Naruto woke up feeling like his head was about to split open from the headache. Weakly tapping his head, he realized what had happened—it must be because he didn't cover himself with a blanket.
Dragging his limp body to the edge of the table, he reached for the water jug with his right hand, but his hand went limp, and the jug fell to the ground with a "thud." Naruto sighed wryly, looking at the shattered pieces. His body sitting on the stool felt uncontrollably weak; it wasn't good, even his gaze was starting to blur. Naruto uncomfortably raised his hand to his forehead, then shook his head vigorously to stay conscious.
But... Naruto glanced lightly at the window, only to sigh softly. He was being watched, that was for sure. But he was also despised by the one doing the watching. After all, he had the Nine-Tails, the monster, inside him. The feeling was eerie, as if the Nine-Tails was his freakish creation. Despite the high fever, Naruto maintained an optimistic self-deprecating tone. And having to stick close to someone he detested must have been agonizing for the people outside.
Having sympathized with the other side under these circumstances, Naruto licked his dry lips, feeling incredibly tired.
—If I just died like this again... it wouldn't matter.
Naruto thought somewhat callously. Because, after all, he was created because of death. But would he really lose his life to such a small fever? Naruto still thought optimistically—let me say this now, everything will work out in the end.
Thinking this way, Naruto finally drifted off into unconsciousness.
In a hazy state, it seemed like someone with a mask had jumped in—silver hair... ah, that person was very powerful... ONIJIANG...
But randomly jumping through someone's window and peeping at them was really not good behavior...
(Kakashi: [Black Line] Just pass out quietly, there's no point in muttering like this. Mouthy!)
Kakashi cradled the unconscious blond teenager and let out a low sigh. He habitually lowered his forehead protector and then gently touched the teenager's forehead, noticing the slightly elevated temperature. He frowned slightly, then stepped onto the windowsill and leaped out. The room fell silent again, with only the curtains rustling in the wind.
Stubborn indeed, Kakashi thought, it was troublesome. A Jinchuriki.
Kakashi appeared in the Hokage's office with the boy.
"Take him to the hospital," the Third Hokage extended his withered hand, gently resting it on Naruto's forehead, then frowned.
"Yes," Kakashi responded, then turned and flew out the window, carrying Naruto to the Konoha Hospital.
Watching the boy's golden hair flutter in the wind, still shining brilliantly under the sunlight despite his condition, Kakashi suddenly felt a bit soft-hearted.
Undoubtedly, this Jinchuriki was pitiful. He had accepted this task because of the Third Hokage's plea...
He remembered the Third Hokage with furrowed brows, wrinkles lining his forehead. He had somewhat wearily said, "Help me, Kakashi." He suddenly realized that even this man, whom he had always thought would stand as a pillar of Konoha, had grown old.
Looking at the blond named Naruto, somewhat familiar with his golden hair and blue eyes, Kakashi eventually agreed to the task. Even though he had already resigned as the captain of the Anbu Black Ops.
The boy's appearance resembled the Fourth Hokage's. Same hair and eye color. And the same brilliant smile. The Fourth had chosen this child as the Jinchuriki because his chakra nature seemed to harmonize strangely with the Nine-Tails. So, he became a Jinchuriki. It was quite pitiful, this child.
Although Kakashi thought that society was inherently unfair, it still required someone to bear everything. This was unquestionable. Anyway, since such results had been created, they had to be accepted. Kakashi formed a cold arc with his lips and then knocked on the door of the Konoha Hospital.
Even though he was just a vessel, this boy was oddly peculiar.
How should I say it...
Kakashi stood by Naruto's hospital bed, looking at the boy who still showed no signs of waking up, then pursed his lips. He pushed up his face mask, revealing his eyes.
He touched his forehead, and suddenly felt a bit warm.
...Minato.
This boy was somewhat like Minato...
But... also not quite.
Kakashi turned and walked out of the room, knocking on the door of the Hokage's office.
"Kakashi, has Naruto... woken up yet?"
"Not yet."
The Third Hokage furrowed his brows tightly, then lowered his head slightly, his expression full of pity and concern. "Such a poor child..." The light sigh sounded like a heavy blow to Kakashi's heart. Concealing his surprise, Kakashi just remained silent and covered his face with the mask again.
"Kakashi, could you look after this child for me?" The Third Hokage lifted his head, smiling at Kakashi.
That smile carried a weary, pleading tone.
So, Kakashi nodded. Though he found it really troublesome.
He stood before Naruto's bed again.
Watching the peacefully sleeping face of the boy, Kakashi suddenly remembered something peculiar about him.
Yes, calm.
The strange thing about this boy was that he was too calm.
In the face of mockery and ridicule, the boy's expression was too bland. Even... a bit strangely gentle. As if those ridiculing him were just children in need of protection in his eyes. There was a strange forgiving look... It's so weird.
Kakashi frowned as he looked at the still feverish boy. Then he looked back at the Third Hokage standing at the door, flipping onto the roof.
This blond boy named Naruto cried somewhat awkwardly when they first met, then appeared calm and serene the second time they met, smiling peacefully. And those blue eyes were so deep and mysterious, impossible to read, yet so clear and pure, as if they contained everything and nothing at the same time.
No anger, pain, or hatred; he calmly and even gently accepted everything around him. And under the sunlight, he appeared unexpectedly dazzling.
As a former captain of the Anbu Black Ops, it was essential to assess the thoughts, emotions, and potential development of others based on their thoughts and emotions. Kakashi squinted his eyes, feeling that this boy would have an unpredictable and limitless future.
And... when he mentioned "Hokage," the dazzling light that flashed in his eyes, brighter than the sun, could make people unconsciously hold their breath and focus. Such presence, such radiance... made people instinctively believe that this boy could create miracles! And, as long as he wanted, this boy could easily capture the attention of others. A natural-born Hokage...
Perhaps the Third Hokage saw these qualities in him, which is why he gave him so much attention. Perhaps it wasn't just because of being a Jinchuriki. Many things about this boy far surpassed the importance of being a Jinchuriki.
Not just his indifferent attitude. It was the inherent quality of this boy—a quality that made people surrender and believe in him. Yes, it was the aura of a leader, capable of achieving great things.
Kakashi squinted, Ah, if this child became his student, it wouldn't be bad at all.
After all, he was so similar to the Fourth.
Thinking this, a hint of tenderness suddenly welled up in Kakashi's heart.
—In any case, he's just a six-year-old child...
And this child, unexpectedly, had such a smile, as if it could dissolve all unease and pain, those azure eyes, just staring at you, making you feel at peace. This boy, unexpectedly possessed such a strong sense of comfort. It's really...
Kakashi smiled with some profound meaning. He felt unusually pleased.
—Perhaps it's because I finally have a decent student.
—Or maybe, this boy's smile is really similar to Minato's...
Although this child, Naruto, behaved mature and calm, many times, you could still see his loneliness.
For example—when eating noodles, tears would suddenly fall, or when sleeping, he would tightly grip the sheets, curling up in a protective fetal position, with trembling eyelashes. It was clear that this child didn't sleep soundly.
It seemed that this boy's growth in such an environment was somewhat normal. Although he quickly grew up in such pain and suffering, you could still see the proud and upright appearance of a grown-up, but he was still a child accompanied by loneliness and solitude. No matter how brilliant his smile, it couldn't conceal the fact of pain.
In his smile, there was pain taking root, blooming into incomparably beautiful flowers.
But, this kind of stubbornness, even when sick, worrying about others and not wanting to trouble them... was really a completely childish behavior.
Kakashi thought so, smiling softly.
The room fell into silence again as the Third Hokage left, leaving Naruto to his thoughts.
And the boy, who should have been in a state of unconsciousness on the hospital bed, quietly opened his eyes.
Minato...?
Naruto supported his forehead and began to try to remember—Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage who was killed by the Nine-Tails...
So, this means, the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy in the picture in the room and the face before me now... do look somewhat alike...
In that case, am I really the Fourth Hokage's child...?
For the sake of the village, he not only sacrificed his life but also made his own child a dangerous Jinchuriki.
It's no wonder. Protecting the village was everything to him. Naruto thought so, his lips curling into a smile tinged with sadness.
But why did such sadness well up in an instant? Wiping away the tears from the corners of his eyes, Naruto thought, it's understandable... just like my parents back then, they understood so well... I suppose emotions still inevitably get sad...
But what's most saddening is probably him... my father...
Naruto involuntarily closed his eyes and sighed softly.
For Naruto, the days spent on the hospital bed felt like an eternity. Except for the person who had been watching from the roof all along, no one else had come. Even the Third Hokage had only appeared once; after all, the Hokage was very busy...
But fortunately, Kurama had extremely strong regenerative abilities, and the fever subsided after a while. According to Kurama, it wasn't just a matter of not covering himself with a blanket... there were also issues with the stability of his dream connections.