Naruto: After Seclusion Becoming Naruto Grandfather

Naruto glanced at the two older boys sprawled on the ground, trembling. The mockery in his eyes deepened, and a disdainful smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"You two actually think you're fit to be the Daimyo? Pathetic! If this is the standard for a Daimyo, it's no wonder the position is so worthless."

With that, Naruto dismissed them entirely. Turning his attention to the youngest child, he hoisted him up and carried him away like a sack of potatoes.

Halfway through the walk, a sudden thought struck him.

"Wait a minute... I have no idea how to make this kid the Daimyo!" Naruto muttered, scratching his head in confusion.

He glanced down at the child in his arms and asked, "Hey, kid, do you know how this works?"

The boy, still clinging tightly to Naruto, looked up with an aggrieved expression. His cheeks puffed slightly as he pouted and answered, "I don't know!"

Then, as if summoning some courage, he added indignantly, "And I'm not pathetic! I have a name—my name is Hikaru!"

Naruto's furrowed brow softened as he heard the boy's defiant response. A chuckle escaped his lips, and his mood visibly lightened.

"Alright, alright, I'll call you Hikaru. No more 'Pathetic.'" He nodded, then teased, "Still, Hikaru, you're the son of a Daimyo, and yet you don't even know how to become one? That's pretty lame."

Hikaru, despite being only seven years old, seemed to sense that Naruto meant no harm. His initial fear gradually faded, and he mustered the courage to speak in a low voice, "My father's so scary... I don't even dare to talk to him."

The boy hesitated before continuing, "By the way... can I not be the Daimyo? You don't even know how to make me one anyway." His voice dropped even further as he added, "If I become the Daimyo, my father will definitely kill me when he comes back!"

Naruto froze. The casual way Hikaru spoke of being killed startled him.

This is supposed to be a time of peace, Naruto thought. Even in the darker corners of Konoha, I rarely heard anyone talk about killing so lightly before the age of twelve. Yet here's the son of a Daimyo, someone who should live in luxury, speaking of it like it's nothing.

The realization left him momentarily speechless. Finally, he sighed and muttered, "It seems no place is truly free from darkness..."

Hikaru nodded solemnly, his small face unusually mature for his age. His silent agreement was tinged with hope that Naruto might reconsider forcing him into the Daimyo role.

But before Hikaru's relief could settle, Naruto's demeanor shifted. A fiery determination lit up his face as he declared, "That's exactly why I'm going to build a Shin-Konoha! One day, a blazing red flame will illuminate every shadow in this world."

Hikaru stared at him, his heart pounding with a mixture of panic and admiration. The boy had never encountered someone so full of passion and conviction before. It was overwhelming, yet strangely inspiring.

If only I could be like him, Hikaru thought wistfully.

Naruto was about to launch into a grand speech about his ambitions, but Hikaru's soft words stopped him.

Naruto's expression shifted to a sheepish grin as he rubbed his nose. "You know, I only got to this point because of my grandpa. He always believed in me, and that gave me hope."

He placed a reassuring hand on Hikaru's head and said warmly, "If you become the Daimyo, I'll take care of you, just like my grandpa took care of me. There's no need to be envious—you can be just like me someday."

Hikaru's eyes glistened with emotion. Naruto's words filled him with a sense of security he hadn't felt before. The fear of his father's wrath began to dissipate, replaced by a flicker of hope.

But reality quickly reasserted itself, and Hikaru hesitated. "Still... you don't know how to make me a Daimyo," he reminded Naruto, his voice tinged with both curiosity and doubt.

Naruto's confident expression faltered, replaced by a comical look of frustration. Scratching his head and tugging at his hair, he paced back and forth like a restless monkey.

Inside Naruto's mind, the Nine-Tails chuckled lazily. "If you're clueless, why not ask Lord Chito?" the beast suggested, its deep voice tinged with amusement. "That old guy lived through the era of the Uzumaki Clan and the Land of Whirlpools. By your human standards, he's practically royalty."

Naruto froze mid-step, his eyes lighting up with realization. "Of course! How could I forget Grandpa Chito?!"

Excitedly, Naruto cupped his hands around his mouth to amplify his voice. Taking a deep breath, he bellowed at the top of his lungs, "Grandpa! Where are you? I need your help—RIGHT NOW!"

The sound of his voice echoed through the capital of the Land of Fire, booming like thunder.

Deep within Naruto, the Nine-Tails smirked slyly. Silly boy, you have no idea that the talisman jade you're wearing is already connected to your grandpa. He's been watching you this whole time. No need to shout so loud.

But the beast said nothing, choosing instead to enjoy the spectacle. Watching Naruto flail about in his frantic search for Uzumaki Chito was rare entertainment, and the Nine-Tails wasn't about to spoil the fun.

Meanwhile, Naruto's voice reverberated across the city like a tidal wave, startling everyone within earshot.

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