All eyes shifted away from Might Guy and focused squarely on the Third Hokage.
Everyone present understood this clearly:
this emergency jōnin meeting concerned nothing less than Konoha's future.
And Naruto Uzumaki—a name that was both familiar and alien to them—was the unavoidable core of it all.
The meeting began.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly scanned the room. His gaze paused briefly on Might Guy, carrying a trace of complex, unspoken approval, before he spoke in a deep, steady voice.
"First, I wish to commend Jōnin Might Guy. What he demonstrated on the projection—his willingness to burn his own life to protect his comrades and the village—is the purest expression of the Will of Fire. He is Konoha's pride."
That opening praise eased the atmosphere slightly.
Many jōnin looked at Guy with even greater respect.
Guy himself was so moved that his eyes welled up—he nearly leapt to his feet to shout something about youth, only to be firmly restrained by Kakashi's warning glance.
But after that brief warmth, Hiruzen's expression hardened once more.
He pushed a thick stack of documents to the center of the table.
"Praise aside," he said gravely,
"we must face reality."
"As you are all aware, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure have each sent formal inquiries—worded more harshly with every letter. Even the Fire Daimyō's court has expressed what they call 'grave concern.'"
He paused, letting his eyes pass over every jōnin present, then slowly voiced the most sensitive point of all.
"They have only one demand."
"They demand that Konoha 'deal with' Naruto Uzumaki."
"Today, I have summoned you here to hear your opinions. Under such immense external pressure… how should we respond?"
The room fell into an even heavier silence.
Anyone seated here was an elite of Konoha—sharp in both strength and mind. They understood far too well what the name Naruto Uzumaki truly represented.
The Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
The village's ultimate strategic deterrent.
And now—
a 'future world-destroyer', a potential fuse for a shinobi world war if mishandled.
How should he be dealt with?
Who would dare to speak lightly?
Hand him over?
Putting aside emotional ties and strategic losses, if the future ever came to be "settled," the one who suggested that would be the first to pay the price.
Protect him?
That would mean Konoha standing alone against the fury and suspicion of the entire shinobi world—perhaps even inviting war. Who would shoulder that responsibility?
More importantly—
After the revelations of the projection—
the exposure of the Sarutobi clan's hidden strength,
the aftermath of the Uchiha Clan Massacre—
Many jōnin present felt, deep down, that their trust in the upper leadership, and especially in the Third Hokage himself, had fractured.
They did not know the Hokage's true intentions.
They dared not take a stance on such a volatile issue.
One wrong step—and they could become casualties of political struggle.
This collective silence formed an invisible wall, pressing heavily on Hiruzen's chest.
He could feel it clearly now:
Distance.
Hesitation.
Distrust.
The Hokage who had ruled for decades—
the so-called Professor of Shinobi—
Was no longer fully trusted by his own people.
The realization filled him with exhaustion and quiet pain.
Seeing the meeting heading toward stalemate, Hiruzen took a slow, deep breath.
He knew the deadlock had to be broken—
and that only he could do it.
He tapped the table lightly, drawing everyone's attention, and spoke in a tone that allowed no doubt.
"Since no one has a better proposal," he said,
"then the decision will be mine."
"Naruto Uzumaki is still only a child.
He has done nothing wrong."
"Konoha will not condemn one of its own based solely on a mysterious projection of an unverified future. That is absurd—and unjust."
"Naruto has always been a good child. Who can say that it wasn't persecution itself that pushed him down that dark path?"
His voice rose, carrying the full authority of the Hokage.
"Moreover, Naruto's identity is of critical importance to the village's stability and security. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong."
"My decision is this—"
His gaze swept the room, word by word heavy as iron.
"Konoha refuses to hand over Naruto Uzumaki.
All external pressure will be borne by me alone."
"However," he continued, his tone easing slightly, tinged with resignation and resolve,
"to appease the outside world—and for the sake of village security—Naruto Uzumaki will, effective immediately, be placed under the highest level of protective supervision. Without my direct authorization, no one is to approach him."
With that, Hiruzen stood.
He offered no chance for rebuttal or debate.
Taking the two advisors with him, he left the hall—
leaving behind a room full of jōnin, each with their own heavy thoughts.
Kakashi's single visible eye narrowed slightly, unreadable.
Hyūga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku, and others wore grim expressions. They all knew this decision placed Konoha directly at the center of the storm.
But no one spoke.
After all—
at a time like this, no one truly wished for war.
Facing overwhelming external pressure and dangerous internal undercurrents, Sarutobi Hiruzen made a choice—one born of both public duty and personal conviction.
He could no longer allow Naruto to remain exposed to any uncontrollable risk:
Assassins from other villages.
Fear-driven extremism from within.
Or even… Danzō's ROOT.
By his personal order, Naruto was removed from his rundown apartment and brought directly to the Hokage Residence, to live under Hiruzen's roof.
He would keep the child within his sight.
Personally protect him.
And personally… observe him.
When the ANBU escorted Naruto—still dazed, face bruised and eyes filled with grievance—to him, Hiruzen dismissed everyone else.
"Third Grandpa!"
The moment Naruto saw him, the fragile strength he had been forcing himself to maintain collapsed.
Tears welled instantly in his bright blue eyes.
He grabbed the hem of Hiruzen's robes, his voice shaking as he cried out:
"That wasn't me! I really wouldn't do those things!
I don't want to destroy the world!
I want to become Hokage—I want everyone to acknowledge me!"
Looking at the small, lonely child before him—
bearing the weight of fear, hatred, and blame for a future he had never lived—
Sarutobi Hiruzen knelt down.
He wore his familiar, gentle smile and softly placed a hand on Naruto's messy blond hair.
His voice was warm.
And unwavering.
"Yes," he said.
"Grandpa believes you."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789