They stood in complete silence. The only things that could be heard were the leaves dancing in the gentle wind that had blown the blonde's hair in all directions. The Third Hokage looked at him for a moment, his expression absent, as if analyzing what he had just heard. Suddenly, he smiled slightly, allowing himself for a small giggle. Uzumaki looked at the old man, his features expressing firmness and seriousness.

"I don't know what makes you laugh so much, Hokage-sama. I'm not kidding at all."

"That's not what I mean." The man shook his head "I see that nothing escapes your attention, Naruto."

The boy snorted.

"Any intelligent man would finally realize that the caretaker, who is undoubtedly not his relative and never tells him about his real parents, is hiding something."

"You're right. I should have expected it. You can see that you inherited your father's wits."

Little Namikaze cheered up a bit.

"So you'll finally tell me, dattebayo? Who were they, how did they die?"

"I didn't think he would agree so easily," Minato was surprised, and Kushina nodded. "After all, he was hiding it from you for so long for some reason. And now he suddenly said that he would tell you that? Something is not right in here."

"Your parents were very brave ninjas," Hiruzen began, after a moment of silence, as if preparing himself, "and they loved you very much. One day, however, they left you in my protection when you were very young, because they got a longer mission outside the Land of Fire. The task was dangerous and unfortunately they didn't come back alive. I'm sorry."

Naruto looked at the man with eyes wide open in shock and raised eyebrows, unable to believe what a hopeless story Hokage came up with. He was eager to hit him in the face for lying directly in his eyes, but he knew he had no such right. Instead, he laughed bitterly, much to the Third's huge surprise. Then he looked him straight in the eye, disappointment visible in his irises, while his face expressed a loss of trust.

"I haven't heard such a stupid lie in my life yet. It's like I would tell you now that I'm training with Third Raikage, dattebayo."

Hiruzen took a step back in surprise, unable to believe what he was hearing.

"So you know already?"

"I didn't say anything" Naruto looked away, staring at the ghosts watching him "I just say you are not telling me the truth, Hokage-sama. I will not trust someone who cannot trust me. Therefore, don't expect me to tell you anything."

After these words he ran towards the Village.

Sarutobi didn't know what to say. He didn't expect the boy to know anything about his parents. For his own safety he didn't reveal it to him, but apparently he never even had to do it. He remembered the second birthday of the blonde and his picture. "He must know this from somewhere. Or rather from someone," he concluded. He had to find out who Naruto was meeting with for his good. It could have been someone suspicious, maybe even planning to do something to the jinchūriki. The Third could not allow such a thing.

He made one hand seal, specially designed for the ANBU of the Leaf, which informed the captain of this unit to send one of his men. Not more than half a minute passed, and already a woman in the mask of an owl appeared opposite him in the cloud of smoke . She knelt before him, waiting for orders.

"Bring me Kakashi Hatake here. As soon as possible."

"Hai, Hokage-sama!" after these words, she bowed again and disappeared. All he had to do now was wait. In the meantime, he tried to sense Naruto's chakra, not yet developed. It seemed that the boy didn't return to the Village, but went to another training field. It actually made things a little easier.

After about 15 minutes, the Copy Cat Ninja finally appeared. His jounin outfit was a little creased, and he was just buttoning his vest. He waved to the Kage in greeting.

"Hello, Hokage-sama. I'm sorry that you had to wait so long but I got up from bed with my left foot, so I had to go to sleep again to get up right this time."

The Hokage laughed, knowing it was just another excuse for a man who, after deducing his appearance, had just woken up. Although it was already 11 o'clock.

"It's alright, Kakashi. We don't want you to be unlucky today."

"So what's the matter?" the silver-haired man asked, shaking a kunai on his forefinger.

"Right. I have an important mission for you."

"Shouldn't we discuss something like that in the Hokage Tower? Why here?"

Hiruzen shook his head.

"This is not an official mission. Only you and me will know about it. In addition, I know that you have already left ANBU, but I would like you to wear your mask and uniform for the duration. Just in case."

"Oh? This is interesting. What is this task?"

"You have to follow Naruto during his secret trainings."

Kakashi suddenly stopped and the knife with which he played slipped from his finger and flew a few centimeters from Sarutobi's face. None of them, however, even noticed it. Hatake looked at the Third, shock in his only visible eye.

"Why should I do that?"

"Naruto is a smart boy, but recently I started to notice something suspicious. He left the house more often without telling anyone. His skills in taijutsu and throwing to a target have increased significantly, as well as his theoretical knowledge. Sometimes he seemed to be absent, as if absorbed in his own thoughts. I don't think it's his own merit." he took a deep breath." And one last thing. I think he knows about his parents."

The Eye of the Copying Ninja, if at all possible, opened even wider after hearing such information.

"He knows? So you think that Naruto meets someone without your knowledge, Hokage-sama?"

"Exactly so." Hiruzen nodded.

"Have you considered the option that it was... the Kyūbi?"

"I don't think so. How would the demon benefit form the fact that Naruto knows about his origin? Or from training him? It must be an outsider. And I want you to find out who it is and what their goals are. It would also be good if you wear your ANBU attire so that no one will recognize you. The mission is secret, so you can't tell anyone about it."

"Well... Where is he now?"

"You will find him on training field number 7."

"Number 7?" the man sighed "Why is it always that training field?"

"It's the same one where this test is carried out, right? I wonder why he went there."

"I think it's pure chance." said the silver-haired man.

"You must be right," Hiruzen agreed after thinking for a moment. "You can go now. You start from now."

"Hai!" Kakashi wanted to leave to get ready, but the Hokage added something else.

"Oh, one more thing. You better mute your chakra completely as you are around him. He has already begun developing the sensory abilities of the Uzumaki clan. I don't want him to know that someone is watching him."

Hatake nodded and disappeared into a cloud of smoke.

***

Naruto ran ahead, not paying much attention where he was going. Just to be far from the Hokage. He was angry and disappointed. He couldn't understand why the old man couldn't trust him and simply tell him the truth. He was eager to hit something, throw his feelings on it. Minato seemed to have noticed what his son needs.

"Naruto, run more on west. You should reach one of the training fields in a few minutes. In its center are 3 wooden posts. It's a good place to exercise."

The younger blonde man shrugged and followed his father's advice. Indeed, after a while he stood in the clearing he described. The moment he saw the trunks, he wanted to go towards them and hit them, but the Fourth stopped him.

"No, leave these trunks alone. You can hit the trees around. There are more of them here than where we were before."

"Then why did you bring me here, dattebayo?" the boy was surprised.

"You know, there's a reason I didn't want you to exercise on these wooden poles. This is not a regular training field. And these trunks are also here for a reason."

"Wait, this is the place, dattebane?" Kushina asked. The older blond man smiled and nodded, while the younger one looked at them without understanding.

"What are you talking about? What is this glade?"

"In this training field number 7 the so-called "bell test" is carried out" explained the Yondaime.

"Bell test? I've never heard of such a thing. What is this, dattebayo?"

"Hmmm ... I can't tell you everything. But know that hardly anyone passes it. It is carried out for some genin teams who have just graduated from the Academy to see if they are suitable for ninja."

"Heeee?! So after school there is going to be another test?! Why didn't anyone tell me that, dattebayo?! What if you don't pass it?"

"If you don't complete the test your jōnin has for you, you must go back to the Academy for another year," said the previous Kage. "The average number of passing teams each year is 3, that is 9 genins, even if more students have graduated from the Academy."

"What?!"

"That's the truth. Of course, there are cases when there are more or less teams passing, but this happens most often. I myself did the bell test."

"What? Really? And you passed it, right?"

"Of course. For the first time this test was carried out by the Third Hokage on his team, Tsunade, Orochimaru and Jiraiya. The third of them was my sensei and I also had to pass this exam."

"What?! Did one of the Legendary Sannins teach you dattebayo?!"

"Yes. I never told you?" he was surprised. His son shook his head and the older man scratched his neck "My fault. Now you know. Either way, then, when I became a jōnin, I did the same to my students, Rin, Obito and Kakashi, and they managed to pass it. However, as far as I know, 66% of the candidates fail this test."

"I didn't know... Is it that difficult?"

"Well... It depends how you look at it," Minato winked at him mysteriously.

"I don't understand... " Naruto tilted his head as usual, when he didn't understand what was explained to him. The Fourth laughed and patted his head.

"I'll explain to you someday."

Naruto smiled. His parents were always able to improve his mood when he was angry or sad. With this new dose of good mood, he decided to resume training which was interrupted earlier. He stood some distance from several trees in the clearing and began practicing shuriken throws. His parents watched these activities.

"Do you think he'll ever tell me, dattebayo?" asked the boy suddenly.

"But who? And what?" Kushina was surprised.

"Old man, about you."

"Why do you really want him to tell you that? You already know, dattebane."

"It's true. But, as I told him, I just want him not to decieve me. I would even prefer that he tell me something like "I can't tell you this secret because something something". But such thing as lying straight to my face..." he looked at the clouds in the sky -"I can't rely on such a person.

"I understand," said Minato. "So you just want him to trust you, so you can do the same for him?"

"There is no other way, dattebayo," confirmed the jinchūriki. "This feeling must be mutual, otherwise all reliance on others doesn't make sense."

He focused on the throws again. There was a long silence between him and the Fourth and his wife, which, however, didn't disturb any of them. It is as if they have concluded a silent agreement without a word. Each of them knew that others had something they would like to think of, alone. The only sounds heard at that time were the rustling of leaves and the striking of the weapon against wood or soil. And it was good for them all.

***

"And what, Kakashi? Something new?" Hiruzen put the papers aside when he saw Hatake enter the office. The man shook his head, putting an observation report of that day on the desk.

"For a week and a half he hasn't met anyone during his trainings. In fact, apart from a clear increase in his skills, I didn't notice anything suspicious."

The third Hokage sighed.

"I understand. Thank you, Kakashi. You have time off today."

The Copy Cat Ninja saluted and headed for the exit, but stopped with one hand on the door handle.

"Don't you think these observations are unnecessary anymore? Since nothing has happened so far, why should it suddenly start now?"

"You're right," Sandaime admitted, "but I want to keep an eye on him for some time. At least until he joins the Academy."

"As you wish, Hokage-sama."

Saying this, he left, reflecting on what had been going on since the day he was given the task.

When this ANBU woman appeared in his house and woke him from sleep (yes, he was still asleep, because he was sitting again until four in the morning reading his beloved Icha Icha), he expected that Hokage wanted to give him some mission. And since he had sent someone from the Special Leaf squad, it was likely to be one of the most difficult and higher ranked ones. However, he didn't think that the leader would want him to follow the jinchūriki, and even more for what reasons.

Kakashi has always wanted to meet Naruto. The blonde didn't know that, but he was the only person who kept him on his senses. After losing his father, then Obito and Rin, he had great problems with depression, but the presence of Minato and Kushina always put him back on his feet. But when they died, he felt as if his whole world had collapsed. He never admitted it, because the ninja should not indulge in feelings, but he had moments when he considered suicide. But at every such moment he was thinking of the Yondaime's son. His master's child. The only thing left to him after his loved ones. And it was thanks to him that he always gave up taking his life. He knew that as the last of the living disciples of the jinchuuriki's father, he was obliged to take care of the little one and help him grow up. He had no right to leave him.

And yet he wasn't with him.

It was the feeling that was eating him from the inside. He always wanted to meet Naruto, but he couldn't. No matter how much he wanted to see him, talk to him, he wouldn't have permission to do so. The Village Council and Hokage didn't want him and Yondaime's son to get to know each other. When he asked for explanations, they only told him that if he met the jinchuuriki, then the small one might accidentally find out who his parents were. He thought it was a stupid reason, but an order is an order. Therefore, despite his willingness, he didn't even have the right to show himself to the boy. Instead, he tried to help him out of the shadows as much as possible. If he knew the locals were trying to attack him, he dealt with them before they could assault the little one. When he caught them during the aggression of the boy, he transformed into some other random ninja and chased the residents of Konoha, and then quickly disappeared without even waiting for the boy to thank him. He gave some of his money to Hokage so that he would save it for Uzumaki when he could start living independently. He also tried to convince other people to the blonde, despite the fact that he never really succeeded. But he never intended to stop trying. At least that was all he could do for his master's son.

And now? Not only that he couldn't meet him, he also had to follow him. And it was on that training field, which was associated with many of his important memories. Maybe it meant that he could see him more than before, because he didn't get any other mission than this, but without the chance to face him it wasn't the same. He felt bad knowing that he was putting his nose in the boy's private life and he didn't even have a chance to find out. So this mission didn't please him. He was still trying to convince Sarutobi to choose someone else to do it, but he insisted that he was most suited and trusted him the most.

Well... Maybe Hokage was right about the first one, but Kakashi wouldn't be so sure about the second one. The truth was that his reports on supervising little Namikaze weren't entirely complete. Okay, the information about the increase in his skills was undoubtedly true. Hatake himself often had the impression that he was not looking at Konoha's Yellow Flash's son, but at him himself; the fighting style of the little one was remarkably similar to that of his father. However, in addition to the kid's development in the field of shinobi, the White Fang's son noticed something else that he swore he would never tell the Village's leader.

Well, Naruto's strange monologues didn't escape the gray-haired's attention. The seven-year-old acted as if he was talking to someone while there was definitely no one around him. At the beginning this fact greatly worried the former captain of ANBU. Kakashi was afraid that the small one, because of his loneliness, may have had something wrong with the psyche and talked with the inventions of his mind. He even considered notifying the boy's caretaker. However, over time, he began to doubt his initial thesis. Especially by the way the Uzumaki addressed his "interlocutors". The words "mom" and "dad" shocked the man so much the first time that he almost fell off the branch he was sitting on. For a moment it seemed to him that the kid even invented his own parents to ease his social needs. If that were the case, he wouldn't hesitate to report this to the Hokage. However, he didn't do it. Not after that one day when he heard the names Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. He remembered that he had hardly slept that night, trying to understand what was really going on with this boy. He had such phases when he found himself writing a report to the Third with information about Naruto's disturbing behavior. But he never delivered anything like that. Each such card landed in his fireplace, in flames.

No, even despite his doubts about the mental health of the son of the Yondaime, he couldn't say anything to Sarutobi. He was afraid that the Hokage would send the kid to some psychiatrist, and that would end badly for both Uzumaki and Hatake. The seven-year-old would sooner lose his mind in such a place than he would get help. He didn't even mention the fact that a person who could be assigned to help Naruto, at 90% would prefer to destroy his mind than do something good for the boy. He simply knew from experience that such visits bring nothing, and sometimes even make things worse. After the Kyuubi's attack, for two weeks he tried to abolish the talks and advice from such "specialist". After this period of time, he never intended to see that human ever again. He didn't want the last person who made him still himself to have to go through something so stupid. In addition, then he wouldn't have any chance to see him at all, and he certainly wouldn't bear with it. So he kept this information a secret.

He only wondered about one fact. Since Naruto already knows about his origin, why was he still not allowed to meet the boy? He couldn't think of any good reason, no matter how long he wondered. However, if others didn't want to agree with it, the Hatake would force them to do so. He has already started to form his plan in his mind. Maybe their meeting won't happen soon, unfortunately he had to wait a few years, but it was guaranteed. In addition, then he won't have to help the boy only from the shadows and he will also have the chance to bring something into his life.

He had no idea, however, that by pure coincidence they would meet much earlier.