Hokage : My Nine tails are getting more and more

"I'm doing fine, really," Naruto whispered to Kushina as they approached the Hokage's office. His tone was meant to reassure her, but it only deepened her concern.

Kushina, however, interpreted his words as her son trying to shield her from the harsh reality. He must have been enduring so much, and yet, here he was, insisting that everything was alright. Her heart ached. She reached out and playfully pinched Naruto's cheek. "Don't worry, Naruto. Mom will take care of everything. That old man, the Third Hokage, promised your father!"

Naruto smiled weakly, feeling a bit overwhelmed. This was all happening so fast, and he didn't want to make his mother worry more than she already was. But Kushina had made up her mind, and there was no stopping her.

Anbu guards stood at the entrance of the office, watching the interaction in confusion. They hadn't yet realized that the young woman before them was Kushina, only disguised as a younger version of herself.

Without waiting for permission, Kushina pushed open the door to the Hokage's office.

Inside, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat comfortably behind his desk, puffing on his pipe while reviewing some documents. When the door creaked open, he glanced up casually, but his expression quickly shifted from nonchalance to shock. His pipe slipped from his fingers, landing on the desk with a soft thud.

"Kushina?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen could barely believe his eyes. The vibrant red hair, the unmistakable aura—there was no doubt about it. It was her.

One of the Anbu reprimanded Kushina, mistaking her for a young intruder. "Hey! You can't just barge in here—"

Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly interjected, his voice tense, "You are dismissed. Now."

The Anbu hesitated but obeyed the Hokage's command without question, leaving the room.

Hiruzen turned his full attention to Kushina, his expression still one of disbelief. "Kushina, how...?"

Kushina, standing protectively beside Naruto, wasted no time. Her voice was cold and sharp. "Sarutobi Hiruzen, I want to know what happened to the promises you made to Minato!"

Hiruzen knew exactly what she was referring to. He sighed heavily, realizing there was no way to sugarcoat the situation. "Kushina, I did what I could. Minato had too many enemies. If Naruto's identity was exposed, he would have become a prime target for assassination."

The explanation caught Kushina off-guard. "Assassination?"

Hiruzen nodded. "Minato gained a lot of enemies throughout the wars. There are many who would seek revenge on him by targeting Naruto. To protect Naruto, I kept his identity a secret. It was the safest option."

Kushina's anger wavered slightly, but she wasn't fully convinced. "But why keep him in such poor conditions? An apartment, with barely enough money? Minato would never have allowed this."

Sarutobi Hiruzen explained, "Naruto is given money from Minato's estate, but there are people in the village who take advantage of his innocence, overcharging him for goods. As for his housing, I thought it best to keep him away from the attention that Minato's old house would attract."

Kushina felt her frustration rising again. "And what about the villagers? Why do they treat him like a monster?"

Hiruzen winced. He knew this was coming. "That... is the result of Danzo's influence."

"Danzo!" Kushina spat the name like venom. "Why didn't you stop him?"

Hiruzen rubbed his temples, clearly weary. "Danzo is a complicated man. He has power within Konoha, and even I can't simply remove him. He's spread those rumors about Naruto, fueling the villagers' hatred. I admit I've made mistakes, but Danzo's actions were beyond my control."

Kushina's temper flared. "So because Danzo spreads lies, my son has to suffer?"

The Third Hokage sighed again, clearly burdened by the weight of his decisions. "Danzo used the Fourth Hokage's death to manipulate the villagers. He implied that Naruto was the Nine-Tails in human form, responsible for the destruction caused by the Nine-Tails attack. This has led to the villagers seeing him as a monster."

Kushina's fists clenched. She couldn't understand how Hiruzen could allow this to happen. "You're the Hokage! How could you let this go on?"

Hiruzen hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Konoha has a shadow, Kushina. Danzo's role is part of that shadow. Every village has its darkness, and as much as we wish it weren't so, sometimes sacrifices are made. I am not proud of it, but we have to maintain the balance of the village."

Kushina's heart sank. Her son had become one of those sacrifices. "So Naruto is just another one of your sacrifices for the sake of Konoha?"

The Hokage shook his head. "No, Kushina. Naruto is not a sacrifice. I've made mistakes, but I assure you, I never intended for Naruto to suffer like this."

Kushina stared at him, her heart torn between anger and sorrow. She had wanted to unleash her fury on Hiruzen, but now, all she felt was an overwhelming sadness. "Minato trusted you," she whispered. "He believed you would protect Naruto."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face softened. "I've failed in many ways, Kushina, but I will make this right. I promise that no more harm will come to Naruto because of his status as Jinchūriki. I will ensure the villagers no longer treat him as a monster."

Kushina wanted to believe him, but the hurt and betrayal ran deep. She felt Naruto's hand on her arm, a gentle reminder of his presence. "Mom, it's okay. I'm alright now. I have friends, and I'm stronger than I used to be."

Naruto's words brought a bittersweet smile to Kushina's face. He was so much like his father—resilient, always looking on the bright side, even when life was harsh.

"Naruto..." she began, but her voice faltered. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wished she could change. But she knew her time was limited. Her chakra was nearly depleted, and soon, she would have to say goodbye.

Hiruzen, sensing the emotional weight of the moment, stepped forward. "Kushina, I know I can never undo the past, but I can change the future. I will make sure that Naruto's life is different from here on out."

Kushina stared at the Hokage, her expression unreadable. Finally, she sighed. "I hope you're right, Hiruzen. For Naruto's sake."

The Third Hokage nodded solemnly. "I won't let you down."

With that, Kushina's chakra flickered, a sign that her time was almost up. She turned to Naruto, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Take care of yourself, my little Naruto," she whispered, her voice full of love and regret.

Naruto hugged her back, feeling the warmth of a mother's love for the first time in his life. "I will, Mom," he whispered.

As Kushina's form began to fade, she gave Naruto one last smile. "I love you."

And then, she was gone.

Naruto stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where his mother had been. His heart was heavy, but he also felt a strange sense of peace. His mother had fought for him, had stood by him, and had shown him a love he had never known before.

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched in silence, a mixture of guilt and resolve settling in his chest. He had made a promise to Minato, and now, he would make sure to keep it. There would be no more excuses, no more negligence.

Naruto would no longer suffer alone.

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