Sarutobi Clan is a wealthy family, and Land of Fire was already a famous wealthy family before Konoha was established.
They had a brief cooperation with Senju and sealed Uchiha Hikari.
Later, when Senju and Uchiha founded Konoha, they took the initiative to join Konoha.
The area of Uchiha Homeland of Sarutobi is even greater than that of Uchiha Homeland of Hyuga.
"Dong dong dong."
The unhurried knock on the door was particularly clear in the Sarutobi Mansion quiet night.
This is the home of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi. At this time, the old man has probably finished his official duties and returned home.
There was a burst of hurried footsteps in the courtyard, accompanied by a rich and slightly impatient male voice. "Come on, come on! Who is it, it's so late..."
The door was opened with a "squeak".
Standing inside the door is none other than Third Hokage's son, Asuma Sarutobi.
He also had a cigarette in his mouth.
The pipe Third smokes is Konoha's most frequent smoker; the cigarettes Asuma smokes is Konoha's most frequent smoker.
Just now, Asuma was in the study room discussing with his father Third Hokage the details of his future marriage to Kurenai Yuhi.
However, when he saw the two people standing outside the door, he almost dropped the cigarette in his mouth.
The impatience on his face instantly froze and turned into a blank space of astonishment.
"It's Ming..."
He subconsciously wanted to call out Naruto's name.
But as soon as the words came out of his mouth, they got stuck in his throat.
Asuma's eyes were involuntarily captured by the scene in front of him.
Under the dim light of the eaves outside the door, two people stood.
The one in front, Long Hair in the center of Golden, wears a clear and eye-catching Konoha Forehead Protector on his forehead, Blue Eyes's eyes are still bright in the night - it is Naruto Uzumaki, he knows it.
But next to Naruto, Girl, who was holding his hand carefully and standing timidly behind...
Even in the dim light, Red Eyes Long Hair looked slightly messy. His thin body was wrapped in shabby clothes. His purple Red Eyes eyes were full of uneasiness and fear, but there was also a hint of tenacity and vitality similar to Naruto.
One has blond hair and one has red hair.
The two Young Naruto girls stand side by side. Although they have very different temperaments and age differences, the side-by-side posture, the sharp contrast of hair color, and the actions of Naruto subconsciously protecting Girl...
Asuma's pupils expanded slightly, and the scene in front of him had a surprising overlap with a scene that had long been etched deep in his memory.
He seemed to see the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze who also had dazzling blond hair and a sunny and warm smile more than ten years ago, and the red-haired Kushina Uzumaki beside him, who had a fierce yet gentle personality, standing together and smiling at him gently...
That was the most dazzling and regrettable scenery Konoha has ever seen.
"..."
Asuma opened his mouth, but found that he was speechless for a moment.
The cigarette in his mouth slipped silently and fell on the floor tiles at the door without even noticing.
Naruto looked at Asuma's stunned look and asked, "Teacher Asuma, is Grandpa Third at home? I have something very urgent and important to see him for."
Karin was even more uneasy by Asuma's blank gaze. He subconsciously shrank behind Naruto and held Naruto's hand tighter with his little hands.
Naruto's voice brought Asuma back to reality from his brief trance.
He blinked sharply and looked again. In front of him were still Naruto and the strange Red-Haired Girl, not the long-dead couple.
But the shock in my heart caused by the overlapping scenes could not subside for a long time.
Asuma bent down to pick up the cigarette on the ground, took a deep breath, suppressed the turbulent emotions, turned sideways and opened the door, and his face became serious:
"Come in. The old man is in the study."
His gaze stayed on Karin for a moment longer, with probing and lingering complexity in his eyes.
"This is...?"
"Her name is Karin."
Naruto led Karin into Hiruzen Sarutobi's courtyard with a solemn tone.
"He is the orphan of the Uzumaki Clan. Teacher Asuma, things are a bit complicated. I must see Grandpa Third immediately."
Asuma No more questions.
Naruto With such an attitude and wording, it is obviously not a trivial matter.
He nodded immediately. "Okay, come with me."
He turned around, motioned for the two of them to follow, and at the same time shouted into the house, "Old man! Naruto is here, it's urgent!"
Sarutobi Mansion The interior is in traditional Japanese style.
But no one cared to take a second look at it at the moment.
Asuma led the two of them through the softly lit corridor and went straight to the closed door deep inside the Mansion, which belonged to Third Hokage's private study.
A bright light shines from under the door, showing that the owner is indeed not resting yet.
Walking to the door of the study, Asuma stopped, looked back and glanced at Karin, who was nestling tightly beside Naruto, looking awkward and uneasy, then looked at Naruto with a firm expression, and added in a low voice:
"The old man has been busy all day. He just finished talking to me about some things and is a little tired. But since he is the person you brought... he will definitely meet him."
After saying that, he raised his hand and gently knocked on the heavy wooden door of the study.
"Old man, Naruto said he has something important to tell you."
Asuma's voice came through the door panel.
In the study room, the sound of flipping through documents stopped.
After a short silence, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's steady and slightly tired voice sounded:
"Come in."
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his sore eyes and cast his gaze casually at the door of the study, ready to see what news Naruto brought when he arrived late at night.
The door was gently pushed open by Asuma from the outside.
Naruto held hands with Karin and walked in.
When the two figures completely fell into Hiruzen Sarutobi's sight.
Third Hokage, who had gone through countless trials and tribulations and had already cultivated to the point where the mountain collapsed in front of him without changing his expression, suddenly froze in his movements.
His hand rubbing his eyes stopped in mid-air, and he forgot to smoke the pipe in his mouth, which fell to the desk.
His gaze was like being firmly attracted by a magnet, fixed on the two children at the door, especially... the thin Girl with bright red hair who was being held carefully by Naruto.
The torrent of time seems to be rolling back at this moment.
That dazzling Golden, that Flames-like Red Eyes...
The two figures stood side by side. Although they looked childish, they overlapped with an extremely precious and regrettable scene deep in his memory.
Is it an illusion?
Is it because you are too tired, or because you miss those outstanding juniors too deeply?
Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously and vigorously rubbed his eyes again.
This time, the movements were even a little hasty.
However, when he looked carefully again.
Naruto is still standing there, Golden's hair shines under the bright light of the study, Blue Eyes's eyes are clear and firm.
And Red-Haired Girl beside him also really existed, with purple Red Eyes's eyes filled with timid uneasiness, holding Naruto's hand tightly.
It's not an illusion.
They are alive, two Young Naruto girls.
"..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's throat moved, but no sound came out.
He held the edge of the desk, as if to confirm something, and stood up suddenly, staggering a little.