Chapter 129: "Teacher, I do!" The Son of Destiny worships me as his teacher
"Father… Mother…"
"So, I also have a father and mother. And, they are… great heroes. Then… then why…" Naruto choked, asking the question that had always bothered him. "Why… did everyone in the Village treat me like that…? Why wouldn't they give me food? Why did they throw stones at me? Why did they all call me… a demon fox…?"
Naruto cried his heart out, releasing all the loneliness and pain he had accumulated in that moment. Uchiha Akira watched Naruto quietly, not interrupting. This child, Naruto, needed to vent.
Only when Naruto's crying gradually subsided did Uchiha Akira slowly speak. "Because they are weak, foolish, and easily incited. And even more so, because Hiruzen Sarutobi is despicable, selfish, and greedy for power. He needed an outlet for hatred to divert the villagers' fear and pain from the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Incident. He needed a controllable weapon to consolidate the power he had regained. Therefore, he sacrificed you. He enjoyed the villagers' hatred towards you, because that hatred would make him, the Third Hokage who protected you, appear even greater."
Uchiha Akira spoke the cruelest truth.
Naruto stopped crying. He listened blankly. In his mind, the image of the "Hokage Grandpa" who always smiled and gave him living expenses, whom he considered his only family, was collapsing and shattering bit by bit. So… all the "kindness" was just a disguise. Everything I endured was tacitly allowed by the Third Hokage, or even… caused by the Third Hokage himself.
Uchiha Akira reached out and gently placed his hand on Naruto's messy blond hair. "But from today onwards, everything ends. The one who exploited you, I have already turned him… to ash. From now on, no one will dare to look down on you, and no one will dare to harm you again. I will protect you."
Naruto looked up, his eyes tear-filled, at Uchiha Akira. The new Hokage, Konoha Village's Fifth Generation Lord Uchiha Akira, said he would protect him.
"I…" Naruto opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
Uchiha Akira withdrew his hand, stood up, and resumed his posture of looking down upon all beings. His voice echoed on the rooftop.
"Uzumaki Naruto." he said. "I ask you. Are you willing to become my disciple, inherit your father's will, and also inherit my will, to become a true powerhouse who surpasses all Hokage?"
Naruto froze. Become… his disciple?
Naruto quickly wiped away his tears, clenching his small fists tightly. Light rekindled in his eyes.
"I am willing!" Naruto shouted with all his might. "I am willing! Teacher!"
He knelt on both knees and bowed respectfully to Uchiha Akira. This "Teacher" came from the bottom of his heart.
[Ding! System has detected that key plot character "Uzumaki Naruto" has officially become a disciple. Loyalty locked at 100%.]
[Disciple: Uzumaki Naruto]
[Potential Rating: SSS+ (Asura Incarnation, Uzumaki Bloodline, Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki)]
[Strength: Below Genin]
Uchiha Akira looked at Naruto kneeling on the ground and said indifferently, "Get up. From today onwards, you will move to the Uchiha Clan Territory to live."
"Yes! Teacher!" Naruto stood up excitedly, feeling that his life had changed.
Uchiha Akira looked at Naruto's excited yet apprehensive expression, finding it a bit amusing. However, having an Asura Incarnation as a disciple sounded quite interesting.
"Oh, right." Uchiha Akira seemed to remember something. "I have another disciple; it's a good time for you 2 to meet."
Uchiha Akira turned his head and looked in another direction on the rooftop. There, a girl in a light purple jacket with Hime-cut hair was nervously clutching the corner of her clothes, her small face flushed red. It was Hyuga Hinata.
"Hinata, come here." Uchiha Akira called out.
Hinata's body trembled like a startled little rabbit, but she still mustered her courage, lowered her head, and took small, quick steps to approach.
"Tea…Teacher…" Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz; if not for the excellent hearing of those present, it would have been inaudible.
Naruto looked curiously at the new girl who had appeared. White eyes, how strange. But… he seemed to have seen her somewhere before. Naruto scratched his head, unable to recall.
"From today onwards, you 2 are senior and junior disciples. Hinata, this is your junior disciple, Uzumaki Naruto." Hinata buried her head even lower, her cheeks rapidly heating up, almost steaming. She softly "mm-ed" in a mosquito-like voice.
"Naruto, this is your senior disciple, Hyuga Hinata. She joined earlier than you; in your future training, you should listen to her more."
Uchiha Akira's words made Naruto pause. Senior disciple? This girl, who looked even younger than him and was incredibly timid, was his senior disciple? However, the Teacher's words were commands. Naruto had just been pulled from hell to heaven, and his adoration and trust in Uchiha Akira had reached a blind level. He immediately grinned, showing a brilliant, somewhat foolish smile.
"Hello, Senior Disciple!" Naruto extended his hand, casually offering it to Hinata. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto! Please take care of me from now on!"
Hinata completely froze. Such close contact. And this person was… Naruto. The one who stepped forward and protected her when she was being bullied… Naruto-kun. Naruto-kun's hand was right in front of her.
Hinata felt her brain buzz and go completely blank. She hesitated, trembling, and extended her small hand. When Naruto's warm, dry palm enveloped Hinata's cool, small hand, Hinata's eyes instantly turned into 2 spinning mosquito coils.
"Ah…" She let out a soft cry, her body went limp, and she looked about to fall backward.
Naruto was startled and instinctively reached out his other hand to support her. "Hey! Senior Disciple! Are you alright?"
Hinata leaned against Naruto's chest, completely unconscious, only her cheeks were red like a ripe tomato.
Uchiha Akira stood by, watching this classic reenactment, and smiled helplessly. How interesting.
"Alright, Naruto, first settle your senior disciple." Uchiha Akira said indifferently. "From today onwards, after you 2 finish your Ninja School studies, you will train at my exclusive training ground in the Uchiha Clan Territory."
"Yes! Teacher!" Naruto awkwardly and frantically carried the unconscious Hinata on his back in a very strange posture. His small frame carrying another small figure looked a bit comical.
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