Chapter 3 - Revelations and Sacrifices

Several months after the encounter between Naruto, Shikamaru, and Chōji, the unique group of friends found themselves in a park, playing in the snow. Shikamaru and Chōji gathered snowballs and threw them at Sasuke and Naruto, who agilely dodged them. Then, with swift movements, they molded the snow at their feet and advanced, evading the projectiles before hitting their opponents with accurate throws.

Naruto wore a green scarf wrapped around his neck, while a pair of glasses rested on his head. Exhausted and breathing heavily, he and Sasuke sat down on the ground. The vapor of their breath rose in the cold air, quickly dissipating. After a brief rest, they both got back up.

"So, Sasuke, are you heading home now?" Naruto asked, looking at his friend.

Sasuke nodded. "Yes, my father will be free this afternoon and wants to teach us some techniques of the Clan. Besides, I don't want to lose to Setsuna," he added with determination in his voice and a glint of competitiveness in his eyes.

After bidding Naruto farewell with a fist bump, Sasuke walked away, waving in a gesture of departure.

Naruto pondered for a moment, glancing at Shikamaru and Chōji.

"Well, what do we do now?" he asked.

Shikamaru sighed wearily and replied, "Sorry, Naruto, but I also have to train with my clan. I'd rather stay here lying in the snow, but responsibilities call. See you later," he bid farewell, turning his back and leaving with clear reluctance.

Both Naruto and Chōji watched as Shikamaru walked away, displaying a distinct lack of enthusiasm.

Naruto smiled and turned to Chōji.

"Well, once again, just the two of us, right, Chōji?"

Chōji nodded as he pulled something out of his pocket.

"I have tickets to an all-you-can-eat buffet from my clan, are you interested?" he asked, waving the tickets.

Naruto's eyes instinctively followed the tickets.

"Is there ramen?" Naruto asked almost immediately, showing his excitement.

Chōji nodded eagerly.

"Many kinds, Naruto, many kinds."

At that moment, Naruto placed a hand on his sturdy friend's shoulder, nodding with determination before they both hurriedly headed towards the long-awaited Akimichi family buffet.

Once at the buffet, they feasted on the food and were greeted by other Akimichi clan members. They enjoyed themselves for several hours until it grew late, and Naruto had to leave. He bid farewell to Chōji and his family, who gave him plates of food to take home. The cold was starting to be felt, and Naruto's scarf, instead of keeping him warm, ended up getting tangled in the backpack given to him by the Akimichi family to carry some food for his family. The accumulated snow on the ground hindered his movements, and after an awkward step that nearly made him fall, he decided to travel on the rooftops. Although he was still too young to walk on rooftops like the older shinobi did, he had no other alternative.

Ignoring his mother's and the old Third Hokage's scolding about not going on rooftops until officially becoming a Konoha shinobi, Naruto gripped one of the backpack's straps tightly before climbing to the top of a nearby house. The snow also piled under his feet, but strangely, he felt more agile and precise on the rooftop.

Moving across the rooftops, Naruto gazed at his village.

Konoha was draped in a white blanket of snow, covering every corner of the landscape. The rooftops of the houses were adorned with a fresh layer of snow, creating an idyllic scene. The trees, once filled with green leaves, were now covered in a delicate white veil, their branches appearing as if holding the snow with tenderness.

The muffled sound of footsteps echoed through the streets as villagers moved cautiously on the slippery ground. The air was filled with icy freshness, and every breath left a trail of vapor in the air. The landscape was serene, as if the snow had covered any trace of activity and transformed it into a haven of peace.

However, as Naruto was heading home, he heard a group of older children teasing a little girl. Quickly, he stopped and focused his senses on the scene unfolding just a few meters away from him. Determined to decipher if it was just a game or something more serious, Naruto approached stealthily and hid behind a tree, listening.

"Are you one of those Hyūga with the power of the Byakugan?" said a chubby, older boy, seemingly the leader of the group. His face twisted in a mix of mockery and disdain.

The girl lowered her gaze, feeling the hurtful words piercing her heart. Her tear-filled eyes reflected the sadness and helplessness she felt at that moment. She tried to hide her tears, but her trembling hands betrayed her internal pain.

"Your eyes are creepy, almost like a monster, right guys?" said the shortest of the group, looking towards the girl on the left. His voice carried a tone of poorly disguised malice.

The third boy, with a malicious grin on his face, added: "The Byakugan monster."

The three boys burst into cruel laughter, as if relishing in the girl's suffering. Their surroundings seemed to darken as the laughter echoed in her ears. Each taunt felt like a stab to her heart, fueling her insecurities and fears.

The little girl struggled to maintain her composure, trying to remember her father's teachings and the courage he had always instilled in her. However, doubt and fear gripped her, weakening her spirit. She wondered why she always had to face others' cruelty, why her eyes made her an object of mockery and rejection.

Though her lips remained sealed, her insides screamed in silence, wishing someone would defend her, protect her from the sharp words and heartless laughter of her tormentors. But in that moment, she felt alone, trapped in a sea of insecurity and pain. If only her father were with her. No, she couldn't rely on him either. After all, her father only accepted the powerful, and she was not one of them.

Upon witnessing and hearing the act of cruelty, Naruto didn't hesitate to intervene. He quickly set aside the backpack with the food plates, making sure it was in a safe place, out of harm's reach. Then, with determination, he pulled up the hood of his jacket and adjusted his glasses, concealing his face to avoid being recognized by the children bullying the defenseless girl.

"Enough is enough!" Naruto shouted from behind the group of kids surrounding the little girl. His voice resonated with authority and determination.

The leader of the group, the chubby, older boy, looked at him with contempt and retorted, "Who do you think you are, shorty? You want a beating too?"

Naruto refused to be intimidated. His gaze burned with the fire of justice, and his determination aligned with that of his heroes at that moment.

"If you keep bullying this girl, I'll be the one beating you. I won't allow you to continue bothering someone without reason. Leave this girl alone," Naruto declared firmly, raising his voice so everyone could hear him.

The leader of the group let out a mocking laugh, thinking Naruto was no match for them.

"You, beat us up?"

However, Naruto's eyes were resolute, and he exclaimed, "I'll be the one defending the world's peace."

Naruto focused and formed the necessary hand seals.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Naruto shouted. In the next moment, two white puffs appeared by his side, and when they dissipated, two miniature clones of Naruto were revealed.

Naruto sighed briefly, somewhat frustrated by the imperfection of his clones.

"Always messing up at the worst times," he muttered in annoyance.

At that precise moment, the chubby, older boy lunged at Naruto, yelling "Stupid!" and extending his fist towards him.

"But it doesn't matter; I can kick your butts with my fists," Naruto said, stopping the older boy's punch with an impressive force. The chubby boy struggled to break free, but Naruto maintained a firm grip, keeping him immobilized. With a swift move, Naruto kicked him in the stomach, sending him to the ground in an instant. The other two cronies tried to grab him from behind, but Naruto jumped over them, landing a kick to each of their faces. The bullies fell to the ground, thin streams of blood coming from their noses.

"Now, if you want more, you can keep trying," Naruto said, extending his open hand and moving it challengingly.

The chubby boy on the ground slowly got up, holding his sore belly.

"You little brat!" the older boy yelled, charging angrily at Naruto with his fist clenched, aiming for the blonde's face.

Naruto took a step forward, gaining momentum and delivering a precise kick to the boy's groin, causing him to fall back to the ground.

"Don't be so impulsive, okay?" Naruto said, looking at the boy on the ground, with tears welling up in his eyes. "Trust me, I learned that the hard way," he added, recalling his fight with Setsuna. "Now, get up and apologize, or I'll make you apologize with my fists."

The three boys obeyed, getting up in pain and assuming a dogeza position, begging for the girl's forgiveness. The girl looked away, unsure of what to do in that situation. She glanced at the boy who had saved her, covered by a hood and glasses that hid his face. Then, she looked back at the three boys and told them she forgave them. At that moment, they raised their heads, grateful, and ran away from the scene.

"Are you okay?" Naruto asked, slowly lowering his hood and taking off the glasses that concealed his eyes.

The girl timidly looked up, meeting Naruto's blue eyes. Her eyes, which had been filled with tears before, now reflected gratitude and relief.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for helping me," the girl replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "C-could you tell me your name, please?" she asked nervously.

Naruto smiled kindly and inclined his head slightly toward her.

"Naruto, Namikaze Naruto," the blonde answered, raising his hand and making the peace sign. "And yours?" he asked with a friendly smile.

"H-Hinata Hyuga," Hinata replied in the same nervous tone, but with a faint smile on her face.

"A pleasure, Hinata. If they bother you again, just find me, and I'll beat them up for you," Naruto said with determination before moving towards a nearby tree and disappearing from Hinata's view.

Hinata watched as Naruto quickly left, amazed by the confidence and strength he exuded. She felt deeply grateful and a sense of security knowing she had someone like Naruto supporting her.

As she stood there, Hinata vowed to herself that she would strive to become stronger and braver. She wanted to be able to face her own challenges and protect those she cared about, just like Naruto had done for her.

With that thought in her heart, Hinata turned around and began walking towards her home, determined to become a strong and self-assured ninja. Naruto's influence on her life had already begun to change her, and she was excited for the future that lay ahead for both of them. Unfortunately, it would be many years before that future unfolded.

As Naruto returned home, he was met with a furious Kushina, who wasted no time in scolding him for being late once again. She didn't hold back in expressing her displeasure with strong words. Naruto hung his head, feeling embarrassed and remorseful for causing his mother to worry.

"Naruto Namikaze! Where on earth have you been? You always arrive late without any explanation!" Kushina yelled, crossing her arms and giving her son a piercing stare.

Naruto quickly explained what had happened after leaving the park, detailing the harassment of Hinata and how he intervened to protect her. Kushina furrowed her brow, showing some impatience with Naruto's interruption.

"I see, you got into trouble defending a girl," murmured Kushina, softening her angry expression. "But that doesn't change the fact that you should have come home on time. You can't neglect your responsibilities because of others' recklessness!"

Naruto felt disheartened by his mother's words, but he also understood her point of view. Kushina was a strong and determined woman, and she expected her son to learn from his mistakes.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I should have been on time. But it was to help someone," Naruto responded sincerely.

Kushina sighed, softening her expression and approaching her son. Despite her anger, her maternal love still shone through.

"It's alright, Naruto. I'm proud that you helped someone," Kushina said with a gentler tone. "Now, go to the living room. Let's serve that food from the Akimichi Clan. I'll also prepare you a delicious ramen as a reward for helping that girl."

Naruto smiled, grateful for his mother's free-spirited nature. However, as he watched his mother head to the kitchen and start preparing the ramen, a fleeting thought crossed his mind. During his confrontation with those bullies, he had felt a pair of eyes watching him from a distance. Was there someone else there?

But as quickly as that thought came, it also faded away. Naruto decided not to dwell on it and focused on enjoying the present moment.

In the Namikaze Uzumaki residence, the atmosphere was filled with warmth and familiarity. The living room was lit by soft lamp lights. The furniture was comfortable and worn from use, bearing witness to numerous family gatherings and shared moments. Naruto could vividly recall the days when he played with his godfather.

The aroma of freshly prepared ramen wafted through the entire house. The scent of noodles and spices awakened the senses, and the sound of boiling water and kitchen utensils being skillfully handled by Kushina created a culinary symphony that filled the place.

Framed photographs depicting special family moments could be seen in the corners of the living room.

Kushina then announced that the food would be ready soon and asked Naruto to call his siblings.

With quick steps, Naruto headed towards the stairs that led to the second floor of the Namikaze residence. From the base of the stairs, Naruto raised his voice and called out to Menma and Akame, hoping they would hear him and join the dinner soon.

"Hey guys, come down! The food is ready!"

Menma poked his head out of the stairs, responding to his older brother's call.

"What's up, Naruto-nii?" Menma said, catching the tempting aroma wafting from the kitchen. Without wasting any time, he let excitement take over and hurriedly descended the stairs, skillfully sliding down the handrail.

Behind Menma, Akame watched her brother with an inquisitive look. She seemed to question his carefree way of coming down the stairs. Her eyes reflected a slight reproach: "Are you a monkey or something? You don't have to come down the stairs like that."

However, when the delicious smell of the food reached Akame too, her expression softened, and she offered a small smile.

"It smells really good," Akame commented before heading to the bathroom to wash her hands. On the other hand, Menma, eager for the food, attempted to grab a handful from the dish his mother had recently placed on the table. But Kushina stopped him with a precise slap on his hand, ordering him to go to the bathroom and wash his hands.

"Menma, go to the bathroom and wash your hands before eating! The food can wait a few more minutes," Kushina scolded, hoping that her younger son would learn to follow basic hygiene rules someday.

Menma, a bit disappointed, nodded and headed to the bathroom.

Naruto and Akame, who were already in the bathroom, laughed at Menma, who had just appeared with one of his hands reddened from the slap. After cleaning up, the three siblings went to the table, ready to enjoy the food and devour it, leaving nothing for those who arrived late to dinner.

Just then, as if fate didn't want a silver-haired young man to miss dinner, the doorbell rang. Akame, who was closer to the door, got up and went to open it, already knowing who it was at this hour. Kakashi, the affectionate older brother of the family.

"Kakashi-nii-san, you've arrived!" Akame announced before opening the door and seeing Kakashi greeting with a casually raised hand.

However, before Akame could give the proper welcome, Naruto and Menma rushed past her, bumping into Kakashi and causing him to fall to the ground.

"Kakashi-nii, welcome!" The two blonds exclaimed in unison, but they didn't get a response from Kakashi. That only meant they had done something wrong.

The siblings turned around slowly, observing how Kakashi's face, still covered by his mask, trembled nervously. In front of them, their mother, Kushina, stood with her arms crossed and cracking her knuckles, while Akame smirked mockingly at the side.

"Wash your hands again," Kushina ordered, hitting each of the three boys on the floor before sending them back to the bathroom.

Despite Kakashi usually taking a shower before coming to his former sensei's house, he was always obliged to go through a cleaning routine again before being allowed to sit down for dinner with the others. After a few moments in the bathroom, where the three boys inspected the little marks on their heads and chuckled among themselves, they returned to the dining room to enjoy the family meal.

"Kushina-san, I've been thinking about what you said about leaving ANBU," Kakashi said, breaking the silence at the table. "But before that, I have to complete one last mission for Fugaku-sama."

An air of seriousness and anticipation filled the room as everyone paid attention to Kakashi's words.

"That would be awesome," Naruto chimed in, his mouth still full of ramen. However, a reproachful look from his mother made him quickly swallow before continuing. "Sorry, I mean it would be awesome."

Akame nodded enthusiastically and added, "Exactly, Naruto-nii-san will enroll in the academy in a few months, and I and Menma will follow one month later."

Menma, with a mischievous smile, expressed his excitement. "And if that happens, you could become our sensei, Kakashi-nii-san. Maybe we could get some benefits, don't you think?"

Kakashi smiled faintly at the idea and nodded. Then, Naruto shared his enthusiasm, "I'm really looking forward to entering the academy. The books, the knowledge, and new forms of combat. By the way, mom," he turned his gaze towards Kushina, "could you help me with chakra control again?"

Kushina sighed, but with a smile on her lips, she replied, "I can guess that your chakra reserves have grown again, right? Okay, after dinner, I'll help you." Then, she shifted her gaze towards Menma and Akame, "And as for you two, you'll train a bit with Kakashi."

The three siblings nodded in unison.

During those months, Naruto, Menma, and Akame had experienced significant growth in their ninja skills and knowledge. Under Kakashi's guidance, they had perfected their combat techniques and gained better control over their chakra. Training with the Uchiha brothers had allowed them to test their abilities, and the rare but enjoyable interventions from Itachi and his partner Shisui had given them a unique insight into Sharingan abilities and genjutsu manipulation.

On the other hand, Akame had learned the fundamentals of writing and sealing, as well as the basic principles of placing and activating seals on objects and people. With patience and dedication, Kushina had guided her daughter in creating simple seals and using low-level sealing techniques.

Despite resource limitations, Kushina had taught Akame to be creative and adapt to circumstances, using what they had at their disposal to practice and experiment with different sealing techniques.

Thanks to her mother's efforts and the valuable collection of materials she brought from Uzushiogakure, Akame had developed a basic understanding of how Fuinjutsu worked and how it could be used for various purposes, such as storing objects or restricting opponents' movements. Although she still had much to learn and explore in the field of Fuinjutsu, Akame was excited to continue developing her skills and discovering new applications for this unique form of ninja art.

The path to the Academy had been challenging and exhausting, but also filled with discoveries and progress. Now, with just a few days left before their official enrollment, Naruto, Menma, and Akame were excited and eager to start their formal education as ninjas. They were prepared to face the challenges that awaited them.

The long-awaited day finally arrived, and Naruto entered the academy. To his delight, his class was filled with familiar faces, like Shikamaru, Chōji, and the Uchiha siblings: Sasuke and Setsuna. There were also new faces that soon became new friends, like Shino from the Aburame clan, and Kiba and his puppy Akamaru from the Inuzuka clan. He even encountered Hinata, whom he vaguely remembered, but was surprised to discover that she was the heiress of the Hyuga clan.

As the years went by, Naruto and his generation reached the age of twelve. It was during one of his favorite history classes when something caught the attention of young Namikaze: his mother's surname, Uzumaki.

He learned that the Uzumaki clan had been the only one capable of establishing their own country on an island to the east of the Land of Fire. They were renowned for their expertise in Fuinjutsu and had gained fame across the continent during the clan wars era. Furthermore, they maintained a close relationship with the Senju clan and, consequently, with the Leaf Village. So much so that even to this day, all Leaf Village ninja uniforms bore the insignia of the Uzumaki clan.

However, the news that impacted Naruto the most was the tragic downfall of the Uzumaki country. Despite their power and alliance with the Leaf Village, their country was destroyed, leading to the dispersal of their descendants throughout the continent, blending in with the rest of the population. And what they told Naruto next left him breathless: his mother was the last known pure-blooded Uzumaki, and she belonged to the mainline of the clan. This meant that with his mother's passing, the Uzumaki lineage would also come to an end.

This fact, combined with the reality that his potential grandparents and uncles would never be remembered, awakened an unprecedented determination in Naruto: to rebuild the Uzumaki country and become guardians of the world. From that moment on, he decided to leave the Namikaze surname behind and adopt Uzumaki as his own.

However, during this time, not only had surnames changed, but also friendships, especially in Sasuke's case. The latter had set aside his training and competitiveness that once defined him and had settled into his position as the son of the first Hokage Uchiha, enjoying the attention that came with it, especially from girls.

On the other hand, Naruto noticed that Hinata seemed to avoid contact with him. Every time he tried to greet her, she looked away, creating an uncomfortable distance between them. And with Setsuna, it was even worse, as no matter what Naruto did, there was always a high chance of receiving a kick to the leg.

Furthermore, there was the case of Ino. His closest friend, and perhaps the only girl in all of Konoha with whom Naruto could say he had a genuine friendship, was acting very strangely every time Naruto was around.

In an attempt to understand these changes in his friends, Naruto turned to his mother for guidance. However, her response was enigmatic and somewhat ironic: "You're too dense to be so smart."

Meanwhile, in the rebuilt Hokage Tower, Fugaku was in a meeting with Hiruzen and several ANBU leaders, including Itachi and Kakashi. The atmosphere in the room was tense and filled with seriousness.

Itachi spoke up and shared the gathered information, revealing that Danzo was behind the attack on Konoha. He handed some documents to his father, who examined them carefully. If it was true, the blame for the death of so many people, including Minato, rested on the shoulders of a single man. Fugaku glanced quickly to his right, where Shikaku was also engrossed in reading the documents. He knew that Shikaku, more than anyone, blamed himself for the consequences of that fateful night.

With a lump in his throat, Fugaku shook his head and continued reading in silence. A tense silence filled the room as everyone waited for his reaction.

Two long minutes passed, during which Fugaku's expression grew angrier as he read on.

Finally, Fugaku looked up and faced everyone present, his single eye filled with fury.

"Danzo is the culprit," he said with disgust when uttering the old man's name. "It was he who allowed the attack on Konoha, he had plans to assassinate the Fourth Hokage and take over the position of Hokage, and then he would blame the Uchiha clan. And to top it all off, he planned to wipe out the Uchiha clan with the intention of creating a new one that would serve as his personal weapon," he continued, with much more anger and rage in his words than before.

Hearing this, none of them could contain their shouts of surprise and indignation. It was evident that what Danzo was willing to do was a crime, a planned genocide.

Meanwhile, in the rebuilt Hokage Tower, Fugaku was in a meeting with Hiruzen and several ANBU leaders, including Itachi and Kakashi. The atmosphere in the room was tense and filled with seriousness.

Itachi spoke up and shared the gathered information, revealing that Danzo was behind the attack on Konoha. He handed some documents to his father, who examined them carefully. If it was true, the blame for the death of so many people, including Minato, rested on the shoulders of a single man. Fugaku glanced quickly to his right, where Shikaku was also engrossed in reading the documents. He knew that Shikaku, more than anyone, blamed himself for the consequences of that fateful night.

With a lump in his throat, Fugaku shook his head and continued reading in silence. A tense silence filled the room as everyone waited for his reaction.

Two long minutes passed, during which Fugaku's expression grew angrier as he read on.

Finally, Fugaku looked up and faced everyone present, his single eye filled with fury.

"Danzo is the culprit," he said with disgust when uttering the old man's name. "It was he who allowed the attack on Konoha, he had plans to assassinate the Fourth Hokage and take over the position of Hokage, and then he would blame the Uchiha clan. And to top it all off, he planned to wipe out the Uchiha clan with the intention of creating a new one that would serve as his personal weapon," he continued, with much more anger and rage in his words than before.

Hearing this, none of them could contain their shouts of surprise and indignation. It was evident that what Danzo was willing to do was a crime, a planned genocide.

Shikaku clenched his fist, feeling the lingering pain in his injured face. With a calm voice, trying to hide his anger, he asked, "What are your orders, Lord Hokage?"

All eyes turned to Fugaku, knowing that it was in his hands to decide Danzo's punishment. No one would stand in his way, no matter what he chose. Hiruzen silently swore that, even if he disagreed, he would remain silent, as Danzo had lost the little friendship they had.

Fugaku's mind was filled with anger, rage, and pain. He wanted to go out there and burn the old man alive, but when he saw Shikaku, he realized that the best thing he could do was to make the decision as coldly as possible. He had to get rid of Danzo not only for being a traitor but also because he was a threat to his family, and anyone who threatened his family would regret it.

After thinking for a moment, he spoke, "We are going to finish Danzo, Root, and their lies. However, for the village, Danzo is considered the hero who eliminated the mercenaries that attacked that night and protected Konoha from the shadows during the reconstruction. If we kill him carelessly, the village will turn against us, even if we explain the situation."

"They will think it's a ploy to gain more power," Shikaku pointed out cautiously.

Kakashi interrupted with a suggestion, "Then someone will have to sacrifice themselves. Someone will have to become the killer of one of the leaf's heroes."

Fugaku nodded gravely, "Someone will have to give up everything to free us from an evil that is corrupting us like cancer. Although the village esteems Danzo, only we know the true nature of who he is. We need to take drastic measures to protect our people."

Kakashi clenched his fist; Danzo was responsible for Minato's death, and he couldn't forgive that. If he sacrificed himself, there would be no problem. Naruto and Menma were still children; they could easily forget him. Akame would surely understand the reason, but Kushina would kill him if he returned to the village. However, he wouldn't have to worry if he never returned; he just had to avenge the death of so many that night, that would be enough for him. But before he could say anything, Itachi stepped forward, surprising everyone.

"I will do it," he said decisively, his voice unwavering. "I will take care of finishing Danzo."

All eyes in the room focused on Itachi and his surprising declaration.

"Itachi, I understand that you want to help, but this matter is very serious," Hiruzen said. "If the Hokage's son were to do such a thing..."

"No, it has to be him," Fugaku interrupted.

The room fell into complete silence as everyone turned their gazes to Fugaku, incredulous that he was allowing and supporting his son's request.

"It has to be him," Fugaku insisted. "Jiraiya has been sending us reports about an organization called Akatsuki. We still don't know what their objectives are, but it has been confirmed that their leader was the one who killed Hanzo of the Salamander. Itachi is the best option to infiltrate; once inside, he will provide us with information about that group."

The entire room fell into a deathly silence.

"What if he doesn't succeed?" Hiruzen asked, breaking the silence.

Everyone, except Shikaku, turned their gazes to Fugaku, waiting for an answer.

"He will succeed," he replied with determination.

"I don't agree with sending your son on this 'mission'," Hiruzen said, "but the decision is yours and yours alone. If that's what you've decided, then so be it."