Naruto: Dream System

"Yellow Flash…"

Naruto repeated the name softly to himself.

A heat surged through his chest pride, awe, and a strange sense of reverence he had never felt before.

Seeing Naruto's spirits lift a little, Kakashi continued,

"Back then, there was an unwritten rule circulating in the ninja world: if you were on a mission and encountered the Yellow Flash… you were allowed to retreat immediately."

"And it wouldn't even count as a mission failure."

Naruto blinked in surprise.

"Huh?! Why?!"

Kakashi's voice grew steady and serious.

"Because if you didn't retreat right away… chances were, you wouldn't live to see the next day."

Naruto's mouth dropped open.

"So strong?!"

He was stunned but also filled with pride.

He had never imagined that his father's name alone could inspire that level of fear and respect across the entire ninja world.

Iruka nodded beside him. "The Fourth Hokage was incredible… truly awe-inspiring."

But Kakashi didn't look pleased. His voice carried a heavy undertone.

"While it sounds glorious… from Minato-sensei's point of view, it wasn't all praise."

"The fame he earned came through blood and battle. He fought through countless life-and-death missions, over mountains of corpses.

Anyone who didn't retreat… eventually died at his hands."

Naruto felt his breath catch.

Kakashi continued in a low voice,

"That also means… your father made a lot of enemies in the ninja world. There were many who hated the Yellow Flash of Konoha."

"But in the end… none of them ever got the chance to take revenge."

As he said this, a shadow passed through Kakashi's eye, though he quickly hid it before Naruto could notice.

Naruto listened quietly, lost in thought.

His admiration for his father didn't lessen but for the first time, he understood the weight of what it meant to be a hero.

"…So Father carried that much on his back…"

He whispered those words, his understanding of "hero" deepening in a way he hadn't expected.

Kakashi nodded.

"After the Third Shinobi World War ended, Minato-sensei became the Hokage."

"But peace didn't last long. The year you were born… the village was attacked by the Nine-Tails."

At that moment, Naruto's expression tightened, his voice growing hoarse and his eyes turning red again.

He knew that during the Nine-Tails' rampage, many shinobi had died.

The village had suffered enormous loss and long-lasting wounds.

And Iruka-sensei's parents…

Naruto lowered his eyes.

Iruka, standing beside them, also fell silent. His head dropped slightly, his face clouded with pain.

The memory of losing his parents during that disaster was still carved deep into his heart something he could never forget.

Naruto raised his eyes and glanced sideways at Iruka.

Seeing his teacher's sorrowful expression, Naruto's chest tightened.

He felt another pang of guilt and sorrow.

The Nine-Tailed Fox was sealed inside him.

And whether he liked it or not, he had always felt inextricably tied to that night of tragedy.

Kakashi continued calmly:

"After the Nine-Tails attacked, Konoha was left in ruins. The village's power was weakened, and for a while, we stood in a vulnerable position among the Five Great Nations."

"If, at that time, anyone had learned that the Fourth Hokage's only son was not only alive, but also made into a Jinchūriki… can you imagine the consequences?"

"Our enemies wouldn't have hesitated. They'd come after you some in secret, some out in the open."

"The power of the Nine-Tails is something many forces have coveted. And for others, just the chance to take revenge on the Fourth Hokage… or to hurt Konoha… would have been reason enough to eliminate you at any cost."

"But back then, the village was already in tatters. There wasn't enough strength left to guard a newborn like you twenty-four hours a day."

Naruto sat frozen in place, completely stunned.

He couldn't speak.

Iruka, standing beside him, suddenly understood.

"Now that I think about it… Konoha had just lost the Fourth Hokage, and a large number of elite jonin too. The village was struggling both inside and out…"

Kakashi nodded slightly.

"The Third Hokage chose to hide your identity. It wasn't out of cruelty it was a decision made out of necessity. He had to protect the village as a whole."

He paused for a moment, his voice low and solemn.

"I know it was unfair to you. You're the son of a hero, yet you had to live with misunderstanding, isolation, and pain. That's not something anyone should have to endure."

"But Naruto, I hope you can understand the position the Sandaime was in… and the burden he carried."

As Kakashi's explanation came to an end, Naruto remained seated in silence like someone just waking from a long and tangled dream.

He slowly exhaled, and the tension in his shoulders softened.

"So… that's how it is."

He whispered those words, the complicated emotions in his face slowly fading into a trace of bitterness.

He had always thought the villagers hated him just because of the Nine-Tails sealed inside him.

But now he realized there was so much more behind it.

So many hidden reasons… and so much tied to his father.

Now that he had heard the full truth, his resentment toward the Third Hokage eased considerably.

Although he still felt a bit uneasy, he could finally understand.

The Hokage hadn't made those choices out of malice.

"Feeling a little better now, Naruto?" Iruka finally let out a long breath of relief.

He had been silently observing Naruto the whole time, afraid the boy would spiral too deep into anger or grief.

Seeing him finally calm down, Iruka couldn't help but smile.

Naruto lifted his head and gave both his teachers a grateful smile.

"Yeah… Thank you, Kakashi-sensei. Thank you, Iruka-sensei."

The worry in Kakashi's heart eased.

He reached out and ruffled Naruto's hair gently.

"That's all that matters. As long as you understand."

At that moment, Iruka who had been silent for a while suddenly chuckled.

"Kakashi-senpai… I never imagined you had such a gentle and patient side."

There was a new light in Iruka's eyes a mixture of admiration and surprise.

"I've heard so many stories about you during my Academy days. Everyone said you were a cold, no-nonsense, legendary shinobi…"

"But after seeing how you handled Naruto today… I can tell how deeply you care about your students."

Iruka had witnessed Kakashi's steady guidance throughout the conversation.

And his opinion of the legendary Copy Ninja had changed dramatically.

Kakashi, being complimented so directly, scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Well… Naruto is my student, after all."

Kakashi's words came out as if it were the most natural thing in the world

And when Naruto heard them, a gentle warmth bloomed in his chest.

"Naruto, you really are something special."

Iruka followed up quickly, taking the chance while emotions were high. He patted Naruto's shoulder with a bright smile.

"You've got an incredible father, and you've inherited his will to protect the village."

"I believe that as long as you keep working hard, you'll definitely become a great ninja just like him!"

He paused for a second, then added in a more serious tone,

"And when that day comes when you're strong enough to stand without fear, to protect everything you care about the Third Hokage will make your true identity known to everyone."

"By then, the whole village will understand. All their doubts and misunderstandings will vanish."

"Because you are the son of that hero. How could someone like you be defeated by a little setback?"

"…Iruka-sensei…"

Naruto's voice trembled slightly.

His nose tingled, and his heart swelled with emotion and determination.

He nodded fiercely.

Then, for the first time in a while, a genuine smile spread across his face.

He reached up, wiped the lingering tears from the corners of his eyes, and sat up straight.

His eyes lit up again bright and full of resolve.

"I get it now! That's right I'm the son of the Fourth Hokage!"

"I'll carry on my father's will! I'm going to be Hokage! I'll never let anything beat me again!"

As he shouted, he clenched both fists tightly and raised them in the air, filled with spirit and energy.

He had found his fire again his usual sunny, cheerful self had returned.

Just thinking about the greatness of his father ignited something in his heart.

I have to keep training harder. I need to earn everyone's recognition and carry my father's legacy with pride!

Watching the blonde-haired boy bounce back with new energy, Kakashi and Iruka exchanged glances and both smiled in relief.

This… this was the Naruto they knew.

No matter what kind of blow he takes, he always finds his feet.

No matter how painful things get, he never gives up.

Kakashi let out a soft sigh in his heart.

Yeah… Naruto really is just like his father.

That same unwavering heart, that shining resolve.

He draws strength from loneliness… finds light in the darkness…

Not like me…