Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Six days later, the funeral of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was held as scheduled.

At noon, the clouds over Konoha finally parted, allowing the blazing sun to shine down. The heat was harsh and unrelenting, yet it seemed to breathe new life into the village—a vivid reminder that the world kept moving forward.

Next to the freshly placed tombstone, tender green shoots had already begun to sprout.

After queuing to lay flowers in memory of those lost during the invasion, Naruto Uzumaki, dressed in black mourning robes, followed the crowd into the central square in front of the cemetery.

Led by Jiraiya and the elders of Konoha, the gathered masses bowed their heads in solemn tribute to the fallen shinobi.

"The old windmill needs a new blade. The death of the Third Hokage is the fuel that keeps Konoha turning."

Naruto, worn down by the heat, grew drowsy. He leaned against Sasuke's shoulder and closed his eyes, stealing a quick nap.

Sasuke glanced at him but said nothing.

Not far away, Iruka caught sight of Naruto and slowly made his way over. He gently placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and spoke softly:

"Don't be too sad, Naruto. When someone passes away, it's like a light going out. My condolences."

Naruto blinked awake and looked at him. "I'm fine, Iruka-sensei. Just tired, that's all."

"I know you better than that."

Iruka sighed. "The Third Hokage may be gone in body, but he'll live on in our hearts. You have to look at the bright side."

Oh, spare me, Naruto thought.

If it were you who died, Iruka-sensei, I might've felt something. But the Third? Not so much.

"Well, try not to be too sad yourself, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said aloud, dodging further explanation. Iruka's worried expression only made things more awkward, so Naruto nodded along to avoid saying anything else.

The funeral lasted nearly three hours. As the sun dipped westward, the crowd slowly began to disperse.

Off to the side, Jiraiya called Iruka over.

"What were you talking about with Naruto just now?"

Sarutobi Hazuki, who had been about to leave, paused when she heard Jiraiya's question and stayed quietly to listen.

"He looked really down about the Third Hokage's death," Iruka replied. "I just offered him a few words of comfort."

"Really? Naruto was sad?"

"Yeah. He even leaned on Sasuke's shoulder and cried."

"…Hah." Jiraiya sighed deeply. In the days he'd spent in Konoha, he'd learned more than enough about what the Third Hokage had done—including how he'd chosen to handle Naruto.

Old man, you really weren't kind to that kid.

And yet… Naruto mourned him anyway.

"If you ever came back, Sarutobi, I'd really like to punch you in the face."

Jiraiya muttered the words under his breath. No one could tell who he was talking to.

Hazuki lowered her head and bit her lip.

She too knew what the Third had done to Naruto.

"Lord Jiraiya," she said, "I don't need you to remind me. Our clan owes Naruto, and I'll make sure that debt is paid."

She would never forget the sight of that little boy standing alone—defiant, determined.

Later that day, all of Team 7 had gathered again—except Kakashi, who was still in the hospital.

Their first reunion after the Chunin Exams took place at Ichiraku Ramen.

This was Naruto's second visit there since his awkward "not-a-date" with Ino and Hinata.

"Uncle! Three bowls of tonkotsu chashu ramen—one spicy, two clear!" Naruto called.

"Coming right up!"

They sat at a small table outside, where the breeze made the heat bearable.

"Seriously, Naruto?" Sakura said, stabbing her chopsticks into the bowl like a kunai. "I was stuck in the hospital all this time and you didn't even come visit me?"

"I've been busy, Sakura."

"Busy doing what?"

"He's been busy getting his big sister to bathe him every day," Sasuke chimed in.

"???" Sakura raised her eyebrows and turned to Sasuke. "Excuse me?"

"Sasuke, shut up!" Naruto snapped. "Stop slandering me!"

"Oh, come on. Don't you remember what I overheard when I stopped by your place?" Sasuke muttered.

Even now, thinking of that soft, feminine voice made the innocent avenger's face heat up. He still couldn't believe Naruto had started asking his 'sister' for help that early in life.

"Tell me what you heard!" Sakura leaned in, clearly invested.

But both boys stayed silent. Naruto didn't want to explain, and Sasuke didn't know how to.

"You two are impossible."

By the time they finished their ramen, neither of them had answered. Sakura finally gave up and stormed off in frustration, cursing them both under her breath.

Work was keeping her busy anyway. With so many high-level missions and wounded shinobi, the hospital was overflowing. Sakura practically lived there these days.

It would be another three to five days before the village stabilized enough for her to rest.

Sasuke was swamped too—handling missions and also helping Naruto.

Their schedules left little room for anything beyond work, training, and basic necessities.

"Wanna spar again today?" Sasuke asked.

"Sure," Naruto grinned. "If I win, tomorrow's mission is yours again."

"Deal."

After soundly beating Sasuke, Naruto returned to his small apartment. But when he opened his bedroom door—

He froze.

There was an old man sitting on his bed, flipping through a few of his personal photos.

"Yo, Naruto. Took you long enough to get back," Jiraiya said casually.

Naruto fell silent.

"Lord Jiraiya… What are you doing here?" he asked, though he already had a pretty good idea.

"I heard from Iruka that you've been feeling down, so I figured it's time for a change of scenery. Pack your bags—we're going on a trip."

"Alright!" Naruto answered immediately.

Even if Jiraiya hadn't come for him, Naruto had been planning to leave soon anyway. He had unfinished business—and someone he needed to reunite with.

"You agreed way too fast. Aren't you worried I might be a bad guy?" Jiraiya teased.

"Not really."

"Oh? Why's that?"

Jiraiya was amused. Maybe the kid thought of him as a kind mentor—just like in the novels.

But Naruto's response wiped the smile right off his face.

"Because you look shady. And shady people usually aren't the dangerous ones."

"WHAT?!" Jiraiya exploded. "Who the hell are you calling shady?!"

As they bickered, Naruto quickly packed a change of clothes into his backpack. Then he stepped over to the window and looked up at the sky.

White clouds drifted across his reflection in the glass. A soft breeze ruffled his hair.

"Handsome guys are charming and funny," Naruto said solemnly. "Ugly guys like you are just plain pervy."

This brat—!

For the first time in his life, Jiraiya seriously considered spanking a child.

Meanwhile, four individuals clad in Akatsuki's red-clouded cloaks had entered the borders of the Land of Fire.

Kakuzu walked in front, repeatedly counting the deposit he'd just received. Once satisfied, he tucked the money into a space scroll and slipped it into his sleeve with care.

"Five million ryo as down payment. The rest—forty-five million—gets transferred after we kill Orochimaru."

"Don't worry," came a calm female voice from behind a mask—Haku's voice. "We won't shortchange you. But the condition is: Orochimaru must not escape."

Feidan scoffed. "If your intel's good, I'll make sure that snake dies a hundred times over."

"Don't be cocky," Zabuza warned. "Orochimaru's one of the Legendary Sannin. He's slippery and sadistic. You sure you can handle that?"

"Tch." Kakuzu snorted. "As long as I'm paid, I'll drag him out of hell if I have to."

"You'd better mean that," Haku replied coldly.

After that brief exchange, the four of them walked in silence.

Sunlight filtered through the trees of the Land of Fire, casting shifting patterns over Haku's mask.

Zabuza glanced sideways at him, a growing unease gnawing at him.

Lately, Haku had been acting strange. He no longer listened to Zabuza. He'd started making moves on his own—big ones.

Last month, they'd argued about taking control of the Land of Waves.

Zabuza had backed down, cooperating with Haku to take over.

But just when he thought Haku was going to pull a Cardo and declare himself king of the islands—he changed direction again.

Now here they were, joining an organization called Akatsuki, and spending a fortune to hire two lunatics to target Orochimaru.

Zabuza knew they had no personal grudge with Orochimaru.

So why?

Had something happened to Haku?

Zabuza tried to read his companion's expression—but the mask revealed nothing.

What he didn't realize… was that Haku wasn't thinking about Zabuza at all.

He was thinking about Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto-sama… soon, we'll finally meet again.

The thrill of being trampled under your feet… Just imagining it sends shivers down my spine. I can't wait to be humiliated again.

If that happens… then all this will have been worth it.