"Naruto."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him kindly.
"Today was your first day at the academy. How did it feel?"
"It was great!"
Naruto replied excitedly.
"Especially Teacher Kitazawa—he was super extra great!"
As he spoke, he raised the snack pack in his hand and shook it proudly.
"Did you buy those snacks yourself?"
Hiruzen asked with a smile, seeing how happy he was.
"Nope! They're a reward from Teacher Kitazawa!"
Naruto opened the snack pack and let out a surprised gasp.
Inside was a variety far beyond his expectations—lollipops, chocolate, sandwich cookies, fries, and more.
Hiruzen glanced at it subconsciously and nodded.
Kitazawa… this teacher is pretty good. He's reliable.
He recalled how Kitazawa had stepped in multiple times today to protect Naruto.
Looks like this year's Outstanding Teacher award can go to him again.
Even if it looked a bit like favoritism—he was the Hokage.
No one dared question it.
"Here, Third Grandpa."
Naruto pulled out a lollipop and offered it to him.
"I'm past the age for snacks."
Hiruzen patted Naruto's head gently.
"You eat it."
Naruto hesitated for a moment, then took the lollipop back.
"Other than your teacher, how are your classmates?"
Hiruzen asked as he opened the door and walked into the living room with him.
"Did you make any friends?"
"I think Chōji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Ino are all pretty nice to me."
Naruto scratched his head.
"But I don't know if we count as friends yet."
"They might not be now—but they will be."
Hiruzen wasn't surprised.
The classmates Naruto mentioned all came from ninja clans. They knew the truth behind the so-called monster rumors.
And their parents had either fought alongside Namikaze Minato or owed him their lives.
"That's great!"
Naruto said excitedly.
"I, Uzumaki Naruto, am finally going to have friends!"
A hint of guilt surfaced in Hiruzen's heart.
What Naruto had endured was far too cruel for a child.
But… It was a necessary sacrifice.
The Nine-Tails' jinchūriki was Konoha's most important trump card.
He had to be handled with extreme caution.
"Third Grandpa."
After sitting on the sofa, Naruto took a bite of a sandwich cookie and asked,
"Do you know much about the Fourth Hokage?"
"Why are you suddenly asking about the Fourth Hokage?"
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Well…"
Naruto explained,
"Teacher Kitazawa said that if you want everyone's recognition, you should learn from the Hokage."
"Then why not ask me?"
Hiruzen chuckled.
"Quite a few people consider me the strongest Hokage, you know."
"I was planning to learn from all four Hokage!"
Naruto grinned widely.
"That way, I'll definitely surpass all of them. Third Grandpa—am I super smart?"
Hiruzen froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?"
Naruto asked in confusion.
"Is there something wrong with that idea?"
"There's nothing wrong with it."
Hiruzen stroked his white beard.
"If you truly manage to combine the strengths of all four Hokage, then yes—you could surpass them all."
"That's awesome!"
Naruto said, full of fighting spirit.
Hiruzen only smiled, not saying anything to dampen his enthusiasm.
Combining the strengths of four Hokage?
Even he couldn't do that—let alone Naruto.
Strictly speaking, no such ninja could exist in the shinobi world.
"The Fourth Hokage was called Namikaze Minato."
A look of reminiscence appeared on Hiruzen's face.
"He was almost perfect—gentle, refined, and incredibly powerful. He was known as the Yellow Flash."
"Why was he called the Yellow Flash?"
Naruto asked curiously.
"Because his hair was golden, just like yours."
Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"And because he possessed the fastest speed in the entire shinobi world."
"How fast?"
Naruto's eyes sparkled.
"Faster than light."
Hiruzen paused before answering.
"Enemies were defeated before they even realized he was there."
"So amazing…"
Naruto was stunned.
"I want to become a ninja that fast too!"
"You'll have your chance."
Hiruzen smiled.
"Then he…"
Naruto suddenly hesitated, something occurring to him.
"What is it?"
Hiruzen said calmly.
"You can ask anything."
"He was so strong… So how did he die?"
Naruto asked innocently.
The smile on Hiruzen's face instantly froze.
His thoughts were dragged back to that chaotic night—the night of the Nine-Tails.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hinata."
After all the students had left, Kitazawa walked up to her.
"I didn't wait long."
Hinata replied softly.
"Here."
Kitazawa took out two snack packs.
"I—I already got one."
Hinata shook her head quickly.
"One isn't enough."
Kitazawa recalled how, in the original story, Hinata had eaten forty-six bowls of ramen in an eating contest.
"I have enough…"
Hinata's face flushed.
"No, you don't."
Kitazawa placed both packs into her arms.
"Don't be polite with me."
"Th-thank you, Teacher Kitazawa…"
Hinata hugged the snacks, looking at him with trembling lashes.
Like a little white rabbit, she stood there at a loss.
"Alright, back to business."
Kitazawa couldn't help but pat her head.
"I've found the three boys you mentioned."
Hinata's body trembled.
Memories of the last time resurfaced, fear appearing in her eyes.
"Hinata."
Kitazawa's expression turned serious.
"I've arranged to meet them after school tomorrow. I'll take care of it for you."
"…Okay."
Meeting his warm gaze, Hinata felt her heart slowly settle.
"See you tomorrow."
Kitazawa stopped walking.
"Goodbye, Teacher Kitazawa."
A trace of reluctance surfaced in Hinata's heart.
Hugging the snacks, she turned and left the academy.
After a few steps, she looked back.
Kitazawa was still standing there, as if waiting for someone.
Hinata withdrew her gaze, looking down at the snacks in her arms, a small smile forming on her face.
"Lady Hinata."
A sudden voice sounded.
A young man with Byakugan eyes appeared in front of her.
"Tokuma."
Hinata immediately composed herself, adopting the posture her father had taught her.
As the main family's heiress, she had branch family guards assigned to her.
Not long after Hinata left, Yūhi Kurenai appeared in Kitazawa's line of sight.
"Only after becoming a teacher myself did I realize how impressive you are."
She sighed softly.
"This is my exclusive experience, you know."
Kitazawa handed her a scroll and smiled.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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