After the villagers left, silence settled over the street. Only the clan heads, their children, Hiruzen, his ANBU, Naruto, and Kasi remained.
The smell of smoke and spilled alcohol still lingered in the air.
Naruto stood quietly beside his friends, unsure how to feel. He had been angry, sad, and thankful all at once.
The clan heads checked on their children, relieved to see they were unharmed. Then they turned toward Kasi.
Kasi bowed his head slightly.
"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "Your children had to see that because of me. I didn't want them to witness such things."
Hiashi Hyuga shook his head. "There's no need to apologize."
Shikaku sighed softly. "Nah…"
The children stood close together. Shikamaru, hands in his pockets, glanced at his father and then at Kasi.
Choji frowned. "Yeah… they were really mean. Naruto didn't do anything wrong."
Kiba clenched his fist. "If Akamaru were here, he would've bitten those idiots!"
Shino adjusted his glasses, his voice calm. "Their actions toward Naruto were shameful. They acted without thinking."
Everyone turned when Hinata, the shyest among them, stepped forward. Her voice was small, but firm.
"They were wrong… Naruto-kun didn't deserve that. He's kind. He doesn't hurt anyone. Why did those people say such things to him?"
Her words carried an innocent strength that made everyone quiet again.
Naruto felt something warm spread through his chest. No one had ever defended him like that before.
Kasi looked at them—each child standing there, confused but brave enough to question what they had seen. He smiled softly.
"The world is a complicated place," he said. "There are many things you don't understand yet—and that's okay. But remember this: don't follow the crowd. People will always talk, sometimes without thinking. Learn to see things for yourself. Experience, listen, and then decide what's right. That's how you'll truly grow."
Shikamaru nodded slowly. "Guess that makes sense."
Choji smiled. "Yeah… I'll remember that."
Hinata looked at Kasi with quiet admiration.
Naruto stood there, feeling a strange warmth in his heart. Someone had stood up for him—and someone had just told his friends to see him for who he was, not what others said.
After a few more words of reassurance, the clan heads gathered their children.
Before leaving, Shikamaru glanced back and said lazily, "Happy birthday, Naruto… next one better not end like this."
Naruto grinned a little. "Yeah. Thanks, Shika."
Naruto then turned to Hinata.
"Hinata… thank you."
Hinata blushed at his words.
The families slowly left the area, their footsteps fading into the night.
Soon, only Naruto, Hiruzen, Danzo, the other elders, the ANBU, and Kasi remained.
The old Hokage's face was unreadable, though his eyes held both concern and calculation. Naruto looked between the two men—one he had known all his life, and one who seemed to care in a way no one else ever had.
Kasi's expression hardened slightly. His voice grew colder.
"Hokage-sama… we have a lot to talk about."
Then he turned to Naruto, and the warmth returned to his smile.
"Naruto, I know you have a lot of questions for me. I want to answer them all. But can you wait… just one week? I promise—I'll explain everything."
Naruto's eyes widened. His heart was full of questions, and he was a little afraid of the answers.
Still, he nodded silently.
Don't forget to give power stones
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