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Chapter Five: A Lonely Path
The silence that followed Naruto's departure lingered like a heavy fog in the Hokage's office. The chaos he had left behind mirrored the turmoil in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart — the shattered ink bottle, the torn papers, and the black stain across the portrait of Minato all seemed to mock him.
For a long moment, Hiruzen said nothing. The old man simply stared at the door where Naruto had vanished, the echo of the boy's screams still haunting the room.
Finally, from the corner of the shadows, Kakashi stepped forward, his mask hiding the tension in his face but not the guilt in his voice.
"Lord Third…" he said quietly. "What do you want me to do?"
Hiruzen closed his eyes, inhaling deeply before opening them again. The weight of his years pressed down on him harder than ever. "Find him, Kakashi," he said, his voice heavy. "Make sure the boy doesn't do anything reckless. He's just learned more pain than most adults could endure."
Kakashi nodded silently. His single visible eye darkened with determination. Without another word, he vanished in a flicker of movement, the rustle of wind the only trace of his departure.
When the room fell silent again, Hiruzen let out a long, tired sigh and sank back into his chair. The burden of leadership — of being a protector, a liar, and a father figure — felt almost unbearable now.
He rubbed his temples, muttering softly, "Minato… Kushina… what would you have me do now? I never thought the fox would reach him this soon…"
He glanced once more at the portrait on the wall. The ink that marred Minato's face had begun to dry, forming dark streaks that made it look as if the Fourth Hokage himself had cried. The sight broke something inside the old man.
"I've failed him," Hiruzen whispered. "I've failed all of you."
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Meanwhile, outside the Hokage Tower…
Naruto was running.
He didn't know where he was going — only that he needed to run. Away from the tower, away from the truth, away from the pain that burned inside his chest like fire. His tears blurred his vision, but he didn't care. His breath came in short gasps, the cold morning air cutting against his skin.
People on the streets turned as he rushed past — merchants, villagers, shinobi — all whispering, all staring. Some with confusion, others with the same disgust he had known his entire life.
"Was that Naruto?" someone murmured.
"He looked upset."
"Probably caused trouble again…"
Naruto didn't stop to listen. He couldn't.
He dashed past Ichiraku's, past the training field, past everything familiar — until his feet carried him through the market square. There, he nearly collided with two familiar figures.
"Oi, Naruto?" Shikamaru called out, blinking as he saw his friend sprinting past.
"Hey! What's with you?" Choji added, his usual calm tone replaced with concern.
But Naruto didn't stop. He didn't even look at them. His face was red from crying, eyes swollen, tears still streaming. His footsteps echoed down the street until he disappeared around the corner, leaving Shikamaru and Choji standing there in stunned silence.
"Troublesome…" Shikamaru muttered, watching the direction Naruto had gone. "Something's really wrong."
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High above, on the rooftops, a silent figure watched everything unfold.
Kakashi crouched, his gaze following the boy as he tore through the village, running from something he could never truly escape. His chest tightened — that familiar ache of helplessness clawing at him again.
When Naruto finally stumbled into his small apartment, slamming the door behind him, Kakashi stayed for a moment longer, eyes fixed on the dimly lit window.
"…He's just a child," Kakashi whispered under his breath. "And yet, he bears the weight of a demon."
He straightened and turned away, the faint rustle of his flak jacket breaking the quiet. "Forgive me again, sensei. But I'll watch him… I promise I won't fail him too."
With that, he vanished in a swirl of leaves, heading back toward the Hokage Tower.
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Back in the office, Hiruzen sat alone, staring out the window at the village bathed in soft morning light. The silence felt heavier than ever.
When Kakashi returned moments later, he knelt silently before the desk.
"He's home," Kakashi reported quietly. "Didn't talk to anyone. Didn't stop. Just… shut himself inside."
Hiruzen nodded faintly. "Good. For now, let him rest. There's no wound deeper than betrayal — and no pain sharper than losing faith."
As Kakashi disappeared once more, the Third Hokage leaned back, his gaze drifting again to Minato's portrait.
He whispered almost to himself, "The village you died to protect, Minato… may one day be the same village your son learns to hate."
And outside, behind a locked door, a small boy curled up alone on his bed, the muffled sound of his sobs filling the tiny, empty apartment.
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