["And you, Monkey—what exactly happened with Rin Nohara?"]
Hiruzen Sarutobi respectfully replied:
"Reporting to you, Teacher—Kirigakure sealed the Three-Tails inside her. If she returned to Konoha, the Three-Tails would have gone on a rampage. For the village's safety, she chose to take her own life."
Tobirama Senju's eyelids twitched.
These people really had some outrageous ways of doing things.
"So this is what you've been teaching at the Ninja Academy all these years? Not even the most basic knowledge about the Tailed Beasts?
Did you not read the notes I left behind about them? Or are you still following that naive philosophy of my sister-in-law?
And at that time, Konoha had Tsunade and the others. You and Danzō were there. The Fourth Hokage was there. Sealing away the Three-Tails should have been a simple matter.
Kirigakure practically delivered a Tailed Beast to your doorstep for free! Konoha could have gained another jinchūriki!"
[Rin Nohara: ...]
Hearing the Second Hokage's words, she suddenly felt as though she had died for nothing.
Not only had she died in vain, but—
[Obito Uchiha: Rin!!!]
[Kakashi Hatake: Rin!! Obito!!!]
[Rin Nohara: Kakashi… Obito…]
[Tobirama Senju: That's enough for now, young lady. Let them calm down first.]
Obito felt as if ten thousand horses were trampling through his heart.
So Rin had died for nothing?
If she and Kakashi had only known more about Tailed Beasts, maybe she wouldn't have had to die.
At that moment, resentment quietly took root in Obito's heart toward Hiruzen Sarutobi. If this knowledge had been properly taught at the Academy, Rin might still be alive.
[Tobirama Senju continued berating Hiruzen for quite some time. Even the incident with Kumogakure was brought up and scolded harshly.
Finally, Tobirama instructed:
"From now on, treat the jinchūriki—no, treat Naruto Uzumaki—better. Immediately announce his identity as the son of the Fourth Hokage.
Also, I have been observing everything you've done through Nagi's body. If Nagi wishes to view the Scroll of Seals, give it to him directly. (Most of it contains my forbidden techniques anyway.)
Follow the defensive inspection methods I laid out and conduct a full review of Konoha's security.
And lastly—don't forget to admit that you graded his exam incorrectly."
With that, Tobirama's manifested presence faded.
Nagi glanced at Hiruzen, who had been scolded so thoroughly he could barely lift his head.
"Third Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen cleared his throat and regained his composure.
"Ahem—it's Nagi. From now on, you may call me Senior Brother in private. As for the Second Hokage…"
"Uh… my teacher is still watching you."
Hiruzen: "..."
After a few more pleasantries, Hiruzen personally escorted Nagi out of the Hokage Tower. Once Nagi had left, he turned to the guards.
"From now on, if Shiranui Nagi enters the Hokage Tower, he is not to be stopped."
"Yes, sir!" ×2
They didn't know the reason—but shinobi obey orders.
In Hiruzen's heart, Shiranui Nagi now stood in the same position as his own teacher. If his teacher were ever stopped at the Hokage Tower, he might as well step down immediately.
The Next Day
Hiruzen arrived early at the classroom. Once most of the students had gathered, he slowly stood and addressed the children.
"The exam you all took the other day was done very well. However, while grading, I made an error on one paper. That was my mistake."
Naruto immediately leapt up excitedly.
"Grandpa Hokage! Was it Nagi's test?!"
Hiruzen coughed lightly.
"Yes, it was Nagi's paper. I was too busy that day and graded it incorrectly."
The Third Hokage walked up to Nagi.
The moment he saw the boy's face, he remembered the merciless scolding from his teacher the previous day and shuddered.
"Ahem… Nagi, was it? I sincerely apologize for grading your paper incorrectly. Please hand it to me so I may regrade it."
Nagi passed the paper forward.
Hiruzen accepted it with slightly trembling hands, erased his previous comments, and replaced them with high praise—"Excellent work," "Outstanding comprehension," and so on—before marking a perfect score: 100.
After finishing, he finally felt relieved.
Then he looked at Naruto with a complicated expression.
Taking Naruto by the hand, Hiruzen led him to the podium and faced the class.
"There is something else I must announce today. Naruto Uzumaki is… the son of the Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze."
"Nani?!" ×N
The classroom erupted in shock.
Who would have imagined that the "demon fox" everyone avoided would suddenly turn out to be the Fourth Hokage's son?
They might not fully understand what "demon fox" meant—but they certainly knew what "the Fourth Hokage's son" meant.
Naruto himself was stunned.
"I'm the Fourth Hokage's son? No way… I…"
Then, suddenly, Naruto shouted excitedly:
"That's amazing! I have a dad and mom! I'm not some unwanted kid anymore!!!"
Those who had once insulted or bullied him now couldn't even lift their heads.
Hinata Hyūga looked at Naruto with aching sympathy.
Iruka Umino's expression was even more complicated. Seeing Naruto so overjoyed simply because he now knew who his parents were made his heart ache all the more.
"Naruto…"
After today, a tidal wave named "The Fourth Hokage's Son" would undoubtedly sweep across Konohagakure.
When school ended, parents came to pick up their children.
Some avoided looking at Naruto out of guilt.
Some had lost family during the Nine-Tails' Attack and felt conflicted.
Genma Shiranui stood at a distance, watching Naruto with shame in his eyes. The Fourth Hokage's child had been right beside them all along, yet those who once served as the Hokage's Guard had never offered him proper care.
"Nagi, invite Naruto over sometime."
"…Alright."
One Year Later – Konoha Year 55
Nagi now attended classes using a Shadow Clone, though today seemed to be running overtime.
His original body was currently learning Water Release techniques under Tobirama's instruction when, suddenly, several books dropped from within his mindscape.
The unexpected noise drew both their attention.
Among the fallen items were several manga volumes. On one cover was Naruto.
Naruto
On another cover stood a boy who resembled Naruto, dressed in black.
Boruto
The two began flipping through Naruto.
—Black screen—
[Naruto Uzumaki: Eh? What's that book? Don't tell me it's my heroic biography! Hahaha! Did a fan make it?!]
[Onoki: Why cut off at such a critical moment? Judging by the Second Hokage and Nagi's expressions, they definitely saw something important.]
[Mei Terumi: Looks like there's something they don't want us to know.]
[Hashirama Senju: Tobirama, what did you see?]
[Tobirama Senju: You'll know in time, Brother.]
[Madara Uchiha: Hmph. If you don't want to say it, then don't. No need to act mysterious.]
[Tobirama Senju: Heh. I don't bother explaining things to clowns.]
[Madara Uchiha: What did you just say?!]
[Tobirama Senju: Exactly what I meant.]
Madara felt certain he had just been mocked by Tobirama's usual sharp tongue. Don't ask why—he just knew.
Meanwhile, Black Zetsu felt a flicker of unease. For some reason, he had the vague sense that Tobirama knew something.
At the Ninja Academy, Sasuke Uchiha stared at the screen with a twisted expression.
"There's no mistake… this is that day!!!"