If it were just a child asking, the Third could still make up excuses and fool them.
But he never expected Hinata to be this hard to fool.
And!
There were many sharp-minded people here —
Orochimaru, Kakashi, Kurenai, and more…
The Third said solemnly:
"Naruto, I'm sorry! I've wronged you."
Naruto lifted his head, looking at him.
"Grandpa Third… so I really am the son of the Fourth Hokage?"
Seeing that Naruto wasn't angry, and even still called him "Grandpa,"
Hiruzen felt even more ashamed.
His old face reddened as he nodded.
"Yes… Naruto, you are Konoha's hero's son."
In an instant—
Everyone present was shocked and ashamed.
Ordinary Konoha shinobi and villagers, besides deep shame, felt anger begin to rise.
"Heavens… Naruto is the son of Konoha's hero! And he became the Nine-Tails jinchūriki to protect the village!"
"What have we done?! We discriminated against him, isolated him—
And he is the child of the hero who saved us!"
"What's even more shameful is—
after treating him like this, the future still needs Naruto to protect us!"
"But why?! Why didn't we know!?"
"Third Hokage-sama, why didn't you tell us!?"
"That's right! We were wrong, but if we had known he was the Fourth's son,
we would never have treated Naruto like that!"
"You owe us an explanation!"
"No—wrong! The Third Hokage doesn't owe us anything."
"He owes NARUTO an explanation!"
"Yes! He must give Naruto an explanation!
Otherwise, even if he's the 'Strongest Hokage,' I won't recognize him anymore!"
"If he can't explain himself to Naruto, he's not fit to remain Hokage!"
…
Such shouts rang throughout all of Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had truly incurred the wrath of the village.
The footage continued—
[Naruto and Minato have shifted to another location for their discussion.]
Minato Namikaze: "Sixteen years ago, during the Nine-Tails' attack… I discovered something."
Naruto: "Nani?"
Minato: "There was someone behind it. Someone controlling the Nine-Tails."
"And he was a very powerful shinobi. Without special abilities, no one could oppose him."
Minato looked worried: "He'll likely attack the village again."
Naruto froze first, then drooped his head.
"But… Konoha has already been destroyed…"
Minato: "Yes. I saw it — inside you."
Naruto: "Huh? You saw it?"
Minato: "I also know about Jiraiya-sensei…"
Naruto immediately tensed.
"Then… was the one who controlled the Nine-Tails back then Pain?!"
Minato shook his head.
"Not that guy."
Naruto: "Then who?!"
Minato: "A man in Akatsuki. A man with a mask."
The footage showed masked Obito (A-fei).
Minato: "Back then, he saw through all of my moves. Definitely no ordinary enemy."
After thinking, Minato added,
"Pain must also have been used by him."
Naruto: "No! Pain hated Konoha—his own village was destroyed just like ours…"
Minato: "Exactly. That's why Pain was manipulated."
Upon seeing this, the ninja world was shocked again.
"What?! The Nine-Tails attack was orchestrated by someone controlling it?! And he's from Akatsuki?!"
"My god! Akatsuki can control the Nine-Tails—what kind of terrifying organization is that?!"
"If they can control the Nine-Tails, then… can they control the other tailed beasts?!"
"No wonder they're collecting tailed beasts! What are they planning?!"
Konoha — the ordinary villagers
"What?! The Nine-Tails' rampage was caused by someone controlling it?!"
"And the Fourth stopped him with his life…
Now Pain himself comes to attack Konoha!"
"Why does Akatsuki target our village?! Do they hold a grudge against us?!"
"If the masked man who controlled the Nine-Tails shows up again…
aren't we doomed?!"
Chūnin Exam Hall
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
He knew—
If he wanted to stay Hokage after this revelation,
he would have to immediately declare war on Akatsuki.
But—
Now that Akatsuki's terrifying power had been revealed…
Declaring war would be suicide.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, was confused.
Judging from the clothes in the footage, that masked man was definitely in Akatsuki.
But during his time in Akatsuki, he had never seen him.
Could he be dead?
But someone who could control the Nine-Tails…
How would he die?
And if he isn't dead…
Where is he now?
The Rookie Twelve could no longer keep up with the pacing.
Secret after secret exploded.
Monster after monster appeared.
Any random individual appearing now could crush them instantly.
They once thought they were geniuses.
But in front of real monsters, they were jokes.
Root Base
Danzō snarled:
"Damn Fourth Hokage! How dare he reveal that information!"
"This means that when I become Hokage, I'll have to declare war on Akatsuki immediately."
"But Akatsuki is such a terrifying organization—
facing them now is just asking for death!"
"If I'm right, those Six Paths of Pain controlled by Nagato all have the Rinnegan."
"And I, who have studied the Rinnegan, know better than anyone how terrifying its power is!"
"Akatsuki is not someone Konoha can afford to provoke now."
Shinigami's Stomach — Reaper Death Seal
Kushina Uzumaki: "Honey! I'm so jealous…
You get to talk so closely with our grown-up son…"
Minato Namikaze: "With that mysterious scroll, everything seems possible now."
Kushina: "You mean… I'll get to meet Naruto too?"
Minato nodded. "I believe so."
Village Hidden in the Clouds
Fourth Raikage A: "To think someone capable of controlling the Nine-Tails exists!
If he targets the Eight-Tails next…"
Mabui: "The consequences would be unimaginable!"
Village Hidden in the Rocks
Ōnoki: "To control the Nine-Tails… does such a terrifying being really exist?"
Kurotsuchi: "The Fourth Hokage died because of it — I think it must be true."
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