Knock, knock, knock.
A sudden knock sounded at the door.
Naruto opened it to find an elderly man standing outside, dressed in a red-and-white Hokage robe, wearing a conical hat, and holding a smoking pipe.
The Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Good evening, Third Hokage."
Naruto smiled politely the moment he saw him, his tone filled with respect.
"Good evening, Naruto. I hope I'm not disturbing you," the Third Hokage said with a warm chuckle, taking a puff from his pipe.
Earlier that day, he had observed Naruto's experience on the streets through the crystal ball.
Although most villagers still harbored hostility toward him, some had clearly begun to soften.
When had Naruto become so polite? Even his clothing had changed.
Such a drastic shift in the personality and behavior of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki was not good news.
It meant uncertainty—unknown variables.
The Third Hokage's eyes dimmed slightly at the thought.
But the expression vanished just as quickly, replaced by his usual benevolent smile.
"Please come in, Third Hokage," Naruto said, stepping aside. "You're busy every day, so it's rare for you to visit me. How could you possibly be disturbing me?"
He guided the Third Hokage inside and poured him a glass of water.
Naruto's smile was gentle, his movements refined and composed.
For a brief moment, his face seemed to overlap with another figure.
Minato.
The Third Hokage was stunned, then let out a soft sigh.
"Naruto… you've really grown up."
"Everyone grows up eventually," Naruto replied calmly.
"I was too naive before—that's why people disliked me. Now, I want to be like the Fourth Hokage: gentle, kind, and respected. I want everyone to acknowledge me… and I want to become Hokage."
His words were filled with yearning for the future.
"So that's it… Minato is your role model," the Third Hokage murmured.
A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes.
He understood.
Naruto must have been influenced by The Successive Hokages and had set his sights on becoming a Hokage like Minato.
That was a heavy burden for a child so young.
He reached out and gently rubbed Naruto's head.
"From now on, I'll come see you more often," he said softly.
"Remember this, Naruto—you're not alone. I will always be your strongest support."
Only then can I become your only light.
"Don't underestimate me, Third Hokage!" Naruto said, taking a deep breath, his eyes shining with hope.
"I will become Hokage!"
"Just like you always say—where the leaves dance, the Will of Fire burns. The fire will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to grow. I want to be that fire. I want to sacrifice myself and ignite Konoha."
Naruto's heartfelt declaration deeply moved the Third Hokage.
Minato… Naruto really is just like you.
Is this the final gift you left for the village?
"Naruto, if you ever need anything, you can come to me anytime," the Third Hokage said, his guilt weighing even heavier on his heart.
"Thank you, Third Hokage," Naruto replied with a smile.
"I don't need anything right now. You should also take care of your health—don't work too hard protecting everyone."
"I am the Hokage," the old man said with a laugh, tapping his pipe.
"Protecting everyone is my responsibility."
Just as the Third Hokage was about to stay longer and further assess Naruto's mental state, an ANBU dressed in black appeared beside him and whispered a few words.
The Third Hokage's expression changed instantly.
"Naruto, I'll come see you again next time."
Naruto maintained his flawless smile, clearly accustomed to scenes like this.
For these ninja, entering and leaving his home was effortless.
He knew full well that his life was constantly under their surveillance.
Naruto escorted the Third Hokage to the door and watched his slightly hunched figure disappear into the night.
Slowly, the smile faded from his face.
His eyes turned cold.
This performance should have satisfied the Third Hokage.
From now on, supplies would likely be delivered more frequently.
Although the Third Hokage rarely visited in person, he would occasionally send "supplies."
The last delivery had been a book titled Will of Fire.
Just as Naruto had said earlier—
Where the leaves dance, the Will of Fire burns.
This was the core philosophy upheld by generations of Hokage.
Its meaning was simple: abandon prejudice, burn oneself, and embody selfless dedication to nurturing the next generation.
But Naruto felt none of it.
He asked himself what he had done wrong.
And yet, all he had ever received were cold stares and cruel insults.
Everyone wished they could tear him apart.
If not for the protection of the ANBU, he might already be dead.
Aizen had once taught him:
The best way to control a person is to first destroy their will.
How eerily similar it was to his own situation.
Whenever he felt lost or broken, the Third Hokage would always appear "by coincidence," offering comfort and instilling the Will of Fire into him.
How was that any different from brainwashing?
How could he possibly identify with Konoha and its Will of Fire under such circumstances?
Naruto didn't know what he would do in the future.
But for now, in order to remain hidden, he would maintain a perfect smile and use "sincerity" to move the villagers.
With that thought, he sat down, opened Will of Fire, and began reading carefully.
This was the thirty-eighth time.
Only by memorizing it completely could he ensure he never revealed a flaw in his daily life.
True disguise… is forgetting who you originally were.
—
"Naruto has started reading Will of Fire again."
At the same time, inside the Hokage Office, an ANBU reported Naruto's activities promptly.
"He has truly inherited the Will of Fire," the Third Hokage murmured, his eyes flickering.
"Did you hear that, Danzō? Naruto may become an even better successor to the Will of Fire than Minato."
His tone carried a hint of pride.
"This proves my decision was correct."
"Hmph."
In the corner of the office, an elderly man with one eye, his body wrapped in bandages and leaning on a cane, let out a cold snort.
"You're too soft-hearted, Hiruzen. You should have handed Naruto over to Root. I would have trained him into the perfect weapon of war—that would have been the safest choice."
"That will never happen," the Third Hokage said coldly.
"Naruto is Minato's only son. I must give Minato an answer."
"An answer?" Danzō laughed darkly.
"If that were truly the case, you wouldn't have allowed Naruto to end up like this. Hiruzen, you know very well that Root is his true home. I would have molded him into the most perfect tool."
"Danzō," the Third Hokage snapped,
"Naruto is not a tool for Root."
"Where there is light, there is darkness—but Naruto will stand in the light and inherit the Will of Fire."
"Remember this, Danzō," he said firmly.
"I am the Hokage."
"Hmph. You'll regret this, Hiruzen."
Danzō cast him one last cold glance, then stormed out with a flick of his sleeve.
"Hokage… always the Hokage."
The desire for that position once again swelled uncontrollably in his heart.