Konohagakure no sato :
The Hokage office :
Despite Naruto's deep bow and his apparent attempts to apologize to Iruka and the girl, the heavy silence within the Hokage's office remained as suffocating as ever.
No one dared to break the silence. The Jinchūriki retaliating was an entirely different matter , this was no longer a simple dispute over the pink-haired girl,
The Jinchūriki's retaliation, fueled by his sudden growth in strength, was the true cause for alarm. A terrifying question now hung over the office . if Naruto eventually mastered the Nine-Tails' power, what would stop him from turning that vengeance against the village and its people
( The Boy remembers his past and holds grudges )
While Naruto's later apology was noted, it did little to ease the tension. It was a well-known doctrine that Jinchūriki's are prone to mental instability, their psyches constantly eroded by the presence of a Tailed Beast Chakra.
" He shouldn't have lost control "
The Hokage mutters and gazes at the crystal ball.
" Well Naruto is a kid .... after all " says Shikaku while defending Minato's kid
At this the Yamanaka also speaks up for the kid
" It was a natural reaction and a clear case of self-defense , any reasonable person would have done the exact same in his position "
The Hokage speaks again
" Only Normal person ...not the Jinchuriki "
The Nara and the Yamanaka's eyes twitched and they thought to themselves
( Why don't you take lessons from Danzo or maybe send him there )
( ..... Why can't Naruto stands up for himself , he is not even friend with the girl , and for a kid , it's already good .....did this old-man forgot Kushina's temper )
The Hokage watched as Naruto headed back to the starting line. The boy's demeanor had shifted again, radiating an almost arrogant self-assurance that demanded attention
" He is getting more prideful "
Witnessing Naruto's blur of speed between the starting and finish lines, the Nara and Yamanaka heads shifted their tone once again,
Nara Shikaku speaks
" Naruto hadn't been treated well by his peers over the years, and even among the students, he was an outcast. But we had forgotten one thing , Naruto wasn't some emotionless tool, after all "
Yamanaka Inoichi also speaks from his experience
" It would be far more concerning if Naruto couldn't express his emotions. A boy who bottles up that much pain , will eventually becomes a powder keg the village cannot control. "
Sensing the faint sarcasm and the underlying blame in their words, the Hokage looked up, his gaze narrowing as he addressed the Jōnins in a voice heavy with authority
"Do you have an issue with how I handle things? If so, speak your mind now "
Inoichi looked toward his longtime companion, seeking a silent consensus. Sensing the shift in the room, Shikaku spoke up, his voice breaking the heavy silence
" With all due respect, Hokage-sama, the boy's recent growth changes the variables. You need to determine a definitive path for Naruto Uzumaki—is he to be treated as a shinobi of the Leaf, or something else entirely "
" What do you mean , Jonin Nara "
" You Either treat him as The Jinchuriki ' The Village's weapon' or treat him as The Fourth Hokage's legacy "
The Nara remained composed, never once uttering the Fourth's name. However, the way he stressed the word Hokage was a deliberate strike. It was a sharp reminder that the boy was the legacy of a leader, not just a tool of the village .
Hearing the slight undertone of his Jonin Commander , the Hokage replies with harsher tone
" I have treated Naruto the best of my abilities "
At this The Yamanaka decided to back his friend up
" The Whole Konoha knows how Naruto is treated , and it's definitely not the best"
" He is the Jinchuriki "
"Treat him as the Jinchūriki , then. But stop giving him this nonsense about a future that you know the village will never allow him to have. It's better Naruto knows the truth than to have his spirit crushed daily "
Hokage "For the future of the Leaf, Naruto must be mentally strong. Controlling the Kyuubi requires an iron will "
" I only saw it as mental torture , a miserable one at that , especially to a kid , not even 10 year old "
As the exchange between the Hokage and his advisors grew increasingly heated, the ANBU stationed throughout the office instinctively withdrew further into the shadows, making their presence completely imperceptible.
For the first time in years, someone was standing their ground against the Hokage—a defiance usually reserved for the leader of Root. Yet, the friction dissolved as soon as the Intelligence Division Head offered his calm assessment
" You are afraid "
That single voices pierces all the defenses of the Hokage and strikes directly at his heart .
"....."
"You fear Naruto's wrath .......once the truth is out. How will the son of the Fourth Hokage react when he realizes that his parents died for a village that has given him nothing but misery in return "
" .....You know nothing , Yamanaka "
" You don't want Naruto to reject you , That's why you have been brainwa--"
" ENOUGH "
Chakra surged from the Hokage's frame, heavy with lethal intent. In a voice made hoarse by suppressed emotion, he spoke, grounding the office in a terrifying stillness.
" You know nothing about me and the sacrifices I have done for this village"
The air in the office grew heavy as Shikaku and Inoichi released their own chakra, refusing to yield to the Hokage's killing intent. Amidst the swirling tension, Shikaku's voice rang out—calculated and calm—as he steered the conversation in a new direction
"If you expect us to be like your ANBU or Root—hollow tools that only know how to follow orders—then you are sorely mistaken, Hokage-sama "
Yamanaka also speaks up
"If your opinion is the only one that matters, Hokage-sama, then there is truly no purpose for our presence here. Naruto may be the Jinchūriki, but he is also Minato's son. Even as the Fourth Hokage, Minato—-"
Sensing the point of no return, the Third Hokage chose to end the confrontation. He silenced the room with a single look and spoke the iconic sentence
" ENOUGH , you forget but I AM THE HOKAGE "
Upon hearing those words, both Jōnin fell silent. Even the ANBU, who had heard this same speech countless times, instinctively straightened their posture. Just as the Hokage assumed the discussion was over—as it always was—the Nara's voice calmly cut through the quiet
" You may be Hokage of the Village but This Village is not yours "
"..."
"...."
" Once The Village founds about the Identity of Fox-demon , even if you are the Hokage , the consequences are not something you can bear "
Yamanaka Inoichi also speaks up
" You have failed your successor, Hokage-sama. You've let down every shinobi in this village and every hero who died protecting Konoha—especially those who gave their lives on the Night of the Nine-Tails "
" The villagers are just sheep , it's Hokage's resp----"
" ENOUGH ... GET OUT , You know nothing about HOKAGE's responsibility "
Hearing the Hokage's explicit command, the two clan heads departed without a backward glance. The silence returned to the office, and the Third Hokage, now alone, eased his fatigued body back into his chair
Gazing into the crystal ball, the Hokage watched as Naruto gathered at the training ground with his usual group and a new face. He let out a long, heavy sigh, the weight of the boy's influence finally beginning to show.
" They know nothing , and they don't even consider the consequences of having normal childhood for a Jinchuriki "
" .... "
Seeing no reply coming his way , The Hokage fells in the silence and mutters silently to himself
" i am not wrong "
=======================================
Back to Uzumaki Naruto :
After class Naruto walks with Ino amongst Academy corridors while chatting
" Why are you wearing the mask , Naruto "
" ... isn't it cool "
" No seriously , why " ( it does look cool though....especially on him )
" Hmm , ......so something like yesterday doesn't happen again "
Naruto ( Hope she understands and keep distance )
Ino was caught off guard by the raw honesty of his reply. But within seconds, her mind was already racing, linking Naruto's words to everything she had observed until the truth finally clicked.
( Right , the villagers won't recognize him with that...)
Lost in her own perspective, Ino missed the underlying message. Her mind bypassed the subtle truth, latching instead onto a different matter entirely..
( did he do that for me ....!!! )
" Hehe "
Seeing the silly smile on Ino's face, Naruto felt a familiar twitch in his eye. Done with her antics, he abruptly changed course
" Wait , why are we going to Academy Gate "
" That's where we all decided to gather , did you forget "
Watching the other classes being dismissed, Naruto realized it was a special occasion—the very first day of classes for the entire Academy.
Naruto headed for the Academy gate, where he soon joined Gian and the rest of the group
" Yo Naruto "
" hey guys "
" Outta way , Megane "
" Shizuka chaan "
Naruto and Ino greeted the others and began sharing stories from their afternoon. As they discussed the events of their own class, Naruto chimed in
" I invited my friend today to train together , you all good "
" hohh "
" someone Naruto acknowledges "
" So who is this friend "
" Don't tell me it's a girl "
Upon hearing Nobita's words, both Shizuka and Ino fell silent. They turned to look at Naruto, who had already begun to speak
" It's a Boy and He's from 5th year in Academy , wait a little , I will introduce him with you guys "
As the group's curiosity peaked, Naruto's smile widened. He had just spotted a boy in a green bodysuit nearby, deep in his routine of walking upside down on his hands
" Yoooo Lee , Here ...!!! "
Lee twisted his head to find the source of the voice. Still inverted, Lee bolted toward Naruto's group with surprising speed, paying no mind to the bewildered looks Gian and the rest of the students exchanged as he approached.
" Well Damn "
" On his hands dude "
" Look at the speed "
" That green thing looks a little absurd "
" Isn't he the famous 'Training Maniac' in the academy "
With a double flip and a flawless landing, Lee joined the group. He gave Naruto his trademark thumbs-up and a wide, sparkling smile, embodying the very spirit of the 'Green Beast of the Leaf.
" Hello to you all! I am Rock Lee! Let us burn the fires of our youth together and train until we cannot move"