Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Chapter 31: A Billion-Watt Light Bulb!

"You little rascal!" The Third Hokage tapped Naruto lightly on the head with his smoking pipe, and to prevent any further wild guesses, he clarified directly: "Can't you see it's my face? I am the Third Hokage!"

"Eh!" Holding his head, Naruto froze, then turned back to glance at the grand Hokage Rock, and scrutinizing the Third Hokage's face, he stared and compared for a full minute before exclaiming loudly, "Grandpa, you're actually the Third Hokage!!!"

"Keep your voice down!" Seeing Naruto's shock, which couldn't have been more profound, the Third Hokage felt a mix of amusement and speechlessness. He had never intended to hide his identity from Naruto.

But the fact that Naruto had remained clueless until now made the Third wonder whether to attribute it to Naruto's dense nature or simply put it down to below-average intelligence.

"Grandpa, you're really the Third Hokage? The strongest Hokage, like Katsuragi said?" Naruto couldn't help but ask again, still a bit dazed.

"Why would I lie about that? Now you know how powerful your grandpa is!"

The Third Hokage felt a bit peeved; despite his age, he didn't look all that different from the rock face, did he? Naruto still seemed somewhat unwilling to believe.

"Uh-huh! Uh-huh!" Once Naruto reassured himself again that the Third truly was the Hokage, he grabbed his grandfather's clothes excitedly, pleading, "Grandpa, let me be Hokage too!"

"That way everyone will accept me, and they won't dislike or bully me anymore!"

Hearing this, a flicker of guilt passed through the Third's eyes. Then, sitting Naruto down beside him, he looked towards the Hokage Rock and sighed, "Naruto, do you know what being Hokage means?"

Naruto shook his head blankly; if it weren't for Katsuragi telling him today, he wouldn't even know what the word Hokage meant.

Seeing Naruto's clueless expression, the Third took a puff of his cigarette, then launched into a detailed explanation about the heroic deeds of the First, Second, and Naruto's father, the Fourth Hokage. He explained that it wasn't about becoming Hokage to be adored, but rather that those who are adored can become Hokage.

He then proceeded to give a long lecture on the Will of Fire, aiming to cultivate Naruto's affection for the village. Thankfully, given Naruto's lack of affection in his life, this worked. Had it been Katsuragi sitting there, he might have fallen asleep listening.

Meanwhile, Katsuragi was in the courtyard, continuing his battle training with Yuki Onna and the Three-Tailed Fox. Even though their fighting styles were different from ninjas, they still managed to provide Katsuragi with valuable experience, and it was safe as he couldn't be injured there.

"Whew! Yuki Onna and the Three-Tailed Fox are still so powerful!" Katsuragi gasped for air as he leaned against the cherry blossom tree after the training. Although he couldn't get injured in the courtyard, he still felt tired.

"You're just too weak, Katsuragi!" The Three-Tailed Fox teased him with a smile, then curiously asked, "What about the Nine-Tails? Has he left?"

"Yes," Katsuragi nodded, unaware that Naruto was currently being lectured by the Third Hokage due to the very topics he had discussed earlier.

"That guy, really. Next time I chat with him, he never pays attention to me. Katsuragi, you should summon Lord Tamamo-no-Mae and show him what a true Nine-Tails fox is!"

"Uh," Katsuragi, looking at the irate Three-Tailed Fox, was somewhat speechless. During this period, Naruto's persistent pestering had led him to visit the Nine-Tails' seal a few times.

Because Yuki Onna disliked the environment of the Nine-Tails' seal and there was no danger, she never accompanied them. It was always him and the Three-Tailed Fox, and the Nine-Tails' indifferent attitude each time irked the proud Three-Tailed Fox, who considered herself part of the fox clan.

"Maybe you should just focus on training yourself to become stronger, and then show him what a real Three-Tailed Fox is capable of!" Yuki Onna playfully suggested. It seemed that with the passing of summer, her mood had become more lively, possibly in anticipation of winter.

Watching the Three-Tailed Fox and Yuki Onna start their playful bickering, Katsuragi smiled and then quietly left the courtyard.

Time flies, and before he knew it, Katsuragi was celebrating his fourth birthday, but he wasn't feeling particularly joyful. Looking at the figure beside him, he felt utterly helpless: "Naruto, it's your birthday, go home and celebrate it!"

"My house doesn't have anyone! So I came to find you, Katsuragi! I didn't know you also have your birthday today!" Naruto laughed foolishly, seemingly happy that he and Katsuragi shared the same birthday.

"Ah!" Katsuragi sighed silently, glancing at Hinata who was shyly lowering her head beside him. He had specially asked Hiashi to let Hinata come over and spend his birthday with him, thinking of making some small birthday wishes when they were alone.

Now, with this billion-watt light bulb shining brightly, Katsuragi considered whether to knock Naruto out and throw him outside when he wasn't looking.

"Katsuragi! Katsuragi! Did you buy a cake?" Seeing Katsuragi deep in thought, the oblivious Naruto excitedly asked, "Shall we go buy a cake?"

Katsuragi didn't respond; he wasn't actually a four-year-old child who would specifically go out to buy a birthday cake. As he was considering how to deal with Naruto, the unwanted light bulb, an aged voice suddenly filled the room:

"Do you want a cake?"

Katsuragi was startled, having not sensed anyone approaching, and quickly turned around, freezing when he saw the newcomer.

"Grandpa!"

"The Third Hokage…!"

Katsuragi didn't expect the visitor to be the Third Hokage, although he knew the Third knew about Naruto's understanding of his identity almost as soon as Naruto told him. This was still the first time Katsuragi had seen the Third Hokage up close.

"You must be Katsuragi!" Observing the bewildered Katsuragi, the Third Hokage smiled warmly, "Naruto often talks about you in front of me."

Then he glanced at Hinata, who was sneakily sizing him up: "And the young lady from the Hyuga clan!"

"Lord Third!" Katsuragi finally reacted, quickly standing up to greet him, then inviting the Third Hokage to sit, asking, "Lord Third, what brings you here..."

"Today is your and Naruto's birthday. I came specially to bring you cakes," the Third Hokage lifted the box he was carrying, seeing Katsuragi still somewhat dazed, he chuckled, "You wouldn't mind an old man like me joining you, would you?"

"No! Of course not!" While Katsuragi inwardly wished he could kick this meddling old man and Naruto out of the house, he outwardly expressed 'surprise,' saying, "I just didn't expect Lord Third to come..."

At that moment, Naruto, who was very familiar with the Third Hokage, also snapped out of it, rushing to the Third's side, looking at the box placed on the table, genuinely surprised, "Grandpa, did you really bring a cake?"

"Here, open it and see for yourself!" The Third took a puff from his pipe and smiled warmly at Naruto.

End of Chapter 31