20. War leftover

Konoha Hospital

In the infant ward, only 28 of the 40 children were left. In general, many people preferred infants, as they had a fragile psyche and no attachment issues.

After the incident on October 10, no more newborns arrived, and it became easier and easier for Maya to look after them. In general, Maya was phenomenally responsible. She tried to pay more and more attention to the details of upbringing.

For example, what pacifiers to choose for the children, what color they preferred. In the month and a half she spent with the children, she knew each one by name. She could tell each one by eye color, hair color. She bathed the children in a big bathtub.

And after lunch, the children had quiet time. All the children were groomed, fed, and swaddled.

And then the Third Hokage himself came to her room. Maya bowed and waited for Hiruzen to speak.

"Good afternoon, Maya-chan, how are you?"

"Good, Hokage-sama. I'm fine, but..."

"Why don't you share with the old man? Maybe there's something I can do."

"Answer me, Hokage-sama, you're here for Naruto, aren't you?"

"Probably. What's the question?"

"You're the former head of our village, and you paying attention to Naruto, a clanless orphan with unknown parents, is a little strange."

"The parents are known, but it's classified information and can't be made public."

"Hokage-sama, I'm sorry to ask you all this, but I'm just scared about Naruto and what they might do to him in the future."

"Maya-chan, I see you know something you shouldn't?"

Maya, a little miffed, nodded. And Hiruzen, after thinking for a moment, put a barrier on the ward.

"Maya-chan, you may speak, and I give you my word that whatever we discuss here will remain between us."

Maya, sighing, replied.

"Hokage-sama, I learned that Naruto cannot be given custody. And that when he turns two, he'll be taken to shinobi orphanage number six. It would be very difficult for him there with his age."

Hiruzen pondered her story, and after a moment, he continued.

"Maya-chan, don't worry about Naruto. I'll keep an eye on him. But I'm asking you not to spread it around. After all, I don't have the right to look after him myself."

"Self Hokage-sama. But why do you care for him so much?"

"The same reason you do."

"I see."

"And another thing."

"Hmm?"

"You've got a whole year and 10 months. So don't waste it. So don't waste any more time."

"I hear you, Hokage-sama!"

"Well, let's take a look at our little rascal."

And then they admired Naruto as he slept. And Hiruzen asked.

"How's Naruto doing?"

"He's getting better and better, but he eats more than anyone else, a child's portion of applesauce, which is enough for one, he eats for three and he doesn't gain weight. I wish I could do that..."

Hiruzen snorted, thinking that the child needed to eat a lot to maintain his seal, otherwise Naruto would get exhausted.

"Maya-chan, leave it as it is. Naruto has a growing body. By the way, how's his chakra center?"

"It's a little better. His hearth has stopped raging a little. And his chakra channels are starting to grow back a little."

"Hmm, that's too soon, but okay."

"What's the danger of that?"

"I don't know yet, but if something bad happens, just let me know."

"Okay!"

"Good!"

"By the way, I noticed something."

"What's that?"

"He's been calm the whole time, he eats obediently, he only cries if I'm far away and when I come over, he's quiet. He either smacks his lips if he wants to eat or shakes his legs if he has to change a diaper. So much mental activity, memory, and motor skills. He should start doing that in three months."

"It's really a miracle baby, if only I had kids like that... Hahaha."

And then he remembered the moves he made when that impostor came to them, laughed, and continued.

"Maya-chan, I have to go. Good luck."

"And to you, Hokage-sama."

As Sarutobi left the hospital, he thought about what to do. He couldn't contact him directly. Not unless he did.

Suddenly he had an epiphany. "Why don't I become a librarian at the orphanage? Why not?" The job could be combined with being an elder. But he'd just have to figure out how to get there.

Because if he hurries, Naruto could be transferred to another orphanage. And if he went there after Naruto, they might not take him...

Hiruzen did love children, but it wasn't just love that bound him to them. Duty, he had the most unpayable debt to his children. During the Third War, he had to send his children to war.

Many of them died on their first mission. Many were captured and died under the cruelest of tortures. And now, looking at Naruto, he couldn't let him be killed by the first men of his village.