Naruto returned to his room quietly. He cleaned up the broken glass from the bottle that had been thrown at his apartment, carefully picking up each shard. Once the floor was clear, he climbed back into bed and lay down, letting out a deep sigh.
What a crazy day… he thought.
For the first time, he genuinely felt like he had friends — people he could count on. He had seen adults who didn't glare at him with hatred or disgust. And then there was the mysterious man… the one who claimed to be his father's brother's. He had looked so cool, and there was something about him that made Naruto feel safe.
Questions swirled in his mind. Who were my parents really? Where was my uncle until now? Why did the villagers hate me? Did my parents love me?
And, of course, he couldn't forget Hinata. Her small, shy face, her courage in defending him — it had left a strange warmth in his chest. He shook his head quickly, trying not to think too hard about it.
Eventually, the exhaustion from the day carried him off to sleep. The Hokage's office was quiet, lit only by the soft glow of lanterns. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, his expression serious.
"Kasi," Hiruzen began carefully, "I understand your feelings… but I cannot give custody of Naruto to you. He is still under the village's protection."
Kasi's calm expression shifted subtly — his voice colder, harder than before.
"Sarutobi… don't test me. my brother is not here… you fucking bastard! Is this how the orphan of heroes is treated in this village? Is this your Will of Fire?"
He leaned forward, eyes blazing.
"You talk about old leaves falling and nurturing new leaves… how is it that the Yellow Flash is dead, but you and Danzo are spitting on the legacy of the Yondime?!"
Hiruzen's jaw tightened. The air in the room seemed to thicken, the weight of Kasi's anger pressing down.
"Kasi…" Hiruzen said, trying to remain calm, "you misunderstand the situation. The village—"
Kasi slammed a hand lightly on the desk, stopping him mid-sentence.
"No! I don't misunderstand. I see perfectly. I see a village that praises heroes but abandons their children, that claims to value the Will of Fire but lets a boy suffer! I will not stand by while my nephew—your responsibility, Hokage-sama—is treated like this!"
Hiruzen leaned back, exhaling slowly. The calm mask of the Hokage was strained. He knew Kasi's power and anger were more than just words — this was a man who could back up every syllable with action.
For a moment, silence fell. Kasi's eyes never left Hiruzen's, a quiet storm of fury simmering beneath his calm exterior.
Finally, Kasi's voice softened slightly, just enough to hint at control beneath the anger:
"I will protect Naruto. Whether the village agrees or not… that is my decision. Do not forget who I am, Sarutobi."
Hiruzen's eyes darkened with anger. Kasi's words were a direct challenge to his authority, and the old Hokage could feel his patience stretching thin.
"Kasi," Hiruzen said, his voice firm, "you dare speak to the Hokage like that! This is the office of the village!"
Kasi didn't flinch. His gaze remained steady, cold but controlled.
"Sarutobi… I don't care about offices or titles. I care about my nephew. And if you can't protect him properly… then I will."
Hiruzen's anger flared, but behind it, a hard truth gnawed at him. Kasi's chakra… it wasn't just strong. It was frighteningly precise, immense, and fast. Hiruzen had faced many powerful ninjas, but he could feel it now — Kasi might be on par with Minato.
He gritted his teeth. Even if he acted as Hokage, even if he tried to assert his authority, the consequences of misjudging Kasi were unimaginable.
Currently, only Jiraiya… maybe Jiraiya could control him, Hiruzen thought, recalling his former student's experience and strength. But Jiraiya was not in the village.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, trying to calm himself. Anger and fear warred within him, but reason finally took hold. He knew the stakes — if Kasi was taken down by force, the losses for the village could be catastrophic.
Finally, he relented, his voice heavy but controlled:
"Very well… Kasi. I will not stop you from acting to protect Naruto. But know this — your actions will always be watched. And your restraint is expected."
Kasi's expression softened slightly. His anger remained beneath the surface, but for now, it was tempered.
"Understood, Hokage-sama. I will act carefully. But no one will harm Naruto."
Hiruzen nodded, knowing he had little choice. He could feel Kasi's power and resolve — and he understood the truth: there was no winning a confrontation against this man without incurring unacceptable losses.
The room fell silent, the weight of the agreement unspoken but understood. Kasi's presence had shifted the balance in the village.
Don't forget to give power stones
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