Naruto: The Clanless Prince

Chapter 10: 10. Old Fox And Little Fox



Half an hour after Sora woke up, Sarutobi Hiruzen's arrival was entirely unexpected.

From Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Sora actually detected a hint of kindness and warmth.

Sora quickly brainstormed several possibilities in his mind.

But for now, the most important thing was for Sora to disguise himself well.

He understood this was an opportunity.

If this conversation with Sarutobi Hiruzen went well, his life in Konoha could become much easier.

Excitedly, Sora tried to sit up from the bed. "Lord Hokage, why are you here?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately stepped forward, gently holding Sora down. "Your injuries haven't healed yet. Take good care of yourself, and don't push too hard," he said with a gentle tone.

Sora's eyes turned slightly red with 'emotion,' and he choked back sobs as he said, "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the chair next to the bed and sighed. "Sora, you've endured so much these past years."

Hearing this, Sora bit his lips tightly, tears spilling from the corners of his eyes as if he were crying out of grievance.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the tears on Sora's face and asked, "Sora, do you hate Konoha?"

Sora immediately shook his head. "How could I hate Konoha? It was my father and mother who defected from Konoha back then. Konoha was kind enough to take me in—the son of a rogue ninja. I am already very grateful."

He added, voice trembling, "Before she died, my mother asked me to make amends for their mistakes in Konoha. I will never hate Konoha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen listened without showing much reaction. His expression remained unchanged.

After studying Sora for a moment, he asked again, "Then, do you hate the Uchiha?"

Sora's expression darkened instantly, and the word escaped from between his teeth: "Hate! My parents betrayed Konoha because of the Uchiha clan's selfishness and arrogance, which prevented them from being together.

"After I returned to Konoha, not only did they refuse to acknowledge me, but they insulted me endlessly, calling me a b*****d. And because of the Uchiha, the villagers hate me too.

"I don't want to be part of the Uchiha clan. They don't recognize me, and I don't care to recognize them, yet they treated me this way. All of it—the isolation I face in Konoha—is because of the Uchiha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression finally changed upon hearing Sora's answer.

He sighed. "I've always felt guilty about your situation, Sora. But as Hokage, it's difficult for me to interfere in the internal matters of the Uchiha clan. I hope you can understand."

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused before continuing, "Here, I offer you a chance, Sora, to return to the Uchiha clan and become a true Uchiha. Are you willing?"

He looked at Sora with burning intensity.

Sora refused without hesitation. "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage, but I don't want to!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

Sora replied firmly, "I don't want to join the Uchiha clan in such a pitiful way. Even if I rely on you to gain entry now, it won't change my current situation!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, puzzled, "But if you join the Uchiha clan, at least the villagers would stop discriminating against you, and your living conditions would greatly improve. Don't you want to change your current situation?"

Sora replied, unconvinced, "Lord Hokage, I know why the villagers discriminate against me. It's because I'm half-Uchiha. The Uchiha clan, relying on their position as the Konoha Guard, has alienated the villagers, making them disliked by almost everyone.

"If I join the Uchiha clan now, perhaps the villagers wouldn't openly discriminate against me anymore, but they would still look down on me in their hearts..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen interrupted Sora suddenly, his tone turning serious. "Be careful! The Konoha Guard was established by the Second Hokage. The Uchiha clan has contributed greatly to Konoha. As a member of Konoha, Sora, you must not slander those who have served this village."

Sora cursed inwardly.

This old fox… If he didn't know that I was troubled by the Uchiha clan, I might have believed he was genuinely protecting them.

He quickly realized that Sarutobi Hiruzen was testing him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have emphasized that the Konoha Guard was established by the Second Hokage or used the phrase "as a member of Konoha."

Sora responded firmly, "Lord Hokage, I don't want to join the Uchiha clan. I want to become a ninja and contribute to Konoha. First, to make up for my parents' mistakes. Second, I want to gain recognition from all the villagers through my own efforts.

"I want the villagers to understand that I, Sora, am not part of the Uchiha clan nor just a child burdened by their reputation. I am a ninja loyal to Konoha, nothing more!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with satisfaction. "It's a challenging goal to earn the recognition of all the villagers. Are you prepared for this, Sora?"

Sora's expression was resolute. "I am ready, Lord Hokage!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen now regarded Sora with the look of a senior appreciating a promising junior. "Good. I believe in you, Sora!

"Since you don't wish to join the Uchiha clan, I won't force you. The house you lived in before is too remote. After your discharge, I'll arrange for you to move into a new house closer to the Ninja Academy, making it more convenient for you to attend."

Tears welled in Sora's eyes as he said, "Thank you, Lord Hokage."

Inwardly, Sora breathed a sigh of relief.

Talking with an old fox like Sarutobi Hiruzen was exhausting.

When he had been directly asked if he hated Konoha, there was no way he could say yes. Would he even survive if he did?

This was Sarutobi Hiruzen in his prime—not the kinder version of his later years. His methods now would undoubtedly be much harsher.

Next, he was asked whether he hated the Uchiha clan. Sora realized that claiming he didn't hate them would have been unbelievable. After all, faced with the isolation and abuse from the entire village caused by the Uchiha clan, how could anyone not harbour resentment?

By admitting his hatred for the Uchiha clan, Sora successfully demonstrated loyalty to Konoha, showing Sarutobi Hiruzen that his goal was to be a Konoha ninja, not a Uchiha ninja.

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen's offer to let him join the Uchiha clan, Sora knew it was a ruse to gauge his true feelings.

Now, with the promise of being relocated to a house closer to the Ninja Academy, Sora could tell that Sarutobi Hiruzen mostly believed him.

If nothing unexpected happened, Sora would likely join the Hokage faction after graduating as a ninja.

While Sarutobi Hiruzen might not address the discrimination Sora faced from the villagers and the Uchiha clan, he wouldn't be marginalized once he became a ninja.

After all, even in the world of shinobi, relationships mattered.


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