“Iruka…
what exactly happened to you?
Can you tell me?”
Iruka looked at the old man standing before him, his expression complicated.
The ANBU captain known as Itachi had already departed with the rest of his squad.
The street, left in considerable disarray after the brief battle, now contained only Iruka and the Third Hokage.
It would be a lie to say that Iruka felt no pressure under the Third Hokage’s questioning.
The man before him was recognized throughout Konoha as one of its strongest shinobi.
Not to mention that Iruka had already expended more than half of his chakra during his brief clash with Itachi—even at full strength, he wouldn’t stand the slightest chance against him.
He could run, of course.
But what then?
Become a missing-nin?
Don’t be ridiculous.
Unless he had absolutely no other choice, who would willingly become a fugitive from their own village?
Fortunately, Iruka could sense that although the Third Hokage was questioning him, there was no hostility in his demeanor.
Judging from his tone, he also seemed to have been quite close to the original Iruka.
In that case—
“Lord Third, may I choose not to answer?”
The Third Hokage’s aged eyes narrowed slightly.
“Oh?
And why is that?”
“Everyone has secrets.
Even you, Lord Third, must have things you don’t want others to know, don’t you?”
Iruka shrugged as he spoke, as though it were only natural.
“That’s true.”
The Third Hokage stood with his hands clasped behind his back, acknowledging Iruka’s reasoning.
But in the next moment, his tone shifted.
“However, it depends on the nature of those secrets.
From the Hokage’s position, I cannot tolerate—”
Before he could finish, Iruka spoke decisively.
“I swear on my honor that my reasons for remaining silent have nothing to do with any intention of harming Konoha.
I would never do anything to its detriment.
After all…”
Iruka slowly raised his head and looked directly into the Third Hokage’s eyes.
His face was filled with sincerity.
“This is one of the few true peaceful places in the shinobi world, and the only place I can call home.
No matter what happens, I will never harm this place.”
Iruka meant every word.
According to the knowledge he had inherited, Konoha truly could be considered a haven of peace.
It certainly had a darker side, but at least that darkness remained hidden beneath the surface.
Unlike Kirigakure, which had once openly earned the infamous name of the Bloody Mist Village, Konoha did not wear its darkness so openly.
Iruka was truly tired of conflict.
He didn’t want to be drawn into another struggle.
All he wanted was to quietly work as a Ninja Academy teacher.
Therefore, he would strive to follow the path of a guide.
No matter how powerful he became, he would never again pursue the same path he had walked in his previous life.
He knew all too well that the road to the pinnacle ended in nothing but endless emptiness.
A lofty status?
Absolute power?
All they brought were false flattery and fearful gazes.
Nothing more.
Even a life without a single defeat could ultimately be meaningless.
Having experienced it once, Iruka had no desire to repeat the same mistakes.
In this life, he would continue training and growing stronger, but he would no longer use his strength to walk the same road he had taken before.
As for why he refused to tell the Third Hokage the truth, the reason was even simpler.
Was he supposed to say, “I’m not really Iruka.
I’m a stranger who accidentally crossed over from another world”?
Even setting aside whether the Third Hokage would believe such a story, once it was established that he wasn’t the real Umino Iruka, his fate would undoubtedly be grim.
“Is that so…?”
They say the eyes are the windows to the soull.
Iruka’s decision to meet the Third Hokage’s gaze without hesitation was the strongest proof of his sincerity.
An old hand like the Third Hokage was not someone who could be easily fooled.
If Iruka had shown even the slightest hesitation, the Third Hokage would never have believed him.
After living so long—and serving as Hokage for so many years—if he couldn’t see through a young man’s lies, he might as well have lived all those years for nothing.
The Third Hokage contemplated his words for a moment.
Seeing that Iruka displayed no unusual behavior under his scrutiny, he finally broke into a hearty smile.
“You’ve grown up, Iruka.
You’re no longer the class clown you used to be.
Then again, that’s only natural.
When you grow up, you start having secrets of your own.
Very well.
I won’t ask any further.”
Iruka secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed he had finally passed the Hokage’s test.
That was for the best.
With the Hokage’s approval, he could remain safely in the village without suppressing his true personality.
Asking him to perfectly imitate someone whose personality was completely different from his own would be worse than simply leaving Konoha.
“My apologies, Lord Third.
I’ve caused you concern.”
“Heh heh…
No, I should be the one apologizing.
I’ve watched you grow up, yet I still had to view you from the perspective of the Hokage.
I hope you won’t take offense at this old man’s suspicion.”
Iruka hurriedly waved his hands, looking somewhat flustered.
“No, of course not!
How could I think that?
As Hokage, you have a responsibility to the entire village.
You can’t afford even the slightest oversight.”
“Heh…
I’m glad you understand.
I’ll explain things to the higher-ups.
After all, I know your background better than anyone.
With this old man vouching for you, I doubt they’ll give you any more trouble.
“Of course, don’t misunderstand them.
The higher-ups only sent the ANBU because they were concerned for the village.
Their methods may have been a little excessive, but they acted for Konoha’s sake.
I hope you won’t come to resent them because of this.”
“Yes.
I understand.”
The Third Hokage nodded.
With that, the matter was settled.
And at this hour, it wasn’t the time for a leisurely conversation.
It was about time for them to part ways.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, the Third Hokage turned to Iruka.
“By the way, Iruka, what do you think of Naruto?”
Iruka looked at him in confusion.
Why would the Hokage ask him about an orphan?
Could Naruto perhaps have some special background?
After thinking it over, Iruka answered directly.
“You mean Uzumaki Naruto?
I think he’s a child with tremendous potential.
Although his natural talent isn’t particularly high, he possesses a rare and precious strength of will that many others lack.
If he’s given proper guidance and training, his future achievements could be limitless.”
The Third Hokage was clearly surprised by Iruka’s answer.
He hadn’t expected Iruka to hold Naruto in such high regard.
His lips moved as though there were many things he wanted to ask, but after hesitating for a moment, he merely said:
“It’s good that you feel that way.
I was worried you might hold some resentment toward Naruto because of that incident, but it seems I was worrying unnecessarily.
That’s for the best.
Go ahead and do things as you see fit.”
What the hell?
That incident?
What incident?
Iruka was puzzled, but he didn’t ask.
That “incident” seemed to have had a significant impact on the original Iruka.
Asking about it directly would practically be the same as announcing, I’m not Iruka.
“Yes, Lord Third.”
The Third Hokage asked a few more questions about Iruka’s work as a teacher, and Iruka casually answered them.
Perhaps noticing that Iruka wasn’t in the best condition, the Third Hokage offered a few polite words about taking care of himself before finally leaving.
“Haaah…
I’m exhausted.”
Iruka let out a long yawn, his face full of fatigue.
The brief battle had consumed more than half of his chakra, and that naturally took its toll on his body.
Right now, even lifting his eyelids felt like an effort.
But now that I’ve cleared this hurdle, those little brats are going to have a rough time…
At that thought, the corner of Iruka’s mouth curled into a meaningful smile.
The bright moon illuminated the road home, stretching Iruka’s shadow long beneath its light.
Like his wandering thoughts, it extended into the distance, toward the stars beyond.