章節 153: Chapter 4
It had been a month since the night Saratobi felt he witnessed the kyuubi influencing Naruto. He had an anbu bring him to his office the next day, but the boy wouldn't say a word so he asked the anbu he had trailing the boy to report any weirdness. However, things seemed to be the same. He felt bad when through his globe he saw a group of citizens and shinobi beating on the boy savagely only to feel a sense of relief when it was over. 'I can't believe I felt relief over seeing a 7 year old child beaten near to death, because nothing happened to those who did the beating.' They got off without so much as a word said to them. 'Well at least they didn't use any weapons that time.' Then his mood soured even more. 'Of course emboldened by my inaction they returned the night after he was released from the hospital with weapons.' He had to force himself to think about more pleasant things, like icha icha, when the terrible memories of that night surfaced in his mind. He did nothing again, not that the civillian council would allow him to, but made sure Naruto got home safely when he was released.
The old man was tired and knew he was doing a poor job protecting one of his villages' greatest hero's. The problem was despite his affection for the boy, and his promise to his father, he felt the villagers were some what justified to their anger. There for despite their reprehensible actions he couldn't hold them responsible. The only question was how much could one little boy take? That was why he sent one of the few ninja's he knew to have no ill feelings toward Naruto to bring him to his private office. There was a knock at the door and he called out for them to come in. Soon he was staring at Naruto who he knew was in a henge. He was so distracted that he forgot to dismiss the anbu.
"Naruto could you please drop that henge your using?" Naruto thought of complying at first, but thought better of it after remembering everything. "Henge? This is how I always look Hokage-samma." Saratobi was surprised and so was the anbu. "Look Naruto you did a good job with it, especially when you haven't even been to the academy yet. However, good job or not I am the Hokage for a reason so please drop the henge." "Yeah kid. I didn't notice until now, but I can definitely tell your using a henge."
Naruto just looked at them and undid one layer. "Okay that henge is down and see nothing's changed so can we move on to why I'm here?" 'This is not how Naruto acts. Oh kami don't tell me he figured something out.' "Naruto please remove all of the henges." The hokage asked. The anbu was both annoyed by this kid and impressed. 'I didn't learn how to layer a genjutsu until I was a chuunin. I might request to take a few shifts guarding the brat and see what he is really up to.' "I apologize again Hokage-dono, but I cannot do what you ask."
Now this was getting frustrating. "Naruto I order you to remove the henges this instant!" "I apologize again Hokage-san, but I can simply not follow the request. I am a civilian child and not a ninja. I understand if it makes you uncomfortable, but I would appreciate it if we could move on to why you asked for me?" 'What is up with all the different ways he's saying hokage? He's being respectful, but also disrespectful at the same time. The Naruto I know isn't this smart and he would of called me jiji at least once.' 'What is with this kid and how is he getting away with this? Technically he's right, but most civilians wouldn't be stupid enough to challenge the hokage and how is he keeping up those henges for so long at his age?'
"Okay let's move on. I need to know what happened last month? I know I asked you before, but you didn't answer and so I let it go. I had hoped you would come and talk to me on your own, but since you haven't I'm afraid I'm going to need you to answer me now." 'I thought he had forgotten about that. I still remember all those tags I found on my clothes and in my apartment, but there's something else also. He has a way of watching me, but it must be hidden or something only he can do.' "What are you referring to Hokage-kyou? There were a lot of nights last month were something happened to me." The hokage and the anbu both frowned at the response. 'This isn't going to be as easy as I thought.' "Naruto please just be honest with me. You were spotted near the Forest of Death did something happen that you would consider weird or out of the ordinary?" For a minute nothing was said and everyone was silent as Naruto took up what would look to be a thinking pose.
"Nope can't say that there was. If that's all Hokage-denka then I'd like to be excused. It's almost time for lunch." At Naruto's response Saratobi smiled and thought for sure he could get through to the blond with his favorite food as a lure. "Hmm… your right Naruto-kun. How about I treat you to some ramen?" Asked the hokage. "No thanks Hokage-heika… I'm going to eat at home instead. Thanks for the offer." To say Saratobi was stunned was an understatement. There was no way he ever believed the blonde would turn down free ramen. 'Oh Kami now I know for sure something's wrong.' "Oh maybe I can join you Naruto-kun and we can talk some more?"
"Sorry, but as I'm sure you know my apartment isn't suitable for company. I must be leaving however. So may I be excused?" "Actually one last thing before you leave Naruto-kun." Naruto nodded. "The council has decided you will be allowed to attend the academy when it starts next year. We will of course pay the expense, but you will be responsible for your supplies. They've also decided that instead of putting you with the first years you will be allowed to join with the kids of your age group so you don't feel too out of place." "Thank you" was all Naruto said as he walked out of the office without so much as a goodbye. 'I fear he's already heading towards the dark side of life and I have no idea how to get him back on the right path.' "Robin what's your opinion of the child that just left?" She was stunned that he would ask her opinion, but after taking a minute she answered. "Hokage-sama I can only say he's much more than what I've heard and unfortunately life has not been kind to him. I sense a dark energy that is not connected to it slowly consuming him. He will be lost if something isn't done soon." "I was thinking the same thing. You wouldn't happen to have any solutions to fix the problem would you?" "Outside of kindness and love there is no quick fix unless you can change history."
The hokage nodded and dismissed her after thanking her for her counsel. 'I'll wait until he finishes the academy before making any decisions. Maybe a few friends his own age would help, but I highly doubt he'll be accepted easily. I already delayed his entry due to pressure from the clan and civilian council, but that's just making things worse. I just hope he can survive, graduate, and stay loyal not that we've given him many reasons to be.' He turned to survey his desk. 'At least there is less paperwork since he's pretty much stayed out of sight. Time for a smoke, a drink, and a certain little orange book.' The hokage thought smiling at his newly instituted 'private time.'
Naruto had just left the tower and could feel the old man's eyes on him. 'Well that was interesting, but I don't know how much longer I'll be able to stay under his radar if things keep going the way they are. As it is I had to agree to go through with that stupid agreement I made to go to the academy and become 'the best hokage ever'." Naruto thought trying hard to stifle a laugh at his previous self and how stupid he'd had to act just to survive this damn village. 'I have to keep reminding myself I'm still way too weak. If what Kaen told me is accurate I need to be stronger than the old man was in his prime and Kaen won't teach me how to use my elemental affinities or kekki genkai until next year.' Naruto sighed when thinking about everything he had yet to do and would need to do. 'I guess right now I should just keep focusing on my current training.' Naruto thought about the increasingly difficult workout Kaen was putting him through with the use of seals and weights. Kaen decided that the boy needed physical training more than anything right now and a better diet as he was slow and short two things that didn't bode well for his jailor. Although he figured he fixed one of those issues somewhat and only time and a good diet mixed with punishing exercises would take care of the rest.
So with that in mind he had Naruto go to every store henged as his normal self and try to buy what he needed. It took a week but soon Naruto had a map that marked every store that would serve him and another mark for those that would treat him fairly, which was a handful at best. Only one place had a third mark for treating him well or like a hero and that was Ichiraku's although he made a point to not be seen there except under the guise of a henge to not mess up their business. So to get everything he needed it started with the stores that would treat him fairly and then the ones that would serve him. He did get kicked out of a few when he tried to force them to serve him fairly with honest prices, but most begrudgingly sold him items at their correct price. He even got a few items at sale price. He was happy he had found a ninja supply shop that would treat him fairly even if he was forced to come back after hours to shop so no one would see him and hurt the owners business. The owner turned out to be a nice guy who Naruto found out had a daughter who was only a year older than him and already in the academy. Though he never met her and was thinking it was on purpose more and more.
However, food was still an issue as it seemed like no one outside of Ichiraku's Ramen wanted to even have him near there establishment and the grocery stores tried to force him to buy stale or rotted food. He got around this by simply changing his henges to resemble a couple of boys from some of the clans he saw walking around the village. He thought about being angry at how much better he was treated, but it served no purpose for him. He had resigned himself to the fact that as long as he was in Konoha no matter what he did he'd never be treated just like everyone else, much less like the clan kids who were treated better than average some bordering on royal treatment. No it wouldn't change things to be all angsty about ... besides if they knew what he could really do. He'd never be treated like the Uchiha's or Hyuuga's, but he had little doubt they'd be lining up for blocks to kiss his butt and apologize while trying to force him into something so they could use him. He figured as things were life was getting better for the young jinchuuriki, but they were still far from ideal.
'Hey brat if you got the energy to think about all this crap then you need to do your afternoon exercises.' Naruto sighed, but did as he was ordered. Three hours later after running around Konoha 5 times, doing 50 pushups, 50 pullups, 50 situps, 50 jumping jacks, 50 squats and lunges, and stretches by the end of his new routine Naruto layed out on the grass of a local park. Looking on as other children played and laughed happily without a care in the world. Naruto couldn't help but feel a little envy creep up inside of him. It didn't last long as he decided to head home and read a book or two before going to bed. I have to remember to sneak them back into the library and get some more soon. His thoughts drifted off to what would happen next year and if he might find one more person in a village filled with idiots and hypocrites that could see him for who he was and not what they heard or were told.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票