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NA - Chapter 20: Your Parents are...
🕑 Added 2024-06-25 14:01:53 +0000 UTCDisclaimer:
Dialogue
‘Thoughts’
-Author notes-
Chapter 20: Your Parents are...
“Mmmm…” The Hokage’s eyes moved from Inouichi to Naruto a few times after hearing the full story. He then remained silent for a minute.
“I guess it is not surprising that you would find out eventually.” The old Hokage stood up from his chair and got closer to him. “I’m very sorry, Naruto. I was planning on telling you after you became a Chunin or when you were finally an adult…whatever came first.”
“So it is true then. I’m the son of the Fourth Hokage.” Naruto didn’t really feel anything after this discovery, but he was sure that the original owner of this body would have been shocked by the news.
He was still mildly irritated by the fact that his supposed father sacrificed his life and turned him into a demon container to save this village. And the civilians had repaid such a sacrifice with nothing but disdain.
“You are the son of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. Your mother was the previous container of the Kyubi…as you can imagine, she also died on that terrible night…” The Hokage said as much as he could. He hoped that Naruto would not ask details about their deaths since he could not reveal the actions of that mysterious masked ninja to a genin.
“Naruto, even if you now know this, it would be better if you don’t go around telling everyone. There is a good reason this information was kept a secret from the public,” the Hokage added.
“That’s right,” Inouichi spoke. “The Fourth Hokage made many enemies during the Third Great Ninja War…he may have saved Konoha, but he killed thousands of enemy ninjas. The village of Iwakure was the most affected by your father’s actions.”
“Indeed...” The Hokage nodded solemnly. “Had the news of Minato having a son gotten out…I’m afraid that your childhood would have been riddled with assassination attempts. The Tsuchikage would have given any reward for your head. Most of his family died during the war, including his two sons.”
“I suppose that makes sense…still, to throw the son of a Hokage and current Jinchuriki of the Kyubi into an orphanage and make him think he was worthless…it seems like a terrible idea.”
The Hokage made a troubled expression. “Well…there were some political issues when it came to your housing. It’s complicated to explain, but there was a lot of tension between Konoha’s clans, and letting you stay with any clan could have broken the delicate balance. In the end, it was decided that a civilian orphanage was the safest option.”
“It’s fine.” Naruto shrugged. “It’s not like I remember much of it. And I like my current apartment.”
“Ah…right…” The Hokage didn’t know what to say to that. “Now that we had a chance to clarify this, we can go back to the matter of your misuse of the Transformation Jutsu that Inouichi mentioned…given the circumstances of your mistreatment by some civilians, I will let this one go. However, if you do it again, you shall receive the appropriate punishment.”
“Then, how am I supposed to buy things?” Naruto asked.
“I was getting to that…give me a bit of time to arrange something for you. We can have your food supplies delivered directly to your apartment. And there are some shops administered by ninjas who could sell you any clothes you need. I will talk with the owners…everything should be ready by the time you return from your C-rank mission.”
“Oh? So we are truly being given a C-rank?”
The Hokage nodded. “You will learn the details tomorrow morning. If there is nothing else for now…”
“I’m fine. I still have a few supplies and one more change of clothes.” Naruto said his goodbyes and left the room.
When the Hokage was alone with Inouichi, he spoke again. “What do you think?”
“He took the news very well…maybe too well, he barely reacted.” The blonde ninja said.
“Yes, that is what worries me…I really thought he was going to throw a tantrum like usual. I knew he had changed, but I expected that such news would have affected him more.” The old Hokage sat back down on his chair, looking very tired.
“Well…he barely has any memory of his childhood. It’s hard to be attached to a life he doesn’t remember. And he never knew his parents either. A lack of reaction is rare but not completely unexpected.”
“He didn’t ask about his inheritance…but we will need to prepare that also. Minato and Kushina didn’t have much, but that house and whatever they left inside belongs to Naruto now. We have no right to keep it from him.”
“He may not even have thought they left anything to him,” Inouichi said.
“That is a depressing thought.” The Hokage then opened a drawer and pulled out a report before giving it to the Jonin. “Since you are already here, I would like your professional opinion on this.”
Inouichi read it over very carefully, not wanting to miss anything since it was a request from the Hokage. “Kakashi’s evaluation of Naruto…I see…it is very different from the academy one.”
Back during the incident where the boy ended up in the hospital, Inouichi had taken a look at his academy file to learn more about him.
His file was…well, to put it in one word…catastrophic. Naruto was one of the worst students he had ever seen.
Inouichi was not too surprised about it, considering his upbringing. No one had ever put much effort into teaching anything to Naruto, except maybe for Professor Iruka. But by that time, the boy had lost interest in being taught by others and wanted to learn things by himself.
That did not go well…
The evaluation written by Kakashi after training with Naruto for two weeks was completely different. “An unparalleled genius…I can't believe Kakashi wrote that.” Inouichi mentioned.
