"These two guys are really..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen held his pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke. In front of him was a crystal ball showing two figures.
Naraku and Hatake Kakashi.
Sarutobi Hiruzen observed their movements using the Telescope Technique. He often used this jutsu to monitor the entire Konohagakure.
Originally, Sarutobi Hiruzen had asked Naraku and Kakashi to temporarily become Naruto's bodyguards just to see how they performed, and to decide who would eventually become Naruto's sensei and Hokage candidate.
Now it seemed that neither of them was reliable.
Naraku was leaning against a tree trunk, looking bored. It appeared he wasn't taking the mission seriously at all.
Kakashi was in even worse shape. He had been lost in thought for a long time. Others might not notice, but Sarutobi Hiruzen could tell what Kakashi was thinking with just a glance.
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen was considering eliminating both of them from consideration.
"Naraku isn't taking this seriously, but Kakashi's problem..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen set his pipe aside with a worried expression. After so many years, Hatake Kakashi still hadn't gotten over his past. This was a serious issue.
Even without the Hokage candidacy, with Kakashi's current mental state, he wasn't even qualified to be a Jōnin.
"Alas, each has their own strengths and weaknesses. Let's see..."
Shihouin Naraku and Hatake Kakashi were both hidden among the dense branches of a large tree, their figures concealed from view.
Naraku, who was leaning against the tree trunk, occasionally glanced at Naruto dozing in the school corridor, his mind filled with random thoughts.
But then he sighed. Hatake Kakashi had fallen into his own depressed mood and hadn't pulled himself out of it yet.
"That's enough."
"Hey, Kakashi!"
Naraku gently kicked the tree trunk under his feet, and the slight shaking finally snapped Kakashi out of his trance.
"I know those events from back then hit you hard, but after all these years, you still haven't recovered. This can't continue!"
Kakashi looked at Naraku's serious expression. He knew that he couldn't keep dwelling in memories of the past, but such things were difficult to control.
"Okay, stop being gloomy. Ninja Academy is over now."
Naraku and Kakashi watched as the bell rang to end the school day. The children ran and played as they left the academy, laughing and shouting.
The scene was lively and cheerful.
Parents waiting at the entrance of the Ninja Academy collected their children one by one, but most deliberately avoided the area where Uzumaki Naruto stood. They spoke harsh words and instructed their children not to play with Naruto.
The academy grounds gradually became quiet. Uzumaki Naruto watched as adults took their children away one by one. He could only walk home alone.
Looking at the lonely figure in the sunset, Naraku frowned slightly as he followed alongside Kakashi.
"Gulp..."
Gazing at the steaming, fragrant food stalls, Uzumaki Naruto swallowed involuntarily. He reached into his pocket, and the clinking of several coins made him abandon his idea.
"Forget it, I don't like eating these anyway. There are plenty of instant noodles at home, and I like instant noodles."
As if trying to convince himself, Uzumaki Naruto tried hard to look away, but the saliva about to drip from the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
However, the owner of the food stall soon noticed him, and a look of disgust and rejection fell upon Uzumaki Naruto, darkening his expression. He immediately turned and ran away.
"He should have money."
Shihouin Naraku and Hatake Kakashi stood in front of the food stall.
Of course Hatake Kakashi had seen what happened, but he was a little confused. The village must have provided Uzumaki Naruto with living expenses.
"Didn't you see the look in the stall owner's eyes? Besides, he probably has no money right now."
"No money?"
Hatake Kakashi was puzzled, but he understood without Naraku needing to explain further.
Indeed, Konohagakure provided Uzumaki Naruto with living expenses every month. Regardless of his other identities, just because he was the orphan of the Fourth Hokage, no one would dare withhold the money.
Another person who provided living expenses to Uzumaki Naruto was Sarutobi Hiruzen. He visited Uzumaki Naruto at the beginning of each month and gave him spending money.
But the problem was Uzumaki Naruto's age. He didn't know how to budget or save money!
After receiving his living expenses, it didn't take long for him to spend everything, which was typical behavior for a child.
However, as Naraku knew, when Uzumaki Naruto grew older and became a ninja, he would start saving money—until Jiraiya took his savings and went drinking.
Uzumaki Naruto ran home and ate a simple bowl of instant noodles, then slipped out without staying long.
His home was too empty, and Uzumaki Naruto felt lonely when he stayed there. Only outside could he feel that there were other people in the world, even though those people often looked at him with hatred, disgust, and rejection.
"Creak..."
Shihouin Naraku and Hatake Kakashi pushed open the door and walked into Uzumaki Naruto's messy apartment.
There were items scattered everywhere—unfolded blankets and empty instant noodle cups with only the soup base remaining...
This chaotic scene was Uzumaki Naruto's home.
"It's a bit outrageous, but he's only twelve years old, so it's understandable."
Naraku looked around the room. The apartment wasn't large, but the various living facilities were barely adequate. At least there was a refrigerator.
Kakashi silently observed everything, then walked in and picked up an empty milk bottle from the table, immediately spotting a problem.
"What's wrong?"
"This milk is expired..."
Naraku was stunned, then realized he had seen this scene somewhere before.
"The Third Hokage is going a bit too far." Naraku opened the fridge and looked at the milk bottles inside. "Uzumaki Naruto's life shouldn't be like this."
"This is because Uzumaki Naruto's identity is very important!" Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared, smoking his pipe as he walked slowly into the room. "The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki can't have any problems!"
Shihouin Naraku looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with disapproval. He pointed at the state of the room. "Besides being the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Naruto is also the son of the Fourth Hokage.
The children of those who sacrificed themselves for the village should not suffer such hardships."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression gradually became solemn, and he did not respond.
The three of them fell silent.
To be honest, Shihouin Naraku truly couldn't understand how everyone in the ninja world treated Tailed Beast Jinchūriki.
It was simply unimaginable that they would use people as weapons but not treat them well, allowing the Jinchūriki to be bullied, hated, and rejected.
It was dangerous in itself—they were desperately antagonizing the Jinchūriki, almost as if they feared these human nuclear bombs wouldn't explode.
According to Shihouin Naraku's reasoning, it was perfectly normal for Jinchūriki to lose control. After all, it would be strange if they remained stable when treated so poorly.
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