A Web of Lies

"It's because, Jiji, I've had enough of your way and your excuses. You always told me to resist the names they called me. 'You're not a demon, Naruto.' , 'Just ignore them, Naruto.' , 'They will see eventually, Naruto.' I remember each and every single suggestion you gave me. Well, they don't seem to be seeing anything. It's also kind of hard to ignore nearly dying. Happy Birthday to me, right?" Naruto asked.

Hiruzen's blood ran cold, and the blonde could tell. He tried to keep the grin off his face. He even wondered if he succeeded. "But I finally get it, Jiji! What they've been selling me! I finally bought it! Why go against the crowd? It's a pointless waste of time and energy. It's much easier to just accept what I am rather than trying to fight. Tell me, Jiji, if I'm really not a demon, then why does everyone call me that? Here's your chance!" Naruto said.

Hiruzen was not prepared for this. He wanted Naruto to have a childhood. He wanted the younger generation to not fear the boy, so he had forbade any mention of him or his status to the adult population. However, this did not stop parents from informing their children to not interact with the boy.

Even now, hearing that the boy, on the day of his birth, had suffered a nigh death experience made Hiruzen understand that he had truly underestimated the hatred which festered within the hearts of his people. Now he was watching those consequences grow. Yet, he could not tell him. He couldn't tell the blonde yet. He wasn't ready.

"I'm...sorry, Naruto, but you can't think that way. I know it's been hard but you can't let hatred overwhelm them. Please, try to forgive them. Please...try to have hope." Hiruzen begged.

The smile on Naruto's face disappeared. He dropped his hands to his side. The folds of his hair shadowed his eyes. Those words. What was the meaning of those words? Forgiveness? Hope? He had lost and forsaken such terms.

A man, one of the most powerful in the world, would continue to beg him to suffer to appease the masses. Naruto...trembled. He wanted to rage. He wanted to explode, but no words or emotion came out of him. It was as if his hatred had been blanketed by the shock and disgust of what had just been proposed to him.

Hiruzen breathed a sigh. "I know it's hard, Naruto-kun. I swear I will find the men and women responsible for what happened to you, and they will be dealt with accordingly. Wasn't it your dream to become Hokage? To become the greater than any of the Hokage who had come before? Even me? Will you turn your back on your dream?" Hiruzen asked.

Turn his back on his dream? Dreams! DREAMS! How dare this decrepit withered fool talk to HIM about HIS dreams! Yes, he had those dreams. Now where did they leave him? Broken, ruined, cursed, and stepped on by the people he thought he would give his life protecting. What about his dreams of acceptance? What about his hopes for recognition? What about hi…

No, no, he swore. He. Goddamn. SWORE! He did not need anything they had to offer him. Anything Konoha gave, he would return tenfold. Anyone who mocked him, anyone who spoke ill of him, anyone who hurt him, anyone who got in his way, he would crush them like they wanted to be crushed! A monster they wanted, and what does a monster do best? It devours everything in its way. Before it, everything else is food!

"...you speak of dreams, Jiji. Why would I want to be the Hokage of the bunch of spineless, talentless, worthless, delusional, second-rate garbage that makes up this village?! In fact, why should I even become a shinobi in your ranks! That would be my duty right? To protect Konoha and all her inhabitants?! Well, you all haven't been really welcoming of my help so I don't see the need to ever provide it."

"In fact, when I'm sixteen I should just leave! I think that would be good not just for me, but for all of you! Give me one reason! Give me one damn good reason that I should continue to strive for the acceptance of this stupid village, Jiji? GIve me one good reason that I should continue to treat everyone here with love when I GET NONE!" Naruto snarled.

Hiruzen said nothing for a moment. He then closed his eyes and took a puff of smoke. Naruto was right, and Hiruzen had only one possible reason. He released a breath. "It's what your parents would have wanted, my boy." the Sandaime said. He stared into Naruto's eyes, pleading.

This...was not the right reason. The Sandaime, and the Anbu which protected him, wondered if they were seeing an illusion when the young blonde balled his fists. He clenched them hard enough for blood to spill. However, he took a slow breath and released his anger. Wait, perhaps he could turn this situation to his benefit. He knew he wasn't thinking clearly.

Konoha had controlled him enough. He didn't need to give them anymore. Granted, at this point, he would rather his parents watch as the streets of their village ran red with the blood of all inside, but...the Hokage didn't know that. First rule of a prankster, if its expected then it's not worth doing.

"Parents? That's a good one, Jiji. And why should I care about what my parents want? 'It's pointless to ask about that type of thing. It won't bring the dead back' right? I'm just following your advice." the blonde said. He could see the Hokage's heart slow a beat for a moment. He inwardly smirked. So...there was definitely something going on here that he wasn't aware of. He just had to found out what it was.

For himself, Hiruzen nearly felt shame cover his face. He had never thought that his words would come back in his face in this manner. He had only wished to spare the boy more suffering if he was told how great his parents were. Now, it seemed as if he had disregarded their existences entirely. It was dangerous, but Sarutobi had to rectify that. "Naruto-kun, you are right. I did say that. You must understand. Your father had great enemies. They were very powerful. I...can't tell you. It's to protect you," Hiruzen remarked.

Now this made Naruto curious. So...daddy dearest was not only someone strong, but he was also someone who garnered the growing hatred of other people. He hoped he could remember to write that down when he got home. "Protect me? So far, Jiji, I don't feel very protected. I said give me a good reason, not a worse one." Naruto replied.

Hiruzen had to smile at that. Of course, Naruto would want to know more about his parents. What ten-year old orphan wouldn't want that? "Very well, Naruto-kun, then how about this? Go back to the academy, graduate, and become a chunin. If you can do that, then I will tell you about your parents," The Sandaime said.

Naruto scoffed...in the confines of his mind. Hmph, make him work for something he should have known by now. Oh, don't you worry you senile old bastard! Naruto would play your game for right now, but only because he was starting to find a place to start with all of this. Still, he had played the fool for the past 4 years of his life, what was a couple more? At the very least it would throw suspicion off him...for the moment, but if the Hokage was as pathetic as Naruto was starting to believe...then he would actually do what the blonde was thinking he would.

"Really? After all this time you'd just...give it up like that, Jiji? You've gotta be playing me, dattebayo!" Naruto said in what he hoped was his...naive voice. Something told him he'd need to start practicing that as irritating as it was.

He watched Sarutobi smile at him. He wondered how many people he lied to with that smile. "Of course, Naruto-kun. It's no trick. I can assure you of that. Haven't I always kept my word to you, Naruto-kun?" He asked. Naruto did not answer that. Oh, he knew the answer to that was no, but he'd settle for the unsure path.

"Right. Whatever you say, Jiji. Fine, I'll be the best damn chunin you ever saw!" Naruto boasted. This quickly made Hiruzen happy. As far as this monster talk was concerned, Sarutobi just hoped that it was another one of the young boy's pranks which would bowl over soon. That...was what the Hokage hoped for at least.

Naruto waved goodbye and stepped out of the doorway. Hiruzen waved goodbye, yet...he couldn't help this foreboding feeling festering. Where was this anxiety coming from? He intertwined his fingers. "Bring me Anbu Agent, Neko!"

Once Naruto closed the door to the Hokage's Office, he began to make his way down the stairs. A smile plastered itself upon his face. Just as he thought, one of the hearts which had been in the ceiling was already on the move. It seemed it was going to an unknown place in the east, but Naruto was hardly in a position to follow. That was fine. Let the Hokage make whatever preparations he could. It wouldn't matter in the end.

....

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