"Apologize to Naruto, Asuma!"
Hiruzen sighed, disappointment flashing through his clouded eyes, but, uncharacteristically, he did not reprimand him:
"Things should get a little better from now on, perhaps?"
"W-why? Why is this happening? Why are you forcing me?"
Asuma clutched his hair in anguish and staggered back several steps, even stumbling over his words.
His heart was filled with resentment and humiliation...
Apologize to Naruto?
Naruto accused the old man without any reason. All I did was teach him a lesson, without so much as a harsh word. Why should I apologize?
Besides, Naruto's biological father, Minato, was my comrade.
As his uncle, why should I have to apologize to my nephew?
"Asuma, apologize to Naruto. That's an order!"
"..."
"Yes."
Looking at Hiruzen's aged face and remembering that he had already sacrificed his life and was now merely in a state of Impure World Reincarnation, Asuma found the words of refusal stuck in his throat.
He forcibly suppressed the bitterness in his heart.
His chest heaved as he turned to face Naruto, who stood about five feet tall and had been raised well by Xuandou.
He formed the Seal of Reconciliation:
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I was wrong!"
"Louder! You call that quiet little voice an apology? Do you still want to become the village's Hokage?"
"I'm sorry, Naruto..."
"Bend at the waist and bow ninety degrees!"
"I'm sorry, Naruto. Please forgive me!"
Hiruzen stepped forward to Asuma's side and followed his example, bowing ninety degrees in apology:
"Although it's already a little late now, I still owe your mother an apology."
"I'm sorry!"
"I betrayed Minato's trust!"
The onlookers looked astonished, unable to understand why Asuma and Hiruzen had suddenly begun apologizing to Naruto.
Had they gone mad?
Hadn't father and son been opposing the merger together just