"His only request," the Third Hokage said quietly, "was that I protect you."
He set his pipe aside, eyes dim under the weight of memory. "Itachi may have acted without my permission when he destroyed the Uchiha Clan, but I owe him my gratitude. The village's peace was preserved that night. Yet even now, I regret that I couldn't find another way."
"As Hokage, I allowed that decision to stand. I thought it was for the good of the village, but that choice still haunts me. I failed to protect the Uchiha."
He turned his gaze to Sasuke, his voice low and heavy with remorse. "Sasuke, I must apologize to both you and your brother. Itachi bore the burden of being branded a traitor to protect the very village that condemned him. For years, he hid the truth, living as a shadow within Akatsuki to safeguard the Leaf. And all the while, I let you hate him."
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. "Itachi was… a spy? Inside Akatsuki?"
Naruto, Hinata, and Jiraiya all froze, equally stunned. None of them could have imagined that the man who had slaughtered his own clan had done so to protect the very village that cursed his name.
What kind of love could drive someone to do that?
Naruto blinked. "So that's why, when he fought against Asuma-sensei and Kurenai-sensei, he so easily revealed Akatsuki's goals… he wasn't just bragging, he was leaking intel?"
Jiraiya exhaled softly. "That's Itachi for you. Always three steps ahead."
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, muttering, "Man, I knew there was something weird about that guy…"
Meanwhile, Sasuke's hands trembled. His Sharingan spun with pain and confusion. "He… he was protecting me this whole time?"
Tears welled up and spilled down his cheeks.
Naruto placed a hand on his shoulder, steady and wordless.
The Third Hokage let the silence linger before speaking again. "The truth has been buried for years. I tell it to you now not to reopen old wounds, but so you'll understand that the Uchiha tragedy wasn't born of pure malice. It was the result of fear, misunderstanding, and failed leadership."
He turned to Tsunade. "As the new Hokage, you must remember this lesson. Protect fairness above all else. Never let the village be consumed by fear again."
Sasuke's gaze was distant, his mind spiraling. Everything he'd known his hatred, his purpose had been shattered.
Naruto noticed. "Granny Tsunade, Pervy Sage, Grandpa Hokage," he said softly, "I'll take Sasuke home. He needs time to process this."
Tsunade's face softened with concern. "Take care of him, Naruto," she said gravely. "Some wounds can't be healed with medical ninjutsu."
Naruto smiled faintly. "Don't worry. This guy's tougher than he looks."
He placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. In the blink of an eye, both vanished in a flash of yellow light.
The room fell quiet again. Hiruzen sighed, drawing in a deep puff from his pipe. The smoke curled upward, gray and heavy.
Jiraiya leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Old man… was the situation really that bad back then?"
Hiruzen nodded solemnly. "Yes. Almost every member of the Uchiha Clan had lost faith in the Leaf's leadership. The only one who might have bridged the gap was Minato."
"If Minato were still alive," he said wistfully, "perhaps all of this could've ended peacefully."
The mention of his student made Jiraiya's expression darken with sorrow.
Tsunade frowned. "Then why tell Sasuke the truth now? Why not let the past rest?"
Hiruzen turned to the window, gazing out at the sprawling village bathed in sunlight. "Because the new generation deserves honesty."
He smiled faintly. "Naruto grew up misunderstood and alone, yet he never lost his optimism. Sasuke carried the hatred of an entire clan, yet he hasn't let it consume him because Naruto was there. Because they've both chosen to fight for the Leaf despite their pain."
"They've grown," he continued, his tone gentle but firm. "They're not children anymore. They deserve to face the truth as equals, not be sheltered from it. Lies only breed confusion and darkness."
"The truth hurts, yes but they're strong enough now to bear it."
He turned to Tsunade, his gaze filled with quiet conviction. "Promise me, Tsunade never hide things from them out of fear. Trust them with the truth. Treat them not as children, but as the future of this village."
Tsunade nodded firmly. "I understand, sensei."
She knew he was right. The Leaf's future rested on those two boys and their friends. They were no longer fledglings in need of protection they had become the wings of the village itself.
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Speaking of which, Tsunade…"
He glanced at the Hokage's desk, now hers. "As the former Hokage, I'm making one final proposal: to formally dissolve the position of Hokage Advisor."
Both Tsunade and Jiraiya stared at him in shock.
"What?" Tsunade asked. "Why would you do that?"
Hiruzen exhaled a long breath. "My circumstances and Minato's were different from yours. When I succeeded Lord Tobirama, I was young and inexperienced. I needed advisors to help me manage the village."
"Minato was the same. But you, Tsunade you already understand leadership. You have experience, wisdom, and people who stand beside you. Jiraiya will help you, and Naruto and the others will support you. You don't need us old relics interfering anymore."
He took another drag of his pipe, his face half-obscured by smoke. "The truth is, we can no longer keep up with this era. The world is changing faster than we ever imagined. If Minato had lived, I believe he would've found a way to avoid the Uchiha massacre. But we… we chose the blade over reason."
His voice trembled with regret. "We saved the village by cutting away a part of its soul. That was our sin."
He set the pipe down. "I was the one who created the advisor system. And I'll be the one to end it."
He looked at Tsunade and smiled softly. "This is the last thing I can do for you as your teacher."
"By clearing away the political shadows, I'll leave you a village that's truly yours clean, whole, and free."
Tsunade's throat tightened. She bowed her head deeply. "Thank you, sensei."
Outside, sunlight spilled through the office window, golden and warm, touching the wrinkles of the old Hokage's face.
Meanwhile, in a quiet house on the edge of the village, Naruto and Sasuke reappeared. Naruto guided him to sit on the tatami floor, then went to prepare tea.
Hot water poured into the teapot, steam rising gently as the tea leaves unfurled and danced. Within moments, the delicate aroma of fresh tea filled the air, blending with the faint grassy scent of the tatami mats.
The calm fragrance settled between them, softening the tension that lingered in the room.
Naruto poured two cups, sliding one toward Sasuke. "You don't have to say anything right now," he murmured. "Just… sit. Think. When you're ready, I'll be here."
Sasuke didn't reply, but his trembling hands finally stilled. Outside, the wind rustled softly through the leaves whispering peace, at least for now.
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