Today was the happiest day of Naruto Uzumaki's life.
From today on, he wasn't alone anymore.
He had an awesome boss, and the boss even took him to eat his favorite Ichiraku Ramen.
Plus, his boss worked in the kitchen at Ichiraku!
Everything felt so wonderful, like a dream.
When Musashi walked him home, Naruto was so happy he started skipping without even realizing it.
That night, lying in his small bed, Naruto covered his face with his blanket.
"Hehehe..." Laughter bubbled out from under the covers.
A moment later, faint sobbing.
Then, "Hehehe..." again.
It took him a long time to finally fall asleep.
---
After dropping Naruto off, Musashi walked slowly back to his own home.
As he walked, he wondered when the higher-ups would react, and what attitude he should take when they did.
He got his answer very quickly.
Actually, extremely quickly.
Because he didn't even make it home.
Under the calm night sky, even the smallest sound of wind breaking felt jarring.
Musashi's hair stood on end, and his body tensed instantly.
A black-gloved hand shot out from his side with lethal intent, aiming straight for his throat.
Musashi's muscles contracted instantly, and the explosive power buried within him detonated.
WHAM!
His punch was fast—far faster than the ambusher expected.
Powerful force erupted from his knuckles, smashing directly into the ninja's face!
A shattered mask, teeth flying everywhere.
And in the split second of impact, Musashi saw the cursed seal pattern on the attacker's tongue.
Root, huh?
Strength is uncertain, but probably no higher than Chunin.
Musashi silently gauged his opponent's level.
He didn't let up. The attacker was dazed from the heavy blow to the face.
Kick 'em while they're down.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
THUD!~
A heavy, powerful kick slammed into the attacker's chest, cracking several ribs and sending him flying backward like a ragdoll.
More than one!
A gust of wind sounded from the other side.
Musashi launched another Leaf Whirlwind, but this opponent retreated immediately upon contact. Clearly, they realized Musashi's strength exceeded expectations and didn't want to engage in close combat.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Spears!" (Modified/Similar jutsu based on context - turning ground to mud)
The ground beneath him softened instantly, turning into a quagmire. The attacker wanted to trap him.
But Musashi's reaction speed was insane. As soon as the jutsu started, he stomped down hard.
Using brute force, he launched himself off the semi-soft mud like a cannonball.
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
BOOM!!~
The newly risen earth wall was punched through by sheer brute force. The eyes behind the attacker's mask widened in shock.
"Such powerful Taijutsu!"
Two Ninjutsu attacks had failed.
Before he could try anything else, a wave of shuriken came whistling at him.
He dodged quickly and deflected a few with his kunai, but the heavy impact numbed his arm.
The ninja was bewildered.
Isn't he just an ordinary student? Why is he so fierce!?
Bam! Bam! Bam!!!
The green figure followed the shuriken, closing the distance instantly and unleashing a storm of fists and feet.
The ninja blocked hastily, but every impact sent waves of agonizing pain through his body.
Damn it! Is this kid a monster?!
THWACK!
A flying kick connected squarely with his chin. The ninja's brain buzzed as he was launched into the air.
"Lion's Barrage!"
CRASH!!
After the heavy combo, he was slammed into the ground.
The massive impact caused his consciousness to fade rapidly.
Faintly, he heard the target screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Help! Someone help! There's a murderer in Konoha!! HELP!~"
Before losing consciousness, a final thought crossed the ninja's mind.
HQ shouldn't have sent just two Chunin for this...
This kid fights dirty... I was too careless...
Musashi was still screaming for help.
He was just an ordinary, un-graduated Academy student who got ambushed. Panicking and screaming for help was totally reasonable.
But he barely got two screams out before two masked ninjas—Anbu—landed nearby with a swish.
Just as he tensed up to fight again, one of them spoke.
"Musashi Ryomiya. Lord Hokage wants to see you."
---
The Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe, looking at the bewildered Musashi standing before him.
"Musashi, I called you here to verify some things."
"Lord Hokage, what happened?"
"Did enemies invade the village? I was just walking home when two ninjas attacked me out of nowhere!"
"Luckily I..."
Hiruzen raised a hand to stop him. "Alright, Musashi. I'm not asking about that. That was a misunderstanding."
"Naruto Uzumaki. How do you know him? I want to know that."
Musashi looked confused. "Naruto? That little kid? I just met him, you know?" He then simply explained how Naruto had stumbled upon his Taijutsu training.
"I see. So it was a coincidence," Hiruzen said, exhaling a puff of smoke.
"Yeah. Is there a problem, Lord Hokage? Naruto is pretty lively and interesting. I don't know who started those vicious rumors about him being a Demon Fox. It's really cruel!"
"Cough, cough!!" The smoke went down the wrong pipe. Hiruzen coughed, then said, "Musashi... this matter is complicated. It's hard to explain right now."
"However, Musashi, for certain reasons, you shouldn't stay around Naruto anymore. The village has specialists to take care of him."
"Why?" Musashi looked genuinely baffled. "Is something wrong? Why would Lord Hokage make such a strange request?"
"Ahem! Well... regarding the rumors of Naruto being the Demon Fox, the village needs to consider carefully how to handle it."
"If you stay with him, it will affect you. People have a negative view of Naruto. When you graduate, it might affect your team placement. In that case..."
"Lord Hokage!" Musashi interrupted loudly. "We are all comrades of the village! How can we sever our bonds just because of some rumors?"
He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with determination under his shiny bowl cut.
"Lord Hokage! Everyone in the village is like the leaves and branches that make up the tree! My Ninja Way absolutely forbids abandoning a friend just because of what others say!"
"Even if people talk about me, even if they hate me, I will stand by my choice! I want to shout it out with my own voice! No one in Konoha is a comrade who can be abandoned!!"
The gloomy Hokage's office was suddenly illuminated by a blinding green light.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe rapidly, puff-puff-puff, trying to figure out what to say next.
"Lord Hokage! Big Brother Guy and Senior Kakashi taught me the power of bonds and friendship! It is this inclusive emotion, these deep bonds, that keep Konoha united as one!"
"I won't leave Naruto, and I won't let anyone force me to leave him for some 'reason'! Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. Although I cannot protect the entire village like Lord Hokage, I must carry out this Will of Fire to the end! I will use my own strength to burn myself for the brightness of the village!"
"This... is my Ninja Way of Youth!"
The green light began to sting Hiruzen's eyes.
"Cough!" A familiar, dry cough sounded. A dark magnetic field began to erode the space occupied by the green light.
"Hiruzen, why waste words with this brat?"
"Just give the order. No unexpected variables can appear around Naruto. Only by properly managing the tool..."
"Danzo!" Hiruzen interrupted his old friend sharply.
"Do not speak like that in front of a child."
"Hmph!" Danzo snorted coldly to show his displeasure. Then, he looked at Musashi and spoke in a deep voice.
"Musashi Ryomiya. Do not seek out Naruto Uzumaki again. This is an order from the village."
Musashi looked confused. "Lord Hokage, who is this old grandpa?"
"Oh, this is Danzo. He is a high-ranking advisor to the village. You should call him Elder Danzo," Hiruzen said.
"...Oh."
Musashi acknowledged it flatly.
Then, he turned back to Hiruzen. "Lord Hokage, I still stand by my decision! I cannot..."
Danzo's gloomy face became Gloomier +1.
At that moment, a masked ninja whispered something in Danzo's ear.
Danzo looked at Musashi again, a look of realization dawning on his face.
Excellent Taijutsu, is it?
He had wondered how his personally managed "Project Greenleaf" could have missed a good seedling. Turns out he was just a commoner ninja good at punching things.
"Hiruzen! Stop wasting time on trivial matters."
"Just give the order."
"Lord Hokage, I disagree!" Musashi looked agitated. "You have no idea how lonely Naruto is right now!"
"No companions, no friends, and the villagers treat him with undeserved malice. Lord Hokage, if we let Naruto stay this lonely, how can he grow up healthy to become a branch of Konoha?!"
"Lord Hokage! I absolutely refuse! Everyone in the village should be a comrade, a brother-in-arms! Someone with whom we can build close bonds."
"I often think about the day I graduate and become a ninja, wearing the Konoha forehead protector with pride. I want to be a ninja like my father! If... if I abandon a comrade for such a reason, then... can the leaf on my forehead protector still shine?"
Hot tears streamed down his face. Snot was not far behind.
Musashi was sobbing uncontrollably.
"I won't allow it... I won't allow it."
"Alright!" Hiruzen tapped his pipe on the desk.
"Let's drop this matter for now. There's nothing else, Musashi. Remember to train hard and don't forget your dreams. Never forget Konoha's Will of Fire, and your Ninja Way of Youth."
"Yes! Lord Hokage!"
"Hiruzen!" Danzo stood up from his seat, dissatisfied. " The Shadow of a village cannot be soft. You will regret this!"
"Danzo..."
"Elder Danzo!" Musashi looked Danzo in the eye for the first time, his face glowing with determination.
"Lord Third is the Hokage!"
"He is the correct, great, strongest Hokage in history who will surely lead Konoha and all of us to a beautiful future!"
Danzo: "..."