Author's notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Edited by Izanagi-MS.
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After a week of intense training under Fugaku's watchful eye, Naruto noticed a clear improvement in his skills. His basic skills improved while also showing a natural talent for illusions and ease in wielding a blade.
After heading home from training one day, Naruto heard the whistling of projectiles flying towards him. In the blink of an eye he activated his Sharingan and pulled out a kunai, deftly parrying three shurikens aimed at his chest.
"An ambush?" his thoughts were soon distracted by the sight of a boy a few years older with black hair and the Sharingan.
"Forgive me, but I've wanted to test you in battle for a long time, Naruto Namikaze," the boy challenged. "My name is Shisui Uchiha."
Naruto nodded, still unsure how to react to this unexpected situation. He instinctively hid the kunai, feeling a mixture of fear and excitement.
"I heard rumors of a young genius who caught the attention of the clan head, but now I see it's true. Not even six years old, and you've already reached the level of Sharingan development worthy of a mature shinobi," Shisui said with a hint of admiration in his voice. Naruto listened attentively as the black-haired boy continued, "That's why I wanted to test your talent in battle. What do you say to a short sparring session?"
"Sparring?" Naruto thought, surprised by the offer. "I don't have anyone my age to train with, and a sparring partner would be ideal for constantly testing my skills."
"Alright, what do you propose?" Naruto asked, a spark of fighting spirit shining in his eyes.
"A regular sparring session, no fatal or crippling attacks. Anything else goes?" Shisui asked, and Naruto nodded.
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–
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After ten minutes of intense fighting, Naruto stood on the verge of exhaustion. Shisui deftly slipped behind him as the cold metal of a kunai touched Naruto's neck.
"I surrender," Naruto relented, raising his hands as a sign of defeat.
Shisui took a step back as a grin broke out on his face. "You still did great, Naruto. Your talent is impressive for such a short time being a shinobi."
Naruto grimaced bitterly. "A loss is still a loss, Shisui."
"Don't look at it that way," Shisui replied, placing his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "The experience gained in battle is more valuable than victory itself. Today you learned a lot, and tomorrow you will be even stronger."
Naruto looked into Shisui's eyes. There was truth in his words, and the boy felt his resentment give way to determination.
"You're right," Naruto said, straightening up. "I want to get revenge now! Let's have another sparring session!"
Shisui smirked. "That's what I wanted to hear my dear kohai. Although that's it for today. If you wish to continue our rivalry, come to this place tomorrow at the same time. See you then."
With those words, Shisui made a half-ram seal, and his body blurred in a smokeless shunshin.
Naruto sighed with a mixture of frustration and admiration. "Heh, I have to ask Fugaku-sensei to teach me that jutsu," he thought, clenching his fists. He already knew that he would be even stronger tomorrow.
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–
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Naruto returned home, where he found Kushina with a radiant smile on her face. Seeing him, the woman pointed her eyes to the table in the guest room. Eating the lunch she'd prepared earlier sat Izumi Uchiha. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of her, then he smiled broadly and approached her quietly.
When he stood behind her chair, Izumi was still unaware of his presence. Letting his Uzumaki nature take over, he decided this would be the perfect opportunity for a prank. "This might bite me in the ass later though."
"Gotcha!" he shouted suddenly at the top of his lungs right by her ear.
Izumi jumped with fright, standing up abruptly from the chair. When she turned around, she saw Naruto with a wide smile on his face and his hand outstretched in a greeting gesture.
"Hey Zumi-chan!" Naruto announced with a big smile, as if he hadn't just scared the girl a moment ago.
"Grr..." Izumi gritted her teeth. "NA-RU-TO You idiot!" she then proceeded to call upon the might of her feminine fury into a punch.
"Zumi-chan, that hurts dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed with an exaggerated grimace of pain on his face, theatrically clutching his arm.
"Huh? I didn't even hit him that hard" Izumi thought, looking at her fist. When she looked at Naruto again, she realized that the boy was deceiving her. "You little..."
It didn't take a moment for Izumi to decide to take revenge. She was already clenching her fist, ready to strike again, when suddenly their argument was interrupted by Kushina's voice.
"Children, children..." she announced in a calm and warm voice, in which one could sense a hint of joy. "Stop and eat your dinner in peace. You can explain everything to each other later, but first satisfy your hunger!"
At those words, Naruto and Izumi looked at each other, embarrassed that they were caught acting so childishly (But wait, they are children.)
Misumi's cry then tore through the silence of the household. The girl had woken up from the ruckus caused by Naruto and Izumi's play.
"Ehh... look at what you've done" Kushina said, not hiding her displeasure.
The woman lifted the girl from her crib and began to rock her gently. At the sight of the awakened girl, both Izumi and Naruto felt stupid.
"Gomen Misumi-chan" Izumi whispered, stroking the girl's delicate hand.
"Me too" Naruto added, lowering his eyes.
Misumi, oblivious to the cause of the commotion, babbled incoherently, playing with a strand of her mother's hair. It seemed that Kushina Uzumaki's red hair captivated all!
Kushina sighed. "Alright children, quiet now. We don't want Misumi to start crying. Maybe you could go play in the garden?" Kushina suggested after a moment.
Izumi and Naruto looked at each other, then at Kushina. They both knew it was a good idea.
"Alright Kushina-obasan," Izumi replied. "Come on, Naruto-kun."
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6 Months Later
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In the moonlight that filtered through the dense branches of the trees, Naruto and Shisui sat on a sprawling branch of an old oak tree. After intense training, they could finally rest and forget about their shinobi duties for a moment.
Naruto gazed at the starry sky, and Shisui shared with him his reflections on the enormous responsibility that came with possessing powerful techniques and abilities. Known for his calmness and wisdom, Shisui wanted Naruto to understand that the shinobi world is not black and white, and the line between good and evil is often blurred.
"Power doesn't define us, Naruto. It's how we use it, how we protect others, and what we are willing to sacrifice that truly matters."
He waited a moment to let it sink in. "Tell me, do you know what it means to be a shinobi?" At his negative head shake, Shisui continued. "A shinobi is someone who endures, no matter what they're up against."
"Someone who endures? That's right! This power I was born with, it's for me to protect my family and my loved ones. No matter what, I will ALWAYS endure for them!"
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–
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"Fugaku-sensei, what are we going to do today?" Naruto asked, standing before his mentor. Fugaku stared thoughtfully into the distance, not turning his head at the sound of his voice.
"Today, Naruto, you must pass an important milestone," he announced seriously. Seeing the surprise on his charge's face, he added: "Today you will embark on your first mission as a shinobi."
Naruto didn't answer with words. He stared determinedly at his mentor. He had long wanted to carry out missions for the village and now was his chance!
"I can see that you are ready," Fugaku said with a satisfied voice. "Then let's go to the Hokage's office to receive the mission."
Naruto began walking beside Fugaku, then an idea came to his mind. He quickly created two shadow clones, issuing them silent commands. Seeing the surprise in his mentor's eyes, Naruto explained:
"One will inform my mother about my mission departure, and the other will pass the message to Mikoto-obasan and Izumi-chan."
"The boy is already starting to use clones creatively, especially if the reaction from that Red Demon the night I heard Minato's pathetic screams is anything go by," Fugaku paled.
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–
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When they stood before the Hokage, Minato smiled at the sight of them, and his gaze rested on Naruto.
"So finally after six months, you've decided to take him on a mission, Fugaku?" Minato asked jokingly.
"That's right, Hokage-sama," Fugaku affirmed seriously. "I request a combat mission so that Naruto can pass his first milestone in his shinobi career."
Minato frowned, and his smile disappeared. "Fugaku, Naruto is still my son and I will not allow him to experience this at the age of six," he rebuked with a hint of anger in his voice, blue eyes glinting.
"That may be so, but he is also my student and I believe it is high time he experienced this. The sooner he learns the truth, the easier it will be for him to deal with adversity in the future," Fugaku countered, activating his Sharingan for added effect.
The room fell silent. Minato and Fugaku glared at each other as killing intent rolled off both sides. Naruto meanwhile broke into a cold sweat. "So this is what elite jounin are capable of? Kowai (scary)!"
Seeing that their stareoff was leading nowhere, Minato relented. "Alright, Fugaku," he said quietly. "You're right. Naruto needs to learn and grow. Find a mission that will be suitable for him, but remember - my son's safety is my top priority."
Fugaku nodded in relief. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. I will not let you down."
Minato sighed, defeated. He knew that he could no longer hide the boy from the realities of shinobi life, especially when he observed his impressive progress in learning. The only thing he could do was accept Fugaku's decision.
After some searching, Minato found a suitable mission and handed it to Fugaku, who smiled approvingly.
"Team Fugaku accepts, Hokage-sama," Fugaku announced, placing his hand on his student's shoulder to lead him out.
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–
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The student and mentor left the Hokage's office and headed towards the gate of Konohagakure. Naruto's face was a mixture of curiosity and excitement.
"Fugaku-sensei, what is this mission about?" he inquired, glancing at the impressive village gates looming in the distance.
"This will be my first time outside the village walls!" he thought with a hint of excitement.
"Our task is to eliminate a bandit camp that has been attacking one of the trade routes in Hi no Kuni (Land of Fire)."
Hearing this, one word in particular stuck out in the boy's mind - "eliminate."
"Eliminate? Is it possible that..." Naruto began to think, but his further train of thought was interrupted by Fugaku.
"I know what you're thinking, boy. This is the reality of shinobi life. Kill or be killed," he announced with a steely voice, his words poured down Naruto's back like a cold shower, awakening him to the reality of his life. "So that's what Tou-san was so apprehensive about. What am I kidding, Tou-san is known as the Kiiroi Senkō for killing hundreds of Iwa shinobi. It was inevitable that I would have to do the same."
They continued to the gate in silence. The weight of Fugaku's words hung over them like a thick fog as he tried to come to terms with what he was about to do. Naruto glanced furtively at his mentor, observing the stern line of his lips and the steely glint in his eyes.
Reaching the gate, Fugaku wordlessly handed the mission scroll to the guards. Their faces reflected their surprise when they saw young Namikaze-sama accompanying the head of the Uchiha clan. However, they refrained from commenting, aware of Fugaku's rank and authority.
Naruto watched this scene with a mixture of fear and fascination. On the one hand, he felt intimidated by the seriousness of the situation and the coldness of his mentor. On the other hand, his heart beat faster at the thought of a real mission, of going outside the village walls and facing danger.
"Am I ready?"
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–
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After two days of exhausting tree-jumping, Naruto and Fugaku finally reached the scene of the attacks as noted from the witnesses of the bandit attacks.
Fugaku, as a strict mentor, decided to use this opportunity to teach Naruto the secrets of tracking. Following the bandits' trail, he drew the boy's attention to every detail, teaching him how to interpret broken branches, rubbed leaves, and other small signs left on the ground.
"Look carefully, Naruto," Fugaku instructed, his Sharingan glowing with a bright red glow, catching even the smallest details. "These traces are like a story that you must learn to read."
After less than an hour of tracking, including Fugaku's explanations, they reached a cave hidden at the foot of the mountain. The bandits' hideout lurked in the dark interior.
"Naruto, you know what I expect of you," Fugaku announced in a sharp voice, leaving no room for question. "Your mission is to eliminate every bandit inside. It doesn't matter how you do it, just ensure their deaths."
The boy clenched his fists. He knew this was a test of his character, a moment of truth to see if he could pass the first milestone.
"Understood Fugaku-sensei," he responded with a trembling voice, his gaze becoming hard and determined.
"Remember Naruto," Fugaku murmured, his Sharingan flashing ominously. "Be ruthless and don't hesitate. Close your heart to their suffering. In the heat of battle, mercy is your enemy."
Naruto nodded, though his throat tightened with fear. He wasn't sure if he was ready to kill, but he knew he couldn't let his mentor down.
"Close your heart to their suffering," Naruto repeated Fugaku's words in his head like a mantra. They were meant to drown out the fear and kindle cold determination within him. The boy clenched his fists and, with his Sharingan activated, strode into the bandits' cave.
His sudden appearance startled the bandits from their carefree lounging. Their faces showed surprise, then glee.
"Huh? Look what the wind blew our way, boys," said one of them, apparently the youngest and most reckless. A mocking smile appeared on his face, imagining the easy profit from selling the child on the black market.
However, the other bandits didn't share his enthusiasm. Experienced in their trade, they noticed something that their young colleague had overlooked.
"Look at his forehead, baka" the second bandit announced chastisingly. The youngest one focused his gaze on Naruto again and noticed the Konoha forehead protector. In an instant, he realized that this boy, despite his young age, was already a ninja.
Naruto Sharingan eyes observed the cave's entirety. The number of makeshift beds indicated the presence of seven bandits. Then, in the corner of the cave, he saw a sight that froze his blood in his veins. In the darkness, in cages like animals, were two children, no more than five or six years old. Their terrified eyes glistened in the moonlight that filtered through the narrow entrance.
Something broke in Naruto's heart at that sight. The terror in the eyes of the imprisoned children burned his soul like a voracious fire. "Why?" he asked himself, but he couldn't find an answer. He froze for a moment, paralyzed by anger and pain as he imagined Misumi in place of the children. Seeing an opportunity, the bandits took advantage of his moment of weakness.
Waking up from his stupor, he drew his tanto to deflect 2 sloppily thrown shuriken.
Using his training, Naruto channeled chakra to hs limbs. As the first bandit swung his oversized axe, Naruto quickly flipped back before running up the handle to deliver a twirling axe-kick to the oaf's neck that would make even Might Gai proud. Youth! Quickly he sliced the man's head as blood splattered across his face.
"It burns" he thought. In the darkness of the cave, Naruto stopped seeing the bandits as humans. In his eyes, they were nothing more than animals, pigs ready to be slaughtered.
Seeing their comrade taken out in the span of 3 seconds, the remaining bandits faltered. With that he charged, jumping mid-air as he thrusted his tanto into the heart of one bandit. He gruesomely swiped the tanto to the side, busting open the bandit's ribcage and flinging his guts everywhere before seamlessly swiping it across another bandit's knee like a razor.
"Argh… Damn it, I'll kill that brat! Screw our pay!" shouted the wounded bandit. Pain pierced his body, making it impossible for him to fight.
"Even with 2 down and 1 injured, they have numerical advantage and can regroup," Naruto thought, observing the disorganized movements of the bandits. Then a plan formed in his mind.
Boar → Ram → Snake → Horse → Dragon
Raiton: Jibashi (Electromagnetic Murder)!
Instantly lightning shot out of his hands, striking the ground where the bandits stood. A powerful electric shock ran through their bodies, paralyzing them. "Haa haa. I couldn't use all of my chakra to make this jutsu live up to its namesake, otherwise I would be a sitting duck!"
The bandits collapsed, trembling under the interference of the electricity as it overrid their menal impulses. Naruto capitalized, running up to the wounded bandit and drawing a kunai with his left hand and slitting his throat with one fluid motion.
Naruto stopped, staring into the glazed eyes of the bandit whose fate he'd just sealed. In the chilling moonlight, he saw the desperation in his eyes as he desperately tried to stop the stream of blood gushing from the wound before stopping altogether.
"I... I killed him," Naruto thought, staring at the bandit's lifeless body. His face, stained with blood, depicted a mixture of surprise and horror. In his eyes, fully awakened for the first time, the third tomoe of the Sharingan appeared, revealing the Uchiha Clan's esteemed kekkai genkai. "I took someone's life in cold blood," the words stuck in his throat, like a bitter morsel of reality.
The four bandits' could only watch with terror. In one moment, they'd lost three of their comrades at the hands of this boy. Their faces twisted in fear as their weapons trembled in their hands.
Naruto clenched his fists. Mixed feelings stirred in his heart: pride at defeating the enemies, bitterness at taking lives, and fear of the consequences of his actions. Thoughts crashed in his head like waves hitting the shore.
"What will my parents think of me? What will my mother think when I tell her I killed someone?" Naruto pondered in his heart, broken. "What will Izumi-chan think of me when she finds out?"
Suddenly, the silence of the cave was broken by a wild cry. The remaining bandits, determined to avenge their fallen comrades, rushed at Naruto.
However, before they could reach the boy, their bodies fell to the ground, headless as Fugaku emerged in a swarm of crows.
He decided to intervene when he saw the mixture of shock and trauma in his eyes. He knew that the boy would need time to come to terms with what he'd done.
"It could have gone better," Fugaku thought, looking at Naruto with concern, who was still frozen in shock. In his eyes, he saw the shadow of death that had forever marked his soul.
Naruto stood among the bodies of the bandits, trembling and pale. In the darkness of the cave, a shinobi was born, but this birth was paid for in blood.
The boy slowly fell to his knees, his hands clenching into fists. The screams of the bandits still rang in his ears, and images of the fight flashed before his eyes. He felt nauseous and dizzy, his heart pounding like a hammer.
"I killed them," he thought with horror. "I took their lives."
At that moment, Fugaku placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Get up, Naruto," the mentor said in a stern but warm voice. "What you did was necessary. Those bandits were a threat to innocent people."
Naruto looked at Fugaku with tears in his eyes.
"But I... I killed them," he whispered.
"Yes, Naruto," Fugaku replied. "You killed them, but in the name of justice. You protected others from harm. That makes you a shinobi of Konohagakure village."
The boy clenched his fists. The mentor's words slowly reached his consciousness.
"What..." Naruto whispered, still shaken by his own actions. "What about the children?"
Fugaku sighed heavily. His face showed a mixture of sadness and determination.
"We'll take them to the village and enroll them in one of the reputable orphanages," the mentor announced with a heavy voice.
"Parents?" Naruto asked in a trembling voice.
The silence that followed this question was like a painful blow. Deep in his heart, Naruto knew what it meant, but the realization did not diminish the pain that gripped his heart as he yelled out to the night in agony.
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–
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Fugaku and Naruto remained oblivious to the presence of Zetsu as he quietly watched the flowers of his side project bloom.
White Zetsu, with a lecherous smile on his face, praised Naruto's progress. The nasally voice trembled with satisfaction as he turned to his alter ego. "The brat is certaintly developing, what do you think Kuro (Black)?"
Black Zetsu gave no reaction to show he'd heard. His icy gaze lingered on Naruto as he killed two bandits in cold blood. "The Uchiha made a clever move, forcing him to make his first kill at such a young age. It will accelerate his maturation," he muttered.
"Heh, you think the brat's ready for this?" White Zetsu scoffed, a wicked grin crossing his yellow eyes. "Trauma in his eyes? Well, that'll only make him stronger... Unless he cracks under the pressure, like most weaklings."
"He'll endure...", Black Zetsu replied firmly, his voice devoid of any concern for the child's suffering. "The Uchiha knows what he's doing. The boy needs to harden himself if he's to survive in this cruel world and help us realize our plans."
"I think it's time to invest more in the brat," White Zetsu added, his cunning smile widening. "The more blood on his hands, the stronger he'll become for us."
Zetsu's dark words concealed a nefarious plan. The boy they were observing was nothing more than a pawn in their game for power. They didn't care about his suffering, only the strength and power they could extract from him.
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–
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On the day of returning from his first mission, Naruto couldn't shake off the weight of the past. Images of the fight and taking lives still haunted him like ghosts. Even returning to the village brought no relief. The night before he tried for hours to remove the blood from his hands, blood that would forever stain his memory because of the Sharingan.
Noticing his student's struggles, Fugaku detoured to a special place, the Konoha cemetery. At its heart stood the Memorial Stone, a monumental boulder carved to depict the Will of Fire.
Naruto stared at the letters carved on the stone with indifference. He still felt terrible after taking multiple lives that night. He didn't understand the significance of this place. Even the wind, usually playful and mischievous, seemed to whisper here with respect.
Fugaku hadn't said a word the whole way. When they stood before the Memorial Stone, the silence became even more deafening.
A few minutes passed before Naruto couldn't take it anymore.
"Fugaku-sensei..." he began with a trembling voice, tearing his gaze away from the stone and looking at his mentor. "What are we doing here, what is this stone?"
Fugaku looked at him with a serious expression. "This is the Memorial Stone, Naruto," he said. "Carved on this stone are the names of all Konoha shinobi and kunoichi who gave their lives for the village."
Fugaku's words hit Naruto with the force of a blow. Sadness and respect appeared in his eyes. Once again, he realized the immense sacrifice that came with being a shinobi. The weight of the past and the awareness of the losses weighed on his heart like a stone.
Fugaku put his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Remember, Naruto," the mentor said with a warm but firm voice. "Those whose names you see on this stone were heroes. They fought and died to protect what we love. We should never forget their sacrifice. Their courage and dedication should inspire us."
Naruto nodded, tears streaming down his cheeks. In silence, he contemplated his mentor's words. At that moment, he understood another fact about the life of a shinobi. The realities of the ninja world are responsibility, honor, and remembrance of those who have passed away. Their names carved on the Memorial Stone became a symbol of sacrifice.
The silence at the Memorial Stone was broken by Naruto's sudden, trembling voice. "Fugaku-sensei..." he began, his words hanging in the dark air like shadows. "Why do people choose violence? Why is there so much hatred in the world?" he asked, unable to bear the weight of the emotions that crushed his heart any longer.
Fugaku sighed deeply, his furrowed brow expressing concern. "That's a complicated question, Naruto," he replied, choosing his words carefully. "There are many reasons why people fight and hate each other in the world. Sometimes it's greed that poisons their hearts like venom. Sometimes it's fear that paralyzes their minds and pushes them to do irrational things. And sometimes it's simply misunderstanding that builds walls between people."
Naruto clenched his fists, his anger mixing with frustration. "But that doesn't make sense! We could all live in peace and harmony," he exclaimed, his voice echoing off the stones. "Why can't the world be better?" he murmured defeatedly.
Fugaku put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're right, Naruto. The world could be better. But people are weak and make mistakes. Some are selfish and power-hungry, while others are simply lost and don't know how to live in peace," the mentor said, his words carrying sadness and resignation.
Naruto looked at his mentor with hope in his eyes. "What can we do about it?" he asked, his words hanging in the air like an echo.
Fugaku thought for a moment, his face becoming serious. "We can fight for those we care about, Naruto," he said firmly. "We can protect our loved ones and fight for the ideas that guide us. Being a shinobi is not just about strength and skills, but also about responsibility and honor."
"But remember Naruto," Fugaku continued, his voice becoming softer as he looked out over the stones, "in the life of a shinobi, you will have to take lives on a regular basis. But you can never give up your humanity. Never let yourself be consumed by hatred and bloodlust. Remember the values that are most important to you, even in the face of death."
Naruto clenched his fists as he heard his mentor's words. The weight of responsibility and the awareness of the atrocities of war weighed on his heart.
"I promise, Fugaku-sensei," Naruto vowed in a quiet but determined voice. His eyes flashed with a violet Sharingan, the three tomoe swirling with an ominous power. "I will fight for what I love. Even in the face of death, I will never give into hatred. I will always ENDURE!"
At his outburst, Fugaku smiled proudly. "I believe in you, Naruto," he said in a gentle voice. "You possess strength, but also an incredible determination and drive to improve. I believe in time you will become the strongest among us."
They remained in silence for a while longer. Naruto carefully observed the names carved on the Memorial Stone. He felt respect for those who had given their lives. Their names became a symbol of heroism and sacrifice.
"Go home. Speak with your kaa-san. You will need her warmth. I will take care of delivering the information about the success of the mission to your father," Fugaku announced, breaking the silence. Naruto nodded slightly, his face filled with gratitude.
Fugaku watched as the boy's figure disappeared into the distance, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
"Taking another person's life has left an echo on this boy's soul. Time will tell what the consequences of this will be," Fugaku thought. He sighed heavily. He knew that what Naruto had done would impact his future too. He could only imagine the beating he would receive from his wife and oldest daughter after he gave the news…