As Naruto sat amidst the eerie silence of the now-empty street, his mind churned with the weight of the fox's words. Kurama... the Nine-Tails… I'm its Jinchūriki.
The revelation gnawed at him, each piece of the puzzle fitting together in a way that made his stomach churn. He clenched his fists, trying to push the images of the mob, the glowing chains, and the destruction around him from his mind.
He couldn't bring himself to look at the bodies or the smoldering ruins of the alley. The world felt like it was closing in on him.
This can't be real… Desperate for a distraction, he focused on his breathing, his trembling hands, anything but the chaos surrounding him.
Then, he heard it—the sharp sound of hurried footsteps echoing in the distance, growing louder as they approached. His body tensed instinctively, his pulse quickening. Who's coming now?
He schooled his features, forcing the fear and turmoil to the back of his mind. His face became a blank mask, hiding the storm within. He waited, unmoving, as the footsteps came closer.
Within moments, the familiar figure of the Hokage appeared, flanked by two ANBU. Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grim but controlled, his sharp eyes scanning the scene as he approached Naruto.
"Naruto," the Hokage said, his voice steady but tinged with concern. "Are you alright?"
Naruto blinked up at him, forcing himself to nod. "Yeah… I'm fine." His voice was quieter than he'd intended, and he hoped the Hokage wouldn't press further.
Sarutobi's gaze lingered on him, searching for any signs of injury or distress. He crouched down to meet Naruto at eye level, his voice softening. "Can you tell me what happened?"
Naruto hesitated. "I… I don't know. The villagers came after me, and… and then everything went blurry. I think the fox did something. I woke up, and they were… gone."
The Hokage's expression tightened, and he exchanged a brief, unreadable look with the ANBU behind him. Turning back to Naruto, he placed a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder.
"So you know about the fox," he said softly, his voice filled with sorrow. "I am sorry. I had to keep it a secret—for your safety. Please forgive me." His eyes glistened, his regret evident.
Naruto stared at him, the words cutting deeper than any blade. Inside, anger churned like a raging storm. For my safety? he thought bitterly. Then why did the villagers know? Why did they look at him with hatred and disgust? How could they know if the secret was so important?
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails bit into his skin. He wanted to yell, to demand answers, to question why the man he trusted had betrayed him.
But he stopped himself. He couldn't let the Hokage see the extent of his pain, couldn't let him know how shattered he felt.
Instead, he did what he always did. He slipped on his mask of cheerfulness, the one he had perfected over the years. Forcing a trembling smile, he blinked back the tears that threatened to fall and said, "It's alright, Jiji. I understand." His voice cracked, betraying the rawness beneath.
The Hokage's face softened, but there was no mistaking the guilt that weighed heavily in his eyes. He reached out as if to comfort Naruto further, but the boy stepped back, still holding that fragile, forced smile.
"I'll be fine," Naruto added, his tone bright but hollow. "Thanks for telling me." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away, the false cheerfulness on his face hiding the storm raging within.
The Hokage's face hardened the moment Naruto disappeared from sight, the sorrow in his expression replaced by something else. His gaze shifted to the ANBU standing silently at his side, their mask concealing any emotion.
"Keep an eye on him," the Hokage ordered, his tone firm and unyielding. "If anything changes—anything at all—inform me immediately."
The ANBU nodded without a word, vanishing in a blur of motion.
The Hokage sighed deeply, turning his eyes toward the village below. "I hope I made the right choice," he murmured to himself, his voice heavy with doubt. The weight of his decisions felt heavier than ever, and a part of him feared what the consequences might bring.
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Author here .
Short chapter ' I know.
Please forgive the writing as english is not my first language.