Chapter 5: The Third Hokage's Forceful Arrival
"Excuse me… may I have a bowl of ramen too?"
Just as Sakura finally finished preparing the ramen and placed it on the table, an aged voice called out from the entrance of Ichiraku Ramen.
"Lord Third…?"
Teuchi stood up, visibly surprised. He had no idea why the Third Hokage would show up here of all places.
"Well, since I'm already here, how could I say no?"
Sakura rolled her eyes inwardly. She already knew this pervy old man had been spying on them through his crystal ball, but she hadn't expected him to show up in person just to freeload a meal.
"Ahaha…"
Hiruzen gave a slightly awkward laugh, sensing that Sakura wasn't exactly thrilled to see him.
"Sorry for the trouble…"
Behind him, a silver-haired ninja in a mask strolled in uninvited and sat down at the table like he owned the place—zero hesitation, zero courtesy.
Kakashi Hatake.
Sakura recognized him instantly. In all of Konoha, there was only one man with silver-white hair, a mask over his face, and a forehead protector covering his left eye.
But something about him felt… off.
The aura Kakashi gave off was cold, lifeless—shrouded in darkness. He didn't feel like a typical ANBU member under the Third's command. Instead, he reminded Sakura more of someone from Danzo's Root. Grim. Hollow.
Then again, considering what Kakashi had gone through, it made sense.
At this point in time, he was still buried under the weight of trauma—his teammates and sensei all dead, Obito sacrificing himself to save him, and Rin… Rin, whom Kakashi had failed to protect, dying by his own hand. The fact that he hadn't mentally collapsed was already a miracle.
Sakura sighed when she caught Kakashi's dead-fish eye fixating on her. With no real choice, she turned around and went back to prepare more ramen.
---
"Is that a Kekkei Genkai?"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, watching Sakura float in midair. He was intrigued. There were countless strange Kekkei Genkai in the ninja world, sure—but they all required chakra to activate. And Sakura… was only four years old. She hadn't even started chakra training yet.
How could she be using a bloodline ability?
But that thought only flickered through Hiruzen's mind for a moment before vanishing. Sakura's parents were native Konoha citizens—there was no possibility of them being enemy spies. Most likely, this was just an unusual form of Kekkei Genkai.
"Time to dig in!"
Naruto shouted joyfully as he dug into his bowl of ramen. Sitting beside him, the Third Hokage felt a sudden pang of guilt. His three students had either defected or left the village and refused to return. Now, the only child left behind by one of their disciples was living in such hardship. As the Third Hokage… had he failed that badly?
"Hey, Naruto. Do you have a dream?" Hiruzen asked suddenly.
"Huh? A dream?"
Naruto blinked, looking at the old man who sometimes brought him food or orphan support payments. After a moment of thought, he asked, "What's a dream?"
"A dream," the Third replied gently, "is something you really want to achieve."
Naruto paused, lowering his chopsticks. He tilted his head in thought and finally said, "I want to protect Sakura, Ino, Teuchi-san, and Sister Ayame… and I want to always be able to eat my fill. But more than anything, I want everyone to recognize me… I want them to stop calling me the demon."
"To protect your friends… and to be accepted…"
For a brief moment, Hiruzen saw the image of Minato Namikaze in Naruto—the same golden hair, the same blue eyes, and that same warm smile. But when Naruto spoke of wanting to be accepted, it hit Hiruzen hard. Minato had died young… and this was the legacy he left behind. The emotion welling in Hiruzen's chest was difficult to put into words.
"In that case… Naruto, would you like to become Hokage one day?" Hiruzen asked.
"What's a Hokage?" Naruto asked, puzzled.
"The Hokage is the protector of the village," Hiruzen explained with a smile. "They're someone beloved by everyone."
"If I become Hokage, will everyone recognize me?" Naruto asked, eyes full of hope.
"They will."
"Then I'll definitely become Hokage!"
Naruto threw up his hand with conviction. For someone who had always been hated and shunned, the desire for acknowledgment was the deepest part of his soul.
"But becoming Hokage doesn't make people recognize you," Sakura said, turning her head to look at Naruto. "Only someone who is recognized by others can become Hokage."
"Huh? Is there a difference?"
Naruto's face was full of question marks. He didn't understand it yet—but beside him, the Third Hokage's eyes lit up.
"So that's the Will of Fire…"
After the meal, everyone went their separate ways. The Third and Kakashi had just returned to the Hokage Office when they were greeted by a familiar figure approaching.
"Danzo?!"
"I heard the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki brat has been in contact with outsiders," Danzo said, leaning on his cane and wearing his usual sour expression. As someone who believed that the Jinchuriki should be molded into an emotionless weapon, Danzo clearly didn't approve of Naruto making friends. In fact, he was probably hoping Naruto would lose control someday—giving Danzo an excuse to push his own agenda.
"I have my own plans regarding that matter," Hiruzen replied tersely. He had no intention of discussing this further with Danzo. His old classmate's way of thinking was far too dark.
"Hmph. Anyone who gets close to the Jinchuriki should be detained immediately. What if a spy from another village is trying to manipulate him?" Danzo growled. The killing intent in his exposed eye was unmistakable.
"That's enough, Danzo. I'll handle this myself. The matter of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is none of your concern."
Hiruzen would never allow Danzo to take action against Naruto. Especially not when Naruto had inherited Minato's smile—that same hopeful, shining light. That image only strengthened Hiruzen's resolve.
"You're too soft, Hiruzen. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is a weapon of war. He must be kept under control," Danzo argued from the shadows.
"I am the Hokage."
Hiruzen cut him off sharply. "Danzo, stick to your duties. This isn't something you need to meddle in."
"…Tch."
Danzo scowled, clearly displeased, but in the end, he could only turn and walk away. Still, the murderous gleam in his eye betrayed his true intentions.
Hiruzen walked over to the window and gazed at the stone face of Minato carved into the Hokage Monument.
"Minato… Kushina… don't worry. I'll protect Naruto."
In that moment, the air around Hiruzen seemed to shift. The years fell away, and he once again stood tall with the imposing presence of the legendary "Professor of Ninjutsu"—the Ninja Hero of his youth.