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The Chūnin Exam had ended.
Kitahara Hitoshi was only responsible for the sections concerning the Chūnin Exam. He held absolute authority. The Second Hokage had not lied—Konoha's Anbu and Danzo's Root organization were both placed under his command.
And the results were impeccable.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the two specialized divisions, Anbu and the Root organization, all the shinobi dispatched by the Hidden Sound Village and the Hidden Sand Village had been captured.
Even the shinobi stationed at the Fire Nation border under the command of the Hidden Sand were apprehended.
That said, Anbu were naive and straightforward, while members of the Root lacked finesse when dealing with Anbu.
The reason was straightforward.
Even though Danzo and the Third Hokage were cut from the same cloth, they represented opposite extremes of Konoha's ideology.
As Danzo once said, you are the leaves basking in the sun, and I am the roots buried in the darkness.
But Danzo's methods were far more insidious than Hiruzen's. For instance, there was much information he intentionally withheld from the Third Hokage. He often had Root members attack Anbu squads.
Then, under the pretense of training talent for Anbu, he would visit the village clans and forcefully conscript children into the Root organization.
Thus, although the two organizations were working under the same objective now, the members of Root did not get along with Anbu.
Still, these were Danzo's personal problems, and not issues that needed to be addressed by others.
Regarding the Chūnin Exam, Kitahara Hitoshi made a decisive move by directly assigning the Hidden Sand Village to Konoha's jurisdiction.
This was not an incomprehensible decision.
Shukaku already belonged to Konoha, but it remained sealed within Gaara's body. Was there a way to extract Shukaku without harming Gaara?
Forcibly removing a tailed beast from its Jinchūriki would result in death.
Yet if Shukaku now belonged to Konoha, would it not be strange for him to remain with the Sand?
So the conclusion was clear.
If Gaara resided in Konoha, there would be no need to extract Shukaku at all.
This was a decision both Shukaku and Kitahara Hitoshi could accept.
However, for the Sand Village, it was equivalent to a blade thrust into their throat.
The morning after the exam, the trio from the Sand received orders to return to their village and report the fact that the Hidden Sand had effectively become a subordinate village of Konoha to their higher-ups.
That's right.
Just have them deliver the message.
From Kitahara Hitoshi's perspective, it was already a foregone conclusion that the Hidden Sand now belonged to Konoha.
Temari.
Kankuro.
Gaara.
"Then let's go," Gaara said.
Unlike his older siblings who remained silent, he had no objections regarding the Sand's subordination to Konoha.
At this moment, Gaara resembled a leaf fluttering from a tree.
He had endured a tragic past.
Kitahara Hitoshi had promised to resurrect his uncle, Yashamaru, using Impure World Reincarnation—if Gaara completed his mission.
Yashamaru was Gaara's maternal uncle. The two bore a resemblance.
When Gaara was born, his mother, Karura, died due to complications during childbirth.
Thus, he grew up motherless.
Not only that, but because Shukaku's seal was unstable, Gaara had suffered from chronic insomnia since birth. He was constantly awake, reigning as the champion of sleepless nights.
To be woken suddenly by someone already risks emotional backlash, and Gaara had never even fallen asleep. His emotional instability was deeply ingrained.
For young Gaara, Yashamaru had been his emotional anchor.
In his small world, there was only the face of a mother he had never known—and Yashamaru.
But at the age of six, Yashamaru tried to assassinate him and told Gaara that he had always hated him for causing his sister's death during childbirth.
Then Yashamaru killed himself.
In that moment, Gaara's emotional foundation crumbled.
Instantly, he lost the two people he cherished most.
So.
Whenever he thought of it, he felt either joy, excitement, or even a strange desire to distort reality.
Because.
He had once been immature, but now he had grown up.
He truly wished to meet his uncle again—this time, to tell him that he had grown stronger thanks to that pain.
In other words, Gaara's heart remained full of hatred, but he longed to face Yashamaru again.
"Don't you think Gaara's mental state seems unstable?"
As they watched Gaara and his siblings leave Konoha, Kakashi turned to Kitahara Hitoshi.
"There's definitely something wrong with Gaara," Kitahara replied. "But it's all part of the treatment."
"What kind of treatment is that?" Kakashi asked.
"Psychotherapy," Kitahara said calmly.
"All psychological problems stem from parenting.
"And the Fourth Kazekage was never a father worth mentioning, so I'm using the most important person to Gaara—Yashamaru—as bait.
"See? He's behaving himself just fine until the mission is completed," Kitahara Hitoshi explained.
Kakashi broke into a cold sweat.
He had briefly thought Kitahara was being unusually gentle.
But now he understood the reality—it was anything but.
Kitahara continued speaking.
"You probably didn't observe Gaara's sand with your Sharingan."
"Some of the sand automatically protected Gaara during his battle with Sasuke," Kitahara explained.
Kakashi nodded.
He had noticed that.
It was the first time Sasuke had successfully pulled off an impressive showing.
When Sasuke fought Gaara, the sand defended him instinctively. But Sasuke, using his Sharingan and Jōnin-level taijutsu, had bypassed the sand's defense and landed a hit.
"That portion of the sand doesn't contain Gaara's chakra or Shukaku's chakra."
"It contains the chakra of Gaara's mother, Karura," Kitahara said.
"Huh?" Kakashi was stunned. "Gaara's mother… Didn't she die in childbirth?"
Kitahara nodded. "The chakra must have been transferred through the umbilical cord during delivery."
"She gave all her chakra to Gaara."
"It's just like when I entered Naruto's subconscious and sensed a trace of chakra there."
"That was Minato's contingency in the Nine Tails' seal."
"Parents are the same all over the world. Karura must have done this out of a desire to protect her son."
…Kakashi.
Kakashi was silent.
Children and grandchildren chat group
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: I always feel that the world is full of misfortune.
Senju Tobirama: Brother, you are too sentimental.
Namikaze Minato: It's just the truth.
Namikaze Minato: Pity the hearts of parents all over the world.
Namikaze Minato: Oh, my Naruto.
Senju Tobirama: Don't worry. I will definitely ensure your son receives fairness.
Namikaze Minato: Thank you, Second Hokage.
Senju Tobirama: You're still willing to call me Second Hokage. That alone pleases me.
Senju Tobirama: Or you can call me something else if you want.
Senju Tobirama: After all, all my disciples were fools.
Namikaze Minato: I can't say anything to forgive them. Naruto really was treated unfairly.
Namikaze Minato: He worked so hard.
Namikaze Minato: I'm also responsible.
Namikaze Minato: So I'm not qualified to talk about forgiveness or blame. Only Naruto can do that.
Senju Tobirama: Hmm…
Big Pillar Hanhan: But when Gaara and the others left Konoha, Kitahara Hitoshi gave Temari a note.
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: What was written on the note?
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: If you let them go like this, will the Sand Village really surrender?
Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei: I'm also curious about that.
Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei: Because I'm still in Konoha, but Kitahara didn't come to see me.
Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei: I thought I'd need to organize Kirigakure's forces to respond.
Cowardly as a Mouse Onoki: Hmm… If you want a large army at the border, Iwagakure can support too.
Though Mizukage spoke lightly, Onoki felt a chill down his spine.
Because from the start, Onoki understood Kitahara Hitoshi's strength and responded with caution.
Now it's not just Kitahara. The four Hokage of Konoha have also emerged.
…Onoki.
This situation…
Now, he feels worse off than the First Tsuchikage ever did.
This is going to be the toughest era for Iwagakure.
And no matter how he used to pressure Konoha, he knows they're bound to pay it back now.
So now, the only path is to repair Konoha's goodwill.
But who exactly is Konoha's trump card?
Onoki sees no hope at all.
Now he just hopes Kitahara Hitoshi keeps his word and doesn't bring the conflict to Iwagakure's doorstep.
Onoki no longer has the confidence to defend Iwagakure.
Senju Tobirama: That is…
Senju Tobirama: Logically, it's possible.
Big Pillar Hanhan: Oh?
Dazhuzi Hanhan: Tobirama, did you see what he wrote?
Senju Tobirama: Yes.
Senju Tobirama: I've analyzed the upper echelons of the Sand Village.
Senju Tobirama: At the start of the Third Great Ninja War, the Third Kazekage disappeared, and the village was invaded.
Senju Tobirama: Then Rasa stood out in the defense and was promoted directly to the Fourth Kazekage.
Senju Tobirama: But Rasa's strength never reached the Kage level.
Senju Tobirama: I'd say he's not even as strong as Sarutobi.
Kakashi:
Not even as strong as Sarutobi.
So now, the standard isn't me anymore—it's the Third Hokage.
Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a strange emptiness.
Because if this is the Kage level, then there's no place for him to contribute.
In other words, among the Kage-level ranks, Kakashi isn't even used for comparison?
Life is hard. Kakashi sighed.
Big Pillar Hanhan: What?
Namikaze Minato: Kakashi, why are you suddenly depressed?
Kakashi: It's nothing. Go on.
Senju Tobirama: Hmm…
Senju Tobirama: Rasa's strength was subpar. The village leadership consists of a few Jōnin and… an old acquaintance of mine.
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: Oh? Tobirama, you still have acquaintances?
Senju Tobirama: Of course.
Senju Tobirama: To be specific, she was a major figure during the First Great Ninja War.
Senju Tobirama: Chiyo.
Dazhuzi Hanhan: Oh, Chiyo. Was she beautiful?
Senju Tobirama:
Senju Tobirama: Brother, what are you thinking? So many years have passed. She's definitely an old woman by now.
Big Pillar Hanhan: Oh.
Senju Tobirama: But she was beautiful when she was young.
Big Pillar Hanhan: What?
Big Pillar immediately perked up.
Because his younger brother had always claimed that being Hokage left him too busy to think about romance.
But now, that might not be the full story.
Senju Tobirama: She looked good, but that's not why I remember her.
Senju Tobirama: That woman hated my Impure World Reincarnation and Tandem Paper Bombs.
Senju Tobirama: She called it a cowardly tactic.
Senju Tobirama: I still remember that.
The big pillar is silly:
The big pillar is silly:
Well, no wonder Tobirama is still single.
Dazhuzi Hanhan: Anyway, Tobirama, keep talking. I'm listening.
Senju Tobirama:
Though he found his brother's words odd, Tobirama continued explaining.
Senju Tobirama: The highest authority in the Sand Village is someone capable of making key decisions.
Senju Tobirama: And the note Kitahara Hitoshi gave Temari had words that could push Chiyo to turn against the Sand Village.
Big Pillar Hanhan: What?
Big Pillar Hanhan: Are you serious?
Dazhuzi Hanhan: Tobirama, be specific. Chiyo betrayed the Sand Village? Wasn't she its decision-maker?
Senju Tobirama: Exactly. Which means that if she's taken down or silenced, the Sand Village effectively belongs to Konoha.
Big Zhuzi Hanhan: But… is it really that simple?
Da Zhuzi Hanhan: When I negotiated with the Five Kage, I bowed my head and couldn't make them cooperate.
Senju Tobirama:
Senju Tobirama: Brother, don't bring that up again.
Senju Tobirama: I thought you'd confront them or intimidate them, but instead, you bowed…
Senju Tobirama: Never mind. Let's get back to the point.
Senju Tobirama: The note Kitahara Hitoshi gave the Sand delegation had just one sentence.
Senju Tobirama: The Third Kazekage was killed by Sasori and made into a puppet.
Big Pillar Hanhan: What?
Dazhuzi Hanhan: Isn't that the Third Kazekage who disappeared and caused the Third Great Ninja War?
Senju Tobirama: Yes.
Senju Tobirama: Sasori is Chiyo's grandson.
Senju Tobirama: So that note explained the truth behind the Third Great Ninja War.
Big Pillar Hanhan: This…
Tobirama no record: So the enemy is her own grandson?
Senju Tobirama: Exactly.
Senju Tobirama: That's what it means.
Senju Tobirama: Chiyo must be furious after reading that.
Senju Tobirama: Because her own family caused the village to suffer, she only has two options.
Senju Tobirama: One, surrender. Two, surrender.
Senju Tobirama: She can't refuse Konoha. If she does, the truth will spread, and Sand Village will fall into chaos.
Senju Tobirama: In the face of war, Sand Village is guaranteed to lose.
Senju Tobirama: With her wisdom, she knows there is no third path.
So… is the Sand Village about to become a subordinate of Konoha?
The big pillar is silly:
Big Pillar took a deep breath.
He felt mixed emotions.
Maybe his dream of peace through the Five Great Nations… was mistaken?
Senju Tobirama: But we can put Sand Village aside for now. I still have critical matters to attend to here.
Big Pillar Hanhan: Yes
Senju Tobirama: Yes.
Now.
Inside the Hokage office building.
Kitahara Hitoshi was invited to the office by Kakashi and overheard the voices inside—it was the Second Hokage and the reanimated Third Hokage.
Tobirama's happy time had lasted a little too long.
Kitahara Hitoshi also found Tobirama troublesome.
Why did everything have to be so complicated?
Yes.
Look.
At the moment, Tobirama was inside the Hokage office building, and there were four sheets of paper laid out on the table.
A pen was beside them.
He seemed to be preparing to fill in names or make marks on the sheets.
Tobirama had adopted Kitahara Hitoshi's previous suggestion: revive Konoha's lost momentum and push the burden onto one of the four disciples.
He planned to publicly expose the collective damage caused by them over the years, shine a light on their hidden deeds, and make one of them bear the blame.
The consequence for the scapegoat—was death.
But who would it be?
Tobirama hadn't decided yet.
So he invited Kitahara Hitoshi.
"Let's cast lots," Tobirama said. "Whoever gets chosen will take responsibility for Konoha's actions these years."
"…"
"I won't show mercy," Tobirama added. "Once he's dead, he's gone. Don't underestimate my resolve."
In other words, the Second Hokage would personally send one of his disciples to their end.
This time, he was taking one of them with him again.
…
Danzo, Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and the Third Hokage understood clearly—their teacher was ruthless.
And he had no qualms about doing it.
Because, in the past, the Second Hokage had shielded them, believing they were Konoha's future. He followed the First Hokage's will to pass on the Will of Fire.
Protecting the village meant protecting the next generation, even if it meant the Hokage would die first.
At the time, they thought the Second Hokage was cold and firm, and they expected to rule in his place.
But he had stayed behind himself—and died.
It had moved them.
And then… they nearly destroyed the village.
Now the teacher no longer felt dying for them was worth it.
He didn't want to kill all of them—just one. One to bear the rage and resentment from years of failed decisions.
From the Uchiha clan's extermination, to Naruto—son of the Fourth Hokage—being rejected by the village.
From the suicide of Kakashi's father, the White Fang, to Uchiha Itachi carrying everything alone and making irreversible decisions.
From Danzo's possession of eleven Sharingan, to the Third Hokage letting Orochimaru go again and again, and countless moments of hypocrisy.
Every era had its scapegoats.
The Third Hokage had a list of failures. Danzo had mountains of them. As for Koharu and Mitokado Homura—they were just advisors, but they didn't correct anything. Instead, they aided Danzo and Sarutobi in foolish choices. They too had responsibilities.
Now, one of the four needed to be sacrificed.
Kitahara Hitoshi sat down.
He began writing the names: Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura.
The four elders squatted silently on the floor.
The Second Hokage's intent was clear.
Let Kitahara Hitoshi write the names, and whichever name Tobirama drew would be the one held accountable.
For a moment, Tobirama said nothing, and Danzo dared not speak.
Only the sound of Kitahara Hitoshi's pen moving on paper echoed in the air.
Just a few names.
But they carried the weight of a life.
Tobirama closed his eyes. Danzo looked up.
They understood why Tobirama had summoned Kitahara Hitoshi and placed him here.
It was effectively naming the next Hokage.
To the Third Hokage, this meant the successor would not be Naruto—who was too righteous.
He felt unworthy of Minato.
He knew.
So if Naruto were here, he wouldn't dare to object.
But seated here now was Kitahara Hitoshi, someone he had never mistreated.
He watched Kitahara Hitoshi closely.
Kitahara Hitoshi was writing the names.
The Second Hokage had his back turned, so he couldn't see what was being written.
…
The Third Hokage noticed Kitahara Hitoshi glance at him.
Not only that.
He noticed the strokes.
Sarutobi…
It looked like his name was being written.
…
The Third Hokage met Kitahara Hitoshi's gaze.
He was dazed, and sweat beaded his forehead.
He knew the Second Hokage was serious this time.
One of the four had to take the fall.
As the Hokage, he bore responsibility.
If his teacher regretted, it meant all his decisions were denied.
The Third Hokage was ready.
His life was nearing its end.
So let it be him.
His stubbornness, favoritism, and incompetence—he would take the blame.
He had already planned to face Orochimaru and personally eliminate the disciple he once failed.
He had even considered using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
So taking responsibility meant little now.
However.
Brush…
The Third Hokage opened his eyes.
Kitahara Hitoshi had crossed out his name.
He was writing a new one.
From the strokes—it was Shimura Danzo.
Kitahara Hitoshi wrote the name Shimura Danzo.
The Third Hokage stared in disbelief.
But Kitahara Hitoshi ignored the look and continued writing the other names.
Still, the Third Hokage felt unexpected relief.
He didn't know why.
Was he afraid of death?
Or… of guilt?
…
The Third Hokage let out a breath.
His name had been replaced with Danzo's.
Now Danzo's name was on two of the four notes.
Which meant Danzo was most likely to be chosen.
He glanced at Danzo.
The old comrade was looking at the ceiling, no longer resisting.
It made sense.
Danzo had too many black marks. If he took the blame, no one could argue.
Koharu and Mitokado Homura wiped their foreheads nervously.
But by then, Kitahara Hitoshi had folded the notes. Kakashi placed them in a small bowl and handed it to the Second Hokage.
Tobirama would personally make the draw.
Tobirama reached into the bowl and picked out one note.
…
While the Third Hokage felt some peace, Koharu and Homura kept wiping sweat.
To them, it still felt like they might be chosen.
"Then who takes the blame now," Tobirama said.
Only.
"Can I speak?"
Danzo lifted his head and looked directly at the Second Hokage.
"Go ahead."
"The current situation is much like before," Danzo said. "During the First Great Ninja War, you took us to negotiate peace with Cloud Village."
"Oh?" Tobirama looked at him.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Back then, you said someone needed to stay behind. To cooperate with you."
"And that meant they might never return. That person would likely die."
"You said that, right?"
"Yes." Tobirama nodded. "I did."
"So… what I want to say is…"
"That time, I noticed it. You gave me a look."
"Oh?"
"…
"I thought of staying.
"But the fear of death crossed my mind in an instant."
Danzo said, "So I hesitated. I stepped back."
"But Sarutobi stepped forward."
…
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Third Hokage looked at Danzo.
He didn't expect Danzo had held onto that moment for so long.
Yes.
Back then, because he stepped forward without hesitation, the Second Hokage named him the next Hokage.
It wasn't about someone staying behind to protect the teacher.
It was the teacher choosing Konoha's next leader.
And so.
He became the Third Hokage.
And the Second Hokage died protecting them.
He hadn't known Danzo remembered it all.
"I am not weaker than Sarutobi in any way."
"It wasn't cowardice…"
"I was also prepared to dedicate my life to Konoha."
"So…"
"I didn't do it then—but now I will."
"I'm not afraid of death."
Children and Grandchildren Chat Group
Big Pillar Hanhan: It's a little rare, but my opinion of Danzo has changed.
Big Pillar Hanhan: According to the information Tobirama obtained, Danzo caused the most harm to the village, yet he's so kind.
Big Pillar Hanhan: He's even willing to take responsibility.
Big Pillar Hanhan: What is it, Tobirama? Have you made a decision?
Senju Tobirama:
Senju Tobirama: Hmm...
Senju Tobirama: But I don't have much of a choice now.
Big Pillar Hanhan: What do you mean?
Senju Tobirama: Are you all watching?
Senju Tobirama: I told him to write the names — Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, Sarutobi.
Senju Tobirama: And the result…
Senju Tobirama: He only wrote Danzo.
Big Pillar Hanhan:
Senju Tobirama: So isn't that the same as not giving options?
Senju Tobirama: The one who chose to take the blame… is Danzo.
"Are you sure?" Tobirama looked at Danzo.
"I'm sure."
"Because if, at the very beginning, I had made up my mind bravely, if I had just been faster by a second…"
"Then Konoha wouldn't have turned out like this."
"Sarutobi was a mistake."
"..."
"..."
"...Third Generation."
"Yes..."
Tobirama stayed silent for a moment, then opened the note in his hand.
The name written on it:
Shimura Danzo
This meant Danzo would be the one held accountable for the failed leadership and darkness that plagued Konoha over the years.
"...Danzo."
"..."
Seeing this result, Danzo's expression stiffened for a moment — and then he laughed.
"Kitahara Hitoshi," Danzo asked, "what were you thinking when you wrote my name?"
"Me?"
Kitahara Hitoshi replied, "It should be your evaluation."
"Evaluation?"
"So what kind of evaluation did I get?" Danzo asked.
"If the Third Hokage was Konoha basking in sunlight, then you are still the leader of Root, the part of the village hidden deep in the ground," Kitahara Hitoshi said.
"...Really." Danzo closed his eyes.
He accepted the outcome.
After Danzo was selected to take the blame, Tobirama's brief moment of joy ended.
Tobirama released Sarutobi Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura.
It was decided that the villagers and ninja forces would be gathered tomorrow for Danzo's public execution.
Danzo was held by an Anbu operative — a group he had always disliked — yet now, he offered no resistance. That itself made everything clear.
But...
"Why did you choose Danzo?"
After dismissing the others, Tobirama turned to ask Kitahara Hitoshi.
"I know all the notes only have Danzo's name," Tobirama said.
"Danzo is a threat to the ninja world," Kitahara Hitoshi replied. "And more than that, he once did something extremely troublesome."
"More troublesome?" Tobirama's eyebrows furrowed.
"During the Second Great Ninja War, a boy named Nagato appeared in the Rain Village. He possessed the Rinnegan."
"And Danzo, along with Root, left a shadow in Nagato's heart."
"Nagato hates Konoha now."
"..."
Tobirama was speechless.
He looked at Danzo, whose expression conveyed that he had accepted death. For a moment, Tobirama felt emotional. After all, Danzo was a disciple he had trained.
But now...
Damn it.
Incompetent fool.
You managed to offend a Rinnegan user again?
Tobirama couldn't bear to think about what would've happened had they not forced a strong decision and allowed Kitahara Hitoshi to come forward to support Konoha.
If Kitahara hadn't intervened, wouldn't Konoha have fallen… all because of Danzo?
But Kitahara Hitoshi wasn't doing it for Danzo. Between Danzo's value and damage — the damage clearly outweighed everything.
A man who would continue to harm Konoha… keeping him was indeed not worth it.
After all, managing to demote the leader of a Five Great Nations village to second place under the Sand Village within forty years — that's a disgrace.
Tobirama was furious.
Tomorrow, Danzo would be executed.
But today… Tobirama fulfilled a promise.
A promise made to Minato.
---
"Eh…?"
Naruto looked around, confused.
He had been brought to a modest but high-quality home.
"I remember this," Naruto said. "This is the old residence of the Fourth Hokage. Mr. Iruka showed it to us during our first day at the Jonin School, right?"
"...Tobirama."
"Naruto."
Tobirama said, "There's something your father would have wanted you to know."
"...Naruto."
"Second Grandpa, what do you mean?"
"Do I… still have a father?"
"I've always been… just an orphan."
The Chunin Exams were over. Naruto had become a Chunin.
Yet despite that, he realized that people's gazes hadn't changed. Just because he got stronger… it didn't mean he was accepted.
He walked into an ordinary store. While no one chased him out anymore, no one greeted him either.
He returned home alone.
"Naruto, you are an orphan…"
"But you have a father." Tobirama's voice was heavy with emotion. "This place… is your home."
"This is the key."
Tobirama handed Naruto a ring of old, rusted keys. "It belongs to you now."
"...Naruto."
"Eh…?"
Uzumaki Naruto opened his eyes wide.
"What does that mean?"
"My home…"
"This was… the Fourth Hokage's home…"
"T..."
"..."
"Help me find Kitahara Hitoshi. Find Sasuke. Find Kakashi-sensei..."
"I'm really confused right now…"
"My brain's not the best, even though Kitahara-kun made me read tons of books and I've learned a lot."
"But… am I really understanding this right?"
Naruto looked stunned. "Am I… the Fourth Hokage's son?"
"My father… is the Fourth Hokage?"
"...Tobirama."
"Yes."
"You are Minato's child."
"During the Third Ninja War, the Fourth Generation was involved in many key battles. Because of the enemies surrounding him, he feared you'd be targeted. So he kept your identity a secret."
"But now that you've become a Chunin and can protect yourself, you have the right to know who you are."
This was not an easy truth. In the chat group, people couldn't accept it at first either.
But for now… they had to calm Naruto.
Because this was a boy who had carried the hatred of an entire village — and now suddenly learned that he was always meant to live in the light, but had been thrown into the shadows.
Who could accept that?
Who could?
"…"
Naruto seemed lost — but somewhere along the line, tears had begun falling from his eyes.
"…"
"I'm the child of the Fourth Hokage…"
Children and Grandchildren Chat Group
Namikaze Minato: Naruto…
At that moment, Naruto wiped his tears away with determination.
"So that's how it is…"
"Is it really so hard to be the child of a Hokage?"
"It's incredible…" Naruto laughed at himself between sobs, then found his composure again.
"So… do you still want to become Hokage?" Kitahara Hitoshi asked.
"...Naruto."
Naruto wiped his face.
"Yes!"
"Because my father was the Fourth Hokage, I… have to bear it all."
"My goal is to surpass every Hokage before me, including the Fourth Hokage himself. I'll be greater than him!" Naruto said.
Kitahara Hitoshi watched him. When Tobirama brought Naruto over, he knew Naruto would say that.
After all, this was Uzumaki Naruto.
A boy with a heart of gold, and a voice loud enough to shake fate.
And at the same time…
He had matured.
Sixty years of illusory-world training had allowed Naruto's spirit to settle.
Now Naruto had a grown mind.
He returned the keys to Tobirama.
"I won't come back here until I've fulfilled my goal," Naruto said.
Then he ran back to his apartment and cried his heart out.
Even if he was maturing inside — he was still a child.
It takes time to accept who you really are.
---
The next day, the village held a meeting for two announcements:
1. The reversal of Hatake Sakumo's past — the White Fang of Konoha would be honored again.
2. The punishment of Danzo.
Danzo would bear the full blame and be executed by dismemberment.
Tobirama stood before Danzo — a disciple who now felt like a stranger.
A disciple who had disappointed him deeply.
Still, Tobirama maintained his stoic expression.
"This punishment is necessary."
"After death, you will be unearthed," Tobirama said. "And I will give you one more chance."
"...Danzo."
"Yes."
Danzo closed his eyes.
And in that final gesture… he felt it was all worth it.
Because, at the end… his teacher had finally acknowledged him again.
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