Chapter 8: Naruto learns the Analects
Konoha 54, December 20, in the Hokage's office.
A man with silver hair, a black mask and a forehead protector covering his left eye stood in front of the desk.
It was Kakashi Hatake, known as the "Copy Ninja" and "Konoha Technician".
I saw him squinting a pair of lifeless fish eyes and describing little Naruto's daily activities in a tone without any emotion:
"Naruto Uzumaki will get up at six in the morning, make himself a breakfast, and then exercise in his room while reading a book, and then sit by the window in a daze."
"I just stayed in a daze until my stomach growled, and then I came back to my senses and made myself lunch. Then I read, exercised, and dazed as usual..."
"The sun begins to set in the evening, and villagers start to go home one after another. Uzumaki Naruto will quietly run out, avoiding the more prosperous neighborhoods and come to the creek to fish and exercise. When he goes home, he will buy some daily necessities..."
This is a long-term mission assigned to him by the Third hokage, to protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki and report on his daily life regularly.
After all, Sarutobi also needs to deal with government affairs, so he can't keep his "Telescope Technique" on all the time.
At this time, ANBU would need to "monitor" him.
"Hoo~"
Sarutobi Hiruzen held the pipe in his hand and slowly blew out a puff of white smoke.
A trace of sadness appeared on his face.
"Is Naruto still like this today?"
Apart from sleeping and exorcising, he spends the longest time in a daze every day. This kind of life has been going on for a month.
Sarutobi felt a little distressed, but more importantly, he was worried.
This must be a maxed-out account. Isn't it going to be useless?
He had been "discovered" by little Naruto a month ago as the Third Hokage.
Little Naruto pitifully begged him to explain to the villagers and prove that he was not a demon.
Sarutobi agreed and did so.
...Of course, the effect was a drop in the bucket.
From then on, little Naruto rarely went to the crowd again.
Every day he would either stay at home and read in a daze, or go to the woods to hunt and exercise, just like a solitary person.
"well!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long sigh and took a long drag on his cigarette. His wrinkled face seemed to look older.
In fact, he knew where the problem was, but he didn't really want to change the status quo.
If little Naruto is hated by everyone, then he is the only warmth and light in little Naruto's heart.
This is very convenient for him to "teach" the will of fire and can also better hold the jinchūriki in the palm of his hand.
"I'm sorry, Naruto, this is the fate of the jinchūriki."
Sarutobi sighed inwardly, got up and came to the window.
Overlooking the vast and prosperous Konoha Village below, the long-faded ambition in his heart actually started to falter.
When a person gets old, he likes to miss the past and lacks a sufficient sense of security.
The only thing that can give him a sense of security now is the chair under his butt and the Konoha Village that he has spent his whole life protecting.
However, when he looked at the Hyuga clan in the distance who was preparing something with great fanfare, he was also stunned.
"Kakashi, do you know what the hyuga have been doing lately?"
Kakashi scratched his head and said, "Sandaime-sama, the hyuga are preparing for the fourth birthday of Hinata Hyuga, the eldest daughter of the clan."
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly showed a look of surprise when he heard this.
"If I remember correctly, there are still seven days until the fourth birthday of the eldest daughter of the Hyuga clan, right?"
"Yes."
The Hyuga clan has always put rules and traditions first.
On the fourth birthday of the clan children, a group of children from separate families will be branded with the "Caged Bird" curse mark.
The best among this group of children from separated families will have the opportunity to become personal guards for the children of the clan family.
As the eldest and only daughter of the clan leader, Hyuga Hinata is likely to succeed the clan leader in the future, so her fourth birthday will naturally be taken seriously by the Hyuga clan.
Phew~
After Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a moment, he still told Kakashi: "The envoy from Kumo Village will come to conclude an alliance recently. Please help me send a generous gift to the Hyuga clan."
"Yes, Third hokage-sama."
Konoha's top combat power is now very low. Hatake Sakumo killed himself over rumors, Minato and his wife died in the Nine-Tails Rebellion, and Konoha's three sannin left Konoha one after another. This can be said to be the weakest period in recent years.
The only people left in the village now are the old, weak, sick and disabled.
Now that kumo Village has taken the initiative to send people to establish an alliance, this is rare good news for Konoha Village.
So Sarutobi Hiruzen also attached great importance to this, and even beat up Danzo in advance, for fear that he would do something wrong again.
"Konoha can no longer bear the torment now..."
......
In Uzumaki Naruto's sealed space.
"One might say: How about repaying evil with kindness?"
"The Master said: How to repay virtue? Repay evil with straightness, repay kindness with kindness."
Little Naruto's back was straight, and he was sitting upright in front of the desk, holding a copy of "The Analects of Confucius" in his hand, and reciting it loudly.
Next to him were stacks of books taller than him.
At a glance, you can see "Morality and Rule of Law", "The Analects of Confucius", "Three Character Classic", "History of Konoha", "History of the Ninja World"...
At this time, Menma Uzumaki had already changed into a rather ancient long-sleeved gown.
There is also a ruler in his right hand, which makes a crisp snapping sound when slapped on the palm of his left hand.
Suddenly, he stopped and asked bluntly: "Question! What is the specific meaning of this sentence?"
Naruto raised his head slightly and said confidently: "What this sentence means is that if we repay evil deeds with good deeds, then what should we repay good deeds with? It is better to repay evil deeds with judgment and repay good deeds with good deeds."
"Very good!"
Naruto just smiled when he heard Menma's praise.
But he changed the subject: "Do you remember the book "Morality and Law" I asked you to read yesterday?"
"..."
Naruto's smile froze instantly, but he still said stiffly: "I should, probably, remember...right?"
"If someone robbed me of 100 taels, how should you deal with it as a judge at this time?"
Naruto thought for a moment and said in a mosquito-sized voice: "...Return the original amount to you?"
But with a gust of wind, he instinctively shrank his neck.
Snap!
"Ouch!"
Looking at the little Naruto who was pretending to cover the back of his hand, Menma laughed and scolded for a while: "You are a dead head who can only memorize but not use! You can understand "The Analects" and "Morality and the Rule of Law" when you take one out, but you can't understand them when you put them together?"
"This sentence from "The Analects" is applied to the rule of law, which shows that repaying grievances with justice is not a pure numerical equation. Actively robbing a hundred taels and being forced to pay back a hundred taels cannot offset each other. In addition to paying back a hundred taels, there must be a punishment for the evil deeds."
"The development process of human society is not a zero-sum process of good and evil, but a process of suppressing evil and promoting good!"