What would I give?
I have a lot of my life to look back on, now, and many wishes fulfilled
I am recognized by those who once despised me.
I saved the life and soul of my friend, and the heart of another.
Without me, this world, this home of mine would be rubble, crumbling slowly under one of many oppressive heels, each worse than the last.
But none of it was without pain,
Pain nobody should ever have to go through.
What would I give, to have never had a demon sealed within me?
What would I give, to have passed the academy on my first time through?
What would I give, to have had a family of my own?
I look at my life, and see the truth.
What would I give, to not be in the spotlight?
What would I give, to not be hated from my cursed birth?
What would I give, to not have to fight for every scrap of recognition or privilege?
I look at my life, and see the truth.
There is much that I would give, but no price would be enough.
Why? When my life has been twin decades of purest hell?
Why would I keep all that had happened, even if given a choice?
I look to my life, and see the price I would have paid, but then I look to tomorrow.
Without oppression, I would not be strong.
Without my failures, my wife would not be at my side.
Without this demon, the sun would not rise tomorrow upon these thousands of happy villagers.
And you know? No price is worth undoing what I've fought for, and no such price will be paid.
-Uzumaki Naruto, Rokudaime Hokage