Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

Nighttime — Konoha Hospital

In the brightly lit corridor, Naruto Uzumaki and Konohamaru stood quietly in the waiting area, their eyes red and swollen from crying.

Only now did Konohamaru finally understand: his grandfather, the Third Hokage, was gone… and his uncle, Asuma, was critically injured and hospitalized.

The little boy who always took pride in being the Third Hokage's grandson now stood frozen, completely at a loss.

He instinctively grabbed the hem of Naruto's shirt and looked up at the boy who had once saved his life.

"Brother Naruto… you'll protect me and Mom, right?"

"…"

"Brother Naruto?"

"I'll try," Naruto muttered without looking at him, his eyes drifting to the heavy rain pouring down outside. "Just don't annoy me too much."

He's just a brat after all—he doesn't understand anything. The only reason he keeps clinging to me is because the old man taught him to.

Hearing Naruto's answer, Konohamaru let out a small sigh of relief.

"Okay. I won't make you mad again, ever."

As long as a child has someone to rely on, they can find comfort. Konohamaru's expression eased slightly, no longer as devastated as when he first heard the news of his grandfather's death.

He followed behind Naruto silently.

Boom!

Thunder rumbled outside as several squads of shinobi entered the hospital lobby. Naruto recognized many familiar faces. They were likely here to check on Asuma, whose condition was still unknown.

Everyone in the village knew that the Ino–Shika–Chō families had a long-standing bond with the Sarutobi clan.

"Naruto!"

Ino, the blonde girl, folded her umbrella and immediately spotted Naruto across the room.

Her face lit up with a smile, and she instinctively wanted to run over to greet him—but a cough from Shikamaru stopped her.

Looking back, she saw her father staring at her with a stern expression. Ino stuck out her tongue sheepishly and fell back in line, following obediently.

As she passed Naruto, she whispered with a smile, "See you tomorrow."

Naruto smiled back.

Yamanaka Inoichi, watching from behind, had noticed his daughter's little moment with Naruto.

Given everything that had happened lately, he had a feeling he knew what was going on. After all, Ino had told him yesterday that Naruto was the one who found a safe place for her, Shikamaru, and Choji during the invasion. He now had a more favorable opinion of the boy.

If it hadn't been for the late Third Hokage's request, he wouldn't have cared much about his daughter's emotional choices. But now, with Asuma possibly out of the picture and the Sarutobi clan in disarray, the political weight had shifted.

For now, he decided, he would go along with whatever Ino wanted.

Naruto, meanwhile, sensed someone watching him, though he didn't look. He'd grown used to being observed. The ANBU had monitored him for months—especially Mao Yueyan. They had just recently backed off, and now it felt like they were back on duty again.

He turned down the hallway to the left and waved, expecting someone.

No response.

Huh. Not coming today?

Right—Gekko Hayate's dead. She probably has time off to grieve.

The rain outside grew heavier. A strong gust blew a window open, sending droplets scattering through the lobby and chilling the air instantly.

"Tch. This window must've been installed by amateurs," Naruto muttered.

After a long wait, Sarutobi Hazuki finally exited the ward. Her expression was grim.

Asuma's condition didn't look good.

"Let's go home," she said softly, motioning for Naruto and Konohamaru to follow her.

At the entrance of the hospital, the three of them opened umbrellas and stepped into the rain. Hazuki's worried look never left her face.

Konohamaru, trying to comfort her, said bravely, "Don't be scared, Mom. Naruto-san will protect us."

"Really?" Hazuki looked at Naruto, her eyes searching his.

Naruto nodded firmly. "Don't worry, ma'am. I'll do everything I can."

Hazuki gave him a gentle smile. "Thank you, Naruto-kun."

But behind that smile, unease still lingered. Her father-in-law was dead. Now her brother-in-law was seriously injured. As a woman with no chakra ability, she wondered if she could continue to lead the Sarutobi family.

Human ambition has no end. Even the clansmen who appeared loyal might be swayed by those with ulterior motives. If things went south, her only choice would be to take Konohamaru and return to her mother's home to wait things out.

The rainwater flowed down the streets in rivulets, soaking through the thin tabi socks beneath Hazuki's kimono. The wet fabric clung to her ankles, nearly transparent from the moisture.

Another downside to wearing traditional attire in weather like this.

Inside a nearby ramen shop, Hoshigaki Kisame sat silently, hiding from the storm.

He glanced toward the street and muttered, "Mr. Itachi, I found our target."

Lifting the brim of his straw hat, he revealed a shark-like face with gills and sharp teeth.

As Hazuki and her group walked off, Kisame silently began to follow.

There were too many people here. This wasn't the right place to strike.

Capturing the Jinchūriki would have to wait.

Naruto's eyelids twitched. Through the reflection in a nearby shop window, he spotted the telltale red clouds on the black cloak—and the massive weapon wrapped in bandages slung across the man's back.

Elsewhere in the village, Sasuke sat on the stone steps outside a civilian home, sheltering from the rain with a group of workers.

After a day of hauling cement, he looked exhausted.

He wasn't the only Genin doing reconstruction work. Rock Lee and Neji Hyuga were there too, along with several others he didn't recognize.

The workers were chatting nearby, impressed by how much faster repairs went with ninja help. Nearly a third of Konoha's wall had already been patched up.

If it hadn't rained for hours, they might've finished half today—maybe all of it by tomorrow.

Sasuke sat quietly, chewing on a rice ball. His distant demeanor made people avoid talking to him.

Eventually, due to the worsening storm, the work was canceled and everyone headed home.

Watching other kids get picked up by their families, Sasuke couldn't help feeling a little lonely.

"Sasuke!"

A deep voice pierced the sound of rain.

He froze.

That voice… he would never forget it. Not in this lifetime.

He turned around.

There, standing in the rain as if summoned by a nightmare, was Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi raised a hand, as if to poke Sasuke's forehead—just like he used to in the past.

But those days were long gone.

Now, they were mortal enemies.

In an instant, Sasuke's Sharingan activated—three tomoe spinning in his eyes, filled with fury.

"Uchiha Itachi! I'm going to kill you today!"

He went all in.

Fueled by the cursed seal's chakra, Sasuke released Chidori from both hands and charged, lightning crackling violently in his palms.

But Itachi didn't even move. He just stood there, his own Sharingan activated, calmly watching his younger brother's attack.

"Come on, my foolish little brother," he said coldly.

"Let me see how much you've grown."

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