It's Been Three Months
In Konoha, the houses had been completely rebuilt. One by one, the residents began to let go of the past and live their lives to the fullest. They felt safe.
They believed the Kyuubi jinchuriki was shackled underground. Danzo and Minato took a break, as they both didn't know what to expect from each other, and there was no point yet.
Kakashi had to work on two fronts. Sometimes, he had to take someone from Root on a mission. Kushina spent all her time at home with Miroku. When Miroku's scarlet hair grew long enough, she enjoyed putting it up in two ponytails.
Kushina and Minato kept their daughter warm and cared for. Kushina was careful to keep the "dattebane" habit from being passed on to the child.
Hiruzen, as an elder, fulfilled his duties both in Konoha and in his clan. He appointed his son, Kasaro Sarutobi, as the head of his clan, but he did not communicate with his second son.
There were fewer and fewer children in the baby ward. Maya sincerely hoped that those who were taken into families were living well. And now there were only three children left in the ward.
Our indispensable Naruto and two other boys. One was a brunet with a pale complexion and dark brown eyes, and the other had blue hair with slightly tanned skin and green eyes.
Now our Naruto was six months old. His hair had grown a little longer, but it was still a hedgehog. His eyes became much happier, he started walking on all fours, and it was good that the ward was equipped for children, with a carpet on the floor. Maya, wanting to understand Naruto better, began to teach him sign language.
Maya would show him the signs with her fingers and tell him, and he would try to memorize and even repeat some of the signs. Usually, the signs were suitable for both the deaf-mute and military operations that Anbu used. Naruto was a very curious boy in his own right.
Watching Maya, he tried to replicate her actions—gestures, facial expressions, emotions. Naruto himself was very cheerful by nature, trying to laugh and make others laugh with tickles, silly grins, and even sometimes dribbling mashed potatoes on his chest for fun.
But the only one who laughed was Maya. Then Danzo entered the room and tapped the floor with his cane to get the nanny's attention.
Maya turned her head and said, "Good afternoon!"
"I need two children."
"Yes, of course! Here!" She pointed to the blue-haired boy and the brunet, waiting for his decision.
Danzo looked at them and asked, "Information about them?"
"Yes, here!"
"They're both a little over a year old? Well, age isn't a problem. But I'd like someone a little older than a year. What about this one?" He pointed at Naruto, staring at him.
Maya said, "No, he's not adoptable."
"Well, he's not. Gather those two, and I'll wait."
"Okay."
She started packing up the two boys for the road. They could hardly walk, but they could still manage. Naruto, watching them, even tried to stand on his feet, but failed each time. When she finished picking them up, she gave them each a big kiss and wished them luck.
Danzo, while glaring at Naruto, wrinkled his eyes and tried to keep his focus. When he couldn't stand it any longer, he covered the right side with his hand. Maya called him, and Danzo and the kids left.
As they did, Danzo wiped sweat from his forehead and blood from his nose, quietly boiling inside. He had failed to subdue the jinchuriki, and if he didn't stop, Hiruzen might come directly and destroy Root.
There was silence in the chamber after Danzo left. Maya looked into Naruto's sad eyes and asked, "What happened?"
The child explained with his fingers that he was sad because the other two had left.
"Don't worry, Naru. They are going to families."
But Naruto still lowered his gaze. It hurt Maya to see Naruto sad.
"Naruto, let's take a walk outside."
Naruto abruptly sat up and showed two thumbs up. Maya was surprised by the sudden change in his mood, but it was more of a plus than a minus.
So Maya dressed Naruto in a small orange suit and went for a walk around Konoha.
They visited different sights, picturesque places, and then sat down on a bench in the park. Suddenly, Naruto asked her to hold his hand. She agreed, and taking his hand, she waited for the next move.
Naruto just stood up, taking Maya's hand with both hands, and started walking slowly. They walked like that for another twenty meters before Naruto let go of one hand. Maya was increasingly surprised by Naruto's persistence.
Now he had already walked more than 79 meters holding on with one hand. Suddenly, he stood still, standing for a minute and shuffling his feet. Suddenly, he let go and started to walk alone. He walked 20 meters and fell on his butt on the green grass.
Maya wanted to rush over, but Naruto showed a sign of refusal and slowly began to rise to his feet. Maya understood Naruto's actions, as she had trained other children before by beckoning to them.
And so Naruto began to walk back to her, slowly raising his arms. When he was five meters away from Maya, his legs trembled, and he had to stop. Seeing the child's efforts, Maya immediately began to encourage him.
"Come on, Naruto, you can do it," she said, beckoning with her hands.
Naruto, dramatically serious, began to pick up speed. When only a little distance remained, he jumped into Maya's arms. Both of them laughed in a burst of joy.
"Yes! Naruto, you did it."
And in response, she heard...