Chapter 70: Why isn't Naruto back yet?
Inoichi had just opened Naruto's door when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
He slowly turned around and met Hiashi's icy gaze.
"What a coincidence, Inoichi."
Hiashi's voice was frighteningly calm, and his fingers had quietly pressed against the door frame.
"I didn't expect to run into you here."
A layer of cold sweat immediately broke out on Inoichi's back.
His toes unconsciously retreated half a step.
"Clan Head Hiashi, what a coincidence! I... I was just..."
"Just here to look for your daughter?"
Hiashi meticulously smoothed his cuffs.
"Me too.
Why don't we..."
He suddenly pushed Inoichi into Naruto's house.
"Wait together? We can catch up while we're at it."
Inoichi only felt a gentle force push him into the room, and the door slammed shut with a "bang."
He stiffly turned around and found Hiashi already sitting casually at the dining table.
"Sit."
Without lifting his head, Hiashi pointed to the chair in front of him.
"Since you're here, why don't we talk about what happened last time in the forest..."
Inoichi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he cautiously shuffled over to the dining table and sat down.
The two middle-aged men faced off across the small dining table.
Hiashi's fingertips lightly tapped the tabletop, each tap seemingly striking Inoichi's nerves; Inoichi, meanwhile, fidgeted with his thumbs to conceal his inner panic.
The setting sun outside the window stretched their shadows long, intertwining on the wall in a scene of tense hostility.
The corner of Hiashi's mouth curled slightly, while fine beads of sweat were already trickling down Inoichi's temples.
Since Inoichi had tricked Hiashi last time, Hiashi hadn't seen Inoichi for a while, making this encounter a pleasant surprise.
In the small kitchen at this moment, Naruto was stir-frying, the sound of the spatula clanging accompanied by the aroma of the food.
Hinata and Hanabi had been dragged out by Ino to buy drinks and snacks. Unexpectedly, just as the three girls left, their fathers arrived one after another.
Just as the two middle-aged men sat opposite each other in awkward silence, the door was suddenly pushed open.
"Naruto, Grandpa is here to see you."
Third Hokage, smelling the aroma of the food, knew he had arrived just in time for dinner, so he happily pushed open the door, ready to enjoy his evening meal.
As Third Hokage, carrying a fish, pushed the door open, he saw Hiashi and Inoichi turn their heads.
The three Konoha heavyweights stared at each other in the cramped living room.
The three men's six eyes met, and the air seemed to solidify.
The three men sat in Naruto's living room, staring blankly at each other, the air thick with awkward silence.
Why is Third Hokage here?
Hiashi and Inoichi thought simultaneously.
They had originally planned to find their daughters and then speak with Naruto alone, but they never expected to walk into this scene.
Hiashi and Inoichi exchanged a glance, communicating telepathically: Should we try to sound the other out? See what they came for?
Third Hokage watched them exchanging meaningful looks, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter.
What is going on?
Since when were the Hyuga and Yamanaka clans on such good terms?
Apart from Ino–Shika–Chō, Konoha's great clans rarely interact. What's the deal with these two?
It can't just be a coincidence, right?
There's no such thing as that much coincidence in the world!
No, I have to find a way to sound them out.
Third Hokage cleared his throat, just about to speak, when Naruto's voice suddenly came from the kitchen:
"Third Hokage Grandpa, two Uncles, I've finished cooking. Should I go buy some beer for you?"
The three heavyweights froze simultaneously, then nodded in unison.
Perhaps at the dinner table, they could better gauge each other's intentions.
"Alright, we'll trouble you then, Naruto."
Third Hokage nodded in agreement.
After serving the food, Naruto left to buy the alcohol.
"What are you two doing here..."
After Naruto disappeared from Hiruzen Sarutobi's senses, he looked toward Hiashi and Inoichi.
He keenly noticed their discomfort.
"We came to look for our daughters."
Seeing Inoichi remain silent, Hiashi took the initiative to speak.
He wasn't good at lying, so he honestly stated his purpose.
"Naruto indeed has good relationships with his classmates."
Third Hokage nodded. He knew that Naruto's group of friends often came over to Naruto's house to eat, and this was a good thing.
Once Naruto established enough bonds in the Village, he would be more willing to protect the Village.
The girls closest to Naruto were Ino Yamanaka and Hinata Hyuga, and now both of their fathers had come to Naruto's house.
In fact, Third Hokage's initial favorite candidate for Naruto's wife was Sakura Haruno.
Before attending the Ninja Academy, Sakura Haruno had even helped Naruto buy food.
At that time, Naruto wanted to buy snacks and eventually asked the passing Sakura Haruno for help. Sakura Haruno not only bought them but also returned the 'errand fee' Naruto had given her.
Third Hokage took a liking to her back then.
The reason Third Hokage liked Sakura Haruno was also very simple.
Nothing else, but although Sakura Haruno's family had a crest, they were commoners.
That crest was drawn by Haruno Kizashi or Haruno Kizashi's father; it was a form of self-comfort for a commoner family.
Just as Kushina married Minato, who came from a commoner background, Third Hokage naturally hoped Naruto's wife would also be a female Ninja from a commoner background, or simply a commoner.
However, the two children didn't click, so there was nothing he could do.
Deep in his heart, the Third Hokage let out a heavy sigh that was almost impossible to dissipate.
Everything is fate, nothing is up to man.
This phrase now felt like cold shackles, tormenting his soul.
No matter what grand plans or intentions you once held, no matter how painstakingly you planned, reality's progression was always so unsatisfactory, often running completely counter to your goals.
His thoughts drifted back to the night twelve years ago, submerged in blood and cries.
On the ruins left by the Nine-Tailed's rampage, he personally retrieved the newborn baby, still crying in swaddling clothes, from the cold barrier. He faced the lifeless bodies of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki.
He, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had once made a solemn vow in the name of the Hokage—he would ensure that Minato and Kushina's only child grew up safely and healthily.
His initial wish was so pure and simple.
He just wanted this child to live safely.
For this reason, during that initial period, he even allowed the child to only be called "Naruto," without the surname "Namikaze" or "Uzumaki."
He naively hoped that a seemingly ordinary name, without a heavy family background, might grant him a relatively stable childhood, free from excessive attention, until Naruto reached adulthood.
However, things did not go as planned.
Rumors in the Village spread rapidly like a plague.
Third Hokage took less than five seconds to guess who the culprit was.
Konoha villagers connected the orphaned Naruto with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox that brought disaster that night, viciously calling him the "Demon Fox Incarnate who killed the Fourth Hokage."
To protect Naruto from further substantial harm and isolation, he, the Hokage, had to take action.
He used his power and authority, first warning Danzo, and then forcibly suppressing the public rumors in the Village, prohibiting people from openly discussing the matter again.
Subsequently, he made another decision.
To have Naruto officially use the name "Uzumaki Naruto."
His original intention was to protect him using the surname "Uzumaki."
Although the Uzumaki Clan had been destroyed, they were ultimately Konoha's closest allies for a long time.
Third Hokage hoped that this surname might evoke sympathy and pity in the hearts of those who knew the truth, making Naruto's situation slightly better.
Unexpectedly... the child still ended up facing such widespread, silent exclusion and cold shoulders from the villagers.
Thinking of this, Third Hokage's heart was filled with powerlessness and bitterness.
Sigh!
He let out a deep sigh, as if trying to exhale twelve years of accumulated guilt and exhaustion from his chest.
I... truly am old.
Not only is my body aging, but my mind isn't as clear and decisive as it used to be.
He could even imagine that his younger, spirited, and strong-willed self would mercilessly and fiercely mock his current aged appearance—hesitant, indecisive, and having handled things so poorly!
Seeing the Third Hokage sitting on the chair with an extremely grim expression after speaking those heavy words, his eyes dark, enveloped by an indescribable low pressure and sense of exhaustion.
Hiashi Hyuga and Inoichi Yamanaka, present in the room, couldn't help but hold their breath, exchanging cautious glances. Neither dared to speak easily at that moment, afraid of touching the Old Man's sensitive nerves.
Wait, why did the Old Man's expression suddenly change just by talking?
For a moment, Naruto's house fell into a suffocating silence.
Yet, in this silence, the same thought popped up in the minds of Hiashi and Inoichi simultaneously, and as time passed, this thought grew stronger and stronger:
Why isn't Naruto back yet?!
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