Questioning Hiruzen Sarutobi

His voice caught in his throat.

"Lord Hiruzen! We went to see him last night!"

"Do you know where he lives?"

"In a rundown apartment, with water leaking through the walls!"

"There's nothing in his fridge but expired milk and instant noodles!"

"He's only seven! He doesn't even have a decent pair of shoes!"

"Is this... is this how you treat the Fourth Hokage's son?!"

By the end, Kato Makoto was roaring.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood rooted to the spot.

His expression was calm, but his fingers had pressed an imprint into his pipe.

"This matter... is complicated."

His voice was somewhat dry.

"Naruto's identity needs to remain secret."

"If outsiders learn that he's the Fourth Hokage's son, he'll become a target for our enemies."

Kato Makoto froze.

"So... so you let him live in a place like that?"

"Let people call him the Demon Fox?"

"Let him grow up hungry?"

"Is that how you keep a secret?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not answer.

Utatane Koharu could no longer stand it and stepped forward.

"What do you know!"

Her voice was shrill.

"Naruto's circumstances are special. We did this to protect him!"

"How dare you come to the Hokage Building and make such a scene!"

Kato Makoto turned and stared at Utatane Koharu.

His gaze looked as though he wanted to tear her apart.

"Protect him?"

"Protecting him means making him drink expired milk?"

"Protecting him means letting the whole village call him the Demon Fox?"

"Protecting him means letting him grow up all alone?!"

"Tell me, you call that protection?!"

His questions left Utatane Koharu speechless.

Mitokado Homura frowned and was about to speak.

Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand to stop him.

"This matter... was indeed an oversight on my part."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low.

"I'll make arrangements for Naruto's living situation."

Kato Makoto stared hard at him.

"Arrangements?"

"What arrangements?"

"Now that the whole village knows Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's son, what arrangements do you intend to make, Lord Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a few seconds.

"I will... bring him to live with the Sarutobi Clan."

"I'll assign someone to look after his daily needs."

"From today onward, he'll receive the treatment he deserves."

Yet Kato Makoto laughed when he heard that.

It was a deeply bitter smile.

"Lord Hiruzen..."

"Do you know?"

"When we went to see Naruto last night, he was eating instant noodles."

"The cheapest kind."

Kato Makoto's voice was already thick with tears.

"The Fourth Hokage's child... lives worse than a beggar."

"Is this the Third Hokage's... Will of Fire?"

His words fell.

A deathly silence settled over everyone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally lost his composure.

His lips moved, but no words came out.

Just then, a voice came from the side.

"Well said."

Everyone turned toward the voice.

Uchiha En leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"I'm curious too."

"What exactly is this Will of Fire the Third Hokage is always talking about?"

His voice was quiet, yet it struck like a knife, piercing precisely where it would hurt most.

"As I understand it, the Will of Fire means..."

"You can abuse the children of those who died protecting the village however you like."

"The dead can't speak up anyway, right?"

At those words, the expressions of Kato Makoto and the others darkened further.

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and stared at Uchiha En.

There was a trace of anger in his eyes.

But Uchiha En merely shrugged, utterly unconcerned.

"I'm just telling the truth."

"Carry on. Don't mind me."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and did not respond.

He knew arguing with Uchiha En now would only make things worse.

He turned to Kato Makoto and the others, his voice heavy.

"I know you harbor resentment."

"I will take responsibility... for this matter."

"From today onward, Naruto will have a good life."

"I swear it in my name as Hokage."

Kato Makoto fell silent.

The people behind him fell silent as well.

Some unclenched their fists.

Some lowered their heads.

They all knew that pushing too hard now would do more harm than good.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still the Hokage.

But everyone had heard his promise loud and clear.

The smile on Uchiha En's face deepened. He knew the Third Hokage's authority had taken another blow today.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd spoke up.

"What about the Fourth Hokage's estate?"

The speaker was a middle-aged man wearing glasses who looked quiet and mild-mannered.

Yet everyone present heard his voice clearly.

"The Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki were both jonin, and the Fourth was also the Hokage. They must have left behind a substantial estate."

"Naruto is their sole heir. Where did that money go?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.

"That estate... is being held in trust by Konoha."

"It will naturally be given to Naruto when he grows up."

The man adjusted his glasses.

"Held in trust... then may I ask, has even a penny been spent on Naruto in these five years?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.

He could not answer that question.

Because everyone present knew the answer perfectly well.

Utatane Koharu could no longer stand it and spoke coldly.

"Those matters are handled by the logistics department. There may have been some mistake..."

"A mistake?"

Kato Makoto's voice suddenly rose.

"A mistake made the Fourth Hokage's son live on expired milk for seven years?!"

"Is this what you call the Will of Fire?!"

His voice echoed across the square.

Some of the villagers watching began to murmur among themselves.

"That's right... the Fourth Hokage died for the village..."

"But his son..."

"This is going too far..."

"I used to call that kid the Demon Fox too..."

Some voices carried a note of guilt.

Kato Makoto turned to face everyone in the square.

His voice was hoarse, yet full of strength.

"I, Kato Makoto, am making this clear today."

"From now on, Naruto Uzumaki is my child."

"If anyone dares bully him again, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

The former subordinates behind him straightened their backs as well.

"Count me in."

"Me too."

"And me."

Voices rang out one after another.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the entrance to the Hokage Building, watching it all.

His expression was calm, but the hand holding his pipe trembled slightly.

Uchiha En leaned against the doorframe, enjoying the spectacle.

He could not help marveling at how loyal and devoted the Fourth Hokage's former subordinates truly were.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had lost badly this time.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi found himself struggling to save face.

A voice came from the other end of the square.

"Uncle Kato!"

Everyone turned to look.

A blond-haired boy was running toward them.

His clothes were old, but reasonably clean.

His face was covered in tears. It was Naruto Uzumaki.

He ran up to Kato Makoto and stopped, panting.

Then he raised his head, looking at Kato Makoto before glancing at everyone present.

"Uncle Kato... you..."

"What you just said... is it true?"

His voice trembled.

"My dad... was the Fourth Hokage?"

Kato Makoto crouched down and reached out to pat Naruto's head.

His hand was trembling too.

"Yes."

"Your dad's name was Minato Namikaze."

"He was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha."

"He sacrificed himself to protect the village."

Tears rolled down Naruto's cheeks.

He sobbed hard, his shoulders shaking.

After all these years, he finally knew who his parents were. He wasn't the Demon Fox or a monster. He was the Fourth Hokage's son.

Kato Makoto pulled Naruto into his arms, his voice thick with emotion.

"Naruto... no one will bully you anymore."

"We'll protect you."

Naruto said nothing.

He only buried his face against Kato Makoto's chest and cried his heart out.

His cries echoed across the square.

Many of the people there had tears in their eyes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood motionless. From behind, he looked especially old in that moment.