Chapter 15: In the Spotlight

Not long after Naruto had taken his seat, a ninja in a green vest entered the classroom. With the sound of chalk tapping, the ninja wrote several characters on the blackboard.

“All right, everyone, settle down. I’ll be your teacher from now on. My name is Iruka Umino. You can call me Teacher Umino or Teacher Iruka, either is fine.”

The young ninja’s smile was warm and inviting, brimming with kindness. If Naruto hadn’t sensed the thick scent of blood lingering around him, he might have mistaken him for a gentle older brother. This Iruka Umino… had taken quite a few lives. Naruto mused to himself.

He didn’t seem much older, about the same age as the youngest recruits Naruto had once led. Damn war—forcing children so young onto the battlefield.

After the introduction, Iruka’s gaze swept around the classroom. When his eyes passed over Naruto, his expression grew complex.

“Hmm? Hostility?” Naruto picked up on Iruka’s faint malice toward him. Yet it was subtle, not directed at Naruto himself. Most likely, it was aimed at Kurama.

Naruto considered this quietly.

“Now, please come up to the podium and introduce yourselves—your name, hobbies, dislikes, and what you hope to do in the future.”

With that, Iruka stepped aside and the little students began their introductions one by one.

“My name is Ino Yamanaka. I like flowers, dislike greasy things and raw meat, and I want to be a florist…”

“I’m Shikamaru Nara. I like napping and playing shogi. I hate troublesome matters. I want to live a carefree life.”

“My name is Choji Akimichi. I love barbecue, I hate being called fat, and I want… um… to be with people who cook delicious food and also with Shikamaru…”

“I’m Sakura Haruno. I like sweet red bean dumplings, I dislike spicy things, and my dream is…”

One after another, the students introduced themselves. Soon it was Naruto’s turn.

Under the scrutiny of his classmates, Naruto rose briskly and made his way to the podium, unhurried and composed. Everyone in the room watched him curiously. They all knew his name—Naruto Uzumaki.

To them, Naruto was an enigma, too unconventional. They were eager to learn what interests he might have and what dreams he would share.

Off to the side, Iruka watched Naruto, his heart in turmoil. He knew the Nine Tails was sealed within Naruto. He despised the Nine Tails—his parents had died resisting it six years ago, on the night of the beast’s rampage.

Iruka knew Naruto was the vessel for the Nine Tails, knew that Naruto had protected the safety of the village, recognized him as the most important strategic asset in the village. Rationally, Iruka understood that Naruto was pitiful—for such a young child to be made a tool and a weapon. Yet he could not quell the hatred he felt toward the Nine Tails, nor prevent himself from venting that anger and dislike onto Naruto.

Iruka suffered, lost in confusion. He did not know what to do.

“He is my student—my student…” Iruka repeated to himself, trying to convince his heart.

Standing behind the podium, Naruto sensed a probing gaze fixated upon him.

“Oh? Are they evaluating the reliability and safety of their strategic weapon?” Naruto thought to himself.

“Hello everyone. Although I already introduced myself earlier, I enjoy talking with all of you, so I’ll introduce myself again.”

Naruto beamed, radiating warmth.

“My name is Naruto Uzumaki. What I like most are things that bring happiness to others. What I hate are things that cause pain.”

“My dream is for everyone to never be hurt again, for all to live together in happiness. Thank you!”

He gave a slight bow and stepped down from the podium.

“For everyone to never be hurt again… is that so?” Iruka repeated the words under his breath, sighing deeply.

“What a gentle and grand wish. I too hope for such a day, when no more people like me will be born.”

“To realize this wish, perhaps I should start with the small things within my reach. For example, never again causing someone to be hurt because of me.”

Far away, in an office at the Hokage building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi covered the crystal ball with a cloth.

Three elder advisors gathered around him, each pondering in silence before voicing their opinions.

Koharu Utatane spoke first: “From what he said, it’s clear that this child possesses the Will of Fire. Past ANBU reports show he’s acutely aware of the villagers’ animosity toward him and takes care to avoid it. I think his Will of Fire is flawed and shadowed; he needs stronger guidance.”

Next, Homura Mitokado commented, “He’s a very gentle child, but inside, incredibly resolute. No matter what, we must not let him become estranged from Konoha, or he’ll become a calamity—not just for the village, but for the entire ninja world.”

“Therefore, I maintain my previous stance.”

Danzo Shimura’s voice was cold and grim. “Your indulgence is wasting his talent. A jinchuriki is the finest raw gem—I’ve prepared a full plan to develop his value. Through deep isolation, genjutsu education, and kill training, he would become the perfect killing machine.”

“Enough! Haven’t you caused enough chaos?” Hiruzen Sarutobi snapped. “Could you survive your own training regimen? What strong shinobi ever grew through your methods?”

“Bonds! Only through bonds with comrades and the village can true strength be forged!”

“If you hadn’t acted rashly, leaking Naruto’s jinchuriki status and pushing him away from the village, we wouldn’t now be troubled by his psychological state!”

Hiruzen had never understood.

A fine sword must be carefully forged and maintained to unleash its full power at the critical moment. Why, then, did Danzo, under the guise of forging swords, always throw them amidst rubble, letting them be trampled at will?

Danzo, too, considered Hiruzen to be the fool.

A good blade should taste blood. Without tempering, how could one forge a true sword? Locking a famous sword away and singing lullabies over it—how could that produce greatness? The idea was laughable.

“Hmph, Hiruzen. Sooner or later, your indecisiveness will destroy you.”

Danzo snorted, flicked his sleeve, and left.

His departure signaled the end of the meeting. In fact, this evaluation of the jinchuriki’s mental health had been his initiative. With the initiator gone, why should the others linger?

Koharu and Homura departed as well.

Only Hiruzen remained, alone in the darkness, pipe clamped between his teeth, lost in silent contemplation.

“Danzo, you are right. Now that I am old, I am indeed too indecisive.”

Hiruzen spoke softly to himself as he drew on his pipe.

“I have already made mistakes. I must never repeat them.”

“The survival of Konoha outweighs all else.”