Inside the academy office, Konosuke stood by the window, watching Sasuke run laps across the training field.
Then a young, angry voice burst out behind him.
"Konosuke-sensei! You went too far! You moved Sakura to another class, you—"
Naruto's momentum died the moment Konosuke turned around.
That gaze.
His voice vanished instantly.
Konosuke dragged a chair over and sat down slowly, eyes narrowed.
"Naruto. Have I treated you well?"
"Y-Yes… Sensei buys me ramen all the time. And you're not like the others who hate me."
"And has Haruno Sakura treated you well?"
Naruto glanced at his teacher's face and lowered his head.
That silence was answer enough.
Bang!
The desk shattered under Konosuke's palm.
"Naruto, you ungrateful brat!"
"I can barely support myself on clan stipends, and I still treat you to ramen. And now you come to question me—for a girl who doesn't even treat you well?"
"I must've been blind to think about passing my techniques on to you. Get out. I don't want to see you."
Iruka rushed in just then, pale from the crash. He'd been terrified Konosuke had struck Naruto.
Seeing only a destroyed desk, he exhaled in relief.
Naruto staggered back, bumping into Iruka.
The moment he saw him, he clung to Iruka's leg like a drowning child grasping driftwood.
Konosuke picked up his coat, shrugged it on, and vanished in a flash.
In seconds he was on the field.
Before Sasuke could react, Konosuke grabbed him and headed straight out of the academy.
Sasuke stiffened for a moment, then relaxed once he realized it was his teacher. He stopped resisting.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen watched everything through the crystal ball.
He understood.
Konosuke's mood was spiraling because of what was about to happen with the Uchiha.
—
Back home, Konosuke tossed Sasuke onto the sofa.
"You're staying here tonight. I've already spoken with your father."
"Start refining chakra. Without my permission, you don't leave this room."
"Y-Yes, Sensei."
Sasuke sensed something was wrong and wisely didn't argue. He rarely did anyway.
—
Back at the academy, once Konosuke left, Naruto finally broke down.
"I'm sorry… Konosuke-sensei… It's my fault… I shouldn't have made you angry…"
Of all the scorn and hatred Naruto had endured, Konosuke had been one of the few people who treated him kindly.
And now he'd hurt him.
If forced to choose now between Sakura and Konosuke—
There would be no hesitation.
Konosuke.
Naruto wiped his tears and ran out. He had to apologize properly.
Iruka didn't stop him.
He knew Sakura's chances of staying were gone.
—
Konosuke was smoking in the living room when someone knocked.
Soft sobbing followed.
He opened the door.
Something latched onto his leg.
Naruto.
"Konosuke-sensei… I was wrong… please forgive me!"
Seeing the boy's face streaked with tears and snot, Konosuke's anger melted.
He pulled Naruto up gently.
At the end of the day, he was just seven.
Maybe I went too far…
Konosuke wiped his tears with his sleeve.
"I'm not angry anymore. I just wanted you to understand who truly treats you well."
"Since you understand now, good. Sasuke's training inside. Go join him. Stay here tonight. We'll go to school together tomorrow."
"Ko… Ko… Konosuke…" Naruto stammered, still hiccupping from crying.
"No more apologies. Wash your face. Then train. I'll go get you two something to eat."
He stepped outside and lit another cigarette.
"Did I go too far today?"
"Maybe," came a lazy voice from above.
Kakashi sat on the rooftop, white hair gleaming.
"You were unstable today. Because of the Uchiha?"
"Perhaps. Sometimes I wonder… today's Uchiha. Could it be tomorrow's Sarutobi? When did Konoha become like this?"
The question hung heavy.
Kakashi didn't answer.
Konosuke took several harsh drags before speaking again.
"I'm going to see the old man. Watch Naruto and Sasuke. And don't step on my roof tiles. You can't afford to pay for them."
Kakashi blinked.
…What?
Konosuke was gone before he could reply.
—
He arrived at the Hokage's office in moments.
"Old man. Naruto's living allowance needs to increase. Instant noodles every day isn't sustainable."
"And look at his height. He's shorter than some girls. If Kushina-senpai knew how you've raised her son, she'd crawl out of the Pure Land to have a word with you."
Hiruzen visibly flinched.
"Don't talk nonsense. The dead don't come back."
"As for the allowance… I'll have the clan handle it. You'll deliver it to Naruto from now on."
Konosuke narrowed his eyes.
Kushina's entire shopping street probably ended up under Sarutobi control. Otherwise the old man wouldn't agree so quickly.
He turned to leave.
But Hiruzen spoke again.
"Tonight will be chaotic. Don't go out."
"After tonight… Konoha and the Uchiha will be fully reconciled."
Konosuke paused at the doorway.
He didn't turn around.
"Giving others a chance… is giving yourself one."
"You've done well this time, old man."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
The Uchiha matter was finally coming to an end.