Three days had passed since the incident with those children. Kenji tried to continue his normal routine—training with Arata in the mornings, caring for Naruto during the day, and crafting weapons at night.
But he could feel that something was different.
The glances from people on the street had grown stranger. Whispers were heard more frequently as he passed by. Even some shop owners had begun serving him with less friendliness than before.
"Kenji-kun, are you alright?" Arata asked during morning training. "You look... tense."
"I'm fine," Kenji answered while continuing to throw kunai at the wooden target.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Three kunai embedded themselves dead center in the target. Perfectly accurate—far too precise for a child his age.
Arata watched him with a concerned expression. "Kenji... I know you're talented. But sometimes you seem too... mature. Like there's something you're hiding."
Kenji stiffened. He had to be more careful.
"I'm just focused, Arata-sensei. There's nothing I'm hiding," he lied while smiling—a forced smile.
Arata didn't look convinced, but he didn't press further. "Alright. Today we'll do more intensive chakra control training. Can you do tree walking yet?"
"Not yet."
"Then that's where we'll start."
That afternoon, after training ended, Kenji returned to the apartment while carrying Naruto who he had left with the neighbor—a kind elderly woman named Grandma Hana, one of the few people who still willingly helped them.
"Thank you, Grandma Hana," Kenji said while bowing politely.
"Don't mention it, Kenji-kun. Naruto is such a good child. He wasn't fussy at all," Grandma Hana said with a smile. But then her expression turned serious. "Kenji-kun... I've been hearing rumors about you lately."
Kenji held Naruto more tightly. "What kind of rumors?"
"People are saying you're... different. They're afraid of you." Grandma Hana looked at him with sympathy. "Some are even saying you're possessed or something. I know that's not true, but... you have to be more careful, child."
"I understand. Thank you for the warning," Kenji said quietly.
On the way home, Kenji held Naruto closer. His nine-month-old little brother looked up at him with innocent blue eyes, smiling without any understanding of the burden his older brother carried.
"Naruto... forgive your brother," Kenji whispered. "Your brother is trying to protect you but keeps causing problems."
"Daaah! Daaah!" Naruto laughed while pulling at Kenji's cheeks.
Kenji couldn't hold back a smile. Whatever happened, as long as Naruto was happy and healthy, it was all worth it.
That night, after Naruto fell asleep, Kenji was preparing to leave for his secret cave as usual. But just as he was about to go out, his apartment door suddenly opened.
An Anbu wearing a crow mask stood there.
Kenji's heart immediately pounded hard. This was no ordinary visit.
"Kenji Uzumaki," the voice behind the mask was cold and flat. "Hokage-sama wishes to meet with you. Now."
"B-but Naruto—"
"Someone will watch him. Come with me."
Kenji had no choice. With a heavy heart, he followed the Anbu through the dark streets of Konoha.
They didn't head toward the Hokage Tower as usual. They were going to a more concealed building—the Anbu headquarters.
This is not good.
They entered a small interrogation room. Just one table, two chairs, and a bright lamp burning in the center of the room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was already seated in one chair, his expression far more serious than usual.
"Sit, Kenji," said Hiruzen while gesturing to the chair across from him.
Kenji sat down nervously. His hands trembled slightly.
"Did I do something wrong, Hokage-sama?" Kenji asked quietly.
Hiruzen fixed his sharp gaze on him. "That is what I want to find out. Kenji, there are several reports about you that concern me."
"Reports?"
"First, you frightened some other children three days ago. They said you shouted at them and stared at them with a terrifying expression." Hiruzen lit his pipe. "Second, your abilities are developing far too quickly. Arata reports that your chakra control and kunai throwing are already on par with a second-year Academy student, yet you've only been training for three months."
Kenji swallowed hard.
"And third," Hiruzen leaned back in his chair. "Several residents have seen you going in and out of the forest alone at night. Even after I assigned Arata to train you."
Kenji went silent. His mind raced quickly for a believable explanation.
"I can explain—"
"Kenji," Hiruzen cut in with a voice that was gentle but firm. "I'm not going to punish you. But I need honesty from you. What are you actually doing in that forest?"
Kenji looked into the Third Hokage's eyes. Eyes full of wisdom, but also eyes that could see straight through a lie.
He had to choose—lie and risk losing trust, or be partially honest and face the consequences.
"I... train," Kenji said at last. "Train to make weapons."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Making weapons? At your age?"
"Yes. I collect scrap iron and teach myself to forge." Kenji decided to be partially honest—without mentioning the system. "I know I'm still small and weak. So I thought, if I could make my own weapons, I could protect Naruto better."
Hiruzen was silent for a long time. Smoke from his pipe drifted through the air.
"Show me," Hiruzen said finally.
"What?"
"The weapons you made. Show me."
Kenji shook his head. "I don't have them with me. They're all in the cave where I train."
"Then we'll go there. Now."
Accompanied by two Anbu and the Third Hokage, Kenji brought them to his secret cave in the training forest.
The journey he usually made alone felt completely different this time. The Anbu moved soundlessly around him while Hiruzen walked calmly, observing every corner of the forest.
When they arrived at the cave, Kenji lit the torch he kept stored there.
The torchlight illuminated the small cave's interior. And there, neatly arranged, were five combat knives of various sizes and designs.
Hiruzen stepped forward and picked up one of the knives. He examined its blade, its handle, the balance of its weight.
"This..." Hiruzen looked at Kenji with an expression difficult to read. "You made these? On your own?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
One of the Anbu picked up another knife. "The quality... is not bad at all. For a beginner, this is very impressive."
"Not bad?" Hiruzen shook his head. "This is extraordinary. Even some professional smiths cannot produce blades of this quality." He looked at Kenji seriously. "Who taught you?"
"No one. I learned on my own through trial and error," Kenji answered—partly true, partly a lie.
Hiruzen studied him for a long moment. "Kenji Uzumaki... you are a mystery that grows larger with every passing day."
Kenji said nothing. He just stood there, anxious.
"But," Hiruzen carefully set the knife back down. "I see nothing wrong with what you're doing. You're working hard to protect your little brother. There's nothing wicked about that."
Kenji felt an overwhelming wave of relief.
"However," Hiruzen's voice turned serious again. "You cannot keep doing this alone. It's far too dangerous for a child your age to be in the forest by himself, especially at night."
"But—"
"No buts," Hiruzen cut in. "If you want to keep making weapons, I'll provide you with better facilities. A small workshop in the crafting district. With supervision, of course."
Kenji fell quiet. This was actually a good opportunity—better facilities, easier access to materials. But supervision meant he couldn't freely use the system.
But what choice did he have?
"I accept. Thank you, Hokage-sama," Kenji said while bowing.
A week later, Kenji was given a small workshop in a corner of Konoha's crafting district. Not large—roughly four by four meters—but sufficient for one person to work.
There was a small forge, an anvil, various hammers and tools, and even a shelf for storing materials.
An old blacksmith named Tatsuya was assigned to supervise him. A man in his sixties with a thick white beard and hands covered in old burn scars.
"So you're the kid who caused all the commotion," said Tatsuya while examining one of Kenji's knives that the Hokage had brought. "Hm. Your technique is still rough, but your intuition is good."
"Thank you... Tatsuya-san," Kenji said politely.
"Drop the formalities. Just Tatsuya." The old man set the knife down. "I'll teach you proper technique. But understand this—I'm here to supervise, not to restrict your creativity. Make whatever you want, as long as it's not dangerous."
Kenji nodded. It seemed Tatsuya wasn't going to interfere too much.
In the following days, Kenji settled into his new routine.
Morning: Training with Arata.
Afternoon: Caring for Naruto.
Evening: Working in the workshop under Tatsuya's supervision.
Night: Resting with Naruto.
He could no longer go to the secret cave, but this official workshop was actually better. The tools were more complete, the materials of higher quality.
And what surprised him—Tatsuya turned out to be an excellent teacher.
"You're gripping the hammer too tightly," Tatsuya said while watching Kenji work. "Let the hammer's weight do the work, not the strength of your hand. You'll be more precise and won't tire as quickly."
Kenji followed his guidance. And sure enough, his forging results improved immediately.
[System: Crafting Master]
[You Have Received Guidance from an Expert!]
[Weapons Craftsman Level 2 → Level 3]
[Experience Points +100]
[Level Up! Level 3 → Level 4]
[New Blueprint Unlocked: Modified Boomerang Shuriken]
Kenji smiled inwardly. The system recognized Tatsuya's guidance as legitimate learning.
"Why are you smiling?" Tatsuya asked.
"Ah, nothing. I'm just happy the technique worked," Kenji answered quickly.
Tatsuya nodded. "Good. A blacksmith must love their craft. Without that love, the weapons they produce will have no soul."
The weeks passed peacefully. Kenji grew increasingly skilled at forging. Even Tatsuya had started to seem surprised by the speed of his development.
"You learn far too quickly," Tatsuya muttered one day. "Even my most talented student back then wasn't this fast."
"Maybe because I practiced a lot on my own before this," Kenji offered as an explanation.
"Maybe." Tatsuya looked at him with a strange expression. "Or maybe you were simply born for this."
One afternoon, while Kenji was finishing his first modified shuriken, the workshop door swung open.
A small girl around six years old walked in with bright sparkling eyes. Her hair was tied in two buns, and she wore clothing typical of a weapons family.
"Tou-san! I—" The girl stopped when she saw Kenji. "Eh? There's a little kid here?"
"Tenten, don't be rude," Tatsuya scolded. "This is Kenji. My student."
"A student? Tou-san has a student?" Tenten approached with curiosity. "But he's so small! He's even smaller than me!"
Kenji looked at the girl. Tenten. One of the characters he knew from the anime. A weapons expert who would become part of Guy's team.
And in the future...
But right now, she was just a small child staring at him with curiosity.
"I'm Kenji Uzumaki. Nice to meet you," Kenji said politely while bowing.
"Uzumaki? Like Naruto?" Tenten tilted her head. "You're his older brother?"
"Yes."
"Wow! I've seen Naruto before! He's so cute!" Tenten smiled broadly. "I'm Tenten! Someday I'm going to be the greatest weapons master in the world!"
Kenji couldn't suppress a smile. Even at such a young age, Tenten already had the same dream.
"I want to be a weapons master too," Kenji said.
"Really? Then we're rivals!" Tenten held out her hand. "Let's be friends and rivals at the same time!"
Kenji looked at that small hand. Then he shook it.
"I accept."
Tatsuya laughed watching them. "Wonderful! You two can motivate each other!"
From that day forward, Tenten often came to the workshop to learn from her father. And every time she came, she always chatted with Kenji—asking what he was making, showing off the shuriken she was practicing with.
For the first time since his parents' deaths, Kenji had a friend his own age.
A peaceful life.
But Kenji knew—this was only the calm before the storm.
[END OF CHAPTER 4]