I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Inside the Hokage Office within Konoha, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, found himself juggling yet another village issue amidst his daily responsibilities as the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Known for his approachable demeanor, Hiruzen often handled complaints from villagers directly. This time, however, it was a group of angry parents seeking justice after their children were allegedly beaten by none other than Naruto Uzumaki, the village pariah.

"Lord Hokage, you must discipline that wild child! Look at my son—he was beaten black and blue!" one parent exclaimed.

Another parent chimed in, "If Naruto keeps this up, he'll cause a catastrophe someday. We can't allow him to run wild any longer!"

"Lord Hokage, you should banish him from the village! His very existence is a curse to us all," a third added.

Despite their fiery words, the Third Hokage responded with a patient smile, his voice calm yet firm. "I understand your concerns as parents. However, children are bound to get into scuffles—it's a natural part of their play. This incident, as I understand it, started because your children provoked and bullied a little girl. Naruto stepped in and retaliated in her defense."

"Self-defense?!" one parent scoffed. "My son would never provoke anyone! He's such a well-behaved child!"

"Yes," another added. "It was Naruto who attacked them unprovoked."

At this, Hiruzen's expression turned more serious. "The girl your children were bullying is none other than Hinata Hyuga, the daughter of the Hyuga clan's head."

A heavy silence fell over the room. The mention of the Hyuga clan—a prominent and powerful family—immediately drained the parents' bravado. It dawned on them that their actions might invite the wrath of the Hyuga clan.

Hiruzen continued, his tone gentle but authoritative. "I will speak to Hiashi Hyuga and ensure he does not pursue this matter further. However, I urge you all to discipline your children and teach them the value of kindness and respect. We are all part of the same village, and unity is our greatest strength."

The parents hastily nodded, their hostility replaced by nervous smiles. "Thank you, Lord Hokage, for your understanding. We'll make sure to discipline our children properly."

As they departed, Hiruzen exhaled deeply, feeling a mix of relief and weariness. He lit his pipe and gazed at the portraits of the previous Hokages hanging in his office. Reflecting on the incident, he felt reassured by Naruto's actions—despite being ostracized, the boy had stood up for someone in need. "The Will of Fire burns strong in him," he thought.

Later that day, Hiruzen decided to visit Naruto personally. Arriving at Naruto's modest apartment, the Hokage called out warmly, "Naruto, it's me."

Naruto, standing on a stool and busy cooking, turned to see the Hokage. "Grandpa Hokage! You're here! Are you joining me for dinner? I've got plenty to share."

Hiruzen chuckled. "Well, if it's not too much trouble…"

As Naruto served grilled fish, egg custard, and mushroom soup, Hiruzen began to eat enthusiastically. However, halfway through the meal, he felt a wave of dizziness and realized something was amiss. Eyeing the brightly colored mushrooms in his soup, his suspicions were confirmed.

"Naruto… these mushrooms… where did you find them?" Hiruzen asked, his face pale.

Naruto scratched his head sheepishly. "I found them in the forest. They looked tasty, but I guess they might've been poisonous. Don't worry, Grandpa Hokage, I've eaten bad mushrooms before. You just get a stomachache for a while, then you're fine!"

Hiruzen groaned, his hand on his stomach. "Naruto, you can't keep eating random mushrooms to test if they're poisonous!"

"But how else am I supposed to learn?" Naruto replied earnestly.

For the next two hours, both Hokage and Jinchuriki took turns rushing to the bathroom. Once the ordeal was over, Hiruzen looked at Naruto with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "I'm getting you a book on edible plants. And in the meantime, stop experimenting with mushrooms!"

Naruto grinned. "Thanks, Grandpa Hokage. Oh, can you also give me some books on ninjutsu? If I become a ninja, I won't have to worry about stuff like this anymore."

Hiruzen smiled. "Alright, but only if you promise not to tell anyone about this incident."

As the Hokage left Naruto's home, he thought about the boy's potential. Despite his hardships, Naruto had already embraced the values of the Will of Fire. With the right guidance, Hiruzen believed Naruto could one day become a great ninja—and perhaps even more.

Back at his office, Hiruzen lit his pipe once more, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Being outsmarted by mushroom soup… I can't let the other Kage find out about this."