so astringent. The sharp blades cut at his mouth.

But little Naruto was too hungry to stop chewing.

At last, he forced it down.

Day gave way to night.

Little Naruto sat alone, struggling to chew the grass in front of him.

After eating it, he finally regained a little strength.

He struggled to his feet among the weeds.

But after only a few steps, pain shot through his whole body.

The injuries from the villagers' beating days earlier had not healed.

And he had gone so long without a proper meal.

Little Naruto endured the pain.

Step by painful step, he made his way to the river.

He drank the river water in great gulps.

With his stomach full, little Naruto lay back comfortably in the grass.

His young face tilted upward, his blue eyes shining.

He gazed at the moon and murmured, "The moon's so pretty."

But when he was about to say more, he realized there was no one beside him.

Little Naruto lowered his eyes sadly once again.

Then he returned to the river.

That was when he noticed all the fish swimming in it.

At last, a smile spread across his face.

For the first time in a while, little Naruto felt joy from the bottom of his heart.

He jumped into the river and began catching fish.

He failed again and again, but he refused to give up.

Finally, little Naruto caught one.

He was so happy that he forgot all about the pain in his body.

He bounced up and down on the spot.

Little Naruto took the small fish he had worked so hard to catch.

He carefully set it on the grass, then jumped back into the river to catch more.

The quiet forest was no longer silent now that he was there.

Little Naruto's delighted cries filled the trees.

Several hours passed.

Little Naruto caught six fish and built a fire.

He skewered them one by one on branches and set them beside the flames to roast slowly.

Naruto took off his river-soaked clothes and struggled to wring them out.

When he was done, he sat by the fire to warm himself.

A little while later...

Little Naruto saw that the fish were finally cooked.

Then...

He eagerly picked up one of the roasted fish.

He took bite after bite.

As little Naruto ate...

An old man with white hair suddenly appeared before him.

That white-haired old man was none other than Konoha's Third.

Little Naruto had been enjoying his meal.

The old man's sudden appearance startled him.

He asked cautiously, "Um... who are you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured him gently. "Don't be afraid. I'm just an old man passing by."

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to notice something.

His expression went blank as he looked at the roasted fish beside the fire.

Why is Naruto out here catching fish to eat so late at night? he wondered.

Naruto stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had fallen silent.

The sorrowful music in the video continued to swell.

Suddenly, Naruto thought he understood the old man.

He figured the old man must be just like him.

He had no money for food, so he had come to the river to catch fish.

Certain he understood, little Naruto did not hesitate.

He picked up a freshly roasted fish from beside the fire.

He held it out to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Grandpa, would you like some fish?" little Naruto asked cautiously.

Hiruzen Sarutobi replied quietly, "Oh, is that for me?"

Without answering, little Naruto held the fish closer to him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took it. "Haha, thank you so much."

Looking at the fish in his hand, he said, "Wow, this looks delicious."

Little Naruto replied shyly, "Of course it does. I caught them all myself just now."

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi still had not taken a bite, little Naruto reminded him, "Eat it while it's hot, Grandpa. It won't taste as good once it's cold."

Guilt filled Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes as he looked at the thoughtful little boy.

But faced with little Naruto's innocent kindness, he quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

He put on a look of surprise and accepted the fish from little Naruto.

Then Naruto and Hiruzen Sarutobi both began to chuckle.

"Hahaha..."

The two of them ate their roasted fish together, laughing as they did.