A few more days passed.
The Third Hokage had officially returned to power, yet the news of Namikaze Kirito's awakening never spread beyond the highest circles of the village.
Only a handful of people knew.
That was why, aside from Jiraiya, no one came to visit him.
Konoha Medical Department — inside the ward.
…
At this moment, Jiraiya and Kirito had already packed their things.
They were about to leave the village.
"Kirito," Jiraiya asked again, unable to help himself,
"have you really decided?"
"Jiraiya-sensei," Kirito replied calmly,
"if you ask again, my answer won't change."
"There's only one person in this village I still care about."
"And you promised me… you'd help take care of him."
There was no need to say the name.
It was his younger brother.
Uzumaki Naruto.
Currently, Naruto was being fostered in an ordinary civilian home, surrounded day and night by ANBU guards.
There was only one maid assigned to care for him.
The moment she learned that the baby was the Nine-Tails' vessel, everything changed.
Fear.
Hatred.
Even a trace of murderous intent.
Of course, with ANBU present, she couldn't actually do anything.
Throughout Naruto's childhood, his life was never truly in danger.
Only his heart.
Shimura Danzō had proposed taking Naruto into Root more than once.
Each time, Sarutobi Hiruzen rejected it.
Hiruzen wasn't naïve.
If the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki entered Root, he would become Danzō's personal weapon.
Konoha was still under the Hokage's control.
The "tailed-beast deterrent" had to remain in his hands.
That was why Kirito could leave—without hesitation.
"Don't worry," Jiraiya said firmly.
"I won't let them do whatever they want with Naruto."
"He's Minato's son."
"And… he might also be the Child of Prophecy the Great Toad Sage spoke of."
When he mentioned the Child of Prophecy, Jiraiya's eyes burned with rare intensity.
No matter how old he was, that dream had never faded—
Changing the ninja world.
Waiting for the one who could do it.
"Child of Prophecy?" Kirito asked flatly.
"Why Naruto and not me?"
"..."
Silence.
Kirito looked up.
Jiraiya was staring at him with widened eyes, completely stunned.
"Kirito," Jiraiya finally said,
"do you even know what kind of joke you're making right now?"
Speechless.
Utterly speechless.
Deeply offended.
Especially since Jiraiya had said it so seriously.
"Hahaha— alright, alright," Jiraiya laughed loudly, waving it off.
"Let's go. If we're late, things will get troublesome."
He patted Kirito on the shoulder and walked out first.
Kirito followed.
…
They didn't leave the village immediately.
Instead, they headed toward a quiet residential area.
This was where Uzumaki Naruto was being fostered.
Before leaving, Kirito had insisted on seeing his brother one last time.
Jiraiya agreed.
That was why they were here.
The moment they reached the door—
Whoosh.
Several masked figures appeared instantly.
ANBU.
The unit responsible for secretly protecting—and monitoring—Naruto.
"Lord Jiraiya," one of them said,
"by order of the Hokage, you must obtain permission before contacting the Nine-Tails."
"Are you serious?"
Before Jiraiya could speak...
Kirito's eyes turned scarlet.
Black mist seeped out from beneath his feet.
"Who," he asked quietly,
"are you calling a demon fox?"
He knew the plot.
He knew Naruto's fate.
He knew he had to stay calm.
But that single title—
It shattered everything.
The surrounding ANBU took an involuntary step back.
Their souls trembled.
"Kirito," Jiraiya said firmly,
"you promised me you'd stay calm."
Even as he spoke, his gaze toward the ANBU had turned icy.
"..."
Kirito said nothing.
The black mist slowly dispersed.
"Jiraiya-sama," the ANBU captain said quickly,
"we're only carrying out the Hokage's orders. Please don't make this difficult for us."
They respected Jiraiya.
But ANBU answered only to the Hokage.
Kirito's gaze shifted.
He looked at a slightly shorter ANBU among them.
A faint, mocking smile appeared.
"You've grown up a lot… Kakashi."
"That mask suits you."
"..."
The ANBU ninja didn't respond.
But his body stiffened.
"We're just here to see Naruto," Jiraiya said coldly.
"I'll explain things to the old man myself."
"Move."
He spread his arms, forcing a path forward.
Kirito withdrew his gaze and followed him inside.
The ANBU moved instinctively—
Then stopped.
"Let it go," the captain said quietly.
"Lord Jiraiya won't act recklessly."
"We'll report this to the Third Hokage."
The shorter ANBU stared at the closed door.
That look from earlier replayed in his mind.
Unease filled his chest.
"…Sensei," he thought,
"am I really wrong?"
…
"WAAAH—!"
The moment they entered, a baby's cries filled the room.
They rushed forward.
Inside, a maid stood impatiently feeding Naruto with a bottle, her expression twisted with disgust.
"Hurry up!"
"You demon fox!"
"What are you crying for?! You killed so many people!"
"Kirito—!"
BOOM!
The maid was sent flying.
Kirito had moved.
Even with his physical strength barely unlocked, it was still far beyond that of an ordinary person.
And this—
Was a punch driven by pure rage.
A trace of vibration followed through.
The maid slammed into the wall, coughing violently.
Blood spilled from her mouth.
Fragments of internal organs followed.
"Kirito…" Jiraiya said helplessly.
"Are you trying to kill her?"
He was furious too.
But attacking a civilian—especially a woman—wasn't something he would normally do.
ANBU poured into the room.
Seeing the scene, they exchanged glances—but remained silent.
With Jiraiya present, none of them dared intervene.
And the one who struck her—
Was the Fourth Hokage's son.
This could only be reported upward.
Kirito walked slowly toward the fallen maid.
He looked down at her.
"P-please… don't kill me…"
"I beg you…"
Her voice shook with terror.
Kirito's eyes were still cold.
"Scum."
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