Dressed in his new clothes, Naruto felt warmth and comfort wrap around his entire body.
He looked up with a satisfied smile and said to Hiruzen Sarutobi,
"Thank you, Grandpa Third! The new clothes are really warm—I like them a lot!"
Seeing that bright, unguarded smile, Hiruzen couldn't help but recall the tight, worn autumn shirt from earlier. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He forced a smile, but guilt seeped through it unmistakably.
"As long as you like it… as long as you like it," he repeated softly.
As if trying to make up for something, he picked up the kraft envelope already holding Naruto's living expenses from the table, took several crisp one-thousand-ryō bills from his pocket, tucked them inside carefully, and handed it over.
"This is next month's allowance," he said gently.
"You're at the age where you'll start making friends. I've added a bit extra this time. When you're out with friends, don't be too stingy—treat them to ramen once in a while."
"Wow! Thank you, Grandpa Third!"
Naruto eagerly accepted the thick envelope. The weight of it alone made his heart bloom with joy.
Awesome—he actually got more money!
This was hands-down the most practical reward of the night.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, he leaned forward excitedly, unable to wait to share it with the elder closest to him.
"Oh right, Grandpa Third! I met a girl today…"
He animatedly told the story—from chasing off three bullies, to protecting the Byakugan girl they were picking on, to taking her to eat ramen at Ichiraku Ramen.
Finally, he looked up, blue eyes sparkling as he announced proudly,
"I made another friend! Her name is Hinata Hyuga! Her dad looks really strict, but I think he's probably a good person too!"
So she left a good impression on Naruto during their very first meeting?
Listening quietly, Hiruzen nodded to himself.
Hiashi, you old blockhead… you're surprisingly good with kids.
A good first impression mattered. Especially when it came to maintaining stability within the Village—between the great clans and the Jinchūriki.
After chatting a bit longer and reminding Naruto not to slack off in his training, Hiruzen stood up and gently patted his shoulder.
"It's late. Grandpa will head back now. You should get some rest too—you're still growing."
With that, he left Naruto's small apartment, his figure melting into the night as he returned to the brightly lit Hokage's office in the Hokage Building.
Outside, Konoha had already fallen quiet.
Hiruzen had just sat down, refilled his pipe with fresh tobacco, and was about to light it when—
The office door was shoved open without ceremony.
The man who entered was thin and severe, his presence oppressive. His right eye and half his body were wrapped in thick bandages, and he leaned on a cane that struck the floor with a heavy thud at every step.
It was his old comrade, Danzo Shimura.
Danzo dispensed with pleasantries entirely. He strode straight to the desk, fixed Hiruzen with a sharp stare, and spoke in a hoarse, accusatory voice.
"Hiruzen! I received a report that Hiashi Hyuga dared to make private contact with the Jinchūriki! How can this be tolerated?!"
His voice rose with agitation.
"He's the head of the Hyuga Clan, privately meeting the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—what exactly is he plotting?"
Hiruzen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he calmly struck a match, lit his pipe, and took two slow draws, letting the sharp smoke fill his lungs. Only then did he speak, his tone steady, deliberately soothing.
"Enough, Danzo. Calm down. I observed the entire interaction. Hiashi was simply a father looking for his daughter. He happened to run into a few children eating together—nothing more. You're exaggerating."
"Hiruzen!"
The cold gleam in Danzo's single eye intensified. His cane slammed hard against the floor.
"You're always this careless! Of Konoha's two great dōjutsu clans, the Uchiha are gone—only the Hyuga remain!"
"The other clans can't compare to them in strength. We must prepare in advance and prevent them from growing too powerful and threatening the Village's balance!"
Hiruzen looked at Danzo with a strangely complex expression.
Preventing a single clan from dominating?
Since you became my assistant, hasn't the Shimura Clan expanded far faster than the Hyuga ever did?
The thought stayed unspoken.
Seeing Hiruzen's silence, Danzo assumed he was wavering. He struck the floor again with his cane and repeated the demand he had made countless times before.
"I've said it before—strategic weapons like Jinchūriki must not be left to roam freely! They should be handed over to Root for training! Hiruzen, give the Jinchūriki to me!"
"That's impossible, Danzo."
Hiruzen's refusal was sharp and final, leaving no room for debate.
They'd had this argument too many times already.
Realizing he couldn't break through on the Jinchūriki issue, Danzo shifted tactics, baring his true fangs for the night.
"Fine. Then let's talk about the girl who contacted the Jinchūriki today," he said coldly.
"She's Hiashi's eldest daughter—the future head of the Main Family."
"But doesn't Hiashi have a second daughter as well? By Hyuga law, she'll receive the Caged Bird Seal in two years and be assigned to the Branch Family, correct?"
"How about handing that second daughter over to Root for training? Root will give her far better—"
"That's impossible!"
Hiruzen slammed his hand onto the desk and stood up abruptly. The gentle warmth vanished from his face, replaced by open fury.
What are you trying to do, Danzo?
Alarm bells rang loudly in his mind. You've already set your sights on talented children from every major clan—and now you're even reaching for the Hyuga Main Family's bloodline?
Are you trying to bypass me entirely and use Root to amass power?
What exactly are you planning? Are you trying to sideline the Hokage?!
"Hiruzen! You're too weak!"
Danzo refused to yield, his single eye burning with obsession.
"Always hesitating, always worrying! Follow my plans and everything will work out! Otherwise, one day, you'll regret this indecision!"
"That's enough, Danzo!"
The Third Hokage's voice thundered through the office, heavy with unquestionable authority.
"I am the Hokage!"
Danzo's eye widened, veins standing out as he stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi standing tall before him—calm, resolute, absolute.
That familiar, commanding Hokage posture pierced his heart like a poisoned thorn.
I wanted to stay behind too.
If it weren't for you… speaking up before sensei.
The position of Hokage… it should have been mine!
Danzo clenched his teeth so hard they nearly shattered, a metallic taste filling his mouth.
In the end, all his resentment and unwillingness condensed into a single, icy snort.
"Hmph!"
He turned sharply and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Bang!
The echo rang through the empty corridor—like an unvoiced roar of rage, reverberating long into the night.