Chapter Text
The breeze in the open air was cold against her skin. Leaves drifted through the wind while the people walking below looked no bigger than ants from where Naruto sat atop the Hokage Monument. It was one of the few places she considered safe.
No judging stares.
No whispers.
No one was around to see the somber expression on her face.
She had skipped the Academy today.
Not that people were ever kind to her, but today was worse. The sneers, the glares, the muttered insults—they all felt sharper somehow. Naruto didn’t understand why this day of all days brought out the worst in everyone.
Other kids got smiles. Hugs. Presents. Why not her?
Birthdays were supposed to celebrate someone’s life. A day where people gathered to show they were happy you existed.
Naruto had never known that kind of warmth. Instead, she was used to the silence of her tiny apartment.
One chair.
One cup.
One person.
Naruto lay back against the cool stone, staring up at the clouds drifting across the sky while the sounds of the bustling village echoed faintly below her. After a long sigh, she pushed herself upright and began making her way down toward her apartment. The walk home was long and quiet.
Naruto kept her head down, refusing to look at the villagers around her. She didn’t want to see those empty expressions filled with contempt, like she was some kind of plague allowed to wander freely through the streets.
“Ah, there you are.”
Naruto looked up at the familiar voice.
“Yo, Gramps.”
Pulling her keys from her pocket, Naruto unlocked the apartment door and stepped aside for the old man to enter.
“I was nearby and thought I’d check on you,” the Third Hokage said warmly.
“How are things at the Academy?”
Naruto shrugged before hopping onto the kitchen counter. It wasn’t that she hated studying. She hated the people. The constant looks of disappointment. The way everyone waited for her to mess up so they could call her an idiot or a loser. Not that they needed an excuse anyway.
“Hm.” Hiruzen reached into his robes and pulled out a small envelope.
“Here’s your monthly allowance. I added a little extra so you can buy yourself something nice for this special day.”
Naruto stared down at the envelope resting in her lap.
Special.
Right.
Hiruzen turned toward the door, preparing to leave, when Naruto suddenly spoke.
“Old man…”
The Hokage paused. “Hm?”
“Since today’s special… can you grant me one wish?”
Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh.
“If it’s within reason, I’ll see what I can do.”
Naruto’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Please… tell me about my parents.”
Hiruzen froze.
“Naruto—”
“No.” Naruto’s voice cracked as she gripped the edge of the counter so tightly her knuckles turned white.
“Don’t tell me they were strong shinobi. Don’t tell me they loved me.” Her blue eyes trembled with desperation.
“Tell me who they were. My mom… my dad… who were they?”
Every year she asked.
Every single year.
Because she needed to know.
Hiruzen closed his eyes, one hand stroking his beard as he carefully considered the question. Finally, he sighed.
“…Alright. You’re old enough now.”
Naruto nearly fell off the counter in excitement.
“Really?!”
Hiruzen raised a hand, stopping her before she could say anything else.
“Tomorrow,” he said calmly.
“Come to the Hokage Tower. There’s something I want to give you first.”
With that, Hiruzen turned and left the apartment, the door clicking softly shut behind him.
Naruto sat there in silence, the envelope still resting in her lap, while her heart felt strangely heavy.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow, she would finally learn about them. About her parents. For as long as she could remember, they had been nothing more than shadows in her mind—faceless people she imagined whenever she saw families walking together through the village. Sometimes she wondered if her mother had her hair, or if her father laughed as loudly as she did. Other times, she imagined they were powerful shinobi away on some important mission.
And sometimes… she wondered if they had abandoned her. But tomorrow, she would finally know the truth.
That night, Naruto climbed onto the roof of her apartment building. The evening air was cold, carrying the distant sounds of the village below. Lights glowed from apartment windows all across Konoha while laughter and conversation drifted through the streets. Naruto pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin against them, staring out at the village in the distance. For once, her mind wasn’t filled with thoughts of becoming Hokage or pulling pranks just to get attention. Instead, she found herself wondering simple things.
What were their names?
What did they look like?
Would they have been proud of her?
A small smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
Maybe her mom was loud like her.
Maybe her dad was some amazing shinobi everyone respected.
Maybe… if they were still alive, birthdays wouldn’t feel so lonely.
Naruto looked up toward the stars scattered across the night sky, her blue eyes reflecting their faint light.
“Tomorrow…” she whispered softly.
For the first time in a long while, Naruto felt something unfamiliar stirring in her chest.
Hope.