Clatter…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pipe fell weakly to the ground.
He stared, mouth agape.
For a moment, he was utterly bewildered.
"This…
This…
You…
You're not…"
"I'm not already dead?"
Kushina finished Sarutobi Hiruzen's sentence for him.
"To be honest, I don't know how I came back to life."
"What exactly is going on?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was extremely confused.
He could confirm that the person in front of him was not an Edo Tensei creation.
But a living, breathing person!
Someone who had been resurrected!
It was precisely because he discovered this that he felt so bewildered.
"How can a dead person be resurrected!?
What kind of jutsu is this!?
Doesn't the caster suffer a backlash!?"
"Third Hokage."
Kakashi also quickly followed, then briefly recounted what he had seen at the graveyard that morning.
"There's such a thing?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was still very confused.
He couldn't understand.
Who, or what power, possessed such immense strength to resurrect the dead.
And what was the purpose of this person or power in resurrecting Kushina!?
"Kushina.
Come out of the Village with me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a serious expression, "Your resurrection is truly too unexpected.
Although I don't know what that person's objective is.
However.
We need to isolate you.
And thoroughly examine your body.
Otherwise, if that person controls you to destroy Konoha, the Village could suffer unimaginable damage!"
"Understood."
Kushina had once been the Hokage's wife, so she naturally understood the gravity of the situation.
"But.
I need you to give me an explanation.
Naruto…
My Naruto…
Why was his identity known to everyone in the Village!?
Why did he live such a hard life!?
What about the promise you made back then?"
"This…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face darkened upon hearing this.
"Kushina, I'm sorry.
This is my oversight.
Back then, I left the battlefield with Naruto in my arms and entrusted him to a trustworthy wet nurse.
However.
Many villagers learned about this.
They didn't understand anything else.
They only knew that the Nine-Tails was sealed by the Fourth Hokage.
The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself.
And suddenly there was a newborn child on the battlefield with whisker marks on his face.
This child was carried out of the battlefield by me.
And handed over to a wet nurse for care, while several Anbu members kept watch throughout.
Thus.
These villagers believed Naruto was the Nine-Tailed Fox.
That the Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life to Seal the Nine-Tails, and after being sealed, the Nine-Tails transformed into a human child.
Afterward.
The rumor spread throughout the Village.
I discovered this immediately.
But there was no way to silence the villagers.
Out of necessity.
And also to protect Naruto from being spied on by Ninjas from other Villages.
I could only order a blockade of the news that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Violators would be severely punished.
At the same time, I publicly explained that Naruto was an ordinary child born during the Nine-Tails' attack on the Village.
And had no relation to the Nine-Tails whatsoever.
And I also sealed off the information about Naruto's relationship with the Fourth Hokage.
I wanted to use this method to suppress the news that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The effect was indeed significant.
Very few people knew that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
But…
I overlooked the malice in people's hearts.
Those whose families died or were destroyed, because they couldn't find the Nine-Tails to take revenge, and didn't dare to take revenge on the Nine-Tails.
So.
They vented their malice on the innocent Naruto.
They didn't call Naruto by his name, only referred to him as the demon fox.
They didn't treat Naruto as a person, but as the demon fox itself!
Helplessly, I had to issue another order.
Forbidding anyone from venting their anger on the innocent Naruto.
Forbidding anyone from telling Naruto that he was the demon fox!
Forbidding the use of the name 'demon fox' to refer to Naruto.
However, the ban seemed to have the opposite effect.
More people became curious about this matter and secretly called Naruto the demon fox.
They took pride in it.
They didn't care about the truth at all.
They didn't care about Naruto either.
They just treated this matter as a form of amusement.
Just like they used to ridicule your red hair.
They ridiculed and isolated Naruto to their heart's content.
The children in the Village were infected by the adults.
They also began to isolate Naruto and bully him.
I had no choice but to ask Iruka to take good care of him."
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but sigh.
"Although Naruto has always suffered.
But I believe in Naruto."
Saying this, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to look at the large tree in the courtyard.
The tree was lush and green with dense foliage.
"I believe in him.
I believe that hatred between people can be resolved with love.
One day, he will gain everyone's recognition.
Become a hero in people's eyes.
Become the new Hokage of Konoha!
A time when people can truly understand each other will eventually arrive!"
Chapter 35: A New Diamond Card! Konoha High-Level Executives' Decision [Second update for fresh flowers and collection]
Listening to Sarutobi Hiruzen's words.
Everyone in the arena fell silent.
The previously furious Kushina had now calmed down.
She suddenly felt that she had been too impulsive just now.
So.
She smiled apologetically at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Um…
I was too impulsive just now."
Kushina scratched her head, "I saw that Naruto is having a very hard time now.
So I got very angry and anxious."
"It's not your fault…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, "It's my fault.