A child, just seven years old, growing up under the cold stares of others, with barely enough money to survive.
But the most significant issue? Even if Naruto Uzumaki had money, no one was willing to sell him food.
When he was younger, Naruto often starved to the point where he would go into the wild to gather mushrooms and cook them himself. Even after graduating from the ninja academy, he often had to drink milk that had long expired.
And birthdays? No one ever celebrated with him—lonely and cold.
Maybe things got a bit better after he learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Why?
Because when no one else was there to celebrate with him, Naruto could at least create a couple of shadow clones to play cards with him and pretend he wasn't alone on his birthday.
So, in the world of Naruto, while everyone has their own struggles, Naruto Uzumaki's life was undoubtedly the hardest.
Some have even said that if anyone in the series deserved to turn evil, it was Naruto.
Yet, despite all his hardships, Naruto didn't become bitter. Instead, he remained optimistic, kind-hearted, and hopeful.
It's almost as if someone had used a genjutsu on him from a young age to make him that way.
This resilience in the face of such adversity makes Naruto's character even more remarkable.
Now, with Uchiha Akira's help, Naruto had seen his father in his own mindscape, confirming that his father was indeed the Fourth Hokage!
This realization moved Naruto deeply.
He wasn't a monster, he wasn't the Nine-Tails. He had a father, and his father was the Fourth Hokage!
"Naruto?" Iruka called out as he noticed Naruto's tear-streaked face.
"Iruka-sensei, I really saw my father inside me. He's truly the Fourth Hokage, and I also saw the Nine-Tails sealed within me!" Naruto said, turning to Iruka with a beaming smile despite the tears still streaming down his face.
Seeing Naruto's tearful yet radiant smile, Iruka couldn't help but feel happy for him, but at the same time, a heavy weight settled in his chest.
This was just a seven-year-old child!
"The Third Hokage... he actually..."
Hearing from Naruto that his father was indeed the Fourth Hokage, Iruka's mind flashed back to the kindly face of the Third Hokage. But now, that image made him feel sick.
No matter how much the Third Hokage talked about the Will of Fire and how the people of the village were like family...
The true measure of a person's character isn't in what they say, but in what they do.
And in Naruto's case, no matter how you looked at it, the Third Hokage's actions were inexcusable.
"Naruto Uzumaki... really is the son of the Fourth Hokage?"
"How is that possible? I can't believe it!"
"But look at that golden hair—it's exactly like the Fourth Hokage's!"
"Yeah, besides Naruto, can you name any other child in the village with hair like that?"
"Back then, the Fourth Hokage's wife was indeed pregnant, but no one ever said whether the child survived or died during the Nine-Tails' attack!"
"If Naruto is really the Fourth Hokage's child, then... then how have we treated him all these years?"
"Why? Why did the Third Hokage, knowing Naruto's circumstances and that he was the Fourth Hokage's son, not come forward to clear this up?"
As Naruto returned to reality from his mindscape, the surrounding ninjas and villagers began to murmur among themselves.
Originally, no one believed in Naruto's true heritage.
But now, as the truth spread, the tide of opinion shifted, and most people started to accept that Naruto was indeed the Fourth Hokage's son.
And this revelation became the Third Hokage's most damning secret.
At that moment, the carefully maintained, righteous image of the Third Hokage, built over decades, came crashing down.
In contrast, the Uchiha, who had previously been seen as usurpers after staging a coup and seizing control of the village, now began to be viewed in a different light—as liberators who had slain the "evil dragon."
"Before, all the Anbu forces launched a night raid on the Uchiha clan!"
"It seems the Uchiha's coup was really just an act of self-defense!"
"With the Senju clan already gone, if the Uchiha hadn't fought back, wouldn't they have ended up like the Senju?"
After the massacre, when Uchiha Akira returned to the clan's territory, many ninjas, including Kakashi and Might Guy, followed him there.
Now that they thought about it, the battle took place in the Uchiha district. And with the Senju already extinct, many ninjas began to believe that the Third Hokage had planned to attack the Uchiha, forcing them to retaliate and kill the Third Hokage in self-defense.
As soon as one ninja voiced this opinion, others quickly followed.
In no time, this perspective started spreading among the ninja community of Konoha.
Uchiha Fugaku, now wearing the Hokage's hat, looked at the changing sentiment during the ceremony and silently nodded to himself.
At the same time, his eyes scanned over Uchiha Akira, and he couldn't help but marvel.
This child is only seven years old, and yet he has such a profound understanding of human nature?
Listing the Third Hokage's seven deadly sins was indeed a brilliant move!
The Third Hokage's image had completely crumbled, and the Uchiha had transformed from power-hungry rebels into victims forced to act in self-defense to ensure their survival.
Though, to be fair, that was the truth of the matter.
But still, the Uchiha had been under pressure for so many years—when had they ever had the chance to hold their heads high like this?
"Impressive," murmured Shikaku Nara, observing the shift in Konoha's public opinion. He nodded to himself.
The Uchiha's move to list the Third Hokage's seven sins during the Hokage inauguration was a masterstroke, a true finishing touch.
It immediately flipped the Uchiha's image in the eyes of the public!
Furthermore, each of the seven sins addressed different groups—Hinata's kidnapping endeared them to the Hyuga clan, the Senju clan's demise resonated with Tsunade and Jiraiya, and the injustice done to White Fang gave Kakashi closure.
Especially the revelation about Naruto—one final, decisive blow.
The Fourth Hokage, who had sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tails, was a revered hero in Konoha. His legacy was held in the highest regard.
Now, with this scandal coming to light, it stirred up widespread anger among the villagers and lower-ranked ninjas against the Third Hokage.
And so, the inauguration of the Fifth Hokage ended on a triumphant note.
Though the ceremony itself might have seemed subdued, the events that took place would spread through Konoha like a hurricane.
Within a short time, the news that Naruto Uzumaki was the Fourth Hokage's son spread throughout the village.
The Third Hokage, who had once been seen as a symbol of righteousness, was now the target of widespread scorn.
Many people quietly mocked the Third Hokage, saying that he had tried to force the Uchiha into the same fate as the Senju, only to lose his own life in the process.
As for the shifting opinions of the villagers, Uchiha Akira was vaguely aware of it, but he didn't dwell on it.
After all, now wasn't the time to focus on such matters.
The night of the massacre had passed, and the Uchiha had ascended to the position of Hokage—a cause for celebration, to be sure.
But this was only the beginning, not the end.
At this moment, Uchiha Akira arrived at the Hokage's office. Fugaku sat there, looking solemn, with piles of documents stacked up beside him.
The sight of so much paperwork made Akira's scalp tingle.
Being the Hokage was indeed a prestigious position, but it certainly wasn't an easy job.
Thinking of the original series, where Naruto struggled to keep up with his duties as the Seventh Hokage, even with countless shadow clones, Akira couldn't help but shudder.
"Akira, there are two things I need to discuss with you," Fugaku said, snapping Akira out of his thoughts as he entered the office.
"Hokage-sama, please go ahead," Akira responded, pulling his attention back to the matter at hand.
"The first is that, as of today, I am officially appointing you as the head of the Anbu. Here is your appointment letter," Fugaku said, sliding a document across the desk.
"Are you sure, Clan Leader? Isn't there any way to reconsider? I was kind of hoping for the role of finance minister," Akira sighed, realizing this might be his last chance to negotiate.
The fact that Akira switched from addressing him as "Hokage" to "Clan Leader" showed they were now speaking in a more private capacity.
But Fugaku's expression remained steady, showing no sign of relenting.
It seemed this negotiation was a lost cause.
Akira sighed in resignation and stepped forward to accept the appointment letter.
Naruto may have gone from a Genin to Hokage in one of the fastest promotions in history, but Akira wasn't doing too bad himself—he had just jumped from Chūnin to Anbu commander.
And besides, how old was Naruto when he became Hokage?
At the age of seven, Uchiha Akira was already becoming the head of the Anbu? This would definitely be a record in Konoha's history.
"The second thing," Fugaku continued after Akira accepted the appointment letter, "due to the recent coup in Konoha, there have been reports of ninja movements near the borders of the Land of Fire, from the Sand, Stone, and Cloud villages."
"So, I need you to select some personnel and conduct a patrol at the borders to demonstrate Konoha's strength."
"What? You want me to go?" Akira asked, surprised by Fugaku's request.
"Akira, right now, the village's high-level combat power is rather lacking," Fugaku said with a heavy sigh. "Think about it—both the Third Hokage and Danzo are dead. As it stands, in terms of visible Kage-level strength, Konoha only has you and me."
Realizing the dire situation, Akira nodded in understanding. "So, this task really does fall to me, doesn't it?"
And so, Akira understood that with Konoha's current state, there wasn't much choice. If he didn't take on this mission, there wouldn't be anyone else capable of doing so.
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 136 at patreon.com/Emik01.
On a street in a town somewhere in the Land of Fire...
A tall, imposing man with long white hair tied back in a simple ponytail walked along. Perhaps it was his long hair that suited his image as a writer or an artist? On his feet were wooden sandals, and on his forehead, he wore a headband. However, instead of bearing the symbol of any ninja village, it simply had the large character for "oil" written on it.
Two red lines extended from the corners of his eyes, resembling streaks of tears painted on his face. Anyone from Konoha who saw this figure would immediately recognize him—Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
Heh heh heh, Jiraiya chuckled to himself. "That hot spring I just visited... wow, they even have that kind of design!"
"This material will be perfect for my next book!" he added, though he shook his head. "But it's not enough. I need to gather more material!"
His eyes glinted with a mischievous, almost lecherous, gleam as he waved his hands in the air, seemingly reliving some delightful memory, with drool nearly dripping from his mouth.
"Hey, did you hear? There was a huge upheaval in Konoha!" someone nearby said, catching Jiraiya's attention.
"An upheaval? What happened? A natural disaster?" the other person replied.
"Not a natural disaster, you fool. The Uchiha clan staged a coup! The Third Hokage is dead! I heard the Uchiha took over and installed the Fifth Hokage just a few days ago!"
Jiraiya's face shifted slightly upon hearing this. He moved closer to the two people talking and asked them for more details.
From their conversation, Jiraiya confirmed the rumors: the Third Hokage was dead, and the Uchiha clan had seized power.
"So, the Uchiha staged a coup? Or... was the old man pushing them to the point where they had no choice?" Jiraiya's expression grew darker.
As a student of the Third Hokage, one of the Legendary Sannin, and the mentor of the Fourth Hokage, why had Jiraiya left Konoha to wander the world?
The truth was, Jiraiya knew the Third Hokage's true nature, which had left him deeply disappointed. In the end, he chose to distance himself from the village rather than face the harsh reality.
Therefore, upon hearing about the Uchiha coup, Jiraiya didn't immediately blame the Uchiha. After all, he knew how things had turned out for the Senju clan.
He also remembered how Tsunade's younger brother, a Senju heir and one of Orochimaru's disciples, had mysteriously died on a mission with Orochimaru. Even back then, Jiraiya had sensed something was off, not to mention the complete decline of the Senju clan afterward.
"It seems that the Uchiha clan is truly a force to be reckoned with. Without the Senju to keep them in check, it's not surprising that the Hokage position would eventually fall into the Uchiha's hands," one of the men continued as Jiraiya listened.
"You're wrong about that. The Uchiha didn't stage the coup just to seize the Hokage title. It's because the Third Hokage was unfit for the role!" the other man argued.
"What? Unfit? Isn't the Third Hokage known as the strongest Hokage, a professor of ninja arts, and a very compassionate leader?" the first man replied, shocked.
"You've been deceived, just like the rest of Konoha!" the other man exclaimed. "At the Hokage inauguration ceremony, the Uchiha listed the Third Hokage's seven deadly sins!"
"One of the most shocking revelations was about the Fourth Hokage's son, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Despite being a hero who served as the vessel for sealing the Nine-Tails, the Third Hokage treated him as an orphan and spread the rumor that he was the Nine-Tails incarnate. Because of this, Naruto was shunned and mistreated by the entire village for years!"
"What? The Fourth Hokage's son, Naruto Uzumaki, ended up like that? That's unforgivable!" Jiraiya's brow furrowed even more upon hearing this.
Naruto? Of course, Jiraiya knew that name well. The protagonist of his book, The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, was named Naruto.
Minato had even named his son after that character! But instead of being named Naruto Namikaze, the boy was known as Naruto Uzumaki? And to be called the Nine-Tails? To have suffered so much in Konoha?
Even Jiraiya found it hard to accept this news.
The old man... he went too far this time, Jiraiya thought grimly.
"It seems after all these years of wandering, it's time for me to return to the village," Jiraiya muttered to himself.
Despite everything, he felt a duty to pay his respects to his deceased teacher. Moreover, knowing that the Fourth Hokage's son, Naruto, had suffered so much, Jiraiya realized that it was time to return to Konoha.
As a lone wanderer, Jiraiya didn't have much to pack. However, he did regret that he wouldn't be able to gather more material for his books tonight. Sigh, he thought with a hint of disappointment before setting off for Konoha.
The Uchiha are in charge now?
I wonder what Konoha will look like under Uchiha rule, Jiraiya mused as he made his way back to the village.
Meanwhile, back in Konoha, Uchiha Akira was already organizing a team.
The Sand Village, the Cloud Village, and the Stone Village were all making moves, likely planning to attack Konoha. Akira understood their reasoning.
Due to the previous leadership under the Third Hokage, Konoha's talent pool had been severely depleted. Otherwise, the Cloud Village would never have dared to act so brazenly.
Now, after the coup, with both the Third Hokage and Danzo dead, Konoha's situation was even more dire. This was undoubtedly the weakest Konoha had been in terms of high-level combat power since its founding.
From another perspective, Akira could understand why these villages would see Konoha as an easy target.
Currently, Konoha only had two Kage-level fighters: himself and Fugaku.
Thus, the task of deterring the other villages fell to Akira.
After assigning this challenging mission to Akira, Fugaku granted him full authority to mobilize Konoha's forces as he saw fit.
Akira first sought out Kakashi and Might Guy, both of whom were elite Jonin. In particular, Guy could open seven of the Eight Gates, temporarily reaching Kage-level strength, so Akira naturally brought him along.
He then sought a Jonin from the Hyuga clan to accompany them. The Byakugan's abilities would be invaluable, especially in medical ninjutsu, where its x-ray vision could provide immense benefits.
Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga clan, graciously volunteered to join the mission, stating that as the clan leader, it was only right for him to face the potential threat from the Cloud Village.
Next, Akira approached the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. The leaders of these three clans also agreed to join the mission for the sake of Konoha.
With this, Akira assembled Konoha's top six fighters, four of whom were clan leaders. This was as close to an elite team as Konoha could muster at the moment.
Additionally, Akira gathered 2,000 more ninja—Jonin, Chunin, and Genin—from various clans and the general populace, ready to deploy to the battlefield if necessary.
If the elite team could successfully deter the other villages, that would be ideal. But if war broke out, a small group would not be enough.
After meeting with Shikaku Nara and finalizing plans to depart the next morning, Akira left the Nara clan's residence. Seeing that it was already late, he decided to return to the Uchiha district.
However, as he walked down the street, Akira suddenly paused. A familiar figure had caught his eye.
"Naruto, where are you heading so late? Training? You must be working hard to be training this late!"
"Naruto, are you hungry? How about I make you a bowl of ramen?"
"Naruto, your clothes are all dirty! Bring them by tomorrow, and I'll wash them for you!"
As Naruto walked through Konoha, people greeted him warmly, each one offering some gesture of kindness.
Naruto felt both happiness and pain from the attention.
On one hand, he was overjoyed that his lifelong dream of being accepted by the village had finally come true.
But on the other hand, the villagers were so overwhelmingly friendly that it was exhausting!
Naruto smiled and greeted everyone who spoke to him, but he could feel his face starting to cramp from all the smiling.
Ever since Naruto's true identity was revealed, the entire village had learned that he was the son of the Fourth Hokage.
Reflecting on how they had treated Naruto over the years, the villagers felt a deep sense of guilt towards him, while silently cursing the Third Hokage and the other village leaders.
Because of this, the village's attitude toward Naruto had done a complete 180.
Where once they had been cold and distant, now they were warm and welcoming, almost to an overwhelming degree.
Watching Naruto walk through the village, greeted warmly by everyone he passed, Akira couldn't help but smile.
To be honest, Akira had always felt sad about Naruto's tragic childhood in the original story.
Now, knowing that he had changed Naruto's fate, Akira couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.
After watching for a moment, Akira stepped forward to greet Naruto.
"Naruto, what a coincidence!" Akira called out.
"Uchiha Akira, what a coincidence! Thank you for helping me learn who my father is and for making it so that everyone in the village acknowledges me!" Naruto replied with a smile. He was genuinely grateful to Akira.
If it hadn't been for Akira, Naruto would have continued to be deceived by the Third Hokage, believing him to be a good person.
"So, have you had dinner yet? It's late, but I'm sure Ichiraku Ramen is still open. How about I treat you?" Akira offered.
"Sure!" Naruto nodded enthusiastically at Akira's invitation.
And so, the two seven-year-old boys headed off in the direction of Ichiraku Ramen...
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 136 at patreon.com/Emik01.
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