After leaving Kakashi's home, Naruto swept the area with his Kagura Mind's Eye.
In a flash, his figure vanished—then reappeared in the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the Hokage's seat, staring blankly out the window, lost in thought.
When he sensed Naruto's sudden arrival, he showed no surprise at all.
Naruto looked toward the Third Hokage and noticed that in just a few days, the old man looked as if he had aged more than ten years. The age spots on his face had deepened noticeably.
Without a word, Naruto placed a sheet of paper on the desk.
The Third stretched out his wrinkled hand and picked up the page.
As his eyes scanned the contents, his hand began to tremble ever so slightly.
It was Naruto's policy for the Konoha villagers on Uzushio Island.
Twelve hours of work each day—for only a single meal.
Forging metal, manufacturing shuriken, kunai, and other weapons—the profits were to be gathered and submitted to Naruto.
On Uzushio Island, all forms of fighting and plundering were permitted.
…
Line after line of rules entered Hiruzen's vision, and he couldn't help but wonder—would anyone even survive Uzushio Island twelve years from now?
With a hint of pleading in his voice, he rasped:
"Naruto… aren't these conditions a bit too harsh? If you actually carry this out, that place will become a living hell!"
But Naruto's heart did not waver.
"Isn't this exactly what they always called me, a demon fox? I'm just helping them live up to their own words. That's final."
Just as Naruto finished and was about to leave, the Third called out to him.
"Naruto, wait…"
Naruto's gaze flickered with impatience. "There's nothing to discuss."
"It's not about that." Hiruzen shook his head slowly. "Soon, a white-haired middle-aged man might come looking for you. He was close with your biological father. When the time comes, talk to him properly."
"White-haired middle-aged man?"
Naruto echoed the phrase, and an image formed in his mind—a tall man with wild, white hair.
"Could it be…?"
Not long after Naruto left the Hokage's Office, the rhythmic clack of wooden sandals echoed as a tall, white-haired man walked in.
It was none other than the Toad Sage who had returned to the village yesterday and taken a stroll around Konoha—Jiraiya!
Hiruzen looked at his long-lost student and was overwhelmed by a sudden urge to cry.
Teacher and disciple stood staring at each other in silence after years apart.
At length, Jiraiya dropped into a chair with his usual carefree swagger, crossing his legs.
"Sensei, it's only been a few years, but you've really aged."
"Looks like being Hokage hasn't been easy for you."
Hiruzen chuckled dryly, not angered by the jab.
"You younger ones—none of you had your hearts in Konoha anymore, so this old bag of bones had to…"
Before he could finish, Jiraiya lifted a hand to cut him off.
"Is power really that tempting? I won't bring up the past—but why did you treat Naruto like that? He's Minato's son!"
"Minato and his wife—one sealed the Nine-Tails away for the sake of Konoha, the other gave her life to protect it."
"And you… turned their son into a monster in the villagers' eyes?"
Each accusation pierced Hiruzen's heart like an arrow.
Though it had been Danzo's suggestion, it couldn't have happened without Hiruzen's silent consent. He didn't deny responsibility.
"That decision was a mistake. I thought it would temper Naruto's heart and will. After all, he was the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails."
Jiraiya shook his head with exasperation. "You call that tempering his will? When I was five, I threw tantrums over a lollipop."
"And you sent a boy not even five years old—"
"No parents. No friends. Nothing but hatred and loneliness. Surrounded by scorn and rejection—honestly, I'm amazed he didn't go insane!"
Hiruzen let out a long sigh. "I will resign and relinquish all power. These are Naruto's rules for Uzushio Island. You'll have to be the one to persuade him."
Jiraiya took the page from Hiruzen. After reading it, his expression turned grim.
With his experience, it wasn't hard to imagine the outcome for the villagers.
But he pushed the paper back and shrugged, as if watching from the sidelines.
"This is the result of what you old men and those villagers sowed. Persuade him? What can I say?"
Hiruzen drew out his pipe, took a deep drag, then dropped a bombshell.
"You've been searching for the legendary Child of Prophecy, haven't you? I suspect… Naruto might be that child."
"W-What!" Jiraiya blurted out.
Hiruzen continued, "In terms of talent, Naruto surpasses anyone I've ever seen. Even Minato wasn't his equal."
The shock in Jiraiya's eyes lingered.
"Could it be… the child I've been searching for all these years was in Konoha all along—and he's Minato's son…?"
Hiruzen sighed again—he had lost count of how many times he'd done so in recent days.
"The boy's talent is immense, but his heart has grown cold. Maybe the Great Toad Sage's prophecy… was meant for you to guide him—to steer his life back on track."
Hiruzen's words left Jiraiya deep in thought.
Though he could see the intent behind Hiruzen's words, Jiraiya couldn't help but take it seriously.
So, Jiraiya went to find Naruto.
From a distance, the sight of that spiky blond head made him momentarily dazed.
"Minato…"
"They really are alike… Both father and son, as handsome as me. Honestly, he really does seem to fit the role of the Child of Prophecy."
Looking at Naruto's face brought a measure of comfort to Jiraiya's heart.
"Yo! Blond kid up ahead!"
Jiraiya jogged up and stood in front of Naruto, grinning in his usual overly familiar way.
The moment he saw the man's face, Naruto thought to himself, Just as expected.
Jiraiya, one of the great regrets in the original Naruto story.
But to this Naruto, the man before him was little more than a stranger with a nostalgic filter.
With a calm expression, Naruto asked, "Who are you? Do you need something from me?"
Seeing Naruto's aloof demeanor, Jiraiya's lips parted—but no words came.
Minato had always been gentle and warm like sunlight, but his son was so cold… it made Jiraiya feel a twinge of sadness.
If Minato knew what kind of life his son lived… he'd be devastated, wouldn't he?
"I'm your father's teacher. How about we find a place to talk?"
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, the white-haired man and blond-haired boy sat side by side.
It wasn't mealtime yet, so the shop was empty aside from the two of them.
Jiraiya raised a hand and shouted, "Oyaji! Two extra-large tonkotsu ramen, please!"
"Oh, it's Lord Jiraiya—and Naruto too! Haven't seen you in ages! Hold on, I'll have it ready soon!"
Teuchi smiled and squinted his eyes as he began boiling noodles.
Even after everything that happened on Uzushio Island, Teuchi's attitude toward Naruto hadn't changed at all.
While they waited, Jiraiya glanced at Naruto, and seeing the boy remain silent, he laughed awkwardly.
"Kid, aren't you curious about what I said earlier? Don't you want to know who your father is?"
But Naruto's reply caught Jiraiya off guard.
"I already know who my father is."
Jiraiya's jaw dropped. "You do? How?"