Naruto: After Seclusion Becoming Naruto Grandfather

Hiruzen's face twisted with a mix of frustration and disbelief.

He questioned himself inwardly. Could the gap between him and the First Hokage truly be so vast? After all, he was recognized as the strongest Hokage in history. Perhaps he was not as far removed from that ideal as he feared.

"Lord Chito," Hiruzen said, taking a deep breath as he narrowed his eyes. "If you insist on this course, then forgive us, your juniors, for having no choice but to act against you."

Uzumaki Chito merely glanced at him, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he gently pulled Naruto closer and, with a flick of his foot, vanished in a flash. Moments later, they appeared atop a nearby rooftop, landing as softly as falling leaves.

Naruto stood silently behind Chito, his small frame exuding both awe and quiet obedience.

Hiruzen and Danzo followed swiftly, their movements slower but deliberate, landing in front of Chito. Around them, the rooftops filled with shinobi, each taking a cautious stance as they prepared to confront the legendary figure. The tension in the air was palpable.

Chito's cold gaze swept over them, his presence alone causing many to falter. His voice, calm yet carrying an undeniable weight, cut through the silence. "If I choose to leave, none of you can stop me."

Hiruzen said nothing. He didn't need to. The truth of Chito's words was evident. Judging by the speed he had just displayed, Konoha lacked the ability to restrain him.

No one interrupted as Chito continued, his tone almost conversational, yet laced with reproach. "But you know, I've always thought of myself as a good man."

He paused, his gaze piercing through Hiruzen like a blade. "I entrusted you with the Uzumaki Clan, but when they faced annihilation, Konoha stood by and did nothing."

His voice grew sharper. "I entrusted Kushina to you—just one person—and even then, you failed. She lost her life, and her child, my kin, was left to bear the tragic fate of a Jinchuriki. Not only did you strip him of his parents, but you also denied him the respect he deserved as the son of a hero. Instead, you allowed him to be branded a demon fox."

Chito's cold eyes swept over the assembled shinobi, most of whom avoided his gaze entirely. Only Hiruzen stood his ground, though even he seemed to shrink under the weight of Chito's words.

"You've bullied the Uzumaki Clan enough," Chito said, his voice low but resonating with finality. "Perhaps you need a lesson—a reminder of who I am."

Hiruzen forced himself to remain calm, though his composure was beginning to crack. "Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools have always been allies. The tragedy... was an unfortunate accident, and we were unable to help in time."

Chito's gaze darkened.

"As for Naruto," Hiruzen continued, his tone faltering, "his treatment was necessary for the village's stability. He's the son of the Fourth Hokage. His burden is his legacy."

Chito's cold laugh interrupted him. "Don't give me your excuses, Hiruzen. There's no greatness in forcing a child to suffer. A village that can't honor its heroes is no home worth protecting."

His words sent ripples through the shinobi around them, their expressions betraying unease. Chito's indictment rang true. Konoha had a long history of failing its own—Jiraiya had left the village, Tsunade had run away, Orochimaru had defected, and Konoha's White Fang had taken his own life under the weight of unjust condemnation. Even Naruto, a mere child, had been left to bear a burden far beyond his years.

Hiruzen knew the damage Chito's words could do to the morale of the shinobi. They exposed a rot that had long festered in Konoha's foundation.

"In that case, Lord Chito," Hiruzen said quietly, his tone steeling with resolve, "I must apologize."

With that, he made his move. His hands flew through seals at blinding speed, a testament to his skill even in old age. "Earth Style: Earth Dragon Technique!"

The roof beneath them twisted violently as tiles and debris formed into the shape of a massive dragon. The creature roared to life, surging toward Chito with the force of an avalanche.

But Chito didn't flinch.

The dragon halted mere feet from him, frozen in place as if suspended in time. Chito's eyes glimmered faintly as he gazed at it. In that moment, the connection between Hiruzen's chakra and the earth dragon was severed.

Hiruzen's hands trembled. He had faced countless enemies in his long life, but never had he seen such an ability. To cancel a jutsu so effortlessly...

With a casual flick of his wrist, Chito reached toward the suspended dragon. The enormous construct twisted and crumbled, transforming into thousands of small, needle-like projectiles. With a simple gesture, he sent the earthen needles flying in every direction.

Hiruzen reacted instinctively, slamming his hands onto the rooftop. "Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

A sturdy wall of earth erupted from the ground, shielding him from the onslaught. Yet the needles tore through the barrier like paper, one grazing his ear and drawing blood.

The ease with which Chito dismantled his jutsu left Hiruzen stunned. A casual counterattack from Chito carried the destructive force of an A-rank technique, if not greater.

Before Hiruzen could recover, a sudden flash of lightning pierced the air. A sharp, chirping sound—like a thousand birds crying out at once—filled the rooftop.

A streak of blue light streaked toward Chito's chest, accompanied by the sound of thunder.

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