March 20, 61 Konoha
Konoha, the Land of Fire.
The sky was clear.
It was drizzling.
Sarutobi walked on the streets of Konoha with an umbrella. This time, he didn't stop to talk to the people he met on the road as usual. Instead, he was walking invisibly. He liked Konoha when it rained. When it rained, the air was wet.
Dust fell.
Everything was nourished.
At a glance, there was no place that wasn't thriving. It was great. He had been fighting for this place since he was four years old. Now, he was 68 years old.
It was his whole life. But now, he didn't seem to be very popular. There were more and more people criticizing him.
They always said that he didn't do well in the past.
Now that he couldn't keep up with the times, they still liked to point fingers.
Sarutobi smiled bitterly.
He admitted that he couldn't keep up with the times, but did he really do anything wrong in the past? It wasn't that he wanted to excuse himself.
But if he hadn't laid the foundation for Konoha, Bo Fung Watergate wouldn't have been able to develop Konoha so quickly in just twelve or thirteen years no matter how talented he was. What a heartless kid. He had just made some achievements and he was already looking down on his parents. He had experienced three major wars and had seen countless people.
Yes, a lot of his experience was no longer useful. But how could a person's heart change faster than things change.
For example, now the streets were full of praises for Bo Fung Watergate.
They said that his policy was good.
That policy was right. But don't forget.
Time and history were the test of whether a policy was right or not. When he led Konoha to war with several big countries, he was praised in the same way that people praised Watergate now.
And the result? Now, he was also said to be the culprit who started the war, the parasite that damaged the foundation of the Land of Fire. But at that time, the Land of Fire would have been devoured to the point that not even dregs were left. How could there be a future? If there wasn't even a future, what was the point of having a foundation? So, Konoha benefited the most. After all, there were still people who respected him. He was content. But what about outside of Konoha? If only history would right him. Otherwise, when his adorable Konoha grew up and gave birth to Sarutobi's children and grandchildren, he would be criticized behind his back. That would be too unjust.
Helpless, Sarutobi shrugged and curled his lips. He scratched his head like a child, rolled his eyes, and jumped onto someone else's roof. When he was young, he loved to roar across rooftops. The wind would sweep past his ribs as if it had grown wings. He would also practice the control of Chakra, jumping from one wall to another. Especially when he scared people, he was really happy. He was a little monkey. No matter what people called him later, he was still a little monkey that grew up after being touched by his first and second generation teachers. He was a monkey, after all. So what if he liked to scratch his ears and jump around — not very dignified? Should Naruto be more serious? That was true, but he was a ninja, the powerful Sandaime Naruto. He didn't want people to see him not being dignified. No one could see him.
And so, the old man closed his umbrella and started running like he did when he was young … The houses in Konoha grew taller and taller. The spaces between the houses were wide and narrow, and the people were densely packed. But this was not a problem for him. As he jumped, he felt his boiling blood gushing out from his heart and flowing to every corner of his body. It was warm and comfortable. He didn't want to stop.
But it was a pity. Even the road of life had an end. What was a few small streets in Konoha? Very soon, the old man arrived at his destination for the day.
8: 30 AM, Konoha's busiest time.
Memorial Tablet, only the stone tablet stood.
Sarutobi stopped and opened his umbrella. His mission today was to continue searching.
“
Danzō to the village. " Although there were some things that were useless to say, it was better to say something to the name than to say nothing at all. But it seemed that he came at the wrong time.
"Kakashi, didn't you go to the National Capital with your sensei?"
"Yo ~ Hello Sandaime-sama. Sensei will leave first. I will be needed in the afternoon, so I came to pay my respects to those lost souls." Kakashi still stood at attention and saluted. "Besides, I was going to leave, but someone reported that an unknown object was jumping on the roof. As the head of the Anbu Department, I had to come and take a look."
Sarutobi was a little embarrassed when he heard the words "unknown object". He looked at Kakashi, who had his hands in his pockets, and decided to ignore the awkwardness. It was embarrassing to be old. So he frowned and pointed at the young man in front of him. "Stand still."
"Yes, Sandaime-sama." Kakashi stood up slowly and scratched his face. "In that case … I'm leaving."
"Go." Sarutobi suddenly felt angry when he saw Kakashi's sloppy attitude. This was his disciple's disciple's disciple. He felt that he could teach him a lesson like a grandfather. "Also, you are the Anbu Minister now. Pay attention to your dignity."
But would he pay attention to him? Kakashi raised his eyebrows and made a Thor hand sign. Although he would be needed in the afternoon, he would be worried if he didn't follow his sensei. But Sarutobi suddenly changed his mind and didn't let him go.
"Wait." Sarutobi stopped Kakashi.
"What's the matter?" Kakashi also frowned.
"Danzō to the village, your sensei engraved his name on the tablet."
"Of course it's the year he died. He has no wife or children, and no one would want him even if he wanted to stay with his old comrades."
"But Konoha 60's tablet doesn't have a single word on it."
"I don't know. Anyway, I know that sensei engraved it. Didn't you inform the Elders Council after the funeral? It's been a year and you still can't find it. What do you want? " Kakashi was a little angry. The Elders Council always made things difficult for his sensei over trivial matters. He really hated it.
"Kakashi!" Sarutobi felt his anger rising. "What's wrong with you today?"
"…" Kakashi was silent. He knew that he shouldn't be like this. But when he saw Sandaime-sama, he remembered that the Elders Council tried to stop him because of a broken air conditioner. There was also the careful and reliable cook that many medical ninjas suggested. Naruto almost trained him to be a chef, but there was still no sign of him.
"Kakashi!"
"Yes, Sandaime-sama. Do you have any other orders?"
"Nothing, you can go." Hiruzen sighed.
"Oh." Kakashi nodded. "Then I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"Have you seen Konoha's financial report for the year 60?"
"Yes."
"Konoha not only reversed the financial deficit of many years in one fell swoop, but the profit from ordinary tasks has also multiplied several times."
"Yes."
"Then it's not too extravagant to find Naruto a chef who can cook to his liking." Kakashi finally said it.
"…" Sandaime-sama didn't know how to react.
But Kakashi continued. "Konoha doesn't have to pay for it. Even if no one believes that sensei paid for it himself, no one will say anything about it except for you. Can you stop being so ridiculous all the time? And sensei's home, it's his own problem that he doesn't want to move. You can't expect him to repair the walls every winter and add new tiles every summer. You don't have to pay for it, I'll pay for it. "
Sandaime-sama finally understood. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. To be honest, Bo Fung Watergate liked to ignore his "opinions." For example, that "economic plan." In the end, he was willing to cooperate with Danzō Morimura, who he hated the most, in order to force the plan to be implemented. But it was those "opinions" that were specifically left for him to "ignore" that had to be obeyed. "Fine, Bo Fung Watergate, you win. We've all been played by you. You're the one who doesn't listen, but look, you're the one who makes others think that he's being unreasonable." Since this old man is the one who is being unreasonable, then you don't have to listen to him, do you? There will be people who will stand up for you all day long. "It's you who wants the good reputation of" suffering first and enjoying later. "Now it's like you're the one who's being wronged."
Kakashi looked at Sandaime-sama's unreadable expression and felt endless sorrow. He didn't understand why Sandaime-sama had agreed to such an unreliable "economic plan." Why did Sandaime-sama have to be so harsh on such trivial matters? Was it really to show that the Four Generations still respected Sandaime-sama? Although he loved Konoha very much, he felt that Sensei deserved it even more. "You owe him."
Sandaime-sama didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he heard Kakashi's words. Bo Fung Watergate was right. Kakashi was a good person, but he really couldn't understand those subtle political games. "Kakashi, that's enough. What do you mean you owe him?"
"Haha." Kakashi sighed and laughed. "Yes, Sandaime-sama. As for the" Silence Order "— don't talk, don't ask, and don't answer. Until everyone who knows, sees, or hears about something is dead, the next generation can pretend that nothing happened. That's good, for the sake of Konoha's long-term stability. But what happened has happened. You owe him, and that's what you owe him!"
…
"You're crazy!" Sandaime-sama finally reacted. What Kakashi said was never the same as what he thought, and Kakashi obviously knew something that he shouldn't know. "Don't be stupid."
"I know." Kakashi continued to sigh. "I know how much Bo Fung Watergate loved Konoha … and Konoha …"
"Konoha didn't do well at that time." Sandaime-sama quickly patted Kakashi's shoulder. "So, Kakashi, why don't you just pretend that nothing happened? Let bygones be bygones. You also want to see him live a good life, don't you? He can only live a good life if he doesn't know anything. "
Kakashi shook off Sandaime-sama's hand. "I know. What you mean is that as long as the person involved doesn't know about it, we can just pretend that nothing happened. You don't have to pay him back what you owe him. "
Sandaime-sama didn't know how to explain this subtle political game to Kakashi. He shook his head. "Kakashi, there's no such thing as owing or not owing."
"You owe him."
"I don't owe him anything, and he never owed me anything. Kakashi, it's you who owe him." Sandaime-sama tried to find out which fact Kakashi knew that he shouldn't know.
"I'm paying you back. Always." Kakashi was a little emotional.
"You don't have to pay him back. Even if you do, your sensei won't be happy." Sandaime-sama was so angry that he wanted to scratch his head. He couldn't figure out what Kakashi knew. "Bo Fung Watergate doesn't need you to pay him back."
Kakashi could understand this problem. He sniffed. "So I can only be nicer to him."
"Hiss." Sandaime-sama took a deep breath and carefully observed Kakashi's eyes. Fortunately, they were normal. He could just treat it as a 20-year teacher-student relationship. Last year, the General Staff Department, the Intelligence Department, and the Joint Post-War Psychological Intervention Group secretly checked the mental health of every Konoha Ninjas. None of the Konoha ninjas who went through the war were not mentally ill. The most serious ones were Watergate's group. They were a bunch of lunatics. Next were Kakashi's age, but young people didn't seem to be under much pressure. Finally, the old guys didn't have any psychological barriers at all. Maybe it was because they had seen too much. The investigation report didn't show any problems … but the biggest problem was that there were no problems. And Itachi's group of kids didn't seem right. Now they could only hope for the next generation. Hopefully, Naruto, Konoha Maru, and the others can grow up normally.
But Kakashi couldn't guess what Sandaime-sama was thinking. He also carefully observed Sarutobi's face, which had an expression of "I'm righteous, I'm righteous, I'm right." He didn't feel guilty at all. After doing so many terrible things, he didn't feel guilty at all … Kakashi felt cold all over. He quickly made a hand seal and ran away.
The rest of the people still stood in front of the memorial with umbrellas. The old man touched his nose and sneezed. He didn't want to stay in front of the memorial anymore. He had to find out what Kakashi knew. Also, when people are quiet, their blood stops moving. Although he wasn't wet, he still felt cold when the wind blew. So he stepped forward and prepared to leave.
Anyway, Danzō had been dead for a whole year. As a political enemy, he was the first one who came to pay his respects. How bad was his reputation? He had been hiding his head and tail all his life. He didn't even have the face to see anyone after his death. But he still couldn't help but pay attention to the densely packed words. But he was destined to be disappointed. At a glance, the first thing that caught people's attention was only one place. That place reflected the light. It was the only blank space among the crowded rough stone carvings … Ah, Bo Fung Watergate's private plot.
Sarutobi couldn't help but walk forward and look at the quiet name next to the reflection. 13 years ago, Nine Tails, Kina Maelstrom, a knot that could never be untied. But so what? The old man could only smile. "As a Force Of Human Column, little Kina, you should understand. Between a person and a village, of course, you have to choose the village. "
…
Konoha, the Land of Fire.
10: 05 a.m.
Bo Feng Mansion.
Naruto Uzumaki walked around the kitchen with his hands behind his back. As he cleaned up, he talked to my Eero, who was sitting quietly. "Is Kakashi still coming? Is he not coming?"
My Eero's mouth was stuffed with the sushi that Naruto had just made. He drank fruit tea and rolled his eyes at Naruto. He was lost in the path of life.
"Really?" Naruto calmed down and sat down. "He's rarely late these days. I almost forgot."
… There was a moment of silence.
"My Eero, do you think Kakashi will bring me good news or bad news? Will my father agree to let me go out to the field? Kakashi said that he'll give me an answer today. Do you think he can persuade my father?"
My Eero continued eating. "Your father's thoughts are the most difficult to guess. But if your father finds out that you used seduction techniques to threaten Kakashi, I don't know whether you or he will die."
"Of course it's Kakashi." Naruto's eyes curved into crescents. He stretched out his hands and made two S's and two dots. "He said that if I want to get something good from Grandpa Jiraiya, this is the fastest and most effective way. That's why I invented the seduction technique. You see, it was just once. Grandpa Jiraiya patted his head and took out the occult scroll and asked me to sign it. "
My Eero sighed. That's why he ran away the next day.
Naruto also sighed. That's why he could threaten Kakashi. "Kakashi, if you don't show up, I'll …"
"You'll do what." Kakashi was already standing behind Naruto. Recently, he felt that the timing of his appearance was a bit ridiculous. It was as if there was a mysterious force forcing him to appear at the most opportune moment. Could it be that his intuition had become more sensitive? But it's not like he was going to kill someone.
Naruto stood up and handed the packed lunch box to Kakashi. "Then I'll find someone to deliver this to Dad. There are so many Konoha and Thor's Black Ops. You're not the only one I know."
"It's a pity that I'm the only one who happens to go to the National Capital. And I'm the only one who can guarantee that the long-distance space jump won't turn you into a missing person." Kakashi weighed the big lunch box. "What did you make?"
"Sushi." Naruto's face was full of joy. "Dad said that he couldn't stand the oily fish and meat at the King's place. I made a lot, enough for him to eat a few meals. By the way, this is the latest fresh-keeping lunch box. Remember to close it tightly, or it won't be safe. "
"Yes, my Naruto young master." Kakashi decided that he had to find someone who could cook for Naruto's family as soon as possible! If Naruto continued like this, he would really become a home-cook. Sensei would regret it when he found out! If he did, Kakashi would be the one being scolded.
"Okay." Naruto saw that Kakashi's attitude was good and nodded in satisfaction. "By the way."
"I'm going out." The one who answered was Eero, who had already eaten his fill. He picked his teeth and walked out as if there was no one else around. Naruto and Kakashi were going to discuss something behind Naruto's back. He didn't want to hear it. He'd better go out and bask in the sun.
"Bang." The door closed. Naruto and Kakashi looked at each other and suddenly became anxious. "Field work, field work. Yamato -sensei has also sent in a few applications."
"Yeah." Kakashi sighed. "Your dad has been researching a one-way teleportation scroll. It's probably the kind that will send you back to his side as soon as you open it."
"…" Naruto was speechless. It seemed that his dad was going to let him out sooner or later, just as he had expected. But did he really want to be covered in his dad's Thor coordinates like how Sasuke had laughed at him? He didn't want that!
Kakashi was amused by Naruto's reaction when he heard the news. "In short, please continue to pretend in front of him that your dream in this life is to walk around and look around. If you can't fulfill your dream, you will be depressed for the rest of your life. He will let you go in a few days."
"But." Naruto scratched his eyebrows. "Is Dad unhappy?"
"You don't know how to comfort him. Don't cry here just because you can't get out." Kakashi knew that Sensei wouldn't be happy, but the matter had to be resolved. If Sensei couldn't make up his mind, Naruto would do it. "I'm leaving. Otherwise, I won't be able to make it to the National Capital by noon."
"Let's go." Naruto watched Kakashi disappear. He wiped his hands on his apron and picked up the photo on the table. He copied his dad and wiped the glass with his finger. "Mom, did I do the right thing?"
Whether it was right or not, he would know in the future.
…
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