NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: chapter 8
Inside the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage was facing a new headache. Known for his image of being approachable and understanding, he found himself dealing with the complaints of parents whose children had been beaten by Naruto.
"Lord Hokage, that wild child needs to be disciplined! Look at what he did to my son!" one parent wailed.
"If you don't keep him in check, who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause next? He's a menace to the village!" another parent added.
Some even demanded drastic measures.
"Lord Hokage, you should drive Naruto out of the village! His existence is a curse on us all!"
Despite the barrage of complaints, the Third Hokage maintained a calm demeanor, offering a patient smile.
"I understand your concerns, but children getting into fights is a natural part of their growth. It shows their spirited nature," he said.
The parents, clearly unsatisfied, pressed further, but the Third Hokage was prepared.
"From what I understand, it was your children who instigated the incident, targeting a young girl. Naruto simply stepped in to defend her. In fact, this is a textbook case of justifiable self-defense."
"Justifiable defense?" one parent spluttered. "Our children were just playing with that little girl! Naruto was the one who started this!"
"Exactly!" another chimed in. "That wild boy came out of nowhere and beat up our children!"
The Third Hokage's patient smile didn't waver, though his tone grew a bit firmer.
"The girl in question is none other than Hinata Hyuga, the daughter of the Hyuga clan's patriarch."
The room fell into an uneasy silence. The Hyuga clan was one of the most powerful families in the village, and no one in their right mind wanted to provoke them.
The parents who had been so vocal moments earlier suddenly seemed to deflate, exchanging worried glances. Their indignation turned to fear as they realized the potential consequences of their children's actions.
Sensing the shift in the room, the Third Hokage spoke again, his voice soothing.
"Don't worry; I will personally ensure that the Hyuga patriarch does not pursue this matter further. However, I urge you to teach your children to be more respectful. Everyone in this village is a companion, and kindness should always come first."
The parents, now eager to avoid further trouble, nodded vigorously.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage. You're absolutely right. We'll make sure this doesn't happen again," one of them said hurriedly before leaving.
As the last of the parents left, the Third Hokage sighed in relief. Lighting his pipe, he reflected on how well he had handled the situation. Not only had he diffused the complaints, but he had also subtly reinforced the importance of unity and understanding among the villagers.
His thoughts then turned to Naruto. According to Anbu's report, Naruto had acted decisively to protect Hinata, a gesture that brought a smile to the Hokage's face.
"It seems the Will of Fire burns brightly in him after all," he murmured.
---
Later that day, the Third Hokage decided to visit Naruto. Disguising himself as a kindly village elder, he made his way to the boy's small apartment, drawn by the tantalizing aroma of cooking food.
"Naruto, I've come to see you!" the Hokage called out as he pushed open the door.
Naruto, busy stirring a pot of soup, looked up in surprise.
"Grandpa Hokage? You're here again? Are you staying for dinner this time? I've got plenty of food!"
"Well, I wouldn't want to impose…" the Hokage began, though his actions betrayed him as he sat down, clearly ready to eat.
Naruto rolled his eyes but continued cooking. After some time, he served up the meal: grilled fish, egg custard, and a hearty mushroom soup. The Hokage eagerly dug in, savoring each bite.
But halfway through the meal, he paused, a sudden wave of dizziness washing over him.
"Is there… an illusion trap in this room?" he muttered, suddenly wary. Then he noticed the vibrant, suspiciously bright mushrooms in his soup and put two and two together.
"Naruto, these mushrooms—did you check if they were safe?"
Naruto blinked at him, completely unfazed.
"Yeah, I always check by eating them first. If they're poisonous, I just wait for the stomachache to pass. No big deal."
The Third Hokage stared at him, utterly baffled.
"You… what? You can't just eat random mushrooms to see if they're poisonous! That's not how this works!"
Naruto shrugged.
"It's worked so far. Today's just bad luck, I guess."
The Hokage pinched the bridge of his nose, suppressing the urge to lecture further.
"Let me make one thing clear: poisonous mushrooms remain poisonous, no matter how you cook them. I'll bring you a guide to identifying edible plants later. For now, let's hope this passes quickly…"
The next two hours were spent alternating trips to the bathroom. By the end, both Naruto and the Hokage looked pale and exhausted.
"Grandpa Hokage, should we finish the soup? It really was tasty…" Naruto suggested, his tone far too innocent.
The Third Hokage groaned, shaking his head.
"Absolutely not. And from now on, you're not allowed to forage for food until you've read the guide I'll bring you."
Naruto nodded solemnly, though he couldn't resist adding,
"Then, Grandpa Hokage, can you also bring me some ninja training books? If I become a ninja, I won't have to worry about eating poisonous mushrooms anymore."
The Hokage considered the request for a moment before nodding.
"Alright, I'll get you some books. But on one condition—no one else is to know about what happened today. Understood?"
Naruto grinned.
"Deal."
As the Third Hokage left, he couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. No one would believe him if he admitted he'd been outsmarted by a child—and nearly taken down by a pot of soup.