"Naruto." Sarutobi Hiruzen asked kindly, "Today was your first day of school. How was it?"
"Very good!" Uzumaki Naruto replied happily, "Especially Mr. Kitazawa—he's super cool!"
As he spoke, he proudly raised the snack bag in his hand and shook it.
"Did you buy those snacks yourself?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked with a smile, seeing how cheerful he was.
"They're a reward from Mr. Kitazawa!" Uzumaki Naruto opened the snack pack and exclaimed.
The variety inside exceeded his expectations—lollipops, chocolates, sandwich cookies, French fries, and more.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a glance and nodded slightly. 'Kitazawa... not bad. He's the kind of teacher worth building a connection with Naruto.'
Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled how Kitazawa had helped Naruto multiple times today. He secretly thought: the Best Teacher award this year might once again go to Kitazawa.
Although it may seem like favoritism, he was the Hokage—no one would dare question his decisions.
"Here, Grandpa Third!" Uzumaki Naruto offered him a lollipop.
"I'm long past the age for sweets." Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled, reaching out to pat Naruto's head. "You enjoy it."
Uzumaki Naruto hesitated briefly, then took the lollipop back.
"Besides the teacher, how are your classmates? Did you make any friends?" Sarutobi Hiruzen opened the door and walked into the living room with Naruto.
"I feel like Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Ino are pretty nice to me." Naruto scratched his head. "But I don't know if we're actually friends yet."
"Not yet, but you will be." Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't surprised.
Those kids were all from ninja clans, and they were aware of the "demon fox" rumors. But their fathers had either fought beside Namikaze Minato or been helped by him.
"Not bad!"
Naruto said excitedly, "I, Uzumaki Naruto, will finally have friends!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. What Naruto had endured was too harsh for any child. But… this was a necessary sacrifice.
The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was Konoha's trump card—it had to be treated with caution.
"Grandpa Third." Naruto sat on the sofa, bit into a sandwich cookie, and asked, "Do you know the Fourth Hokage?"
"Why are you suddenly asking about the Fourth?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, his expression calm.
"Well..." Naruto explained, "Mr. Kitazawa said that if I want everyone to acknowledge me, I need to learn from the Hokage."
"Then why not ask me?" Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled. "Many say I'm the strongest Hokage."
"I plan to learn from all four Hokage. If I do that, I'll definitely surpass them all!" Naruto grinned. "I'm really smart, right, Grandpa Third?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback for a second, then burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Naruto asked, confused. "Is there something wrong with my plan?"
"Not at all." Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard. "If you truly manage to combine the strengths of all four Hokage, you really could surpass them."
"Awesome!" Naruto said, full of motivation.
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled, choosing not to dampen his enthusiasm. Combine the power of the Four Hokages? Even he hadn't achieved that—let alone Naruto.
Frankly, no ninja in the world ever had.
"The Fourth Hokage was Namikaze Minato." Sarutobi Hiruzen's face softened with nostalgia. "He was perfect—gentle, powerful… known as the Yellow Flash."
"Why was he called the Yellow Flash?" Naruto asked, curious.
"Because his hair was golden, just like yours, and he was the fastest ninja in the world." Sarutobi Hiruzen said calmly, "That's how he got the title."
"How fast?" Naruto leaned forward.
"Faster than light." Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, then said, "Enemies were taken down before they even saw his face."
"Amazing!" Naruto was stunned. "I want to become that fast too!"
"You'll have your chance." Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled.
"Then…" Naruto hesitated as something came to mind.
"What is it?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said gently. "Ask whatever you want."
"He was so strong… how did he die?" Naruto asked softly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile froze. His mind flashed back to that chaotic night of the Nine-Tails' attack.
---
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hinata." After the other students left, Kitazawa approached Hyuga Hinata.
"It wasn't long, Teacher," Hinata replied softly.
"Here." Kitazawa handed her two snack bags.
"I… I already got one." Hinata shook her head politely.
"One isn't enough." Kitazawa suddenly recalled her appetite in the original timeline—she once ate forty-six bowls of ramen.
"I really have enough." Hinata blushed and replied.
"Nope, it's still not enough." Kitazawa pushed the snacks into her arms. "Don't be shy with me."
"Th-Thank you, Mr. Kitazawa." Hinata hugged the snacks, her long lashes trembling like a startled rabbit, looking flustered.
"Alright, back to business." Kitazawa gently patted her head. "I've found the three boys you mentioned."
Hinata's body tensed as the memory of the last time surfaced—her eyes filled with fear.
"Hinata." Kitazawa looked serious. "I'll have them meet you after school tomorrow. I'll teach them a proper lesson."
"Okay..." Hinata met his warm gaze, and her anxiety gradually eased.
"See you tomorrow," Kitazawa said, turning to leave.
"Goodbye, Mr. Kitazawa." Hinata felt a bit reluctant.
She clutched the snack bags and walked toward the gate. After a few steps, she looked back and saw that Kitazawa was still standing there as if waiting for someone.
Hinata looked down at the snacks in her hands, a small smile blooming on her face.
"Miss Hinata." A sudden voice called.
A white-eyed boy stood before her.
"Tokuma." Hinata quickly straightened her posture and adopted the manners drilled into her by Hiashi Hyuga. As a Hyuga's main family member, she had her own branch family protector.
Not long after she left, Yūhi Kurenai appeared before Kitazawa.
"Only after becoming a teacher myself did I realize how amazing you are." Yuhi Kurenai sighed.
"That's my exclusive experience." Kitazawa smiled and handed her a scroll.