That evening, Iruka returned home. It wasn't actually that late; the sky outside the window had just turned an inky blue, and only a few distant streetlights twinkled, but with nothing to do, he still lay down in bed early.
In the darkness, his thoughts, like vines freed from their restraints, spread wantonly. Two scenes replayed in his mind—the moment the disaster struck when he was a child, the Nine-Tails' eyes branded deep into his memory.
And for nearly a year, the golden-haired boy's figure in the classroom and on the playground, the curve of his eyes when he smiled, the defiant pout when he was scolded...
Unconsciously, he remembered the Third Hokage's words. It was because of that order back then that he became a teacher, and became Naruto's teacher.
"Iruka, I can understand how you feel... But to some extent, Naruto is actually like you. He doesn't know a parent's love, and the villagers avoid him because of that incident."
"Moreover, Naruto's psychological state is not ideal. Because of loneliness, this child has a maturity far beyond his age. If an ordinary child were so alienated and rejected, he might do something foolish to attract attention."
"But... this child instead distanced himself from those who actively rejected him, completely isolating his inner self from malice... But this doesn't mean he has grown used to loneliness..."
The Third Hokage asked him to take care of Naruto, to be his teacher. Iruka remembered that his heart was incredibly resistant at first. He knew the truth about the Nine-Tails—the beast that killed his parents was sealed within this child before him.
Unlike the other villagers, Iruka knew very well—Naruto was never a demon fox incarnation, but merely an innocent victim caught in that disaster.
He did nothing wrong, he was just an innocent child from beginning to end... Yet, even though he knew this clearly, Iruka still didn't know how to face Naruto.
When he first became a teacher, every time he saw that blonde figure in the classroom, the image of the Nine-Tails would uncontrollably pop into his mind, its ferocious outline like a thorn, piercing his thoughts.
What emotions did he feel then?
Perhaps there was fear, perhaps unconscious distancing. But besides these, another emotion weighed heavily on his heart.
Self-reproach.
He knew he was innocent, he knew he was just a child, yet he couldn't help but secretly project his hatred for the Nine-Tails onto him... Every time he thought of this, Iruka felt a pang of guilt. At that time, Iruka even wondered if someone like him was even qualified to be a teacher.
Someone once told him, "If you don't open your heart, the other person won't open theirs either."
Later, Iruka tried to slowly get closer to Naruto. He could only say that this child was heartbreakingly sensible—even though he couldn't help but look at him with prejudice at first, Naruto always looked at his unqualified teacher with sincere respect in his eyes.
And so, he began to return Naruto's greetings and actively interacted with Naruto in class. Days passed, and unknowingly, besides their teacher-student relationship, a closeness like friendship grew between them.
During their time together, Iruka didn't even realize that his concern for Naruto had long overshadowed his fear of the Nine-Tails.
Because of this, he always felt a bit regretful—he wished he had accepted Naruto's kindness sooner. And now, what should he do to truly help this child?
"Iruka... Iruka!"
Suddenly, a voice exploded in his mind—not his own jumbled thoughts, but a real, clear voice, right by his ear!
"That voice... Hokage-sama?!"
Iruka shot up from the bed. He immediately recognized the voice; it was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi! Could it be... a long-distance sound transmission Ninjutsu?
"There's an emergency. You must go to the Ninja Academy immediately. Naruto and Satsuki are there, and they seem to be forming the Hand Seal of Confrontation. If this continues, it will be bad if something unexpected happens."
Naruto and Satsuki... at the Ninja Academy? And about to spar? Iruka instantly remembered Naruto's words when school ended: "You can't become a strong ninja by always playing house, see you later, Sensei,"
A wave of anger immediately surged in his heart—these two, they really didn't listen to a single one of his warnings!
At this moment, he had no thought of sleeping. Iruka frantically grabbed his Chunin vest from nearby, slipped it on, put on his shoes, and rushed out the door.
"Naruto! You idiot!"
He roared as he sprinted towards the Ninja Academy, the night wind whistling past his ears, only hoping he could make it in time.
— — — — —
"Seriously, why isn't Iruka Sensei here yet? He wouldn't have failed to handle even this small matter that I entrusted to the Third Hokage, would he?"
The training ground was empty at this moment. Naruto and Satsuki stood in the center of the open space where they had practiced taijutsu during the day. There was no sign of them forming the Hand Seal of Confrontation or preparing to spar.
Clearly, the Third Hokage's words just now were merely bait to lure Iruka here.
The evening breeze blew gently, carrying a faint fragrance lingering after the cherry blossoms had fallen. Satsuki tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible coquetry.
"Hey... Naruto, don't you think it's a bit cold now?"
Naruto paused, then raised a hand to rub his arm. "Hmm? Not really. It hasn't been long since cherry blossom season, and it's not cold at night. It's quite warm."
"Is that so..." Satsuki replied, her gaze unconsciously falling on Naruto's hands tucked into his pants pockets. "Um... I feel a bit cold in my hands. Boys are so lucky, even putting their hands in their pockets doesn't seem rude..."
As she spoke, she secretly shook her hands.
Naruto looked around—besides the two of them, there wasn't even a patrolling ninja on the entire training ground, only the distant streetlights casting a dim yellow glow. "Ah, what's the big deal? There's no one here now, so even if you put your hands in your pockets, who's going to say anything? It's fine not to follow those empty formalities."
This idiot... does he have to be so blunt?
Satsuki grumbled to herself, but maintained a faint expression on her face, her tone carrying a subtle sigh, "That won't do. As a member of the Uchiha Clan, how can I casually abandon my pride?"
"It really is a bit cold... Someone's hands are in their pockets, and they look so warm, how nice..."
Nizhu Zi, you're a Fire Style user, why are you cold?
Naruto, of course, saw through Satsuki's intention—she just wanted to hold hands, didn't she? Teasing a tsundere needs to be done in moderation; an occasional tease is fine, but if she gets angry, it'll be hard to coax her.
Thinking this, Naruto reluctantly pulled his right hand out of his pocket. He offered his hand to Satsuki, his tone as natural as possible. "Then, do you want to hold my hand? Sorry, I don't have gloves right now, so this is all I can do."
Satsuki's peripheral vision caught sight of his outstretched hand, and the corner of her mouth almost turned up, but she quickly suppressed it, deliberately feigning a reluctant expression. "Yes... it seems there's no other way... Then..."
Just as she was about to place her slightly cool hand on his—
"Naruto! Satsuki! You two!"
Iruka's angry voice suddenly boomed from not far away. Satsuki's movements abruptly froze, her whole body stiffening, her hand suspended halfway in the air.
Naruto, however, brightened, quickly withdrawing his hand. "Great! Iruka Sensei is here! Let's go, Nizhu Zi!"
Saying this, he turned and ran towards the direction of the teaching building. Satsuki watched his retreating back, slowly lowering her suspended hand, her fingertips still feeling the emptiness of not having touched, a bit annoyed at being interrupted—but she ultimately suppressed it and quickly followed Naruto's footsteps.