"Lord Hokage, Naruto has certainly had a difficult life all these years."
Seeing the Third deep in thought, Kakashi couldn't help but speak up.
The Third took a drag from his pipe and asked, "Kakashi, are you blaming this old man for not taking good care of Naruto?"
"Uh..."
Despite the Third Hokage's calm tone, Kakashi bowed his head in apology. "No, Lord Third. I'm sure you had your reasons."
The Third nodded, recognizing that Kakashi's emotions still needed to be assuaged.
He explained to Kakashi in a sincere tone, "You don't understand, Kakashi. After the Fourth's death, the village was in disarray and needed to be rebuilt."
"There were ambitious figures in the village with their own ideas about the jinchuriki problem. Some even proposed that Naruto be imprisoned."
"I had to fight on multiple fronts just to ensure Naruto wouldn't be permanently locked away."
"But as soon as someone leaked the secret of Naruto being a jinchuriki, I had no choice but to spread the rumor that he was the child of the demon fox to muddy the waters."
"Many villagers lost their loved ones during the Nine-Tails' attack, which is why he has always been ostracized."
"As for his identity as the Fourth's son, that absolutely cannot be revealed. If the son of a Kage is also a jinchuriki, he would easily become a target for our enemies."
"Over the years, I've often visited him myself. A small way to compensate for what he's owed, I suppose."
As he spoke, the Third's voice grew heavy.
Understanding the Third's difficult position, Kakashi felt a pang of guilt. "I'm very sorry, Lord Third. I was ignorant of the full story, yet I questioned you."
The Third waved his hand with a feigned air of relief. "Naruto is your sensei's son. I understand your concern for him."
"Let's do this. Naruto's past has been far too bitter..."
"Now, with the Uchiha's intentions for approaching him unclear, I want you to be in charge of watching over him long-term."
"Except for when he's at the Academy, you are to stay with him. This will prevent Uchiha Kawasaki from trying anything. With you there, I can rest easy."
Kakashi was overcome with a mix of surprise and joy. He had been uneasy ever since hearing what Kawasaki had said. Now, he could protect Naruto personally. Naruto shouldn't have to suffer being bullied anymore. "Lord Third, should I protect him from the shadows?"
The Third thought for a moment. "You can find an opportunity to get close to him. It would be best if you could become Naruto's teacher."
"Thank you, Lord Third."
Kakashi initially thought the Hokage was just looking out for him by giving him this assignment.
"You may go."
After Kakashi left, the Third sighed. Assigning Kakashi to watch Naruto was a move born of necessity. After all, the Uchiha had already made their move to get close to Naruto. If he didn't send someone to keep an eye on things, Naruto might very well be spirited away. And Kakashi, a loyal supporter of the Hokage's faction with outstanding abilities and a suitable position, was the perfect candidate for the job.
...
On the way, Naruto chattered incessantly, but Kenichi remained silent, merely nodding from time to time. It wasn't that he was cold; most of the hot-tempered Uchiha had already left Konoha with Itachi. Kenichi was actually one of the clan's moderates.
The reason he didn't speak was because of the Anbu watching them from all sides. He didn't want to bring any trouble to the Uchiha clan. After all, Naruto was the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.
After confirming that Naruto had arrived home safely, Uchiha Kenichi departed under the Anbu's continued surveillance.
"Goodbye, Uncle Kenichi!"
Naruto waved at Kenichi's back. Even though Kenichi hadn't said much on the way, he also hadn't shown any hint of prejudice in his eyes. For a lonely and sensitive boy like Naruto, that was more than enough to make him happy.
Uchiha Kenichi didn't look back. Naruto waited until he was far in the distance before heading inside.
He flicked on the light in the entryway.
The house was a mess. Dirty clothes were scattered everywhere, and the sink was piled high with unwashed dishes. The floor was cluttered, with trash strewn about.
Naruto looked around at his chaotic home. Then he looked at the bags containing his brand-new clothes and shoes, and a strange feeling welled up inside him. The environment he had always taken for granted now seemed exceptionally filthy and disorderly.
He carefully hung up the new items, still in their packaging, on a hook. Then, he rolled up his sleeves, drew some water, and began to clean his home.
It was late, but the lights in the house burned brightly. Naruto was full of energy and motivation.
Outside, the Anbu members exchanged glances, wondering why Naruto had suddenly been struck with the whim to do chores in the middle of the night. Still, as long as Naruto wasn't running around causing trouble, they weren't particularly concerned with what he was doing. They would just include it in their report.
...
A child's mood can change in an instant. Sasuke, who had been in high spirits just moments before, found the smile on his face slowly fading as Kawasaki led him step by step toward the ruins of their old clan compound. The new settlement was still farther away, requiring them to pass through this area and walk for several more miles.
Sasuke's young mind was filled with questions he wanted to ask his father, and he unconsciously quickened his pace.
Kawasaki, on the other hand, was thinking about Kakashi. Kakashi was undoubtedly a genius, but he was also shackled by the so-called "Will of Fire." Born into a prestigious clan, he had fallen into a slump after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, wasting his talent. While transplanting a Sharingan had boosted his combat abilities significantly in the short term, it had also limited the heights he could reach. Not only did it constantly drain his energy because he couldn't deactivate it, but its ability to copy anything could naturally breed complacency.
He often played a supporting role, only getting a taste of Obito's Dual Kamui power at the very end. Most of the time, he seemed almost irrelevant, and his personality was far too indecisive. Obito's crimes were immense—he had killed their master and his wife, attempted to destroy the shinobi world, and shattered countless families. Yet when Kakashi first confronted him in Kamui's dimension, he held back, landing only a few symbolic punches to the gut. Because it was Obito, he couldn't bring himself to be ruthless. Had he been able to act decisively then, the story might have taken a very different turn.
Being good to Naruto was a strategic investment for Kawasaki. But at the same time, he genuinely believed that Naruto's childhood was one of the most tragic. Much of the pain he endured was unnecessary, and many of his hardships could have been avoided. The dark political struggles between the Third Hokage and Danzo had cruelly dragged an innocent child into their web. Glorifying suffering is even more ruthless than suffering itself. If Naruto had been surrounded by love, the so-called problem of the Nine-Tails losing control would never have existed. That sand-obsessed kid from the neighboring village, who had already gone mad, was a clear example.
Naruto's childhood was hardly any easier than Gaara's. While he was spared from assassination attempts, every cold face from the villagers was like an invisible sword. It was only because Naruto was the reincarnation of Asura that he didn't instantly turn to darkness, which would have likely made Konoha his first target.
"Father, I'm home."
Kawasaki returned to the newly built clan settlement with Sasuke. Unfinished buildings were everywhere, but Kawasaki never overworked the laborers, always letting them finish on time. After all, overtime meant extra expenses, and for now, it was enough that the Uchiha clan had a place to live.
Fugaku had already heard that Sasuke was back and was sipping tea inside. Seeing Sasuke enter, he showed a rare smile. "You're back. How did you get along with Sensei Kawasaki?"