Chapter 5: Conversation in the Hokage's Office
"Iruka, the Hokage has summoned you."
Iruka had just finished his lessons for the day and was preparing to leave when a Chunin from the Hokage's office approached him with the message.
Surprised and a little nervous, Iruka made his way to the Hokage's office in the Hokage Building.
Inside, the Third Hokage sat at his desk, smoking his pipe and flipping through a stack of documents. He greeted Iruka with a gentle smile.
"Iruka, when you applied to become an instructor at the Ninja Academy, I was a bit surprised," the Hokage said. "Now that classes have been in session for two weeks, how do you feel? Are you facing any difficulties?"
Although Iruka had long known of the Third Hokage's kind nature, he was still moved by his concern. He quickly straightened his back and answered with enthusiasm.
"I have no issues, Lord Hokage!"
The Third Hokage gave a slight nod. "That's good to hear."
"However, children can be unpredictable. If you find yourself struggling with anything, feel free to consult Suzume. She may be a bit timid, but she is an excellent teacher."
He chuckled, exhaling a puff of smoke. "But enough of my rambling. Let's move on to something more interesting. What do you think of this year's students?"
Iruka's mind flashed through the faces of his students, and he couldn't help but smile.
"They're full of potential, though sometimes a little too energetic. It can be a handful, but it's rewarding," he admitted.
"We had our first sparring session today, and their progress was beyond my expectations."
"Sasuke Uchiha, in particular, stood out. Though still young, his taijutsu skills are already at the level of a graduate. With time, he'll undoubtedly become a formidable ninja."
"But the most impressive of all is Tsuruma Nobuyuki. Despite coming from a civilian background, he displayed extraordinary talent. Today, he defeated Sasuke effortlessly, despite the Uchiha's elite upbringing."
"Beyond his combat ability, he has a calm and mature personality. If he continues to grow at this rate, his future is limitless."
Iruka spoke passionately, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
The Third Hokage smiled warmly at the sight of Iruka's enthusiasm.
"It sounds like you have high hopes for Tsuruma Nobuyuki," he mused.
"But I can see why. Defeating Sasuke at this stage means he's the strongest in this year's class."
"It's been a long time since a top student has come from a civilian family."
The Hokage sighed softly, pausing for a moment before continuing.
"Keep up the good work, Iruka. With a teacher like you, more exceptional students like Tsuruma Nobuyuki will emerge."
"When they grow up, they will become the pillars that support Konoha's future."
"Keep guiding them well."
Hearing the Hokage's words of encouragement, Iruka was filled with a sense of purpose. He bowed deeply, his voice firm.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
As he turned to leave, the Third Hokage's voice called out once more—this time, softer, but carrying a deeper meaning.
"Iruka," he said, "it's good to nurture the strongest students… but don't forget about those who struggle at the bottom."
"They, too, are part of Konoha's future."
Iruka turned back slightly, as if he wanted to ask something, but the Hokage had already shifted his focus back to his documents, signaling the end of the conversation.
Leaving the Hokage's office, Iruka couldn't shake the lingering thoughts in his mind.
---
The Next Morning
Unaware of the conversation that had taken place the previous day, Tsuruma Nobuyuki arrived at the Ninja Academy half an hour early, just as he had promised.
Before he could even head to the teachers' office, Iruka appeared, yawning as he walked toward him.
"You're punctual as always, Nobuyuki," Iruka remarked, stretching. "Let's head to the training grounds."
As they walked, Nobuyuki looked at his teacher curiously.
"Iruka-sensei, did you not sleep well last night?"
Iruka scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Yeah… I was thinking about something all night," he admitted. "Sorry if I look a bit out of it."
Nobuyuki's curiosity grew.
Jiraiya once said in a manga that "A ninja is someone who endures."
Whether that statement was entirely true or not, there was no denying that endurance was a fundamental trait of a ninja.
As a Chunin, Iruka wasn't the most powerful shinobi, but he had undoubtedly experienced the hardships of a ninja's life.
So what could possibly have kept him up all night?
In the past, Nobuyuki would have ignored the thought, preferring not to pry.
But after yesterday's battle with Sasuke, he felt a newfound confidence in himself. It made him a bit bolder.
So he decided to ask.
"Iruka-sensei, what was it that kept you up all night?"
Iruka hesitated for a moment. As a ninja, secrecy was second nature to him.
But Nobuyuki was his student, and he didn't feel the need to be overly guarded.
After some thought, he carefully chose his words and said,
"Actually, it's nothing too serious."
"Yesterday, Lord Hokage summoned me and gave me some words of encouragement."
"But just as I was leaving, he told me not to forget about the students at the bottom of the class."
"I've been trying to figure out what he meant. I feel like he was pointing out a mistake in my teaching, but no matter how much I think about it, I can't see what I did wrong."
After saying this, Iruka let out a long sigh. Just talking about it seemed to ease some of the frustration he had been feeling.
He hadn't expected Nobuyuki to offer any insight, though.
But—
Nobuyuki, knowing the original story, immediately understood what the Hokage was implying.
"He was talking about Naruto," Nobuyuki said with certainty.
Iruka froze in place, turning to face him with a look of surprise.
"Naruto?" he asked, confused. "Why would you say that?"
Nobuyuki thought for a moment before answering.
"Sensei, you've probably heard the rumors that Naruto is a 'demon fox,' right?"
"My mother warned me about him when school started, saying I should stay away from him."
"But think about it—if Naruto really were a demon fox, would the Hokage allow him to attend the Academy?"
"Obviously not. That means he isn't a demon fox, but he's still treated like one. He carries a heavy burden, but no one sees it."
"If I were the Hokage, I would definitely keep an eye on someone like him."