"Luckily, I have Iruka Sensei… Iruka Sensei is different from others."
"Luckily, I have many companions…"
Just as Naruto was about to continue speaking.
Senju Tobirama suddenly asked, "Iruka Sensei?"
Iruka Umino, "Lord Tobirama, I am Naruto's teacher at the Ninja Academy."
Senju Tobirama, "Answer me, were you different towards Naruto from the very beginning?"
Iruka, "…"
Iruka Umino, "No, Lord Tobirama, at first, I was like everyone else, harboring resentment towards Naruto. But I am a teacher, and I know very well that this hatred cannot be imposed on a child. Naruto…"
Senju Tobirama, "So, someone enlightened you and constantly gave you psychological suggestions to be kind to Naruto?"
Iruka Umino, "This… this… no, it was I who deeply understood the Will of Fire, and only then did I finally awaken."
Senju Tobirama stopped questioning Iruka; there was no need anymore.
In that situation… even if Iruka hadn't changed in the end, a 'second Iruka' would have appeared.
At this moment, Senju Hashirama popped up again.
Senju Hashirama, "I see. Fourth Hokage, your son is outstanding; he understood the meaning of companionship very early on."
Senju Tobirama, "Shut up!"
Senju Hashirama, "Tobirama… let me finish~"
Senju Tobirama was about to speak.
The wily Ōnoki jumped out again.
Ōnoki, "Hahaha, Lord Hashirama, you haven't changed at all."
Ōnoki, "However, the facts are laid bare. To downplay them is somewhat self-deceiving."
Ōnoki, "How was the Jinchuriki's identity exposed? So hard to guess, isn't it? How could a young child know so much or think so much? In their most helpless moments, people will grasp at the last straw, let alone a child?"
Ōnoki, "In my opinion, it won't be long before we see Hiruzen Sarutobi's Old Man face on this big screen, hahaha~"
Fourth Raikage, "Exactly, that's the point!"
In the Raikage's office, Mabui supported her head and shook her head helplessly, watching the Fourth Raikage laughing heartily.
In the Pure Land World, Kushina's beautiful red hair stood up straight.
One, two, three… exactly nine strands.
She was already on the verge of explosive rage and losing control.
After the chat in the chatroom, Kushina went into a direct rampage.
Her eyes constantly scanned her surroundings.
Searching for Minato Namikaze's soul.
In her disoriented state, she had forgotten that Minato was currently inside the Shinigami's belly.
"Asura."
In the Pure Land World, the Six Paths Sage murmured.
Immediately, he waved his hand.
All the souls around Kushina were relocated.
He shook his head.
Soon, the Pure Land World became quiet again.
[Konoha Hospital.]
[Naruto lay on the hospital bed.]
[Bloodstains still remained on his body.]
[His face, however, had been cleaned, but the medical Ninja's movements were extremely rough.]
[Apparently, the news about Naruto being a fox demon had already spread here.]
[Naruto closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep, unaware of how he returned to that musty home.]
[When he opened his eyes again, he was awakened by hunger.]
[In a daze, he smelled food and quickly searched the room.]
[Soon he noticed the dishes on the table, but they were already cold.]
[Little Naruto didn't mind and quickly sat down to gobble them up. Even though they were a bit spoiled, little Naruto still ate with relish.]
["Fishing… I think I know. I'll try it when I wake up tomorrow~!"]
[Suddenly, little Naruto remembered the voice he had heard in his daze.]
[So, after a night, little Naruto ran to the back mountains of Konoha Village.]
[He couldn't afford to be sad; if he didn't find food today, he would have to endure hunger again.]
[Before long, Naruto fashioned a simple fishing rod.]
[He didn't know why fishing lines and hooks would appear here.]
[Perhaps they were left by people who had fished here before.]
[Splash, splash—]
[It seemed like a beginner's luck; little Naruto's first time fishing, he caught three fish about the size of an adult's three fingers.]
Everyone looked at this scene with varied expressions.
Coincidence, too much of a coincidence.
Was it really just good luck?
Why did it feel like someone was deliberately guiding him?
Hmm… why weren't the fish thrashing around?
Could someone have attached them to the bottom of the river?
[The sun shone brightly, and soon it was lunchtime.]
[Little Naruto felt his stomach growl, and he immediately followed suit, going to look for firewood.]
[Before leaving the Sarutobi Clan, someone had impatiently taught little Naruto these things.]
[When little Naruto started the fire, a cute smile finally appeared on his little face.]
[He quickly skewered the fish with wooden sticks and waited for the charcoal to appear before placing the skewered fish over the fire.]
[Without seasoning, the taste was naturally nothing to boast about.]
[But at least it served as a meal.]
[For the next few days, little Naruto continued to repeat such days.]
[He also didn't know what was edible and what wasn't.]
[No one was willing to approach him; he tried to pick up a ball for some children, but they chased him away.]
[It was as if the whole world was rejecting him.]
[Every night, little Naruto would secretly wipe away tears.]
[There was one time when it rained, and a hungry little Naruto, with nowhere else to go, walked into a ramen shop. And because of that, he experienced the feeling of being cared for for the first time.]
This scene completely drove Kushina in the Pure Land World insane.
Every time little Naruto wiped away a tear, Kushina felt as if her heart was bleeding.
[After some time, one day, someone entered little Naruto's world.]
[Night fell, and little Naruto placed the last fish over the charcoal fire.]
[Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—]
[Before long, a thin layer of oil appeared on the fish, and the aroma of roasted meat filled the air.]
[Little Naruto, however, was already accustomed to this.]
[His eyes were vacant as he stared blankly at the blazing flames.]
["Smells so good~"]
[An aged voice suddenly rang out.]
["Ah?!"]
[Little Naruto was startled and fell to the ground.]
[He quickly turned his head to look and saw an Old Man with white hair walking out of the darkness.]
[The Old Man had a kind smile on his face, and unlike others, Naruto did not feel the same malice from him as he did from the villagers.]
["Who are you?" But little Naruto still watched him warily.]
["Me?"]
["I'm just an Old Man passing by."]
[The Old Man was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
[He looked at the fragrant grilled fish, and his stomach rumbled.]
[The eerie atmosphere was broken; the Old Man and the child looked at each other for a moment, then laughed in unison.]
However, if this scene were shown directly, it would certainly evoke a warm feeling.
But, when combined with what came before, the feeling seemed to be a bit different now.
["Old Man, have this to eat~" It was the first time he had seen someone so kind to him.]
[Little Naruto naturally generously offered the grilled fish.]
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not polite and took it to eat.
["Thank you so much, this fish looks delicious~"]
["This is a fish I caught, of course it's delicious~!" Little Naruto happily picked up a grilled fish as well.]
[The grilled fish was a bit hot, and little Naruto hadn't grilled many.]
[In the blink of an eye, two of the few grilled fish were eaten by Hiruzen Sarutobi.]
Everyone, "…"
Old Man, do you have no shame?!
There were only three in total, and that was the child's dinner!
[After eating the grilled fish, the Old Man and the child sat by the bonfire, gazing up at the starry sky.]
["Look at the stars in the sky."]
Hmm?!
The wily Ōnoki immediately sniffed out a different meaning in the words.
Senju Tobirama was also the same.
....
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