Inside the Hokage Tower
The Third Hokage opened the report that Kakashi had delivered.
According to the report, Naruto had gained the ability to sense chakra and had demonstrated combat abilities on par with a Chūnin. Academically, he had already self-studied up to the sixth-year curriculum of the Ninja Academy.
For these reasons, Naruto had proposed the idea of graduating early to become a ninja.
Tapping his fingers on the desk, the Third Hokage looked over at Kakashi, who stood nearby, and asked,
"Kakashi, you graduated early yourself. In your opinion, would it be better for Naruto to stay in the Academy or to graduate now and become a genin?"
"In my experience, it would be better for Naruto to stay in the Academy and train for a few more years."
"However," Kakashi added, "Naruto's desire to graduate early is probably not just about becoming a ninja. More likely, he wants to learn the truth about his origins — about who his parents were."
Having said that, Kakashi looked at the Third Hokage, speaking honestly.
The Third Hokage stopped tapping on the desk, calculating the pros and cons in his mind.
Rationally, revealing Naruto's background wasn't an option. He was still too young — if he accidentally let something slip, it could have negative consequences for his growth...
But I did promise him that once he became a ninja, I would tell him the truth...
Still, if Naruto finds out he's the son of the Fourth Hokage and realizes how unjustly the villagers have treated him, he might grow to resent the village — and blame me for standing by and doing nothing.
For a moment, the Third Hokage found himself at an impasse, unsure whether or not to reveal Naruto's heritage.
If he told Naruto, he risked inciting hatred. But if he allowed Naruto to graduate early, he might lose control over him — leading to even worse consequences in the future.
After a moment's thought, the Third Hokage said to Kakashi,
"We can't reveal the truth to Naruto just yet. But as for graduating early... we can approve that. Given Naruto's lineage, it's only a matter of time before he becomes a ninja anyway. Letting him get used to a ninja's life early — and make new friends — might be for the best."
"Kakashi, would you be willing to leave the Anbu and become Naruto's team leader?"
Team leader... for Naruto? Kakashi blinked. He had only come to deliver a message — how had he suddenly become Naruto's potential sensei? He'd never led a genin team before.
After a pause, Kakashi replied, "I could do it, but by regulation, I'd need to take on three genin. This year's Academy graduates have already been assigned. I can't just lead Naruto alone — that would make him too much of an exception."
The Third Hokage nodded in agreement. "That's true. In that case, reject Naruto's application for now. Let him graduate next year. I'll be counting on you when the time comes — try to spend more time with him this year."
At that moment, Kakashi seemed to remember something and said,
"Lord Third, Naruto's sensory perception has improved to the point where he can detect the presence of Anbu. Maybe it's time to reconsider how we're protecting him?"
"I'll leave that to your judgment. Just make sure he stays away from the Uchiha district."
Hearing this, Kakashi let out a breath of relief. Even though he hadn't succeeded in revealing the truth to Naruto, he had at least earned him some freedom of movement. It felt like he had done something for his late teacher.
And now he had someone new to care about — even if that person was a troublesome brat.
After Kakashi left, the Third Hokage returned to his work. Complaints had been piling up lately — most of them about the Police Force.
For him, complaints against the Police Force were actually a good thing. It showed the Uchiha were unpopular.
But aside from the complaints, he had also received disturbing reports from the Anbu: the Police Force had been stockpiling increasing amounts of equipment — explosive tags, kunai, shuriken — all being transported to the Uchiha compound.
Far more than what was needed for regular law enforcement — enough to fight a small-scale ninja war.
Even if they were really planning a coup, this seemed excessive.
The Third Hokage felt a bit helpless. He understood this was the Uchiha's way of expressing their dissatisfaction — a tactic to gain leverage. But what the Uchiha really wanted wasn't just more departmental influence or a spot on the jōnin council — they wanted his seat as Hokage.
And that was something he could never allow.
That wasn't just his own belief, but a consensus shared by several of his old comrades.
The Uchiha's extreme nature would only isolate the village on the international stage and undermine the Second Hokage's vision of weakening clan divisions in favor of a unified village.
The Uchiha also hadn't achieved anything truly noteworthy lately — not enough to earn the public's trust to lead.
Most importantly, if an Uchiha became Hokage, the sheer number of Uchiha jōnin meant they could monopolize many key departments, taking root throughout the village like an invasive network — turning the entire Hidden Leaf into "the Uchiha's village."
At that moment, a knock on the office door interrupted his thoughts. Uchiha Itachi entered.
The Third Hokage looked at him — the only Uchiha he could still communicate with after Shisui's death — and asked calmly,
"Itachi, any new developments from the Police Force?"
"My father has been actively reaching out to other clans, trying to form alliances."
Forming alliances with other clans? So no immediate action yet.
The Third Hokage let out a quiet sigh of relief. He was confident that the various prominent clans in the village would never align with the Uchiha. The risks of picking sides — combined with the Uchiha's pride — made such alliances unlikely.
What he feared most was the Uchiha making a desperate move — storming the Hokage Tower in an all-out assault. The cost to the village would be far too great.
As one of the Five Kage, he himself wasn't afraid of the Uchiha's attacks — but the Anbu and clerical staff under his command were a different story. They could easily fall to elite Uchiha jōnin.
And raw strength alone wasn't enough to govern a village.
Even the great First Hokage had relied on the Second Hokage to manage village affairs.
With that thought, the Third Hokage rose from his seat and patted Itachi on the shoulder.
"You've had it rough. Torn between your clan and the village — it must be painful."
Itachi shook his head.
"It's not so bad. My father's current path will only hurt both the clan and the village, giving the other hidden villages an advantage. None of them are thinking about the consequences. Their perspective is always confined to the clan alone."
The Third Hokage gave a tired smile and said with a hint of admiration,
"You really see the bigger picture. If you were thirty-five right now, I'd seriously consider passing the Hokage title to you. I believe you'd be able to resolve the tension between the village and the Uchiha."
"You're joking, Lord Hokage. I'm still far from your level."
Itachi declined the compliment and, after finishing his report, left the Hokage Tower.
Watching Itachi's retreating figure, the Third Hokage couldn't help but think of Shisui. He missed him. Shisui had been sincere and uncalculating — a true believer in the Will of Fire.
But Uchiha Itachi gave him the same feeling as Danzō — difficult to control.
Still, aside from Itachi, there was no one left in the Uchiha clan he could talk to.
Why exactly did Shisui die?
Was it really just suicide?
(End of Chapter)
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