"Naruto."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was gentle as he asked, "Today was your first day at the academy. How was it?"
"Awesome!"
Uzumaki Naruto beamed, practically bouncing where he stood. "Especially Kitazawa-sensei—he's super, extra awesome!"
He waved the bag of snacks in his hand, showing them off like trophies.
"Did you buy those yourself?"
Hiruzen's eyes twinkled as he watched Naruto's excitement.
"Nope! Kitazawa-sensei gave them to me as a reward!"
Naruto tore open the bag and gasped as he peeked inside.
It was packed with more treats than he'd imagined: lollipops, chocolates, sandwich cookies, fries, and even a few rare candies he'd never tried before.
Hiruzen peered at the colorful stash and nodded approvingly.
'Kitazawa… that's a good teacher right there. Reliable.'
He recalled how Kitazawa had stepped in to help Naruto several times that day.
'Perhaps the Outstanding Teacher award will go to him again this year. Favoritism or not… I'm the Hokage. Who'd dare object?'
"Here, Grandpa Hokage."
Naruto held out a lollipop with a bright grin.
"I'm a little too old for sweets these days," Hiruzen chuckled, gently patting Naruto's spiky head. "You enjoy it."
Naruto hesitated, glancing between the lollipop and Hiruzen, then tucked it back into the bag.
"So… Besides your teacher, how are your classmates?"
Hiruzen opened the door, guiding Naruto into the cozy living room.
"Did you make any friends?"
"I think Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Ino are all pretty nice to me," Naruto said, scratching the back of his head. "But… I'm not sure if that makes us friends yet."
"If you're not friends now, you will be soon enough."
Hiruzen's voice was calm and certain.
He wasn't surprised at Naruto's choices.
All the kids Naruto mentioned came from ninja clans—and each family either owed gratitude to or had once fought alongside Minato Namikaze and Kushina.
And they knew the truth hidden behind the village's whispers of "monster."
"That's great!" Naruto shouted, practically vibrating with joy. "I, Uzumaki Naruto, am finally gonna have friends!"
A twinge of guilt flickered across Hiruzen's weathered face.
The life Naruto had endured so far… no child should have carried such a burden.
But… it was a sacrifice forced upon them all.
The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was Konoha's greatest secret weapon—and there was no room for mistakes.
"Grandpa Hokage…"
After settling on the couch, Naruto took a bite of a sandwich cookie, then suddenly looked up.
"Do you know anything about the Fourth Hokage?"
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened slightly, studying him.
"Why are you asking about the Fourth all of a sudden?"
"It's like this—"
Naruto leaned forward, explaining earnestly.
"Kitazawa-sensei told me that if I want everyone's approval, I should learn from the Hokage."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen chuckled, a playful glimmer in his eyes.
"Then why not start by asking me? Plenty of people consider me the strongest Hokage, you know."
"I'm planning to learn from all four Hokage!" Naruto announced proudly.
"That way, I'll definitely surpass every Hokage who came before me!"
He flashed a grin.
"Grandpa Hokage… am I not super smart?"
For a moment, Hiruzen stared at him, taken aback—then he burst into warm, rumbling laughter.
"What's so funny?" Naruto asked, scowling. "Is there something wrong with my idea?"
"Not at all."
Hiruzen stroked his beard, eyes twinkling with affection.
"If you truly could combine the strengths of all four Hokage, you really would surpass them all."
"That's awesome!" Naruto exclaimed, fist pumping the air, eyes blazing with determination.
Hiruzen simply smiled, saying nothing further.
'Combine the power of all four Hokage…? Even I couldn't manage that. And the chances of any shinobi ever doing so… are close to none.'
But he didn't have the heart to extinguish the light in Naruto's eyes.
Not when the boy was finally beginning to dream.
"The Fourth Hokage's name was Minato Namikaze."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression softened with nostalgia.
"He was nearly flawless—a man of gentle manners and quiet elegance, yet also incredibly powerful. People called him the Yellow Flash."
"Why was he called that?"
Uzumaki Naruto tilted his head, curiosity sparking in his bright blue eyes.
"Because, like you, he had golden hair," Hiruzen explained, his voice growing distant as memories tugged at him.
"And he was the fastest shinobi the Ninja World had ever seen. When he moved, it was like a flash of yellow light."
"How fast?" Naruto pressed, practically bouncing in place.
Hiruzen considered for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"Faster than the eye could see. Most enemies died before they even realized they've been attacked."
"So cool!" Naruto gasped, fists clenched in excitement. "I wanna be a ninja that fast too!"
"There's always a chance," Hiruzen said with a reassuring smile.
Naruto was about to reply, but then his face turned thoughtful, a crease forming between his brows.
"What is it?" Hiruzen asked gently. "Ask me anything you want."
"If he was so powerful… how did he die?"
Naruto's question was soft but pierced like a blade.
Hiruzen's smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a shadow that passed over his features.
In his mind, he was dragged back to that terrible, chaotic night—the night of the Nine-Tails' attack.
—
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hinata."
After the other students had left, Kitazawa approached Hyuga Hinata, who was lingering near the classroom door.
"I didn't wait long…" Hinata murmured, her voice barely louder than a whisper.
"Here."
Kitazawa held out two bags of snacks.
"I-I already have one," Hinata protested quickly, shaking her head.
"One bag definitely isn't enough," Kitazawa insisted.
He couldn't help remembering the time, in the original timeline, when Hinata had eaten forty-six bowls of ramen in one sitting during an eating contest.
"It's enough for me," Hinata said, her cheeks blooming pink.
"Nope—it's not enough for you."
Kitazawa placed the bags firmly in her hands. "Don't be shy."
"Th-thank you… Kitazawa-sensei."
Hinata clutched the snacks to her chest and peeked up at him, eyelashes trembling like a nervous white rabbit.
"Alright, back to business."
Kitazawa gently patted her head.
"I've found those three boys who gave you trouble."
Hinata's shoulders flinched, and fear flickered in her pale eyes as memories surged back.
"Hinata."
Kitazawa's voice turned firm yet kind.
"I've arranged for them to meet us after school tomorrow. I'll help you give them a lesson they won't forget."
Hinata met his warm, unwavering gaze—and slowly, her anxious heart calmed.
"O-okay," she whispered.
"See you tomorrow." Kitazawa gave a final nod and turned to leave.
"Goodbye… Kitazawa-sensei."
Hinata watched him go, an unexpected flutter of reluctance blooming in her chest.
She hugged the snack bags close as she left the school grounds.
After walking a few steps, she glanced back over her shoulder and found Kitazawa still standing there, as though waiting for someone.
Hinata quickly looked away, eyes falling on the colorful bags in her arms. A small, shy smile curled across her lips.
"Lady Hinata."
A voice sliced through the silence, startling her.
A Hyuga youth appeared before her, his pale eyes focused intently.
"Kō."
Hinata straightened immediately, smoothing away her smile and assuming the composed demeanor drilled into her by Hiashi.
As a member of the Hyuga Main Family, she was always accompanied by Branch Family guards.
Moments after Hinata disappeared down the path, another figure finally emerged into Kitazawa's line of sight.
"Only after becoming a teacher myself did I realize how incredible you are."
Kurenai Yuhi approached him, letting out a quiet sigh.
"Well, this is my personal treasure trove of experience."
Kitazawa grinned and handed her a scroll.
"Consider it a sensei's secret weapon."
--------------------------------
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