Chapter 95: Naruto: "Is the Hokage a bad man??"

In Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mind, the very concept of Justice had long been inseparable from Uchiha Iizumi.

Now, hearing Naruto’s emotionally charged outburst—his voice trembling with conviction, his eyes blazing with raw determination—Hiruzen felt the cold weight of realization settle over him.

He had come too late.

He finally understood what Iizumi had been planning all along.

The emotions swirling within him were too complex to name—shock, fury, regret, despair—all warring in silence. But one thing was certain: Zetsu would not let Naruto fall under the influence of Iizumi’s Absolute Justice.

Not this one. Not like this.

Hiruzen forced a strained smile across his aged face, the expression frozen in place like carved stone. He turned to Naruto, his voice heavy with paternal gravity:

“Naruto, tracking down murderers—evil offenders—is the duty of the Leaf Village’s Investigation Corps. That’s their job. They’ll uncover the truth, no matter how deep it lies.”

“You’re still just a child. Barely two months into the Academy. This is a world of adults. You’re too young to be involved.”

“Wait until you’re older. Then, perhaps, you’ll understand.”

“But…” Naruto started, his small hands clenching at his sides.

A sharp, unnatural voice cut in—high-pitched, mocking.

“Ah, so now it’s only seven-year-olds who are children? How convenient.”

Hiruzen frowned, glancing sideways.

His eyes widened.

It was a Ninja Cat.

A bright orange one.

And unmistakably, Iizumi’s.

Hiruzen’s gut twisted.

The cat—Tachibana Jiro—tilted its head, its feline gaze dripping with disdain.

“Uchiha Itachi was thrown into the battlefield of the Ninja World War at four years old. Back then, did anyone say he was too young to be a weapon?”

It paused, whiskers twitching.

“Naruto Uzumaki is seven. Three years older than Itachi was when he first fought.”

“So why do you all suddenly treat him like a fragile little doll just because he wants to walk beside Iizumi-sama in pursuit of Justice?”

“Your hearts are so transparent, even a cat can see through them. Humans really are masters of calculation, aren’t they?”

Hiruzen: “….”

He hadn’t expected to be mocked by a cat.

And yet…

He was the Third Hokage. To react to a feline’s insult would be beneath him.

But how could he respond?

Should he admit that Naruto was the Jinchūriki?

No. Not yet.

The secret was too dangerous. Too fragile.

Naruto was still too young.

Uchiha Iizumi spoke, voice calm, tone flat:

“Naruto Uzumaki. Choose what lies in your heart. Don’t fear. Even if your choice differs from mine, I won’t kill you. But if you choose with me… then they won’t take you.”

Tsunade Konoha’s eyes snapped wide. Her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.

She forced out a single, venomous word:

“Uchiha Iizumi… do you know what you’re doing?”

This was her first time seeing Iizumi face-to-face.

And she finally understood—this man was utterly unyielding.

He didn’t care about the Council. He didn’t care about the Hokage. He didn’t care about her.

She now understood why Hiruzen had endured him all these years—why the Third Hokage had swallowed his pride, held back his anger, and kept his silence.

She also understood why Danzō wanted him dead.

The Uchiha clan had many troublemakers.

But none had ever dared stand before the Hokage, the Anbu, and the Council—and speak like this.

Iizumi was the first.

And Tsunade felt a surge of instinctive rage—an order—shooting through her veins.

She was ready to command the Anbu and Root to move.

To take him down.

But before she could speak—

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped in.

“Naruto,” he said, voice low and solemn, “you know your dream. You want to be recognized by everyone in the village. You want to become the next Hokage.”

“Then make the right choice. Because if you make the wrong one… the people will never accept you.”

“And Iizumi…” Hiruzen added, turning to the girl with cold precision, “though he has done much for the Leaf, his methods are too extreme. Too absolute. He has never earned the trust of the majority.”

“Naruto… that’s not the path to your dream.”

He didn’t hold back. He spoke openly, in front of Iizumi, laying bare his distrust.

At that, Iizumi’s brow furrowed.

Her pencil stabbed into her notebook with such force the paper tore.

She scribbled down Hiruzen Sarutobi’s name again and again, each stroke furious, almost violent.

But then—

Naruto’s eyes began to glisten.

His lower lip trembled.

And then, the tears came.

One, then two, then a steady stream.

"Hokage Grandpa..." Naruto choked, wiping at his face with a small, trembling hand.

“I… I just… I never thought you’d want me to be accepted…”

Hiruzen froze.

The boy’s voice cracked with pain.

“Everyone says I’m the demon fox. They curse the day they see me. It’s all because of Shimura Danzō, isn’t it?”

Hiruzen’s pupils contracted.

"Hokage grandpa... you know that. You know who's spreading those lies."

“But… you protect him.”

“Why? Why don’t you tell them the truth?”

“Why don’t you tell them… that the Nine-Tails was sealed inside me without my knowledge?”

Silence.

The air turned to ice.

Even the Anbu froze.

Tsunade Konoha stared at Naruto, stunned.

How did he know?

Who told him?

Uchiha Iizumi?

Naruto’s voice cracked again, raw and desperate:

“On that night… the Nine-Tails Uprising… I didn’t cause it. I didn’t even know it was happening.”

“So why do they hate me? Why do they isolate me? Why won’t you explain?”

“Why make them believe I’m a monster?”

"Hokage Grandpa..."

“I just… I don’t understand.”

Tears fell—plink, plink, plink—onto the dirt.

Seven years old. No logic. No strategy. Just pain.

He wasn’t angry.

He trusted the Hokage.

But he was hurt.

And confused.

And alone.

Finally, Naruto whispered, voice breaking:

"Hokage Grandpa... I'm sorry."

“I just… I want to do one thing. Just one. I can’t go back with you yet. Not until I find the killer. Not until I make sure that family… dies with justice.”

“Then… I’ll come back.”

He made his choice.

He gave his answer.

…

Hiruzen stood there, silent.

He didn’t know what to say.

Naruto knew everything.

That could only mean one thing—Iizumi had told him.

And if that was true…

Then Hiruzen should be furious.

He should be screaming at Iizumi for shattering a child’s innocence with such a burden.

But…

He wasn’t.

The anger wouldn’t rise.

Instead, something heavier settled in his chest.

Because as he watched Naruto—tears streaming, small frame trembling—he felt not rage… but grief.

For the boy.

For the village.

For the truth.

And for the fact that he had failed.

Tsunade Konoha stepped forward, voice sharp:

“Naruto Uzumaki! You have no right to choose!”

“This is not your decision. The Investigation Corps handles such cases. Not some child playing hero.”

“And you,” she snapped at Fugaku, “are you going to let this continue?”

“…Yes.”

Fugaku exhaled.

“I’m Uchiha Fugaku, Head of the Uchiha Police Force. You may not know me, but I’m the one who must approve any involvement in active cases.”

“My answer is no. You’re too young. You belong in the Academy.”

Naruto blinked.

For a moment, he looked stunned.

Tsunade’s face softened.

At least Fugaku was on their side.

She signaled a Root ninja with a sharp glance.

The man stepped forward—intent on taking Naruto by force.

Naruto flinched.

He stepped back—hard.

And instinctively, he snarled.

A low, guttural growl.

His teeth bared.

A sudden surge of rage—unexplained, uncontrollable—flooded him.

Then—

A hand shot out.

Grabbed the Root ninja’s wrist.

Tsunade’s face twisted in fury—then froze.

Fugaku’s eyes widened.

But Iizumi…

He didn’t look.

His gaze remained fixed on Naruto’s back.

His eyes narrowed.

He noticed it—the hair on the back of Naruto’s head, moving on its own. No wind. No reason.

A faint ripple in the air.

A whisper of power.

Iizumi’s expression didn’t change.

But his mind was racing.

"...Grandpa Hokage?"

Naruto looked up, tear-streaked, confused.

“…You’re… not taking me?”

Hiruzen didn’t answer.

He simply lowered himself.

Slowly.

On one knee.

His hand reached out.

Naruto hesitated.

Then—didn’t pull away.

Hiruzen gently brushed Naruto’s hair.

A soft, trembling smile touched his lips.

“Naruto,” he said, voice thick with emotion, “today… I can set aside my duties.”

“I’ll walk with you. I’ll help you bring justice to those who’ve suffered.”

Naruto’s breath hitched.

The storm inside him… calmed.

Just a little.

Tsunade Konoha stepped forward, voice rising in disbelief:

“Hiruzen! What are you doing?!”

“Naruto Uzumaki—”

She was cut off.

Hiruzen spoke, voice firm, final:

“He wants to earn their trust. That’s his dream. Let him try.”

“Small, today… this matter is postponed. You may go.”

Tsunade: “…?”

Hiruzen stood.

And for the first time in years…

He looked relieved.

Tsunade watched his lips move—silent, but clear.

She read the words.

“Naruto… almost went berserk.”

Her blood ran cold.

She stared at Naruto—now calm, quiet, safe.

Then at Iizumi.

How?

How could a child who was just crying a moment ago… nearly lose control just from being grabbed?

The emotional shift was impossible.

And yet…

She knew.

The Jinchūriki had been on the edge.

But before—when he was weeping—there was no danger.

Only now, when they tried to take him…

He snapped.

Iizumi had said nothing.

But he’d done something.

And the idea—that Absolute Justice could be so powerful…

That a boy, barely seven… could be drawn to it in less than a day…

It made no sense.

Tsunade Konoha couldn’t understand.

Neither could Hiruzen.

For a split second, he even wondered—was Naruto under a genjutsu?

Had Iizumi used his Mangekyō to control him?

But the thought vanished.

Because even if he hated Iizumi, even if he distrusted him…

One thing remained true.

Iizumi didn’t hide.

If he’d used genjutsu, he’d have boasted about it.

He’d have said it aloud.

So no.

It wasn’t illusion.

It was choice.

And so, with a heavy heart, Hiruzen Sarutobi made his decision.

He yielded.

Not just to Naruto.

But to Iizumi.

And that was the most painful surrender of all.

…

Fugaku stood motionless.

He had just stood firm.

He’d defended the village’s authority.

He’d made it clear—no Uchiha loyalty to the Jinchūriki.

He’d even attacked his own clan’s image to prove it.

And now…

The Hokage had surrendered.

The Council had left.

And he—Fugaku, the Uchiha Clan Head—was left standing alone.

He didn’t know what to do.

He looked at Tsunade Konoha.

She was gone.

Not even a glance back.

Just silence.

He turned to Iizumi.

But Iizumi didn’t look at him.

Not even once.

It was as if Fugaku didn’t exist.

…

Naruto wiped his face, eyes still red.

He looked at Iizumi, voice full of wonder:

"Hokage Grandpa said yes! He's coming with us! We're going to find the killer—together!"

Iizumi’s expression didn’t shift.

“If you embrace Justice… you should feel shame.”

Naruto blinked.

“Because the evil… sensed your power. It had to bow. It had to pretend to be Justice.”

“Justice is only a mask when it’s weak. When evil is strong… it doesn’t even bother to wear one. It steps on Justice.”

Hiruzen: “…?”

He didn’t need to be told.

He knew what Iizumi meant.

He was the evil.

The one who pretended.

The one who protected the truth… to keep the boy broken.

And Naruto—

He understood.

His voice trembled.

"Grandpa Hokage... is a bad man??"

Hiruzen’s face burned.

How?!

After all he’d done—after he’d compromised, after he’d begged—

The boy turned to Iizumi?

“I… I know you’re not a bad man,” Naruto whispered.

“But… if Iizumi says you are… then…?”

Hiruzen’s heart shattered.

And Iizumi spoke—just once.

“No. You’re right.”

Hiruzen’s breath stopped.

And in that silence…

The truth hung like a blade.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end