Rows of children excitedly stood in their places, chit-chatting with their friends, the excitement was so high in the skies that some could not even stay in place, tapping their feet or waving their arms pointlessly. And there stood Naruto, in the middle of the line, speaking with nobody and interacting with no one. There were four offices, each with a chunin teacher taking care of the registration of students.
The familiar faces... The Umino boy, the white-haired traitor, Suzume and Daikoku. The first three he could only recall barely. Daikoku though...
The man was the chunin teacher of Itachi's class back in the academy, he also was the man that advised the boy to graduate early, he sure did remember the day that he read the file on Itachi Uchiha.
Itachi was an useful tool for a while. Perhaps if the Uchiha were not a clan of men and women filled with hatred, then he could have had many of them under his ANBU. It was a shame. He shook his head.
What use did reminiscing the past have? He was given a new life, a new chance... He squeezed his fist, examining his body. It still felt miraculous to the man that he was here again, in a new life...
His spiralling thoughts came to an end when his name was called out. "Naruto Uzumaki!" Huh? With a line that long, he thought that he would still be waiting but... the line had already reached him. A smile grew on his face as he stepped forward, entering the small, dusty office with a small particle board desk set on the middle of it. Hm, it was Umino that would register him.
"Sit down, Naruto-kun." The man said, signalling with his hands towards where he had to sit and Naruto sat down. "So.. this will be quick, don't worry. I'll just give you a paper with information to fill out and you'll have to sign it with your name, is that alright with you?"
"Yes. It is." A simple process. His eyes scanned through the paper. He really never had cared to look into how the Academy registry had worked in his last lifetime, so the man had never seen the paper before but he could say that some questions were quite weird.
The Academy had its administrative building integrated into the Hokage's office. How come did they need you to write down your residency? Hm. It didn't really matter for the man. All that mattered was his success. So, he filled it out swiftly, placing it down at the desk for the Umino boy to look through it. His eyes seemed to widen as he read through it.
"Ah... Naruto, your handwriting is quite good." The man sheepishly said, scratching his chin. "Very well. Everything is fine in the paper. If you haven't heard about the housing support for orphans, then I think you should consult the Hokage's office. you will find that it will be quite useful to you. I'd recommend that you do that now, if you do so, you'll probably be placed in an apartment by the time the academy starts." Then, the man opened a dresser, placing the paper on top of a neat stack. "Alright. I'll see you in two weeks! The acceptance letter will come to your residency."
"Thank you, Umino-san." Hmm. Yes, that would be a great idea. Hiruzen surely could not allow the jinchuuriki to stay in the orphanage anyways. It was better for everyone. So he hopped off the chair in one smooth move and hastened his steps to quickly make his way to the Hokage's office, as he stepped out, he shoulder-rammed a Hyuga girl in an accident, their eyes meeting briefly. "Apologies." The boy muttered shortly before making his way out of the crowd.
"Naruto-kun." The old man gave him a gentle smile, allowing him to take a seat on the silky, red rococo chair. In front of him were a small stack of papers, Hiruzen had quickly prepared the papers necessary when the boy had asked for housing support.
The man had been so eager, so much so that the boy was impressed. He had to admit one thing and it was that Hiruzen truly had cared for Naruto even if he hadn't been capable of showing it in many ways. "You only have to sign here." Pulling a paper out of the stack, he pointed at where the boy would have to sign.
"...Ojii-san, thank you." He quickly signed the paper before handing it out to Hiruzen, who simply put the paper back on top of the stack before placing it. "Now, Naruto... I only want one promise from you— It is quite the simple one really, I just want you to promise that you'll work hard to become a great ninja for yourself and for our village."
Such a simple promise. One that he had always uphold. Yet, he had never gotten to harvest the rewards of his work. Anger flashed in his eyes, immediately disappearing as Naruto kept himself calm, raising eyebrows from Hiruzen. "Do you promise?"
"I do! Why wouldn't I? You know that I'll be the one to inherit the hat, right? Ojii-san, you know that!" He rambled on, his voice crackling as he did so. How could Hiruzen even ask for him to promise for THAT? He had sacrificed his damned life for the village whilst the Hokage was perceived as a hero. With a huff, he continued speaking. "...Apologies. I am a bit too emotional when it comes to our Village. Ojii-san, do you remember the days when I'd sneak out of the orphanage at midnight? I'd sit by a campfire and you'd always be there..."
The eyes of the war veteran softened, how could he not remember? He had failed Naruto in many ways but at least he had became a friend for the boy in times such as those. "Yes.. Of course I do, You'd ramble on and on about how you would become the Hokage, make the Leaf prosper and grow the roots of the village. It really was incredible, how well-developed your mind had been. You know, Naruto-kun... I see that you have a great potential. Just like someone else I used to know... It is certain that you're very much like him."
He forced himself not to laugh. Him? He was very much like Minato? He too had the same ideals in his past life yet he surely hadn't been given the credit that he had deserved. A shame that some of his decisions were not the greatest. Without missing a moment, he spoke. "Then... I think you'd see that you don't need my promise. Just know that I will take that hat one day, old man."
Hiruzen gave him a hearty laugh, his face wrinkling as he did so. He truly had forgotten how it was to be old. He had to admit that the feeling of being young was something that he had missed. "You will, Naruto-kun, you will."
"Thank you... I.. I have something to ask and I'm sorry if that is too much to ask for but... Ojii-san, I know that the other kids probably have relatives to help them. There are clan kids that probably will be supported by their entire clan too... would it be too much to ask for if you were to help me? Once a week maybe? Biweekly?"
The old man thought for a few seconds, a sparkle appearing in his eyes before he shook his head. "Sadly not, Naruto-kun. I have meetings, paperwork, my personal life... Sometimes, I may even need to leave the village even if for a few days. Also, I believe in you. I believe that you can do this all on your own. You're a strong kid." Stopping for a moment, he took a drag from his pipe, exhaling the silver blue smoke of the tobacco.
"You should believe in yourself more, Naruto. Our Fourth Hokage was a civilian himself. He was an orphan too. Yet he believed in himself and became one of the greatest shinobi to be in our ranks."
His eyes harshened and his lips pursed... Hiruzen. How could he reject such an opportunity? Maybe if he had the opportunity to train the young blond himself then things would be much different. But here was Hiruzen rejecting the opportunity to create a masterpiece. With a sharp exhale, he spoke.
"...Thank you, Ojii-san. I'll make sure to believe in myself, I suppose." He rolled his eyes before getting up and taking off with thunderous steps, leaving no chance for the old man to even speak. The sun rays hit his tanned skin, the sweat glistening. A fist raised to the skies, he closed his hand, squeezing his palm. He'd show Hiruzen what he was made of.