Nine-Tails, Fourth Hokage, Jinchuriki…
When these three terms were connected one by one by Kakashi, the truth of twelve years ago was slowly revealed before Naruto.
It wasn't until long after Kakashi finished speaking that Naruto finally let out a long, dazed sigh.
"Looks like the villagers weren't entirely wrong. In a way, calling me a Demon Fox wasn't completely off the mark."
Naruto's tone was light, as if he didn't care about any of it at all.
But his eyes were shrouded in shadow, making it impossible to discern his true emotions.
Kakashi wasn't sure whether his decision today had been the right one. To be honest, he had already started regretting it halfway through.
He shouldn't have let his emotions drive him to reveal confidential information that should have remained secret.
But Naruto's account of his 'fantastical experience' was far too shocking, leaving Kakashi's own mindset in turmoil for a while.
In principle, the truth about the Nine-Tails Rampage twelve years ago, as well as Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, were not supposed to be disclosed.
Keeping this information hidden was, in a way, a form of 'protection' for Naruto… at least, that was the justification Kakashi had believed in until today.
But given the power Naruto had now displayed, coupled with the twenty years he claimed to have lived in another world, that justification no longer seemed to hold up.
Moreover, by all rights, Naruto, as the greatest victim and the one most connected to the incident, deserved to know the truth.
In comparison, Kakashi was more concerned about the 'attackers' Naruto had mentioned.
He knew very well that Naruto had always been under the protection, or surveillance, of the Anbu directly under the Hokage.
So, who could have made these Anbu's members disappear without a trace while also allowing attackers to attack the Jinchuriki openly within Konoha's borders?
The implications were terrifying to consider.
In an instant, several of the most likely suspects flashed through Kakashi's mind.
Among them, the leader of Root, Shimura Danzo, stood out as the most probable culprit.
He remained outwardly calm, but still kept the matter in mind, planning to report it to Hiruzen when they returned to the village.
But for now, the more pressing issue was Naruto's reaction upon learning the truth.
Kakashi could no longer maintain his usual carefree demeanor. He stared at Naruto across the campfire, opening his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, his duty as a Ninja outweighed his personal feelings.
"Naruto, I believe the Third Hokage kept your origins a secret to protect you. After all, you-"
"So this is the guilt you all feel, huh?"
"Sure, the Jinchuriki, such a powerful 'weapon', should naturally be kept under wraps."
For the first time since returning from the One Piece World, Naruto showed such intense emotional fluctuation.
Faced with his question, Kakashi was left speechless. He wanted to defend Hiruzen further but couldn't find any more convincing words.
Yes, even if Naruto's identity as the Jinchuriki had to be concealed, at the very least, he could have been allowed to grow up in Konoha as the 'child of a hero', couldn't he?
Instead, not only was Naruto denied the privileges befitting the orphan of the Fourth Hokage, but the rumors of him being the Demon Fox were also allowed to spread among the villagers, subjecting him to years of undeserved isolation and ostracism.
Compared to the suffering Naruto had endured, any words of justification now felt hollow.
"Naruto... I think the Third Hokage had his own reasons."
Even as he said this, Kakashi himself wasn't convinced.
But to keep Naruto stable, he chose to say it anyway.
"If possible, I hope you can forgive him-"
Across from him, Naruto raised his head, his face now fully illuminated by the firelight.
What kind of expression was that?
Beyond the resentment and anger, the only thing visible was 'disappointment'.
"I won't forgive him."
Kakashi wanted to say more, but Naruto raised his hand to stop him.
"Kakashi-sensei, thank you for telling me the truth."
"As for old man... Third, I want to hear him explain all of this to me himself."
As he spoke these words, Naruto wasn't entirely sure how he felt.
Over the years, if he had to pick the person in Konoha who had treated him the best-
there was no doubt it would be the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. (T/N: What about Teuchi?)
His special place in Naruto's heart was something even Iruka couldn't surpass.
At some point, Naruto had even come to see him as his own grandfather.
During the days of his 'real' childhood, it was Hiruzen who had given him care and warmth.
If someone claimed all of that had been an act, Naruto would be the first to deny it.
But then... why had he treated him this way?
By now, the first light of dawn had begun to break over the horizon.
Unknowingly, the two of them had spent the entire night talking around the campfire.
Whether it was due to staying up all night or something else, Kakashi thought he caught a faint redness around Naruto's eyes.
"Let's leave this matter here for now. We'll talk more after we complete the mission."
Naruto quickly steadied his emotions, slipping back into the persona of the [Great Hero] from the high seas.
Before Kakashi could say anything else, he gestured toward the other three who are still unconscious.
"I'll leave them in your care, Kakashi-sensei. I'll go find some food for everyone."
With that, Naruto vanished from the spot, leaving Kakashi alone to stare blankly into the flames.
…
Naruto, who was in a bad mood, was 'flying' aimlessly in the air. He soon passed over the forest and arrived above a cluster of buildings on the water.
'If I'm not mistaken, this place should be the destination of our trip, the home of that old man Tazuna.'
Lightly stepping on the air, Naruto looked down at the people below.
Some of them were already preparing for the day's work at sea.
'If I went down now, I should be able to find some food, right?'
Considering that there was an old man in their group, Naruto dismissed the idea of hunting a wild beast for a grand barbecue.
'I shouldn't let the old man suffer from indigestion… It would be troublesome.'
Suddenly, Naruto's gaze shifted toward the distance, where a spiraling, pointed structure hidden deep in the forest caught his attention.
His Observation Haki spread outward like an unstoppable tide, quickly enveloping the building.
After sensing what was happening inside, Naruto's focus sharpened.
'So there's still this part of the story...'
Pushing off the air with his feet, Naruto shot forward like an arrow, streaking toward the building.
And then, the previous scene happened.
The arrogant businessman Gato just happened to cross paths with Naruto, who was out 'hunting', and was swiftly dealt with.
Following the tracks outside, Naruto watched the entire process of Zabuza and Haku's performance when facing death.
Perhaps because of his own past experiences, Naruto didn't want to let these two meet their end like this.
So he intervened.
And because of Naruto's intervention, Haku and Zabuza did not die in the Land of Waves.
Maybe they wouldn't listen to him. Maybe they would continue living as assassins.
Or maybe they would eventually die at the hands of someone else.
But that wasn't Naruto's concern.
As he said… he wanted to save them, so he did. Their choices afterward had nothing to do with him.
In a way, Naruto was an incredibly 'selfish' person.
Just like the other [Emperors of the Sea], Naruto also has his own code of conduct.
Without the knowledge of Team 7 or even the client, the life-and-death crisis in the Land of Waves had already been resolved by Naruto's casual intervention.