This night was destined to be filled with noise. Even though John stayed in the underground emergency shelter, he could still hear all sorts of sounds.
There were the sounds of battle above ground, the wailing from other shelters, the cries of the dying, the mourning of families and babies who had lost loved ones, the intense prayers of the people, and heated discussions about the battle situation. All at once, his mind was bombarded with a unpleasant sound, which left John feeling deeply unsettled.
Is this the suffering of the world? John thought. He knew more than others and, as a result, he thought far more about the future than most. He thought about his own fate, the future of Konoha, and even the larger fate of the entire ninja world. He understood all too well that this was only the beginning. It would be easy to sit back and live a life of survival, but how could he not be a part of the unfolding journey?
That night, John couldn't sleep.
As he lay thinking about family and the affairs of the world, a sudden ominous feeling washed over him. It was then he realized that the strange hot and humid sensation around him came from the sight of little Ino, who was still giggling after wetting the bed. John couldn't help but feel speechless. This is really too much, he thought. The crib wasn't that big, and if he wasn't careful, he'd end up soaked too.
With no other option, John cried out helplessly. It didn't take long for an aunt to rush over to check on the situation. "Oh, the child Master Asaka brought back has wet all over Miss Ino," she remarked. John could only express his sadness with an inward sigh. I just wanted some peace, but this… he thought, wondering if he'd ever get used to it.
The next morning, John and several other children were brought back to the surface. The older children were taken away for more organized management, while the younger ones were kept in the hospital for further care.
As the cries of the children filled the air, creating a symphony of sorrow, John wondered when it would all end.
Just then, Asaka, who had been busy all night, walked into the baby room, exhausted. Luckily, the situation on surface had been resolved, which lifted a great burden off her shoulders. However, when she looked at the child in front of her—Haruto, who gazed at the world with wide, curious eyes—her heart softened. Despite his new beginnings in life, he had lost his parents. She couldn't help but feel pity for him.
"Lady Asaka," the guard hurriedly saluted.
Asaka waved her hand dismissively and stood in front of the crib. Squatting down, she looked at the two children in front of her, a smile on her face.
Haruto, with a bright smile, was holding Ino in his arms. He was trying to be as friendly as possible, hoping to make a good impression on the aunt in front of him. However, little Ino twisted and turned, clearly not interested, and soon burst into tears. Haruto couldn't help but think, I wanted to cry too.
At that moment, the Guard beside them spoke up. "This child is very troublesome. He hardly slept at all last night and crawled around everywhere. He even pissed on Miss Ino."
Haruto, feeling misunderstood, thought to himself, I didn't do anything to you. And here I thought we were friends. He suddenly felt a surge of malice directed at the Guard.
"Oh, is that so?" Asaka asked, glancing at John with interest. Noticing how his bright eyes were so different from the typical child's ignorance, she remarked, "He's certainly full of energy."
"That's right." The Guard continued speaking, and if Haruto could move at that moment, he would have covered her mouth. "This child hasn't eaten all night."
Nonsense. Just look at your face, John thought, his frustration mounting as he glared at the Guard.
"Let me try," Asaka said, her voice calm. She unbuttoned the top of her chest and gently lifted John into her arms.
Is this the legendary benefit? John shamelessly flaunted his cuteness with an expression of enjoyment, clutching onto Asaka's neck and murmuring, "Mommy, mommy," while tightening his little hands.
"Look, this child is destined to be with me," Asaka thought silently to herself as she looked at the adorable child in her arms, making a decision in her heart.
A few days later, at the funeral of the Fourth Hokage, Haruto was held by Asaka, standing among the crowd. Today wasn't just the funeral of the Fourth Hokage—it was also the funeral of Haruto "cheap" parents.
At the funeral, Haruto saw many familiar faces—the Third Hokage, the two major advisors, Kakashi, and Kurenai, all of whom wore expressions of sadness. John felt an intense sorrow that he couldn't meet the Fourth Hokage, a huge loss for any Naruto fan.
Looking at the tombstone of the Fourth Hokage in front of him, John remembered the words of the Third Hokage: "Where the tree leaves dance, One shall find flames, The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again tree leaves shall bud anew."
At that moment, John suddenly felt the absurdity of witnessing history. Did I really reborn in such a significant era?
After accompanying Asaka to lay flowers at the Fourth Hokage's grave, she took John to the tombstone of his "cheap" parents. Standing in front of the stone, John suddenly recalled the woman who had hugged him in her arms, dying while smiling. A wave of melancholy washed over him.
"Haruto, these are your parents," Asaka said sadly, her voice filled with sorrow.
Asaka gently held Haruto's little hand and placed a bouquet of flowers at the grave. She then turned around, leading him away. Looking in the direction they were heading, John realized they were headed to the Yamanaka family's residence.
Later that evening, at the Yamanaka clan's home, Asaka and her husband, Inoichi, were having a conversation.
"Inoichi, I want to adopt this child," Asaka said, looking at Haruto with tenderness.
Inoichi raised an eyebrow and glanced at Haruto. "Is this just a random child?"
"No, his parents died in this tragedy, and he has no relatives. He's all alone, and it's just so pitiful." Asaka sighed, her gaze softening as she looked at Haruto.
Haruto, realizing that this was a critical moment, quickly put on a smile. However, he couldn't help but think to himself, I never knew smiling could be so difficult.
Inoichi considered it for a moment. "I have no objection. After all, Jiro was one of our classmates. And it just so happens that the Third Hokage held a meeting with the heads of several clans, asking each family to take in a few children. The Uchiha clan refused, but each of the other families was given several spots, and we have space in our family as well."
When Inoichi Yamanaka thought about the countless orphans this disaster had created in Konoha, a wave of sadness swept over him for a moment.
"You'll be a good companion for Ino," Inoichi said softly, gently brushing Haruto"s hair.
"Yes," Asaka added with a tender smile, "When I was young, I always wished I had an older brother." She then hugged Haruto closely. "Haruto, you'll need to protect your sister in the future, alright?"
Hearing this, John finally felt a sense of relief. It seemed he had found a solid "leg to lean on"—a secure place in this chaotic world. Am I already winning from the start?
No longer did he have to worry about being captured by someone like Orochimaru for experiments, nor would he have to fear being manipulated by people like Danzo, driven by their ambitions. Unlike Naruto, he wouldn't have to live off instant noodles, and he wouldn't be left without anyone to teach him ninjutsu.
With these thoughts in mind, John couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over him. No matter what the future held, at least he had a good start. He also couldn't help but sigh quietly to himself—the world of Naruto is really not an easy one. Even as a newborn, I'm already being forced to fight for survival.