"Shinichi, are you questioning me as Hokage?"
The Third Hokage's expression remained calm, but a deeply concealed gloom lurked in his eyes.
"I wouldn't dare."
Neither servile nor overbearing, Shinichi said solemnly, "I have no intention of questioning you, Lord Hokage. I simply don't want to see a hero's child treated this way. That is my conscience speaking, as an ordinary human being named Hatake Shinichi. So I want to do whatever I can for Naruto."
"You hold a high office, Lord Hokage, and have many things to consider. Your perspective and understanding are naturally different from ours. Ordinary ninja like us need only follow orders and protect the will of fire passed down through generations in Konoha."
Sure enough, the moment Shinichi mentioned the "will of fire," the Third Hokage's expression softened considerably.
A boy daring to criticize him to his face was unimportant. What mattered was disregarding the will of fire, which he had spent years treating as a spiritual legacy. That was the most frightening thing a Konoha ninja could do.
As long as Shinichi continued to uphold the will of fire, the Third Hokage would not move against him lightly.
"Shinichi, I hope you understand that Naruto has many burdens to bear as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. If I weren't Hokage, of course I would want him to live a normal life too..."
The Third Hokage took a deep drag on his pipe and sighed softly.
So basically, you're determined to see your bizarre way of passing on your ideals through to the bitter end?
If Naruto hadn't been naturally optimistic, and hadn't had Iruka and Teuchi appear as guiding lights in his life, any normal child who grew up in such darkness would have needed to be superhuman not to turn evil.
Shinichi sneered inwardly, utterly dismissive of the Third Hokage's sophistry.
Of course, he hadn't expected to persuade him easily.
"You truly have everyone's best interests at heart, Lord Hokage. I was rash earlier."
Shinichi put on an expression of complete conviction and said respectfully, "I hope you won't hold it against me, Lord Hokage."
"Heh heh, it's perfectly normal for young people to get hotheaded."
The Third Hokage obligingly gave an approving smile.
"However, there is one more thing I hope you will agree to, Lord Hokage."
Shinichi abruptly changed tack, speaking with utmost sincerity. "To be honest, Minato and his wife looked after Kakashi and me a great deal back then. The Hatake Clan has never produced an ingrate. Now their only child is living in such hardship, and I simply can't bear it."
That wasn't a lie.
Kakashi's connection needed no explanation: Minato had been his team leader. As for Shinichi, his relationship with Kakashi had given him plenty of opportunities to interact with Minato and his wife.
They certainly hadn't been the closest of companions, but they could still be considered friends.
"Lord Hokage, we can let today's attack on the Hatake Clan rest. However, my brother and I would like to take responsibility for looking after Naruto from now on."
With a sincere expression, Shinichi spoke from the heart. "Jinchūriki are people too, and their feelings may be even more sensitive than those of ordinary people. Naruto is only a three-year-old child. Even if his identity cannot readily be revealed, I still want to give him a somewhat normal childhood."
At last, his true objective came to light.
This was the real reason Shinichi had specifically come to see the Third Hokage today.
"That... I'm afraid that won't be possible!"
The Third Hokage frowned slightly, looking troubled.
This was a matter of great importance. Even if he agreed, the other three members of the Elders Council were unlikely to approve. Danzo, in particular, would certainly jump straight out to condemn him.
"Where leaves dance, fire burns on without end. To inherit the will of fire, one must have a heart that yearns for the light."
Shinichi said evenly, "If Naruto keeps living alone like this, neglected and uncared for, his heart will grow darker and darker. When that happens, it may not bode well for his control over the tailed beast's power."
"If you still have reservations, Lord Hokage, then I, Hatake Shinichi, swear on the honor of the Hatake Clan that I will take good care of Naruto and ensure he fully inherits the will of fire. If anything at all happens to Naruto, the entire Hatake Clan will submit to whatever punishment you see fit!"
At those words, the Third Hokage's expression changed again.
He had never imagined that Shinichi would be so adamant about this, even willing to stake the entire Hatake Clan on it.
Little did he know that, given just a little more time, Shinichi was confident he could grow strong enough to disregard the entire Konoha Elders Council! When that day came, whatever bullshit oath he had sworn today would mean nothing!
The Third Hokage's gaze shifted uncertainly. After a long while, he finally nodded and sighed softly. "Very well. I'll leave Naruto in your care from now on."
Kakashi was his man anyway. Having the Hatake brothers look after Naruto together was essentially no different from having the ANBU protect Naruto in secret.
Most importantly, he considered Hatake Shinichi trustworthy, with his own unique understanding of the will of fire. Having someone like that help him care for Naruto could hardly be a bad thing.
Moreover, agreeing to Shinichi's request would allow today's Root attack on the Hatake Clan to quietly disappear. He would only need to give Danzo a verbal warning. It was truly killing two birds with one stone.
The more carefully the Third Hokage considered it, the more certain he became that his decision was absolutely correct!
In short, everything was for Konoha's peace and stability.
On the way home.
"Shinichi, why did you do that?"
Finally given a chance to question Shinichi, Kakashi hurriedly spoke up.
His shock was understandable. Everything Shinichi had done today had been simply astonishing.
"You still have to ask?"
Shinichi glanced at him and asked in return, "Don't you want to look after Naruto?"
"That's not what I meant."
Kakashi shook his head and said bitterly, "Minato-sensei and Kushina always took good care of me. Looking after their child isn't a burden to me. It's my responsibility."
What truly puzzled him was why Shinichi had scolded him like that in front of the Third Hokage.
As far as he remembered, his older brother Shinichi had never lost his temper with him, much less pointed at his nose and berated him as he had today.
"I know what you want to ask, but first, come with me to see someone."
As though he had seen through Kakashi's thoughts, Shinichi offered no further explanation and simply pulled him along to another place.
"Get lost, Demon Fox!"
"My shop won't sell anything to a cursed little monster!"
"Hahaha... the Little Demon Fox got yelled at again! Serves him right!"
A middle-aged man dressed as a vendor made no attempt to hide his disgust as he shoved Naruto to the ground.
The nearby vendors likewise had anger and revulsion in their eyes, radiating open malice as they tried to drive Naruto away. The children beside them clutched their stomachs and laughed at his misfortune.
Naruto said nothing after being pushed down. He simply rose numbly from the ground and headed home, looking forlorn.
Anyone with eyes could see that Naruto had long since grown accustomed to this treatment.
"Could... could that be Naruto?!"
Not far away, Kakashi watched the scene in utter shock, an indescribable surge of anger and sorrow threatening to burst from his heart.
That was his teacher's child!
The son of the Fourth Hokage, who had sacrificed his life for the village!
Why did a hero's child have to suffer such injustice?
Was there no justice in this world?
"You see that? That's the result of the will of fire your deeply respected Lord Hokage is always talking about. In his eyes, that poor child Naruto is nothing more than a tool for sealing away a tailed beast's power!"
Shinichi said evenly, "Kakashi, I know Father's suicide, along with Obito's and Rin's deaths, dealt you some heavy blows! But that is absolutely no excuse to lose your spirit. If you truly want to do right by the dead, then open your eyes and see this world for what it really is!"
"Is wallowing in the shadows of the past and wasting the best years of your life really your choice? Pah! You don't even realize that your despair also means the decline of the Hatake Clan, which is exactly what certain people want to see. What would Father think if he saw you now?"
"Perhaps he wouldn't blame you. He might even comfort you. But I will never do that, because I'm your older brother. I refuse to watch my little brother, once a ninja prodigy, become the Fifty-Fifty Beast someday! Tell me from the bottom of your heart: will you keep sinking into despair, or will you turn your life around and restore the Hatake Clan's glory?"
Shinichi's voice was like a devil's whisper, slowly stirring the emotions deep within Kakashi's heart.
Clarity soon returned to Kakashi's bewildered eyes.
The despair and dullness that had once filled them vanished, replaced by unwavering determination. He said solemnly, "Shinichi, I'm going to restore the Hatake Clan!"
So this is the power of the Talk no Jutsu King!
Shinichi chuckled inwardly.
That was right. His ability to persuade the Third Hokage today and trick him into handing over guardianship of Naruto, as well as convince Kakashi to leave the shadows of his past behind with just a few words, had nothing to do with his eloquence. It was all thanks to the ability [Talk no Jutsu King]!
The results proved it: a protagonist's talk no jutsu was seriously powerful. Once he started sweet-talking you, you never stood a chance!
Before you continue