I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

"You forced Naruto away."

The next morning, inside the Hokage Office.

The Third Hokage exhaled a slow smoke ring, his gaze heavy as he stared at the towering stack of mission reports. His wrinkled face bore exhaustion from an all-nighter filled with classified briefings, damage assessments, and a tense discussion with Itachi Uchiha.

Three major incidents had shaken Konoha overnight.

First, Naruto Uzumaki infiltrated the Hokage Building, bypassed the ANBU, stole the Scroll of Seals, and repelled Danzo's personal operatives before vanishing beyond the village's borders.

Second, Shisui Uchiha—long presumed dead—resurfaced, rallying the surviving Uchiha and escaping Konoha. His whereabouts remained unknown.

Third, Itachi provided a chilling revelation: the masked man who aided in the Uchiha Massacre was likely the same figure responsible for the Nine-Tails' assault twelve years ago. To atone, Itachi volunteered to infiltrate this man's organization under one condition—Sasuke must be protected.

Any one of these crises would normally demand an emergency war council. Yet they had all erupted in a single night.

Coincidence? The Third Hokage doubted it. The more likely scenario was an unseen force influencing Konoha's affairs. If such an entity orchestrated Naruto's defection, Shisui's return, and Itachi's sacrifice, its power must rival even the Five Great Villages.

With a weary sigh, he abandoned his paperwork and made his way to Konoha Hospital.

Upon entering the ward, he found Might Guy passionately delivering a speech on the flames of youth while Kakashi Hatake sat with an exasperated expression, rubbing his temples.

Sensing his presence, Kakashi straightened. "Lord Third, what brings you here?"

After the customary pleasantries, Hiruzen got straight to the point. "Kakashi, you fought Naruto before he left. You must know why he defected."

At the mention of Naruto, Kakashi's expression darkened. "Hokage-sama… I do. But it's difficult to explain."

Hiruzen's brows furrowed. He gestured for the nurse and Guy to leave before pressing further. "Now that we're alone, speak freely. Was Naruto manipulated by an outside force? Or was it Danzo's doing?"

Kakashi's lone eye locked onto him before he pointed directly at the old man himself.

For a moment, Hiruzen was silent, then frowned. "You're saying I forced Naruto to leave? That I pushed him toward defection?"

In his mind, Naruto's departure had to stem from an external influence—perhaps the masked man Itachi mentioned, or Danzo's schemes. He had always acted in Naruto's best interest.

Kakashi's tone turned colder. "You know I don't mean just the Nine-Tails. If Naruto had grown up knowing he was the Fourth Hokage's son—a hero's legacy—things might have been different."

"The son of Konoha's greatest hero was treated like a monster. Even an adult wouldn't accept that easily."

Silence stretched between them as Hiruzen processed those words.

Had he, by concealing Naruto's heritage, unwittingly driven him away? Had Naruto, realizing the truth too late, simply chosen to abandon the village that had rejected him?

But why last night? Was it truly coincidence that he defected on the same day as the Uchiha Massacre?

Kakashi seemed to read his thoughts. "Lord Third, Naruto isn't a helpless child anymore. He defeated me and eluded Danzo's forces. If you continue treating him like a naïve boy, you'll regret it."

Hiruzen turned toward the window, watching the leaves flutter outside.

Yes, Naruto had surpassed Kakashi. He was no longer just a child, but a formidable shinobi who had made his own choice. Perhaps he had seen through the village's hypocrisy long before anyone realized it.

After leaving the hospital, Hiruzen returned to his office and, after a long deliberation, crossed Naruto Uzumaki's name off the bingo book. He would not brand him a traitor.

Danzo, predictably, was furious. Storming into the office, he pounded his cane against the floor. "Sarutobi! Naruto stole a forbidden scroll, attacked the Hokage Building, and humiliated Konoha! He is an S-rank criminal—he must be hunted down!"

The Third Hokage merely stared at him. Then, in a measured voice, he replied, "Then bring him back yourself."

Danzo fell silent.

An S-rank classification meant that even Konoha acknowledged Naruto's threat level. Declaring him an enemy would be admitting that he had already grown beyond their control.

Hiruzen pressed his advantage. "Naruto never graduated from the Academy. He is not officially a shinobi, therefore he cannot be marked as a missing-nin."

"Furthermore, if word spreads that our Jinchuriki has defected, Iwagakure and Kumogakure will seize the opportunity for war. For Konoha's stability, Naruto's departure must remain classified."

Realizing he had lost this battle, Danzo changed tactics. "Fine. But what of Sasuke? His entire family turned traitor. He belongs under Root's supervision."

Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "Sasuke is under my jurisdiction. You have more pressing matters to explain—such as your involvement with the Uchiha Massacre."

Danzo scowled but said nothing.

The battle for Konoha's future had only just begun.

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