Starting over

#31 Revelation

Naruto POV

"I am a friend of Naruto. And it matters a lot to me what his former village, so that I can determine if I should forgive them or if they have not changed at all.", I answered causing Hiruzen's eyes to widen. "How has he been until his death?", the Hokage asked with shaking voice, trying to hold back tears. "He has been great, finally getting accepted and making friends. He also already made it to Genin.", I told. Anko's eyes widened at this. "He became a Genin at seven?", she asked loudly. I nodded my head in response. "So, enough about Naruto. What do you want to talk with us about?", Hiruzen asked, directing his attention at me. "Well I wanted to know what Naruto's friends had done since he was banished.", I said, even though I already knew what the third Hokage was going to say. "He did not have many friends in Konoha, many parents have told their kids to keep their distance to the young boy. And the adults themselves often even tried to harm him. There were only a few people that did not hate him, those were; Ayame and Teuchi Ichiraku, who often fed him free Ramen from their own little store, Anko Mitarashi here, who knows first hand what it is like to be left out, Kakashi Hatake, one of the people I had tasked with guarding the boy and student of his father, and lastly myself, I had given him an apartment and also bought him fresh supplies every few days so that he could always eat something fresh. But apart from these five people there were none that liked Naruto but even more that outright hate him. His existence has been officially erased in the people's minds, even though Ichiraku still remembers him with a special day on the tenth of October to celebrate his birthday, were they sell Ramen for half the price and for free for all children under the age of eleven.", Hiruzen said with tears in his eyes. I had expected most of this, but what surprised me was that the Ichirakus had remembered me for so long and that they knew of my birthday. I looked at Anko who was silently watching me whilst covering her wrists. I could imagine why she was covering them and understood her embarrassment, since I knew how hard it could be to be left out and to be hated. "Ok. I had honestly already expected such a reaction by the citizens. But one more question; how do the Ichirakus know about Naruto's birthday?", I asked curiously. "Ayame had approached me shortly before he was banished and asked me about it because she wanted to give him something for his birthday.", the Hokage answered before narrowing his eyes a little bit. "How do you know so much about Naruto?", he asked me. "Well, I told you earlier, that I have permission to tell you of my identity, which is also the reason that I know so much about Naruto Uzumaki.", I said, reaching up to the cloth in front of my face. "You know, he never died in that attack, it was Kankuro, the son of the current Kazekage who died, but Naruto Uzumaki is very much alive." I said taking away the sand-coloured cloth from my smiling face. "I missed you, Jiji.", I said, grinning before Hiruzen jumped at me, hugging me blustery. I hugged him back and noticed Anko's shocked stare at me.

"You should not have trusted Danzo.", I said, winking at Hiruzen after he had gone back to his seat again. The Hokage had tears in his eyes and had to swallow before answering. "We have to tell the Ichirakus and Kakashi and we have to announce it to the world.", he began to ramble, causing me to snicker. "Calm down, I don't want them to know just yet, honestly I wanted just you to know it until my team and I would have gotten a mission in Konoha. But I had to improvise when that stubborn Anbu insisted that you should not be alone with me.", I said smiling at the two Konoha Shinobi. "How have you been Naruto? I mean, you already told us a lot but what happened after the death of Kankuro? Do you have an apartment?", Hiruzen's questions shot out of him. "Well, I live with the Kazekage and his children. After Kankuro's death we hunted down his murderer and dealt with him. After that mission, the Kazekage deemed me ready to know about my parents so I have already received the scrolls you sent. I am making rapid progress in learning all of their techniques while my team and I do simple missions.", I explained. Hiruzen's expression saddened slightly hearing that I already had to kill someone, but he shook it off and smiled at me.

After a lot of questions from the Hokage, I had practically relayed my whole life to him and we had settled in a simple chitchat. "Well, it was fun catching up with you, but I think I will take my leave now.", I said while fixing my mask again. The third Hokage smiled at me and got out of his chair to hug me. I hugged him back and looked at Anko, who had mostly just sat in a chair watching. "You can call in the Anbu from before.", I said grinning. She immediately went to the door and opened it slightly saying something to the Anbu who were guarding the entrance to the Hokage's office. "He will be here momentarily.", the purple haired kunoichi said smiling sadly at me. Just a few seconds afterwards there was a small cloud of smoke and the Anbu from earlier appeared. "Are you alright, my lord?", he asked immediately, kneeling down. "As you can see, I did not try to harm your Hokage.", I replied smiling. Hiruzen just chuckled. "I will take my leave then. If you could give me someone to lead me towards the villages gates?", I asked, hoping that the Hokage would get my intention to talk to Anko alone. "Of course, Anko here will bring you there.", Sarutobi said, with a smirk on his lips. "I will see you again, probably in about two years.", I said to the third, before going out with Anko following me.