Things from the Past
Not long after, the father and son appeared on Konoha Street.
Perhaps because of their similar age, Boruto was not restrained in front of Naruto. The two didn't seem like father and son, but more like elder and younger brothers, which caught the attention of the surrounding villagers.
"The current Konoha is so small. Back in my day, the area of Konoha was three times larger than it is now," Naruto said, looking around nostalgically.
"How about we take the Thunder Car now, and go to the next town to eat Thunder Burgers? They're really delicious, and I'm sure you'll like them..." Naruto suggested, a hint of excitement in his voice.
Boruto didn't respond, and Naruto sighed impatiently. "There are no Thunder Cars or Thunder Burgers anymore, and didn't we just leave the restaurant?"
Boruto hesitated and then added, "Just now you and Mr. Sasuke were so serious, I didn't feel like eating."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, "So you were afraid?"
Boruto nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. "Mom's really scary when she gets mad, even more so than sunflowers. But it's all because of you, Dad. You're always busy with Hokage work and only come home late at night."
Naruto chuckled, "I came back late, huh? Guess my work efficiency wasn't great. Does he still eat instant noodles every day?"
Boruto replied seriously, "Yeah, but I get it. You're the Seventh Hokage of the village, so there's a lot on your plate every day. You're a qualified Hokage, but maybe not the best father."
Naruto's smile faded, and he became a bit more serious. "It's okay. When I get the chance to visit the era you're in, I'll teach that Naruto, who's slacking off."
"Really?" Boruto asked, looking up at him with surprise.
Naruto nodded slightly. "But the real challenge is that you need to be better than me. With your current ability and awareness, you're nowhere near ready to become the Seventh Hokage. You can't imagine the pain I've been through."
Boruto looked down, asking quietly, "What did you experience when you were a child?"
Naruto's face grew darker, but he answered with a hint of humor, "It's nothing. Just a little isolation from most villagers and being used by the village's higher-ups. Even some of my parents' former subordinates tried to assassinate me. Just a past I don't like to remember."
Boruto was overwhelmed. If it were him, he would have broken down long ago. But seeing how his father managed to become the Seventh Hokage despite everything made him wonder how someone could overcome such hardships without losing their way.
Noticing Boruto's expression, Naruto sighed and thought back to the time before he became Hokage. Even with Asura's Chakra influencing him, Naruto was on the verge of darkening many times. But he was saved first by Iruka's kindness, then by Jiraiya's mentorship, and later by the bonds he formed with others. After the attack on the village by Pain, Naruto was able to recover because his comrades sacrificed their lives for him.
Naruto also owed a lot to Nagato, who used the Rebirth Jutsu to revive all the Konoha villagers killed by Pain's assault. Without Nagato's sacrifice, even if Naruto had defeated Pain, he would still have been seen as the son of the Nine-Tails, not a hero.
Naruto and Boruto eventually arrived at the outskirts of the Hyuga Clan. A Hyuga ninja rushed over, recognizing Naruto. "Master Naruto, are you here to visit Hinata?"
Naruto nodded, following the Hyuga ninja to the Hyuga residence.
Hinata was practicing Gentle Fist techniques in the dojo, her every movement resonating with natural energy. Naruto had personally taught her to harness this power. While she wasn't the best at fighting, her pure Byakugan made her an excellent candidate for growth. With the right training, she could easily reach the level of a Kage.
Upon hearing that Naruto had arrived, Hinata wiped the sweat from her face and ran to greet him. "Naruto-kun, I thought you wouldn't come today."
Hinata looked at Boruto and asked, "Naruto-kun, who is this?"
Boruto hid behind Naruto, clearly nervous. Naruto smiled and said, "Hinata, this is Uzumaki Boruto, my son."
Hinata froze, staring at Boruto and then at Naruto. After a few moments, she finally said, "So, Naruto-kun, you already have a son... and he's already this old?"
---
Hyuga Clan Outskirts
Meanwhile, at the outskirts of the Hyuga Clan, an Anbu team who had been following Naruto discreetly exchanged looks before heading toward the Hokage Building.
They soon met with Jiraiya in the Hokage's office. After listening to the report, Jiraiya's expression grew increasingly troubled. He paced around the room, occasionally glancing toward the Hyuga Clan.
He had sent the Anbu to keep an eye on Naruto, not because Konoha was suspicious of him, but to make sure Naruto, being so powerful, didn't simply roam the village without any supervision. However, after hearing about a mysterious ninja who resembled Naruto, Jiraiya became concerned. He didn't suspect that Boruto was Naruto's brother—he knew how many children Kushina had—but he wondered if Naruto had been involved in something dark, maybe even with Orochimaru.
If Naruto had indeed been working with Orochimaru, Jiraiya would have to confront him, especially if it meant betraying the village's trust. Konoha had made sacrifices for Naruto, and Jiraiya wasn't about to let that be taken lightly.
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