Seeing Naruto like this, Iruka smiled knowingly.

Naruto is still the same as before, there is no change in his liking for Ichiraku Ramen.

"I've heard about what's going on outside."

When Naruto was about to wipe out Ichiraku Ramen, Iruka seemed to have made up his mind and suddenly said to Naruto.

"Really...Is Mr. Iruka here specifically to comfort me?"

Upon hearing Iruka's words, Naruto paused slightly while eating ramen, with a pretending to be relaxed and playful smile on his face.

But behind the laughter, Naruto's extremely complicated state of mind was hidden.

Iruka can clearly feel this.

"For this reason... no matter whether those rumors are true or false, it is difficult for you, Naruto, to agree with them. After all, after persisting for so many years, it is difficult for anyone to accept such a fact.

.”

Iruka couldn't tell whether the rumors outside were true, but he knew very well that such rumors would definitely cause huge trauma to Naruto's heart.

He was Naruto's teacher at the ninja school. It can be said that he was a ninja who watched Naruto grow up. He also knew exactly where the sensitive and delicate parts of Naruto's heart were.

"Yes, suddenly there is another Hokage's father... It will indeed feel uncomfortable. To be more precise, it is uncomfortable. However, if you think about it carefully, this is actually not bad. The idol you worship is your father and so on.

…”

Naruto was still smiling.

It's just that this smile seems very forced to Iruka, as if it is forced out of his face and does not come from the heart.

He was still hoping in his heart that the rumors outside were just falsehoods, facts made up by someone, not the truth.

"I can understand that you have been working very hard to do it..."

Iruka hugged Naruto's body into his arms and put his forehead close to his chest.

"Iruka-sensei..."

"Teacher, I used to be just like you. In order to relieve the loneliness and loneliness in my heart, I liked to pretend to be a fool, and I did not hesitate to act like a clown to attract attention and integrate into the group. But what I got afterwards was a greater emptiness.

fall……"

"But the reason Iruka-sensei became like this is because of the demon fox..."

Naruto's eyes darkened.

"Didn't the teacher say long ago that things like that don't matter anymore? Compared to that, your current strength may have surpassed mine... So, Naruto, try to recognize yourself."

Iruka let go of Naruto and smiled.

"Recognize yourself?"

Naruto raised his head and looked at Iruka's sincere eyes.

"Don't worry about the things you don't want to hear, and be your true self. Recognizing yourself is something that everyone must experience. You can't live under the 'approval' of others your whole life. You, just

He cares too much about other people's eyes and opinions, like a little fool."

Iruka smiled.

"In that case, isn't Iruka-sensei also an idiot?"

"Yes, I am also a fool, so I wasted too much time in the past. When I recall these past events, I feel bitter smile and helplessness. Now when I think back to the stupid things I did in the past, I feel a bit ashamed..."

Iruka scratched his cheek with his fingers and looked away awkwardly.

"What? This kind of preaching tone that understands everything..."

Naruto puffed up his cheeks, slightly dissatisfied.

"Yes, I can't preach to you anymore, because you are already a real ninja. An excellent ninja, start by recognizing yourself. At least for the third generation, I'm afraid there is something else going on in this matter. Don't be fooled by people with ulterior motives.

Misleading.”

"Of course I understand this kind of thing! I don't believe that Grandpa Hokage is that kind of person. Someone must have framed him!"

As if he had found a resonance, Naruto's face gradually regained its vitality, no longer as full of resentment as before, with a knot that could not be broken.

"If that's the case, then I'll be relieved."

Iruka rubbed Naruto's head.

"Compared to that, Iruka-sensei, buy me another bowl, no, buy two more bowls of Ichiraku Ramen, one bowl is not enough at all."

Naruto rubbed his hands, not feeling embarrassed at all to ask Iruka to treat him.

Iruka was stunned, then smiled bitterly: "I told you..."

Forget it, eating can be considered a way to reduce stress.

"Okay, just wait here and I'll buy you two more bowls of Ichiraku Ramen..."

Before Iruka could finish his sentence, there was a loud knocking sound coming from the window lattice.

Naruto and Iruka turned around and saw the window being opened.

Sasuke and Sakura stood outside the window.

"No need for that, we've already bought it."

Sasuke and Sakura each held a convenience bag with Ichiraku Ramen and stood outside the window.

"Sasuke, Sakura! Why are you here?"

Naruto asked in surprise.

"We are not deaf. The rumors outside are spreading so fiercely that it is difficult not to pay attention. Of course, we are worried about some idiot who likes to get into trouble."

Sasuke and Sakura crossed the window and entered the house.

"Who is the idiot?"

"Of course it's you Naruto, otherwise we wouldn't have come here."

Sakura put down the ramen and said to Naruto.

"Damn it, why did even Sakura say that?"

Naruto sighed for a while.

"Long time no see, Iruka."

Sasuke greeted Iruka.

Hearing that Sasuke had omitted the word 'teacher', Iruka had a headache and said: "Sasuke, you are still the same, you don't like to see people outside. However, you seem to have become a chuunin. Congratulations."

"It's nothing, it's a simple matter."

Naruto, who heard Sasuke's understatement, could no longer hide the jealousy in his eyes.

"The Hokage Building is now completely sealed off. Only a small number of Jonin can enter, and we don't know what is going on inside. I would like to ask, has Mr. Kakashi not contacted you?"

Iruka's face became serious and he asked about Kakashi's whereabouts.

Sasuke shook his head and replied: "Jōnin Ebisu is guiding us these days. As for Kakashi, I haven't seen him for nearly a month, and I don't know what the specific situation is with him.

.”

"This is really bad."

Iruka sighed.

Although chunin are the backbone of the village, if you want to participate in major events in the village, you basically start as a jounin.

Moreover, not just any jounin can participate.

Although he requested to meet with the Third Hokage many times, he was rejected by the people guarding the door without exception.

But it is impossible to break through forcefully.

It is the residence of the Hokage's office, and it also contains a lot of confidential information about Konoha. It is heavily guarded and there are many powerful ninjas there, so there is no possibility of successfully infiltrating it.

Once discovered, they may be executed on the spot.

"For the current situation, I can only believe that the higher-ups can make proper arrangements before the situation becomes too serious to be handled... Otherwise, it won't be long before people in the village are panicked, and it will be troublesome to clean up the situation."

Because of this incident, Sasuke doesn't even have any free time to practice now.

It can be said that Konoha is now showing signs of chaos.

"Especially you, Naruto."

Sasuke suddenly changed the topic to Naruto.

"Me? What's wrong with me?"

Naruto, who was eating Ichiraku Ramen, blinked in confusion.

"Someone is using you to make a fuss and suppress Hokage-sama's prestige... No matter whether the rumors outside are true or not, as long as Hokage-sama does not clarify them, they may be mistaken for truth."

Moreover, Sasuke didn't say what he was most worried about.

Naruto's identity is probably true.
To be continued...