Chapter 4 - Regret

A few days later, Konohagakure.

Due to Danzo's continuous bothering, Hiruzen was so tired that he forgot to notify the ANBU to keep overlooking Naruto's daily life. And it was a terrible mistake, one that he would regret for the rest of his life.

Because on the day he sent the ANBU to see how Naruto's daily life was going, he received the notification that the young boy was missing for days already! The air around seemed to calm down all of sudden, and a deadly silence took place.

Hiruzen stood in his office, and he was staring at the paper on his hand dazedly as if his mind wasn't on his job, but on another thing. The old man's hands trembled slightly, and the paper held by him was shaking, 'What... What happened?'

Despite having experienced all kinds of things, this was definitely a first for the Third Hokage. The countless big and small wars, the death of close comrades, of his sensei, didn't manage to shock him too much. However, the son of the Village's hero was missing, and it took them days to notice!

It wasn't related to his own feelings towards Naruto, but a shame to the entire Konohagakure, as the huge village created by the God of Shinobis, Senju Hashirama. It was definitely a dishonor to the heroes of their glorious past.

And the boy was either kidnapped or ran away from the village, right under their eyes. If it was the former, it was acceptable, as the village could rescue Naruto and make him feel grateful.

But if it was the latter...

Hiruzen couldn't imagine the consequences of a young boy who was able to escape under the eyes of experienced Ninjas who were responsible for guarding everyone, the consequences of losing their most powerful weapon in the future, the Nine-Tails' Jinchuuriki!

Even so more, one that only had bad memories about the village. And if Naruto was truly able to run away right under their eyes, Hiruzen could only think that the boy was a genius. A genius who had the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed inside him.

It was an absolutely catastrophic situation for the village, Hiruzen's brows furrowed together, and his old eyes showed deep anxiety. The worry wasn't hidden at all, his gloomy expression showing it all.

However, the most important feeling on the old Hokage's heart at the moment was just one; The feeling of regret, one that couldn't be erased no matter what happened afterward.

Hiruzen deeply regretted not giving Naruto the best life he could, a life deserving of the Fourth Hokage's son. It was at this time that he remembered the scene...

Four Years ago - Kyuubi's attack, Konohagakure.

''Hiruzen, we will be trusting you with the well-being of our son... This is our last wish, he deserves a good life.'' Minato said as a claw pierced both him and Kushina, dripping fresh blood on the newborn Naruto's face.

As if feeling the situation around him, the baby started crying sadly, only calming down after a gentle voice came to his ears, ''My son, Uzumaki Naruto, mother wishes you to have good friends in the future. Don't forget to eat well, right, try having a girlfriend similar to me in the future!''

Kushina said, and the blood falling from her abdominal position was as red as her beautiful hair. Hiruzen and a few ANBU ninjas watched the scene with heartbroken eyes, and the Third Hokage nodded seriously, ''I promise that I will treat Naruto well, Minato, Kushina.''

As if his last concern was relieved, Minato nodded gently before doing hand signs, and a reaper-like phantom appeared behind him. Two kinds of Chakras were separated, one Yin, another Yang. The calmest Yang was sealed on the newborn Naruto, while the aggressive Yin was sealed on the dying Minato.

Minato gave one last look at Naruto, the sadness in his eyes evident as if he couldn't hide the sorrow of separating from his son right on the day of his birth. The last consciousness left on his body slowly disappeared, leaving a trace of his soul and Kushina's soul on the newborn.

Four years later, Konohagakure.

While remembering what happened, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel anger towards himself for allowing such things to happen to Naruto. It wasn't due to good feelings towards the boy, but the losses of losing their only Jinchuuriki.

The jinchuuriki of the strongest Bijuu, at that!

For the first time throughout his entire life, Hiruzen felt fear. He felt fear towards the unknown future, the consequences of Naruto's possible revenge on the future. Hiruzen knows that the boy has an extremely pure heart, but the unknown is always feared.

Even so more, one that despite denying it due to his previous knowledge of Naruto's pure heart, it was the most cruel truth. As the saying goes...

All it takes for a sane man to become insane, is a small push.

Much less a young boy who has only experienced the worst for a child, the sun on his heart was swallowed by the dark night, and a void was left. Unknown to Hiruzen, the consequences of Naruto leaving Konoha wasn't just that.

Konohagakure, Hyuuga Clan.

A young girl with short, blue-purple hair and pupilless white-colored eyes stood on a training field. In the last few days, she visited this place and looked at the wooden dummy in a daze. A servant came near her, ''Hinata-sama, I received some information about your friend... It's just that...''

The servant was afraid to tell the truth, but two eyes completely different from the previous timid and gentle Hinata stared at him, exuding endless coldness. The veins beside Hinata's eyes were now clearly seen.

Swallowing his own saliva nervously, the servant never saw the timid and gentle Hinata looking so cold, and a threatening aura was felt from the young girl, ''H-Hinata-sama, the boy... I received the information that he has disappeared from the village, with no traces left...''

His voice was getting weaker and weaker, and the fear made him unable to look towards the young girl, whose heart changed completely due to Naruto's disappearance.

Meanwhile, Konohagakure's upper echelon was called up for a meeting. It was one that involved not only the council but also the most important clans. Even Jiraiya, one of the three legendary Sannins, was called for the meeting.

A gloomy aura seemed to have enveloped the entire Konoha, awaiting for the meeting.

[1] Hehe, should I write the meeting, or shouldn't I? Hehehe.