Konoha Village.
At that moment Naruto was wandering aimlessly down the street, still turning over in his head how to spin the water balloon so it would burst faster and louder, muttering all the while.
"Spin… compress… damn it, why's it so hard…"
Suddenly an elderly yet vigorous voice called out to him.
"Naruto."
He turned and saw Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi standing not far away, wearing his usual gentle smile.
"Oh! Grandpa Third! Did you need something?"
"I heard you'd just returned to the village, so I came to see you."
The Third waved for Naruto to follow, walking while he asked,
"The mission was tough—how do you feel?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"Not bad. Those guys were really strong, especially that masked one. Under the mask he looked so pretty—prettier than a girl—but he turned out to be a guy…"
Once the chatterbox opened up, he began an animated account of the Land of Waves, naturally embellished by his own "artistic touch." He and Sasuke's "heroic exploits" took center stage, while the messy, dangerous parts were glossed over.
The Third listened patiently, nodding from time to time, and before they knew it they reached the Hokage Office.
He could sense Naruto's growth: the steadiness that comes from facing life-and-death trials. Outwardly the boy was still jumpy, but that calm couldn't be faked.
Casually he asked,
"I hear during the mission you gained some insight into a new kind of power?"
Naruto blinked, instantly excited.
"Right, Grandpa Third! Hinata taught me an a-ma-zing jutsu!! You make the Chakra go like this… then like that… and spin it!"
He gesticulated wildly, trying to explain the profound concept, but his vocabulary failed and his description came out all jumbled.
The Third understood inwardly, though he showed nothing.
"Oh? Hinata taught you, did she? How exactly did she—"
Just then the office door slammed open, cutting him off.
"Grandpa! Prepare yourself! Today I'll defeat you! The Fifth Hokage seat is mine!"
A tiny figure in a blue child-size kimono and a bowl cut—Konohamaru Sarutobi—burst in, brandishing a shuriken and charging straight for the Third behind the desk.
Konohamaru, however, had overestimated his own balance and underestimated the smoothness of the Hokage Office floor. He rushed too fast and tripped—maybe on his own nervous steps, maybe on a slight wrinkle in the rug.
"Whoa!"
He lost balance completely, performing a textbook "face-plant," landing solidly on the floor while the shuriken clattered aside.
"Ugh… darn it, a trap!"
Third Hokage: …
Seeing stars and with a stinging nose, Konohamaru clambered up; the first thing he saw was Naruto sitting nearby, gaping at him.
"Are you all right, young master!" Ebisu rushed in, scanning the room.
"There's no trace of any trap here, young master."
Naruto was speechless, the corner of his mouth twitching.
What's with this kid?
Shame, embarrassment, and a bit of displaced anger flooded Konohamaru.
He instantly blamed the unfamiliar, dumb-looking blond!
"Damn it! It was you! You set the trap, didn't you?!"
Konohamaru pointed at Naruto, shouting in frustration to cover his own blunder.
Naruto looked innocent and slightly annoyed.
"Huh!?!"
"You must've pulled some trick!"
Konohamaru ran up, finger stabbing toward Naruto, certain he was responsible.
"You tripped yourself, you little brat!"
Naruto grabbed Konohamaru's collar and hoisted him up.
"Hey! Let go at once! That's the Third Hokage's grandson!" Ebisu barked.
Naruto glanced at Konohamaru, then at the Third.
Konohamaru grinned.
Sure enough, like the glasses teacher and everyone else, this guy wouldn't dare touch the Hokage's grandson.
"What's wrong, jerk! Go on, hit me if you dare! You wouldn't lay a hand on the Hokage's grandson, would you?!"
Konohamaru grew cocky.
But the next second—
"I don't give a damn who you are, idiot!"
Smack!"
A solid punch landed squarely on Konohamaru's head—sharp and loud in the quiet office.
"Gyah…"
Konohamaru crumpled to the floor.
"Wh-what?" Ebisu's eyes bulged; he hadn't expected Naruto to actually hit him.
The Third adjusted his Hokage hat.
"Good grief… that's enough…"
After the punch Naruto, watching the bawling Konohamaru, felt a bit better but still righteous.
"Grandpa, you saw it! The kid provoked me! And he accused me wrong!"
Looking at the sobbing boy on the floor and the fuming Naruto, the Third didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Konohamaru, did you hear that? Don't wrong people next time. That's why I keep saying: the Hokage title isn't for showing off. To become Hokage you must first respect others and earn recognition through your own strength. Understand?"
Konohamaru sniffled.
"Tch, this was just a fluke! Next time I'll beat you for sure!"
Third Hokage: … —his grandson hadn't listened at all.
Naruto, taking in the scene, snorted and lost any mood to stay. He called to the Third,
"Grandpa Third, if there's nothing else I'm off! I've got training to do!"
With that he charged out of the Hokage Office to resume his fated duel—with the water balloon.
In the office only the Third, Ebisu comforting Konohamaru, and a small boy with a fresh lump on his forehead, tears still wet, remained—shouting he'd defeat the Third next time.
The Third took a puff on his pipe and sighed; he'd almost asked the crucial question when Konohamaru barged in.
It looked like inquiries about Hinata and the Rasengan would have to wait.