Uzumaki's Meal
Inside the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, found himself facing yet another troublesome situation. As the leader of Konohagakure, he had always maintained a warm and approachable image, but today, he was once again confronted by a group of disgruntled parents.
"Sandaime-sama, please do something about that wild child! Look at what he did to my son!"
"If you don't discipline him, he'll cause even greater problems. He's already making a mess of the village!"
"Sandaime-sama, Naruto should be expelled from the village! He's a danger to everyone!"
Even for someone as wise and experienced as the Third Hokage, handling such complaints was no simple task. Maintaining his composed demeanor, he smiled reassuringly and said:
"I understand your concerns, but children getting into scuffles is hardly unusual. These incidents don't necessarily mean a child is ill-behaved."
He paused before adding, "And as far as I've heard, it was your children who started the trouble first—ganging up on a little girl. Naruto simply stepped in to defend her."
"Defend her?!" one of the parents scoffed. "My son is well-mannered at home! Why would he pick on anyone?"
"That's right! Naruto just barged in and attacked them for no reason!" another insisted.
Hiruzen sighed inwardly. He had spent years mediating village disputes, but this kind of hypocrisy was particularly tiresome. He decided to remind them of a crucial detail.
"The girl in question is Hinata Hyuga," he said calmly, "daughter of Hiashi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga Clan."
The parents' expressions instantly shifted. The Hyuga Clan was one of the most powerful noble families in the village. Offending them could have serious consequences.
Realizing their mistake, the parents quickly adjusted their attitudes. "O-Of course, Hokage-sama. We'll make sure to discipline our children properly…"
Hiruzen nodded, satisfied. "Good. We must all strive for harmony in the village."
After the parents left—dragging their now-nervous children with them—Hiruzen returned to his office, lighting his pipe as he reflected on the situation.
Naruto's actions had been commendable.
Despite the way the villagers treated him, he had still chosen to stand up for someone in need. He had protected Hinata, not for personal gain, but simply because it was the right thing to do.
Perhaps… Naruto was already embodying the Will of Fire.
Determined to encourage the boy's growth, Hiruzen rose from his chair. "Please handle the paperwork for now," he told his assistant. "I'm going out for a walk."
Disguising himself as an elderly villager, he made his way through the bustling streets of Konoha. Before long, the enticing aroma of food reached his nose.
He smiled. He wasn't too late.
---
"Naruto, I'm here to see you."
Hiruzen stepped inside Naruto's small apartment to find the boy standing on a stool, stirring something in a pot.
"Grandpa Hokage, you came!" Naruto beamed. "Are you here for dinner? I've got plenty of ingredients today!"
Hiruzen feigned hesitation. "Oh, I wouldn't want to impose…"
"You're very kind," Naruto muttered under his breath, before subtly adding some brightly colored mushrooms to the dish.
A short while later, lunch was served: grilled fish, egg custard, and a steaming bowl of mushroom soup.
Hiruzen ate heartily, but midway through the meal, a wave of dizziness hit him. His vision blurred. His stomach churned.
"An illusion? No… this is…" His eyes darted toward the soup—specifically, the strangely vibrant mushrooms floating in it.
"Naruto," he said slowly, "do you feel… a bit dizzy?"
Naruto rubbed his forehead. "A little. Maybe the mushrooms weren't cooked enough… or maybe they were poisonous. But don't worry, the stomachache should go away in a few hours. I'm used to it."
Hiruzen nearly dropped his chopsticks. "You're… used to this?"
"Yeah, it's how I tell which mushrooms are poisonous," Naruto said matter-of-factly. "I just eat them and see what happens."
The Hokage stared at him in disbelief. This boy is completely reckless.
The next two hours were spent taking turns running to the bathroom. By the end, both of them looked pale and exhausted.
Naruto, still determined, glanced at the pot. "Grandpa Hokage, do you think we should try again? The soup actually tasted pretty good…"
Hiruzen shook his head firmly. While using a medical ninjutsu to ease his discomfort, he sighed.
"Naruto, I'll bring you a complete guide to edible plants. You need to stop picking random things to eat—it's dangerous."
Naruto perked up. "Really? Can you also bring me some ninja books? If I become a ninja, I won't have to worry about food anymore!"
Hiruzen studied the boy for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But in return, don't tell anyone about my stomachache."
The last thing he needed was for the other Kage to hear that he had been poisoned by a genin-in-training.
Lesson of the day: Not all mushrooms are safe to eat—even if you cook them.
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