28 Chapter 28: Hokage-sama, There's Good News and Bad News

Kakashi couldn't help but wish he could give himself a big slap on the face. If he hadn't talked too much, Naruto wouldn't have heard him.

 He had no idea how he was going to explain this to the Third Hokage. 

 To think that he had unintentionally said too much and caused Naruto to have the idea of leaving the village!

 What a joke!

 This was a serious crisis in Kakashi's career.

 He decided to speak up and said to Naruto, "Naruto... I remember you were supposed to start at the Ninja Academy in the second half of next year, right? If you leave the village, what if you miss your chance to enroll?"

 Kakashi emphasized, "To become a Hokage, you must first become a ninja. If you can't become a ninja, you can never become a village's Hokage."

 Naruto, only five years old, surprisingly replied with unwavering determination, "If my pops can regain his health, I'd rather not become Hokage for the rest of my life!"

 This statement left Kakashi stunned. 

 Could the bond between Naruto and Whitebeard be so strong that Naruto would give up his lifelong dream?

 Kakashi was in shock. 

 It had only been a few days. 

 He also realized that the bond between Naruto and Whitebeard was even stronger than the bond between Naruto and the village or even Naruto and the Third Hokage.

 Almost like a real father!

 Kakashi even considered that if Minato were to be resurrected and stood before Naruto, their bond wouldn't be as strong as Naruto's bond with Whitebeard.

 Shaking off this absurd thought, Kakashi turned to Whitebeard and said, "Whitebeard, over the past few days, you should have realized how important Naruto is to the village. The village won't allow him to leave."

 "Gurarararara, This foolish son of mine is concerned about his old man's health. What does your lousy village have to do with it?"

 Uh-oh, Kakashi suddenly realized that Whitebeard was becoming more stubborn.

 Kakashi had to explain the gravity of the situation, "Once you take Naruto out of Konoha, the entire village may consider you an enemy, and your treatment will be on par with rogue ninjas."

 "The Third Hokage, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura... the high-ranking figures in Konoha won't just sit idly by."

 "So, you're saying that I will become a wanted criminal in Konoha?" Whitebeard's expression took on a slightly peculiar look.

Kakashi nodded and said, "Even a wanted criminal in the entire ninja world."

 "Gurarararara!" Whitebeard laughed, "Well, that's not bad at all! Is your currency here called Ryo? Just put a reward of a few billion Ryo no big deal! Gurararararara!"

 Whitebeard didn't seem concerned about being wanted by Konoha. 

 He even suggested a price range.

 Kakashi: "?????"

 When he tried to explain how serious it was to be wanted by Konoha, he realized that Whitebeard had already stopped paying attention and was walking towards Naruto's home.

 Watching the back of the Whitebeard

 Kakashi felt overwhelmed.

 "I wonder if the Third Hokage is eavesdropping," he thought, then decided to hurry back and inform the Hokage. 

 This situation was getting out of hand!

 ...

 The Sarutobi clan residence.

 While Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage of Konoha, he did not actually live in the Hokage Building. The Hokage Building served as his workplace rather than his residence.

 He had finished some work early today.

 He was on time to go home and get ready to rest. 

 However, for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. He didn't know if it was due to recent sleepless nights or some other reason.

 Suddenly

 Hiruzen's eyes widened, and he reflexively sat up. He reached for a shuriken at the side of his pillow, ready to throw a shuriken in the direction of the disturbance he had sensed.

 But then he heard a familiar voice.

 "Hokage-sama, it's me!"

 Watching Hiruzen's reaction, Kakashi couldn't help but break into a sweat. He also marveled at the strength of the Third Hokage.

 Despite being 61 years old, he hadn't lost much of his power.

 Kakashi believed that if he had delayed his response by half a second, that shuriken would already be at his throat.

 "Kakashi?" Sarutobi Hiruzen fixed his gaze, let out a sigh of relief, and retracted the shuriken,

"Weren't you supposed to be watching over Naruto? What brings you here all of a sudden?"

 "Hokage-sama, I have both good and bad news for you," 

 Kakashi said, sounding somewhat hesitant.

 Good news and bad news? 

 Hiruzen's sense of unease was growing stronger.

 "Go on, tell me both."

 He furrowed his brows.

 "The good news is... Whitebeard acknowledges that he's growing old and won't be able to stay by Naruto's side for long, at most three years," 

 "Is that so? Even such a powerful individual can feel the weight of age, huh? Time truly waits for no one," 

 Hiruzen sighed

 But then Hiruzen said angrily,

"What kind of good news is that? His suffering, how could it be considered good news to me as the Hokage?"

 Whatever you say!

 Kakashi couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly before continuing,

"The bad news is... Naruto is planning to leave the village."

 "Oh!" Hiruzen was still somewhat lost in the tiny joy he'd concealed earlier,

"Well, after all, the child is growing up..."

 "Huh????"

 In an instant!

 Hiruzen snapped back to reality, "Naruto wants to leave the village?"

 *Crack!*

 His chakra surged so violently that even the floor beneath his feet cracked. It was evident that Hiruzen's emotions were in turmoil.

 Kakashi sighed, "Naruto knows about Whitebeard's condition, and he wants to take Whitebeard to seek treatment from Lady Tsunade."

 "Nonsense!!!"

 "Absurd!!!"

 "No way!!!"

 Hiruzen exclaimed all three words in quick succession. He immediately pulled open his closet and put on his outdoor attire, saying, "Naruto is the son of the hero of Konoha, and he's even the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. How can he, at such a young age, think about leaving the village?!!!"

 "Hokage-sama, the bond between Naruto and Whitebeard has become so inseparable," Kakashi said as Hiruzen hurriedly got dressed.

 As Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly dressed, 

 Kakashi added, "He said, As long as my father can recover, I'd rather not become the Hokage.'"

 "What?" Hiruzen gritted his teeth.

 To give up being the Hokage for Whitebeard? 

 He had spent so much time and effort building a bond with Naruto in order to influence him to become the Hokage.

 Now, for Whitebeard...

 He had forgotten The Hokage so easily?

 "Hokage-sama, Whitebeard has given Naruto something that others cannot give – true 'parental love,' a kind of genuine affection." Kakashi observed keenly. "That's why Naruto cares so much about Whitebeard, to the extent that he's willing to sacrifice his dreams and aspirations."

 "Is the affection I have given Naruto inferior to what Whitebeard offers? Didn't I care for this child as well, Kakashi? 

 Sarutobi Hiruzen said solemnly.

 "Hokage-sama, you naturally care about Naruto more than Whitebeard," Kakashi reassured.

 After that, Kakashi remained silent. 

 He was afraid that if he said anything more, 

 the Third Hokage might suffer a mental breakdown.

The Ninja World...

 Eventually, it grows old. 

 ...

 ... 

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