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Chapter 3.12 [35]

"How long are you going to make me wait, Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen kept his eyes on the paperwork despite his awareness of the person sitting across from him for the last fifteen minutes. It was a punishment of sorts—one they both knew the reason for—and it also let him get his thoughts in order because while he'd made the summon, he was not excited about having Danzo in his office.

Alas, thanks to recent events, it was a necessity.

He brought the stamp down harder than needed and sighed. "...You'll wait until I'm good and ready to talk to you."

Danzo scoffed. "Things are serious enough that we've skipped the talk via correspondence but you still wish to play this inane game?"

"Enjoy it, old friend. Besides, "this inane game", as you put it, seems appropriate." He scoffed again. "Find it amusing, do you?" Leaning forward, Hiruzen clasped his hands on the desk. "Then I shall be blunt: what do you want from my son, Danzo?"

"I simply found Asuma in need of guidance some years ago. He could become a much-needed pillar for the village to rely on in the future, after all."

He shook his head with a light snort. "...The number of times I've heard that line. A pillar for the village or a pillar for you, old friend?"

Danzo simply leaned back with a serene smile and Hiruzen inhaled loudly, finding no outlet for his frustration besides an equally loud exhale. The ANBU agents within the office had been dismissed thirty minutes ago, eliminating the need to keep up the cumbersome charade their friendship had become. He could not see the usual exasperated fondness in Danzo's eyes—but, in truth, it had been years since Hiruzen felt any cheer at the thought of his old friend either.

These days, it only brought him a great deal of headache.

"I'm sure you already know why I've summoned you," said Hiruzen with a resigned wave of his hand.

Danzo blinked his hazel eye and, in his usual brusque manner, he grunted, "The Akatsuki."

"I won't ask how you know of Kakashi's debrief," said Hiruzen, meeting his gaze, "it'll only make me lose my temper. What I will ask you instead, Danzo, is what shall we do about it?"

"To my knowledge, this… new Akatsuki has been doing nothing except mercenary work." Danzo lightly tapped his cane against the ground. "The more concerning thing is that it is a cell of S-ranked ninja. They're unlike the Akatsuki of the past; there are no mediocre underlings."

Hiruzen didn't bother to hide his frown.

Danzo tilted his head with a narrow of his eye. "Fortunately, Kakashi encountered Itachi, otherwise he would have died. I've heard they have a pair of immortal shinobi, so it's no surprise that the Snake joined their ranks, even if it was only a temporary deal."

"Orochimaru, eh?" said Hiruzen, leaning back. "They put a bounty on his head a few years ago for betraying them, didn't they?"

"In any case, we've no reason to believe this incident is out of the norm for them. According to Itachi, they were hired by Gato of the Gato Company to end the Land of Waves Bridge Construction project by killing its lead, allowing Gato to take ownership of the bridge. Turned that bridge builder's dream into a nightmare for his people, it seems."

Hiruzen pulled five sheets of paper from a folder, sliding them across his desk.

"Bingo Book entries… and of Akatsuki members at that," Danzo muttered.

Hiruzen nodded. "A mercenary group needs renown and the easiest way to do so is to get people talking. The Akatsuki has taken on various high-profile jobs in recent years, garnering a reputation. With all the resources at my disposal, I've managed to gather the profiles of five reported members, all rogue shinobi: Kisame Hoshigaki of the Mist, Sasori of the Sand, Deidara of the Stone, Kakuzu of the Waterfall, and Hidan of the Steam."

"We've no idea if this is the extent of its members. What of the masked Uchiha who aided Itachi in the purge of their clan?"

"What worries me is that there's no mention of a masked man. On that front, we can only trust in young Itachi."

"Be that as it may, we need intel," said Danzo, tapping his cane against the ground. "Who is the masked man to the Akatsuki—is he their leader?"

"Perhaps," Hiruzen clutched his chin, "but I cannot shake the feeling that there is some relation between this Akatsuki and the Akatsuki of the past. This new Akatsuki is mysterious; their motives, members, and methods… it's all shrouded in mystery."

Danzo folded his arms. "What mystery? They share nothing with that group but their name; likely an inspiration that took root when my forces aided Hanzo's in crushing Jiraiya's charity project."

"Your meddling likely had a direct hand in bringing about this more dangerous Akatsuki," said Hiruzen without bothering to hide his frustration. "Once again, your overzealousness rears its ugly head."

Danzo huffed. "Minato Namikaze crippled the Stone and terrified the Cloud. The Mist continues to eat itself even today and our boot was pressed against the Sand's throat—we were winning the war."

He looked up, meeting Danzo's passion with dead calm. "Tread carefully."

"You caved precisely when you should have stood tall. Waiving our right to demand reparations from the Stone for initiating the war? That wasn't just a poor decision, it was madness; we could have come out of the war in a much better position if not for your naivety."

"Okay." He sighed, once again swallowing his old friend's disrespect. "If we're discussing madness, then what of your decision to stoke Hanzo's greed to shut down the peace talks?"

"And bring our momentum to a screeching halt?" Danzo shot back. "It's pure sentimentality on your part and if you truly were against my doings, then why didn't you stop me? You know as well as I that the end of the war in the Rain would have achieved absolutely nothing for the conflict would have simply moved location."

Danzo sat back and stared at him but, instead of dragging their argument on further, Hiruzen sighed. Like the burdens he'd taken on, it was long and heavy, pressing against his shoulders.

They were here to discuss a solution, not rehash the past.

"In any case, Hanzo of the Salamander is a non-issue," Hiruzen said, "and has been for a few years. Whoever this new Akatsuki leader is, they don't seem to harbour any grudges towards us."

"As always, you're ignoring the obvious thing," said Danzo. "This Akatsuki… they may not have any bases anywhere that I'm aware of, but Hanzo has not mentioned them at all in their correspondence with me over the years. Or are you going to tell me it's a coincidence, Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen rubbed the back of his neck with a low yawn. "I'm not sure; Hanzo is a paranoid man. It took you very little to convince him to turn his blade on the Akatsuki. Operating under the name of vanquished insurrectionists would be the fastest way to incur that man's wrath."

"All of this is beside the point," said Danzo. "As you asked me, what are we to do about it? The Akatsuki is merely a mercenary group—a dangerous one, perhaps—but not nearly enough that it warrants action… at least not in this peace you created."

Hiruzen snorted. "Surely the irony isn't lost on you?" He was ignored, of course, but the humour was enough to uplift his mood for the next few moments while he considered his answer. "There's no war to obfuscate your—or in this case, our—intentions and while we could use Orochimaru and Itachi's membership as justification in declaring the Akatsuki our enemies, there is still so much we do not know."

"Then, what?" Danzo asked with a harrumph. "We wait for Itachi to drag the masked Uchiha madman into the light? He can't do anything that will risk destroying his cover and simply waiting things out isn't an option. This time, our side was just collateral but what if we weren't and Kakashi died instead?"

"As usual, you're being too hasty. There are too many unknowns to brand the Akatsuki as our enemies outright. We can afford to go to war with them, but why? It's unnecessary, especially when the effort will open us to attack. Onoki is living up to his title but will pick a side of the fence to fall on if we give him cause."

"At the risk of stating the obvious, the Akatsuki is the bigger threat right now," said Danzo.

"I will leave the matter to Jiraiya, at least for now," Hiruzen replied, "After all, I received these Bingo Book entries from him. In his pursuit of Orochimaru's whereabouts, he inevitably uncovered his involvement with the Akatsuki."

"And then?"

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." Hiruzen smiled. "Thank you for your input, old friend. You're dismissed."

Danzo stared at him as he worked his jaw. Hiruzen returned to his paperwork, aware of his presence against the crown of his head, and when the office door clicked shut, he allowed himself a low sigh. He did not doubt that Danzo was cooking up schemes of his own and if he wanted to, Hiruzen could shut down his ROOT operations.

However, the ROOT's existence lent itself to the village's security, especially in the current political stalemate. Calling it peace was too much—not after the Raikage's blatant disregard for the treaties signed after the Third Great Shinobi War—but it was the closest thing to peace the world had seen in a long while.

As long as he lived, Hiruzen would see it continue till his dying breath, at least until the new generation could lift the burden from his shoulders.

"This accursed paperwork will kill me before any kunai," he muttered.

Unlike before, there was no one to give him an earful for not doing his paperwork; that responsibility used to be Danzo's. Despite all that had transpired between them and his old friend's blatant abuse of his trust, Hiruzen missed his presence sometimes.

Though the nostalgia always died in the cradle.

He took his time finishing the paperwork, seeing that it was the only thing left on his schedule for the day, but it was mind-numbing work. When he finished it, his wrist pulsed with a dull throb. The chair beneath him gave a mighty creak as he rose, slipping his cloak on alongside the ceremonial Hokage hat.

"It's only seven, eh?" he murmured with a smile. "Perfect. It won't be too late, then."

As he crossed the floor, he gave the portrait shots of his predecessors a forlorn look before regrettably dragging his gaze to his sole successor. The corridor was noticeably warmer than his office and his body pulsed with heat underneath the flowing white and red robe. Without breaking his stride, he allowed his gaze to drift ever so slightly and caught the smallest flicker of movement from behind a nearby pillar.

He continued forward, focused on the presence lurking in the shadows.

In an instant, a figure leapt from its hiding place, aiming straight for him. Hiruzen moved with the grace of a man half his age, shifting his weight enough to twist his torso subtly. The child's form sailed through the air, hands outstretched, only to find empty space where the Hiruzen had been moments before.

Landing with a soft thud, the boy quickly spun around, his wide eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and frustration. Hiruzen stood a few feet away and a faint, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He resumed his pace and moved down the corridor as if the ambush hadn't happened. Behind him, the young shinobi-in-training picked himself up, dusting off his clothes, already plotting his next attempt.

"I'll get you next time, gramps," came his nasally, childish voice. "I swear, I almost had you!"

Hiruzen kept his silence for a while until they came upon the grand, spiralling staircase fashioned after the Uzumaki clan's emblem. "Konohamaru, as much joy as your antics bring me… have you learned nothing from the past weekend's events?"

He stepped aside, allowing the boy to descend first.

Konohamaru did his best to look serious, but on a face that young, it only looked adorable. His unruly brown hair was allowed to run free, spiking in some places and lying flat in others. The village sigil dominated his black shirt with vibrant crimson and a long scarf followed the length of his back and hung just above his ankles.

"Come now," Hiruzen placed a hand on his shoulder, "didn't you find him interesting?"

"...He called my helmet stupid," Konohamaru frowned with defiant blue eyes. "But his hair… it's like a stupid, tiny ponytail. And he's got a stupid name too!"

"Is that all you took away from that discussion?"

Konohamaru looked away, his cheeks flushing slightly. "I-I guess he was a little cool—no one's ever spoken to Ebisu-sensei like he did."

Hiruzen hid his smile.

"Do you know him, gramps?"

"In fact, I do!" He smiled, patting his grandson's head as they reached the bottom of the stairwell. "I think of Naruto as a grandson of mine—like you."

That drew Konohamaru's attention and a pair of big blue eyes shone with curiosity. "Really? Then… then how come he calls you, "Lord Third", like everyone else?"

"What can I say?" Hiruzen chuckled. "He's a very formal child sometimes."

His grandson accepted the answer with a nod before his interest moved to the village's shops and street food stalls. He only let regret twist his face once he was sure Konohamaru was captivated.

The village was bathed in the soft, warm hues of twilight, the sky a blend of oranges and purples. A serene quiet settled over the streets, with many villagers winding down for the day, but there was still a gentle hum of life as shopkeepers closed up and families enjoyed their evening routines.

Hiruzen walked with Konohamaru by his side, the boy's energy more subdued as he took in the sights and sounds of the village he would one day help protect. Despite his age, Hiruzen's steps were steady and many villagers paused to bow or offer a respectful greeting to the both of them.

"Good evening, Lord Third," a shopkeeper called out, her voice filled with admiration. She offered a warm smile to Konohamaru as well. "Out for a stroll with your grandson, I see?"

Hiruzen nodded graciously. "Indeed. The village is beautiful at this hour, don't you think?"

The shopkeeper beamed. "It is, sir."

Hiruzen smiled in return and, as they continued, he led Konohamaru toward a small dango shop, one of his favourite spots for a treat. The old woman behind the counter brightened when she saw them approach, her eyes crinkling with joy. "Lord Third! What a surprise to see you here tonight."

He greeted her warmly. "My grandson and I were just out for a walk, and I thought some of your famous dango would be the perfect end to our evening."

The woman chuckled and began preparing their order, her hands moving with the practised ease of someone who had been in the business for decades. "You always did have a sweet tooth, even on the eve of a mission—and young Konohamaru, how are you this evening?"

Konohamaru perked up at being addressed, his earlier frustration forgotten. "I'm good! Gramps said we could get dango tonight!"

The old woman laughed as she handed over the skewers, her gaze softening as she looked at the young boy. "Enjoy, my dear. It's on the house."

Hiruzen accepted the treat with a nod of thanks, slipping a few coins into the tip jar when she wasn't looking. As they wandered further through the village, he noticed how the villagers' faces lit up as they passed.

They walked through the marketplace, where the few remaining vendors offered friendly waves, and through the quieter residential areas, where children played in the streets and greeted them with wide-eyed wonder. Konohamaru munched happily on his dango, occasionally looking up at him with poorly concealed admiration.

As they neared the Hokage Monument, the massive stone faces of Konoha's leaders glowing softly in the twilight, Hiruzen paused to take in the view. The village stretched out before them. Konohamaru, following his gaze, seemed to sense the gravity of the moment and fell silent.

Hiruzen placed a gentle hand on Konohamaru's shoulder. "Do you see everything before you, my boy?"

Konohamaru nodded.

"If you truly wish to become Hokage, everyone and everything you can see… you will lead them all. It's a responsibility that you shouldn't take lightly. Naruto may have been harsh, but that was all he wished to impress upon you."

Stealing a glance at his grandson, Hiruzen saw the village in his eyes, reflecting a mixture of awe and determination. They stood there longer, the village below them and the stars beginning to twinkle above through the cloud cover.

He let Konohamaru go after slipping a little extra money into his pocket and descending the mountain. The walk to his destination passed by too quickly and his mind wandered too much for him to enjoy the sight of children running about.

Before he knew it, Hiruzen stood before a familiar apartment building, ascending to the floors in a single, soundless leap. He swallowed and rested the base of his palm against the thick, navy-blue door. The cold evening air circled his lungs and as he wet his lips, Hiruzen wished he had not forgotten his pipe in the office before knocking on the door.

His heart thudded between his slow breaths and the long, hanging silence of the apartment block—but the door opened after what felt like an eternity, revealing startled blue eyes on a slightly less startled whiskered face.

"Evening, Naruto," said Hiruzen, clasping his sleeved hands before him. "I was hoping to visit you after your mission. I know it's only been a few days since your return. If you're not up to it, I'll just return at another tim—"

"—No." Naruto blinked, opening the door wider. "No, it's fine. I have time and it's not like I've got any plans, so come in, sir." He stepped aside, allowing Hiruzen to enter before retreating further down the corridor.

After slipping off his shoes, Hiruzen spied into the kitchen to his left where a pot of noodles bubbled vigorously atop the stove. He cracked a small smile, still hunched over, and placed his shoes to the side where they would be out of the way.

"What can I get you to drink?" Naruto asked. He was inside the kitchen now, stirring the pot. Hiruzen stared at the back of his head where the back of his hair slipped out of a bandana and joined into a ponytail tickling the base of his nape. "There's tea, coffee—I don't drink it, it's for Hinata whenever she can escape her clan's compound—and there's also some orange juice in the fridge."

"Tea please," Hiruzen chuckled. "With milk—and perhaps some of that ramen I can smell?"

That got a smile out of the boy. "Of course. It's a personal recipe I want to pitch to Mr Teuchi at some point. It isn't quite at Ichiraku Ramen's level, but I hope you enjoy it. Take a seat in the living room and I'll be with you soon."

Hiruzen nodded but before he could turn down the corridor, Naruto yelped, his bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor. When he turned, he saw a glass of water in his left hand and a metal fork in the other.

"What is it?"

Naruto smiled thinly. "I forgot to offer you some water."

"Much obliged," he replied, accepting the cup with a bow of his head.

On his way to the living room, he took a peek into Naruto's bedroom and noticed the addition of a whiteboard attached to the wall. The Academy textbooks occupied a shelf instead of the dresser table. Hiruzen made his way to the small living room, his eyes catching the subtle changes in the apartment.

The once sparsely furnished room now held small signs of personalisation—an old, threadbare rug lay under a low table, a stack of neatly arranged Wind-Release scrolls beside it. The walls now displayed a few framed photographs, one of which was of Team 10, the four of them smiling after what must have been a particularly difficult mission retrieving the Fire Daimyo's family cat.

Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia mixed with a touch of sadness as he settled down on the cushion beside the table. The faint sounds of Naruto bustling in the kitchen drifted into the room, and he let his gaze wander. The apartment was humble, much like Naruto himself, but it was clear that the boy was trying to make it his own, carving out a space where he could belong.

It was a far cry from the empty box he'd dined in years past.

Naruto had grown in more ways than one, and Hiruzen found himself both proud and worried. Naruto's life had never been easy, and the weight of his burdens was something Hiruzen knew well. He took a slow sip of water, the coolness soothing his parched throat.

The evening had grown colder and he felt the familiar ache in his joints reminding him of his advancing years. Soon, Naruto emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray with a steaming teapot, some sugar, two cups and the accompanying saucers. He sped off and returned with two large bowls of ramen, placing everything carefully on the table before sitting opposite him.

"Here you go, sir," Naruto said, pouring tea into Hiruzen's cup. The aroma of the freshly brewed tea mingled with the rich scent of the ramen, filling the room with a comforting warmth.

"Thank you, Naruto," Hiruzen replied, wrapping his hands around the cup. He took a small sip, savouring the delicate balance of flavours. "This is an excellent blend."

Naruto nodded at the compliment, his earlier nervousness seeming to fade. "I'm glad you like it."

Hiruzen smiled softly, looking at Naruto with a mix of fondness and concern. "It's good to see you settling into the shinobi life so well."

Naruto nodded, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—an uncertainty Hiruzen could sense, though the boy tried to hide it. They might have returned from their mission in high spirits, but they still encountered an incredibly strong A-rank—borderline S-rank—jonin on top of having taken life for the first time.

Expecting him to be in perfect health was a pipe dream.

Still, they ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the quiet sounds of slurping noodles and clinking chopsticks filling the air. Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for this moment, for the chance to sit with Naruto, to share a meal and a conversation.

He didn't have the time or the opportunity to do it often. Outside of the boy's birthday—as a genin of the Leaf, Naruto was no longer eligible for the orphan stipend.

He was considered an adult in the eyes of the law, which was why Hiruzen needed to mend the smouldering bridge between them; ignoring his own emotions for a moment, now more than ever, he needed to maintain a decent relationship with the village's sole Jinchuriki.

In time, the food dwindled until they'd drank the broth from their bowls and were left to refill piping cups of tea. Naruto's eyes explored the wall behind Hiruzen, momentarily focusing on him whenever he made a sound or adjusted in his seat.

"How are you settling back in?" Hiruzen asked. "Your mission took an… shall we say, unexpected turn?"

Naruto grimaced behind his cup. "That's putting it lightly."

"And you? My son's debrief gave me a more detailed account of how you convinced Zabuza Momochi to retreat." He sighed and set his empty cup atop its saucer. "Taking the brunt of his killing intent without a hysterical reaction is no small feat. Lesser shinobi have died under the pressure and some even choose to end their own lives than suffer another second under that kind of influence."

"Tell me about it. It was unlike anything I've ever faced." He looked away abruptly. "Well, the Nine-Tails was worse, but it was the first time something like that was aimed at me, you know?"

He nodded. "I would like to tell you that things will get better, but in our line of work, that's simply a falsehood."

"...Yeah, I guess so." Naruto set his empty teacup aside, propping his forearms on the table. "Not to sound impolite, sir, but why the visit? I don't take the stipend anymore and it's not my birthday, right?"

"No," Hiruzen replied, outwardly unperturbed by the question, "I was hoping that we could have a much-needed conversation tonight."

"About?"

"Our relationship." The change in atmosphere was immediate—Naruto's posture changed from casual to guarded and his eyes grew heavy with a weight of emotions Hiruzen couldn't quite make out. "Especially in light of the misunderstanding between myself, Danzo, Asuma, and yourself."

"For years, I talked to you as if you were the one responsible for my training with Asuma and yet it turns out that it was all thanks to a man I'd never met before," said Naruto with a deep frown.

Hiruzen took the veiled barb with a grimace. "Things were better between us, were they not?"

"Yes, they were—but not because of you." Frustration leaked past the calm and he saw a fire in Naruto's eyes. "The truth, sir, is that I've suspected I was a Jinchuriki for years but who could I talk to?"

"Me," Hiruzen replied with a sigh. "I understand your childhood left you with very little trust in anyone, however, I was always there."

Naruto inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring. "Yeah, you were there, but let's not pretend I could have come to you, sir."

"...Why not?" he asked, slowly assessing the rising tension in Naruto's shoulders.

Despite the tension, he could feel the distance—the coldly formal barrier—thawing. Naruto's words hovered just shy of disrespect and even now, he used Hiruzen's station as a way to prevent the barrier from thawing completely.

"The villagers might've left me with little trust but you know who else did that? You, sir. Do you know how many times I laid out the stage for you to just give me something?" Naruto shook his head with a snort. "But all you managed to do is prove to me why I couldn't tell you anything. My life would have been so much better if I had someone to confide in but for some reason, you were deadset on keeping me ignorant while the village treated me however they wanted."

"Naruto…"

"But so long as they don't reveal my identity it's fine, right? Calling me a demon walking, an ill omen, a scourge on the village… all of that's fine so long as the S-rank secret doesn't get out, yeah?"

Hiruzen pulled his lips into a thin line. This was simply a consequence of picking the village over Naruto; one of many choices he made every day to ensure he didn't fail Lord Tobirama's trust in him.

"So," said Naruto, taking a breath, "please don't tell me I could have come to you—because I couldn't. I've asked you so many things that you just dodged or laughed off."

"May I speak?" he asked with a raised brow.

Naruto slumped back into the chair and nodded.

"Firstly, let me tell you how happy it is to hear you," said Hiruzen with a small smile. "And I mean truly hear you. I don't think you've ever been completely open with me until today."

"Even under the circumstances?"

He smiled. "Especially because of them. I cannot say that I made the best decision from where I stand today. Had I known you were aware of the Nine-Tails within you, perhaps I would have made a different choice."

"And yet you didn't," Naruto replied, his voice hard.

"No, I did not. The secrets I kept contributed to our relationship today, but at the time, they were the best choice I could make—not only for you," he said, speeding up to stop him from interrupting, "but for the village as well."

He swallowed and with no small amount of anger, said, "You've seen how that village treats me, right? Do they really mean more to you than me?"

Hiruzen felt his face soften at the hurt in his voice; to see that Naruto still cared about him even now was something he didn't know he needed.

But it only made what he had to say next that much harder.

"You are important to me, more than just personally, too," Hiruzen began, trying to ease into his thoughts, "but as a leader, I must always work for the good of the majority, of which you are a part. Keeping your identity hidden allowed—and will continue to allow—you to get as strong as possible before our enemies come for us."

Sky blue eyes stared back at him unflinchingly but Naruto did not interrupt.

"It was also meant to guarantee you a burdenless childhood," Hiruzen grimaced and inclined his head, "though I can see, now, that it would never have been the case, even if you were unaware of the Nine-Tails. But it was the choice I made without the knowledge that you knew. Nor were you in any rush to tell me. Instead, you pushed me away—which discounts your points even if the sentiment is fair."

Naruto's reaction was obvious to him before he even made it. His brow scrunched together, blue eyes burning with indescribable weight. Right as he was about to flip his lid—mouth cracking open soundlessly—Hiruzen raised his hand.

Everything fell into silence; Naruto's light breaths, the clock on the wall, the village beyond the window, and even his own mind.

"The fault for our relationship does not lie on your shoulders, no matter how you contributed to it by keeping your silence," said Hiruzen, smiling. "You are a child, burdened with knowledge he should not know. I did not share my knowledge with you before because of your immaturity and perhaps our conversation today has proved me right. However, things are different now. You are no longer a child under the law and killing has taken what little innocence remains within you."

Naruto shook his head, looking away for a fraction of a second.

"Shinobi cannot be emotionless tools, even if our creed asks it of us, but that is a separate topic." Hiruzen cleared his throat. "I will be direct: the Nine-Tails is not the only secret I have been keeping from you and after tonight, there will be no more secrets on my end."

He let his words hang, charging the space between them. Naruto's eyes widened, his face slackened, and he leaned forward slightly, propping up against the table using his elbows.

"Your parents died the night the Nine-Tailed Fox laid waste to our village, that much is true, but without their sacrifice, neither of us would be standing here today. I never knew exactly when to tell you as you grew up faster than I hoped you would. So many opportunities, but I used the distance between us as an excuse to put it off. I waited for the right moment and the right moment never came—take from my regrets now that lesson going forward."

Hiruzen watched as Naruto's breath caught in his throat with a quiet gasp.

The silence between them thickened like a coiled spring. He could see the boy's knuckles whiten as he gripped the table's edge, the anticipation hovering in the air, heavy and unbearable, waiting for the words that would change everything.

"Naruto, your father is Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, and your mother is Kushina Uzumaki, the second Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox."