Kushina's haggardness was not without reason, resulting from a gaping hole in her abdomen that slowly siphoned the life out of her. Her death was inevitable, and she would soon cease to exist!
A ninja knelt beside her, propping her up, and assessed her vitals. His brows furrowed, and he voiced in a tone laced with concern and defeat, "Lord Third, Lady Kushina's situation... I'm afraid..."
The ninja shook his head, seemingly hesitant to continue speaking. It didn't take a genius to come to a deduction. As such, Hiruzen complied, "I understand."
He knelt to Kushina's eyes, his gaze flickering at her dire state. The yellow-haired baby was cradled safely in his arms, asleep with a mind void of his mother's last breaths.
Kushina's eyes slowly flicked open and reflected in her violet pupils was her unscathed son cradled in the arms of Hiruzen. A soft smile played her blood-stained lips, causing her features to crinkle in affection before she shot a glance at Hiruzen.
Her eyes flinched, and lips quivered before she voiced, her tone trembling with both pain and urgency, "Pl-Please... take care... of the child... Minato and I... picked his name... from... Jiraiya's book... His name... Is Naruto."
One could see the desperation in her eyes, a mother's last plea for the well-being of her newborn son.
She was in so much pain, mustering all her strength to convey her final words. Naruto was only just born, but the aftermath proved Kushina and Minato's undying love for their child, and unable to maintain consciousness any longer, she placed her trust in Lord Third.
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened as he held the baby in his arms, and he stated resolutely, "Naruto you say? Very well. I shall take care of him, I promise."
Upon hearing Hiruzen's confirmation, Kushina's pain seemed to momentarily ease. She closed her eyes, finding solace in the belief that Naruto would be protected. She left the world alongside Minato, ascending into the Heavens.
Hiruzen had solemnly pledged to look after their child, Naruto.
***
Hiruzen was now in a trance-like state, reminiscing his final interaction with Kushina, and replaying the promise he had failed to upkeep.
However, Hayato on the other hand, tapped his feet on the ground impatiently. The memories of his interactions with his older brother and sister-in-law would occasionally surface, and as a result, it only served to amplify his guilt and rage at Hiruzen!
Unable to quench his wrath any longer, he roared at the unresponsive old man, forcibly awakening him from his stupor; "MINATO NII-SAN AND KUSHINA-SAN SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR THIS VILLAGE..."
Hiruzen's eyes flicked open at the sudden roar, reflexively turning his gaze from the earth to Hayato.
Unleashing his anger, Hayato pointed at the vast expanse of the village showcasing the prevailing peace, and Hiruzen involuntarily followed Hayato's finger. This was the very peace Minato and Kushina had sacrificed for, and the very peace Hayato preserved by entrusting Naruto in Lord Third's care.
Hayato roared, "... THEY SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES, ONLY FOR THEIR SON TO BE CURSED UPON... AND EVEN ABUSED BY THE PUBLIC! HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?! I TRUSTED YOU, I TRUSTED THE HEADS... WHY?!"
His rage stemmed significantly from his own failure to be there for Naruto himself. He had always believed that Lord Third could take care of Naruto; he was the Hokage after all. However, it seemed the old man, even with his elite expertise regarding this issue, and taking into consideration he was a wise Hokage, was incapable of handling a simple task.
Hiruzen had failed to keep his promise to Kushina!
Hiruzen's lips twitched before he finally voiced, "I understand this is merely an excuse, but in the aftermath of the Kyuubi attack, I was preoccupied with the well-being of the village. Surely you understand the full scope of the responsibilities I bear. It's a heavy burden."
Hayato remained silent and listened, but he was also running low on patience as evidenced by his tightened fists.
Hiruzen deliberated over his statement, "This conversation is not easy for me Hayato. But sometimes, tough decisions are necessary; there are political implications to consider..."
Turning his gaze to the earth below, he resumed, "... I loved Naruto... and it did hurt me to see him in his pitiful state, but... I had to prioritise over the village. The village takes precedence, and that is... As Hoka-"
A hand suddenly invaded Hiruzen's vision, grasping his clothing, and Hiruzen found himself slightly afloat! Lifting his head, his narrow eyes directly stared into the perpetrator's ominous, violet pupils, a violet seething with wrath.
The perpetrator was none other than Hayato.
"Hayato," Hiruzen voiced.
"As Hokage? Are you sure you should be saying that right now?" Hayato remarked, his tone deep and domineering,
Hiruzen remained silent and calm, allowing Hayato to continue.
"I refuse to believe you're Lord Third... Old man, seriously, what's gotten into you?" Hayato raised in a questioning tone.
Hiruzen continued, "Hayato, I need you to understand. You shouldn't let your rage cloud your judgment."
However, contrary to expectation, Hayato's grip tightened, and his brows furrowed while his cold eyes studied Hiruzen's expressionless visage...
"Old man, did Danzo get into your head or something?" Hayato echoed.
Hiruzen's eyes momentarily widened before retaining normalcy.
Unconsciously tightening his grip on Hiruzen's clothing, Hayato pressed, "Because let me tell you, this is not the Lord Third that I looked up to... You're almost completely different. Had you been Danzo, I might've killed you, because you know as well as I do that that man's ideology is warped..."
Hiruzen maintained stoicism, but inwardly, he was perplexed. To go as far as killing one of the village heads... And quite frankly, it wouldn't be surprising if Hayato did... But that was the frightening part!
This revelation made Hiruzen inwardly gulp.
Hayato continued, disrupting the old man's musings, "That old man... Danzo... he's a psycho, sick in the head, and..."
Hayato's eyes squinted, his grip abstaining, his pupils shivering, and he added, "Old man... It appears... you're no different..."
Hiruzen's mouth twitched, internally comparing himself to Danzo. Perhaps Hayato was right. Danzo may have gotten into his head. Truth be told, the way Hiruzen spoke was not far off; at the end of the day, just like Danzo, he discarded the well-being of others for the sake of the village... To upkeep the village's vitality, even if that included eliminating a child's well-being.
Danzo rolled just like that!
Gnashing his teeth, Hayato weakened his grip, pushing Hiruzen, to which the old man merely toppled a couple of steps back, but maintained his composure with one arm behind his back while the other caressed the area in which Hayato had gripped.
In Hiruzen's defense, as the Hokage, he was burdened by the demands of leadership and the need for secrecy surrounding Naruto's status, making the difficult decision to delegate the day-to-day care of Naruto to others. Despite his love for the child, the village's safety and Naruto's anonymity took precedence over personal involvement in the boy's upbringing. This decision, while painful for both Naruto and Hiruzen was made in the best interest of the village and the child's safety.
However, that didn't quell Hayato's anger toward Hiruzen...
No, rather, now that Hayato had heard the old man's side of the argument, Hiruzen was now really starting to piss him off!
Hiruzen glanced over with a solemn expression.
"Haya-"
*BOOM*
Hayato punched the pillar beside him, causing a loud boom, additionally forming cracks!
"SHUT UP!" Hayato interjected, raising a finger that demanded silence.
"Enough! I don't want to hear anything from you. The more you talk about political affairs and blah blah blah, the more infuriated I'm getting, and I really feel I'm gonna lose it! You're lucky I'm only
restraining myself because you're an old man, otherwise..."
His raised finger moved back and forth in a gesture of impudence;
"... Don't even get me started on what I'd do," Hayato threatened in an even deeper tone, to which Hiruzen could only keep quiet.
"He's my nephew, and you dare to keep bringing up the topic of the vessel. I don't wanna hear another word," Hayato commanded.
Hayato continued, "All this time, he's been treated as an outcast... You can't expect me to calm down... Yes, I understand he's an orphan, yes he would have it hard, yes, he has to bear the burden of the Kyuubi inside him, but... you've failed to keep your word to me... I ended up blindly believing in you. You're the notorious Hokage, seriously Lord Third? This is embarrassing!"
Hiruzen may seem indifferent, but he understood the truth behind Hayato's words; they pierced him deeply. He had truly failed to keep his promise not only to Kushina but to Hayato.
"All these 6 years... Actually, I guess it doesn't mean much to you huh? After all, who is Naruto to you, right? A mere vessel, that's how you see him. If it were your son, or grandson, I wonder if you would've felt the same way," Hayato continued.
"Hayato... there is -"
"Nothing you can do? Right, okay, fine," Hayato backed away, raising his hand in surrender, and admitting, "I trusted the wrong person here, it's my bad. You know what I should've done? I should've just come back for Naruto and just screwed the peace of the village."
"If I had known you sucked at your job, I would've returned long ago. I protect the peace of the village, and this is what I get in return?!"
Motioning with his hands, Hayato intoned, "I was an orphan, and I understand myself how hard it was. I was blessed to have Minato nii-san, but Naruto... He had no-one! Not only that, but he was scorned!"
Turning his back on Hiruzen, Hayato sauntered in the opposite direction and continued, "I never thought you'd be the one to disappoint me old man."
Hiruzen didn't engage. Taking this into perspective, he knew he'd feel the same way, and the fact he was called 'old man' did not irk him.
Hayato approached the ledge of the balcony, and continued;
"Every time Naruto writes back to me, he would say he's doing well and fine. He would ask when I'd return... And all I could say was 'soon.' He never relayed his problems to me, and I only assumed he was doing well. I was being an idiot," Hayato clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking. "I expected more from the Hokage. Was this really the man I looked up to when I was young?"
With this statement, the guilt was slowly seeping into Hiruzen.
"I didn't think I'd feel so enraged... Old man, I would smack you and the damned council right now!" He asserted. A soft breeze passed by, a result of the malicious aura radiating from Hayato. A bead of sweat trickled by Hiruzen's temple as he absorbed Hayato's every word, left astonished to speak.
"Nii-san would never discard a single soul in this village, no matter how tough their situation, and he will certainly do his utmost to protect the smiles of everyone, Jinchuriki or not. He was a true Hokage, but you, you did this for political implications you say?" He raised a questioning tone.
Slightly rotating his head to meet Hiruzen's gaze, he continued, "Involving political implications with my nephew..."
Hayato's cheeks puffed before spitting on the ground, disgusted by Hiruzen's notion.
Naruto was only a child, abused and scorned by the village, and this all connects with political implications? Hayato was absolutely disgusted by this perspective. Lord Fourth, Namikaze Minato, would've never followed such atrocity if it meant it harmed the well-being of a child, but here, Hiruzen was the opposite.
Hayato turned his gaze back to the panoramic view of the village, observing the frolicking children, and the animated chatter of others, comparing it with Naruto who had lived in misery.
Hayato voiced coldly, "All of you are hypocrites! Political implications can be damned for all I care."
Hiruzen, though seemingly callous, was left dismayed, and guilty at this ordeal. He absorbed Hayato's words, and they truly pierced him.
Hayato's gaze remained to loiter upon the expansive and peaceful land, and he finally spat in a threatening tone; "Consider yourself lucky today. In the future, if you or even the council get on my nerves like this one more time..."
A subtle chill swept the terrain, as though mother nature herself bore witness to this declaration and had goosebumps...
"... I'll forcibly dethrone all of you. After all, a throne has no space for incompetent fools!"
A bead of sweat traced its way down Hiruzen's temple. Through his years of experience, differentiating between a bluff and truth was somewhat discernible, and Hayato here fell right into the latter. It's not like Hiruzen had time to ponder on whether it was a bluff or not; the strength he possessed with a testament to this. Hayato was certainly one capable of abolishing the heirarchy.
Hayato continued, "If any of you deem me a threat, bring it on, though testing me will surely end in futility!"
Finally, Hayato turned back one last time, analysing Hiruzen's expression from the corner of his golden, viper-like eyes, a feature that deviated from the norm, casting an eerie sense of dread to those who gazed upon it!
It was at this moment Hiruzen felt an ominous premonition, and he had unknowingly opted for a battle stance, weaving a tiger sign with one hand, and pointing his other hand at Hayato like a gun!
However, Hayato's golden eyes retained their former sapphire, and he continued, unperturbed by Hiruzen's maneuver;
"Old man, I believe you can change, because I'd rather not compare you to those fools. I believe you're better... but..."
Hayato turned his head away from the Hokage, and continued, "... I'm extremely disappointed. To think I'd have to point out your errors when you're a far more experienced and seasoned ninja. This conversation is unbelievable."
And immediately with his declaration, Hayato vanished, leaving a distinct impression on the aged man. Hiruzen was perspiring not from fear, but because the overflowing guilt had taken a toll on his mind. Hiruzen couldn't deny that what Hayato was saying was the truth...
With that said, perhaps there was slight fear. The man himself threatened to establish a new utopia upon the leaf village, and though it may sound crazy, he is definitely capable! Hiruzen had retracted his stance, but the feeling of unease lingered in the chilly air!
"Lord Third, is something the matter?" An individual appeared clad in the standard attire of a ninja.
Hiruzen noted the presence of the individual from the corner of his eye. The individual continued, "I thought I heard a loud noise."
Hiruzen responded, facing the plain white sky above, his sharp eyes reflecting sorrow and guilt. Finally, Hiruzen voiced, his tone resolute, "No, nothing happened."
"I... I see... Well then, excuse me Lord Third," the individual stammered before bowing in respect and subsequently departing.
Hiruzen was left alone, allowing an amalgamation of negative thoughts to crush his mental fortitude.
The echoes of a child-like tone pervaded Hiruzen's conscience, a tone belonging to a familiar youth...
-----
"I WILL BECOME HOKAGE!"
-----
An image of a yellow-haired youth with a grin across his face had surfaced in his head. He had had a bright smile, and despite the negligence and torment he had undergone this whole time, he had warm eyes and though disheartened, he harboured no ill resentment. Truly a pure, innocent child who did not deserve the accusation and ill treatment; on that note, no child deserves to be stripped of love, and compassion.
This particular youth was none other than Naruto.
Hiruzen approached the damaged pillar that Hayato had punched earlier, restoring it with earth style, and took a puff from his smoke. Calmly exhaling, he muttered, closing his eyes in resignation, "Lord Second, I have truly failed you."
As though responding to his statement, a chilly breeze swept the terrain. Upon restoring the pillar, Hiruzen caressed the column with a solemn expression, and murmured, "Perhaps that day, it should've been me, not you..."