Meanwhile, on the other side.
Watching the dazed Uzumaki Naruto walk over, Kakashi's eyes brimmed with complicated emotion.
My teacher's child… I've failed my teacher!
"Naruto, don't worry."
"I really was your father's student; from now on I'll look after you properly."
Kakashi spoke gently.
He could feel Naruto's fear, so he pulled the boy straight into his arms.
Right now Naruto's mind was a mess.
Yes.
His behavior was completely different from the original work.
After all, in the original Naruto hadn't known his parents' identities; though the young him kept saying 'I'm not the demon fox,' deep down he accepted that label.
Therefore.
With no family or friends, he acted out just to get attention.
Now, things were different!
Having learned his true identity early, even with Ashura's Chakra inside him, he still felt deep confusion and suffocation.
His parents had sacrificed themselves for the Village, his father had been Hokage—so why had he been branded the so-called demon fox?
Besides… though Jiraiya, his father's teacher, had cared for him these two years, he'd never truly given him a 'name.' So when the Uchiha first stirred up trouble, Naruto's life had improved a little.
But later?
Not long after the Uchiha left, rumors about the demon fox flooded back.
At first.
Jiraiya had promised to announce his identity to the whole Village as Hokage.
But in the end, nothing came of it.
The young Uzumaki Naruto asked; Jiraiya only said the Village was in hardship and this wasn't the time to give him a name.
He told him to wait… and since Jiraiya was always busy and rarely talked with him, they were never close.
That was why, even now that he'd been brought to New Konoha, he showed almost no reaction.
Too young to understand what the Village meant, unlike in the original.
"Kakashi!"
"In a bit take Naruto for a bath, a haircut, tidy up those whisker marks, and buy him some new clothes."
"That idiot Jiraiya can't even look after his own student's kid—what does he do all day?"
Uchiha Jin complained.
Then.
He added to Naruto, "Kakashi was your father's student; Tsunade here is a relative on your mother's side. If you need anything, go to either of them."
"Why not give him to me?" Tsunade bristled. "Why Kakashi?"
Uchiha Jin rolled his eyes. "You rely on Shizune for daily life—could you actually look after Naruto?"
"You—" Tsunade swallowed the retort and sighed.
Fine.
She really couldn't. Even if she took him home it would only burden Shizune.
With Shizune now Hospital director, coming home to look after Tsunade as well, Tsunade truly lacked the capacity.
By contrast.
Though Kakashi was a man, he wasn't the sloppy type.
So in that regard he was the right person to raise Naruto.
Naruto himself was still bewildered.
Clearly.
Too young to grasp the situation.
Another relative?
For the confused Naruto, Uchiha Jin offered no long explanation; the boy was too small to understand.
"Jin, what about Naruto's identity?"
"Can we announce it publicly?"
Tsunade asked, tone grave.
At that.
Naruto's eyes lit up; he understood those words.
Uchiha Jin answered at once.
"Of course—release it."
"Everything: that he's the Fourth Hokage's son, our Village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, why Minato Namikaze did what he did…"
"All of it—declassify every last detail."
"I'm no Sarutobi Hiruzen; I, Uchiha Jin, fear no challenge and need no underhanded tricks!"
His words rang out, forceful and clear.
Everyone present sighed with emotion.
Uchiha Jin governed totally differently from Sarutobi Hiruzen; perhaps because he was strong enough that he didn't need those schemes.
But they had to admit.
Right now Uchiha Jin was damned impressive!
Even Tsunade's gaze at him turned complicated; she glimpsed something of her grandfather in him.
"All right, business!"
Uchiha Jin turned to Tsunade. "Are the sealing scrolls ready?"
"Mm, ready." Tsunade lifted her chin. "Seven large sealing scrolls, two hundred regular ones."
Hearing this, Uchiha Jin finally showed a faint smile.
"Good—more than enough!"
"Send word to Sarutobi Hiruzen: unconditional surrender before tonight and acceptance of Konoha's fairest trial."
"Otherwise—let the consequences be on his own head!"
Uchiha Jin's aura was overwhelming.
Everyone's tone turned solemn at his words.
Immediately.
After the meeting ended, Nara Shikayasu drafted the ultimatum and dispatched someone to deliver it to Old Konoha.
Tsunade first issued the public statement, formally restoring Uzumaki Naruto's identity and forbidding any discrimination against the hero's son—violators would be jailed.
Then she headed to the Sealing Corps to discuss tactics and scroll distribution for the coming battle.
Fugaku handed Police Force duties to subordinates and returned to the Uchiha district to rally forces for war.
Yes!
When it came to battle, the Uchiha were the main force!
As for—Kakashi!
His Anbu needed little prep, so after leaving final tasks to Shisui he took Naruto and left.
Watching the subdued boy, Kakashi sighed, heart aching.
But in the end.
He took Naruto to the newly opened Ichiraku Ramen, then for a bath, new clothes, a haircut… and honestly.
When Naruto stepped out of the barber shop, Kakashi stared, stunned.
No helping it!
Before, no one had looked after him; he'd worn grubby mustard-yellow clothes, and unless you knew his identity you'd never link him to Minato Namikaze—but now?
After a bath, a sharp black-and-white outfit, trimmed whisker marks, and a neat haircut, he was a miniature Minato Namikaze.
"Sensei…"
Kakashi murmured.