Chapter 367: Chapter 365 : Naruto and Mizuki!!
Naruto felt a bit happy.
In all his years in Konoha, hardly anyone dared to talk to him!
So, whenever someone approached him, Naruto would smile and show his best side. He wanted to make new friends!
But things didn’t go as he wished.
Despite his best efforts to open up, some people only grew more distant from him. Even the teachers at school treated him with cold indifference.
Except for Iruka-sensei, who occasionally showed some care, Naruto had almost no one else.
The only people in the whole village he could count as friends were Genya and the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
It was with the support and care of the Hokage that Naruto found the determination to become Hokage himself!
Only by becoming Hokage would the villagers truly recognize him, stop avoiding him, and he could protect children who suffered like he did.
This was the faith that drove him to keep training and grow stronger.
"Naruto, why are you here all alone? And you look a little upset," Mizuki said, sitting beside Naruto with a kind smile on his face.
It seemed like he wanted to get close to Naruto.
"I just wanted to be alone for a while," Naruto replied stubbornly, his expression serious.
He didn’t want to share his troubles with anyone, nor let others know what he was going through.
Besides, Mizuki-sensei couldn’t really help him.
"You may have already become a genin, but you haven’t fully graduated from the Ninja Academy yet. So, I’m still your teacher now," Mizuki looked at Naruto gently and continued, "If you ever face difficulties, you can talk to me. As your teacher, I can still guide you. Don’t be sad alone."
Mizuki had a clear plan. If he wanted Naruto to work for him, he had to pretend to be close, and then slowly lead him step by step.
So, his tone was gentle when he spoke, which deeply moved Uzumaki Naruto.
"Teacher Mizuki, then why do those people all hate me and avoid me?" Naruto looked at Mizuki, his voice a little hesitant.
"I clearly just want to be friends with them, but they keep their distance, and some even leave as soon as they see me!"
At these words, Mizuki pretended to look troubled.
His expression seemed to suggest he knew some hidden truth, but for some reason, he couldn’t tell Naruto everything.
"Teacher Mizuki, you know something, don’t you?" Naruto’s eyes showed sadness.
"And... what is this ’Nine-Tails’ that they talk about? If you know, please tell me!"
"If not... I won’t be able to accept it. Please, teacher, tell me why!"
Naruto spoke very earnestly. This time, seeing Mizuki’s hesitation, he finally couldn’t hold back.
In truth, when he was with Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had hinted at this question, but Hiruzen always dodged it. So even now, Naruto didn’t fully understand.
He also didn’t know why those people feared and hated him so much.
"Naruto, there are some things you’re not ready to know yet." Mizuki put on a troubled expression and said,
"When the time comes, the Third Hokage himself will tell you."
"But when will that be?" Naruto’s eyes revealed his unwillingness to accept the silence. He looked at Mizuki and asked,
"Is it because they despise me for being an orphan? Because of the Nine-Tails? Or maybe my parents committed some great crime that made the village hate me?"
"Teacher Mizuki, please just tell me."
By the end, his voice was pleading.
Over the years, it seemed he had lived in endless neglect. He wanted to understand why the villagers hated him so much.
"Naruto... don’t talk about your parents. Your parents are heroes. True heroes, they are!" Mizuki listened to Naruto’s complaints and pretended to scold him angrily.
But as he spoke further, he suddenly realized he had said too much, and abruptly stopped himself.
"What kind of people are my parents, Teacher Mizuki?" Naruto caught the key point. Looking at Mizuki, a sharp light sparked in his eyes.
He wanted to know what kind of people his parents really were.
"Didn’t the Third Hokage tell you about your parents?" Mizuki said helplessly, watching Naruto’s hopeful gaze.
"No." Naruto shook his head. Yet, his eyes grew brighter as he looked at Mizuki and asked, "Teacher, who are my parents?"
"Even the Third Hokage didn’t tell you this? He really hid too much. If I tell you, the Third Hokage probably won’t blame me!" Mizuki frowned in frustration, then sighed deeply as Naruto’s eager eyes urged him to continue.
"Naruto, have you seen the Hokage Rock ahead?"
"Hokage Rock?" Naruto was surprised but still looked up. From here, he could clearly see the carved figures above.
"I can see it, but what does that have to do with my parents?"
The village was founded by Uchiha Madara and the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. Beside them were the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
But what did any of that have to do with him?
Did the figures on the Hokage Rock have anything to do with his parents?
"Of course it does," Mizuki nodded confidently. He also looked at the Hokage Rock but focused on the statue of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
"Look at the statue of the Fourth Hokage."
"Got it!" Naruto Uzumaki nodded, speaking seriously.
"That statue is carved in honor of your father, Minato Namikaze!" Mizuki stared at the statue ahead, his tone solemn. "He is the hero of Konoha!"
Buzz!~~
Naruto’s mind buzzed in confusion. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, is his father?
Why hadn’t the Third Hokage told him this?
"This can’t be true, right?" Naruto still found it hard to believe what Mizuki said. If Minato Namikaze was really his father... then why had no one ever told him?
And why did so many people hate him?
"It’s true," Mizuki nodded seriously. Seeing Naruto’s earnest expression, he continued, "You can ask the Third Hokage yourself. No—if he doesn’t want to tell you, no matter how you ask, he won’t say. But you can ask Kakashi. He was your father’s student back then!"
"Kakashi?" Naruto whispered the name softly, trying to imprint it deeply in his mind.
But then, thinking further, he added, "If my father is the Fourth Hokage, then why do my classmates still distance themselves from me, even... call me a demon fox?"
"Distance you... demon fox?" Mizuki looked at Naruto’s troubled eyes and slowly began, "That’s because of another matter—the tailed beast, the jinchūriki!"
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