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Fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
Hebrews 3:1
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The children retracted their gazes in embarrassment, unwilling to speak as each shied away from communing. The duo gasped as the vivid image of their parents stuck to their heads, but the angle and positioning made it seem questionable. It's not like the view was direct...
However...
It sure as hell seemed that they were kissing! With the image swirling in their minds, the terrain seemed to be enveloped in a palpable serenity. Naruto had his ears perked up, hoping he could hear a smooching sound to confirm what he had seen, but it came to no avail.
"Th- The ceiling looks great," Karin stuttered, pretending to feign ignorance.
"Y-Yeah," Naruto chided along, and the duo gazed skyward, the unblemished yellow reflecting in their pupils. However, unable to forget the scene that had just transpired, Naruto couldn't help but whisper, a tone laced with alarm, and bearing a crestfallen visage as though signifying the very world was crumbling...
"N-Nee chan, were they..." He paused, unable to complete his sentence. Posing with a finger beneath his chin, Naruto pondered on other words he could use to describe the scene, rather than bluntly say 'kiss,' because for some reason, just blurting it out would be embarrassing.
Fidgeting the bridge of her glasses, the lens of her spectacles emanated a radiance. Karin answered, understanding her younger brother's train of thought, "I-It seems that way."
'Are we gonna have another sibling?' She mulled.
With a tacit nod, the duo redirected their gazes to the former location, but to their surprise, it seemed their parents were preoccupied with cleaning.
Kaede lilted in melodious hums with a smile gracing her already immaculate features, expertly attending to the dishes as the sound of gushing water revolved in the backdrop, accompanied by an unsettling squeaky sound instigated by Hayato who was rubbing the dishes with a towel.
"Hmmmmm..." Naruto and Karin hummed, observing their parents hysterically.
Naruto inquired, "Were we just imagining?"
"I... don't know," Karin responded with uncertainty.
Both children placed their fingers on their chin in a pondering gesture but ultimately decided to disregard their witness testimony, shrugging their shoulders in nonchalance.
'Whatever,' the duo shrugged.
"So nee-chan, do you have any dreams?" Naruto changed the topic, eyes sparkling in excitement.
"Dream? Hmm, I've never really thought about that," Karin said, seemingly in contemplation with a finger beneath her chin.
Straight after she had given a blunt reply, an image of 2 individuals materialised in her mind; one man with blonde hair, and blue eyes, and a female with black eyes and long black hair. These 2 were none other than Hayato and Kaede. Her eyes flickered in response, exuding an intangible benevolence.
"O-Ohh," Naruto replied, concern etched on his visage as he was unsure of how to assist with Karin's absence of motivation.
'Dream' was a new word to her, a slot that would forever remain shrouded in mystique. With the torment she had undergone in Kusagakure, she had developed a cold side, viewing the world under a different light... Or rather, viewing it in darkness!
That was until Hayato and Kaede had saved her from that hell! In a way, she felt she was indebted to them for the rest of her life, but she never had dreams.
Now that Naruto had confronted her about such a concept, it had reflexively birthed her with newfound ambition; an insatiable drive that will help motivate her to thrive, and face the vicissitudes of life with confidence!
As of this moment, her vacant slot reserved for dreams had been fulfilled!
As of this moment, an ambition had been birthed within her!
And it was because Naruto had directly questioned her about this, and she genuinely lamented about it.
"But..." Karin blurted, earning Naruto's attention...
"Maybe my dream would be... to protect the happiness in our family," Karin answered after thinking for a while. Her scarlet eyes remained firm, indicating solid resolve.
Showing a thumbs up, Naruto admired, "I see. I like that too." He shared a grin, to which she too, shared a subtle smile.
Karin returned the question, intrigued, "What about you Naruto?"
Pointing at himself, Naruto proclaimed with his chest raised high, "I'M GONNA BE HOKAGE, YA KNOW!"
Karin was startled by Naruto's sudden change in demeanour. Kaede and Hayato who were in the kitchen could only chuckle at the child's antics.
"Ho-Hokage... What's that?" Karin questioned, her cocked head conveying a lack of knowledge.
"E-Eh? You don't know what a Hokage is?" Naruto questioned back, surprised by Karin's lack of knowledge.
"Nope." Karin bluntly admitted.
Naruto grinned, pointing at himself pridefully, "Well... Basically... It's a title for the person who is the strongest and most respected... And I wanna be just like that, ya know. I'm gonna be the greatest Hokage."
"Oh, I see," Karin understood, while internally musing, 'So basically like the Kusakage of Kusagakure, here they are referred to as Hokage... I think.'
"It's not just that Naruto," a voice interjected. Both youths glanced behind, watching Hayato approach them while wiping his hands with a hand towel.
Standing beside Naruto, Hayato inferred, "When a person becomes Hokage, they are given the duty to protect the peace of the village. The title of Hokage isn't just about strength; it's also their ability to uphold the peace of the village. The Hokage is someone whom the entire village places their faith in."
"Y-Yes," Naruto agreed.
Turning his eyes to Karin, he elaborated; "The same way where Kusagakure has the 'Kusakage,' here in Konohagakkure, they are referred to as the Hokage."
Karin nodded in understanding, "I see. I kinda came to that assumption..."
Alas, this confirmation brought forth another query, "... but that would mean there are many, right?"
"Yep," Hayato nodded with his arms crossed. He deliberated, "They are known as the Kage. They are considered to be the strongest, and have the highest level of authority in the village."
"There's many?!" Naruto intervened, his tone laced with surprise.
"Of course Naruto," Hayato affirmed.
Observing the dumbfounded expressions of the innocent duo, his shoulders slumped before he let out a strained sigh. Nevertheless, he welcomed their doubts, "Alright then, I don't mind answering your questions."
The children's faces lit up in response.
Hayato quipped, "But Naruto, let me ask you first. The other day, about the mask..."
The youth raised a brow at the sudden mention. That day will forever remain a special place in his heart, and the youth could vividly recall every single second of the scenario; it was crystal clear. As such, Naruto raised in a questioning tone, "Yeah?"
"Who hurt you that day? I saw that your face was slightly swollen," Hayato asked, his tone carrying rage, and if that wasn't sufficient to convey his aura, veins protruded by his temple. While the man had a calm smile across his face, the aura he emanated declared otherwise!
Naruto was reminded of the farce near the academy, preventing a minor outbreak between an innocent girl and several male bullies. As a result, he intervened, and ended up getting a beatdown! As an aspiring Hokage, and one who despises inciting harm, Naruto acted upon formal etiquette.
Recalling the scene, he replied sheepishly, scratching his head, "Ah-Ahh, th-that... Well, some bullies were picking on this girl, and when I helped, they beat me up."
"I see... so that's what happened? Do you know who they are?" Hayato pestered with a calm smile, cracking his knuckles. However, hidden within that smile was a seething rage, and coupled with the cracking of his knuckles, it only served to prove otherwise!
The man was hell-bent on getting his hands on those little rascals! They ought to be taught a lesson!
Hayato insisted, "I just want to talk with them."
Naruto inaudibly gulped, "I-I don't know them."
Karin gulped alongside Naruto. The duo knew for a fact that Hayato wasn't merely referring to talk with them. After all, the aura oozing off the man was murderous intent!
"Oh, I see, that's too bad. Brats like that ought to be taught a lesson," Hayato voiced, disheartened by the fact those brats have been set free.
He smacked his fist with the palm of his hand, to which the children duo shuddered.
"Anyways, where were we?" Hayato questioned, his lips curved into a genuine smile.
"Y-You said you'll answer our questions papa," Karin reminded.
"Ah, right," Hayato admitted. He proposed, "Let's go take a seat on the sofa."
The trio made their way to the sofa, taking a seat. Naruto, being the zealous youth he is, couldn't help but bounce several times as he sat beside Karin. Hayato and Karin both exchanged a glare, before wryly laughing at Naruto.
Hayato recomposed, "Ahem, well, what do you guys wanna ask?"
"I'll join too," Kaede chimed in, approaching the trio, and cuddling beside her husband.
And so, the whole family was immersed in conversation, one filled with frequent laughs and educational input.
...
Some time had passed, and finally, Karin brought forth a question she wanted to know the answer to; "By the way, tou-chan, kaa-chan..."
Hayato and Kaede cocked their head.
Karin, unable to voice the question, nudged Naruto with her elbow, and Naruto continued for her; "D-Did both of you k-k-k-k..." Naruto stuttered...
"Hmmm," Hayato and Kaede hummed in unison at their strange behaviour.
"K-K-Kiss... Did you kiss?" Naruto completed, his cheeks reddening upon asking.
Karin was also eager to know the answer, and both youths glared at their parents, drawing a breath in anticipation.
Hayato and Kaede looked at each other dumbfounded, and Kaede spoke, nudging Hayato on the stomach lightly, "Did we?"
"N-Nah, I don't think so," Hayato affirmed, with a slight groan in his pitch that went unheard to the children. 'Damn, you didn't have to do it that hard,' Hayato mused, massaging his stomach, specifically the region Kaede nudged 'lightly.'
Alas, Naruto and Karin shrugged their shoulders, inwardly concluding, 'I guess we were just imagining it then.'
***
Outside of their house, an adult watched the lively house from outside. His distinct, spiky, white-grey hair and a cloth mask concealing most of his face revealing only his left eye made his identity obvious; he was none other than Hatake Kakashi. Kakashi had been watching, curious about the identity of the man who had adopted Naruto.
"To think it was you," Kakashi mumbled, digesting the data on the piece of paper, with an image of a crimson-haired man etched on the top right corner. The individual's name spelt 'Uzumaki Saruto.'
Seeing that the family was merely having fun, with Naruto raising his arms frantically and expressing his joy, Kakashi decided to leave.
'Interesting. I wonder what you are hiding, Saruto,' Kakashi mused. He couldn't help but have a nagging feeling that the man was hiding something. Taking one last glance at the family, he closed his eye and vanished from his spot.