Hiruzen's declaration was firm and absolute.
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances, then gave a subtle nod. Despite their doubts, they trusted Hiruzen—this old man who had lived for decades, mastering all elental jutsu, and earned the title of The Professor.
Still, when they recalled Naruto's lineage, the truth was difficult to accept.
The Senju bloodline? That far back? Kushina never awakened anything like that, yet Naruto did?
"If not that, then what explanation do you have!?" Hiruzen snapped.
Koharu and Homura had no answer. They could only shake their heads—because they really couldn't think of anything else.
"That monstrous body… his healing speed… his overwhelming vitality… it's just like our two teachers all over again…"
As Hiruzen spoke, images of Hashirama and Tobirama drifted through his mind.
Koharu frowned. "So now the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki has awakened the Senju bloodline… what do we do with him?"
Homura added, "Naruto's always been treated as a demon fox. Now, with all this… what if he holds a grudge?"
Hiruzen fell silent. That was exactly what troubled him.
And right then—
Bang.
A man, wrapped in bandages and cloaked in shadow, walked in uninvited. Shimura Danzo.
"Then just pick a new Jinchūriki."
He stepped forward with a cold gaze. "After this incident, Uzumaki Naruto is clearly no longer suitable to hold the Kyūbi. This is a threat to the village."
"Transfer the beast to soone else. And hand the boy over to Root. I'll place a seal on him. We can control him."
"This is for the good of the village. No one wants another Nine-Tails incident."
Hiruzen's face darkened. "Danzo, next ti you co into my office—knock."
Danzo's eye burned with fury. He strode up to the desk and slamd his hand on it.
"Don't change the subject, Hiruzen. I'm talking about the Nine-Tails. Will you approve or not!?"
Hiruzen calmly exhaled a puff from his pipe and answered:
"I won't."
Danzo's veins nearly burst from rage. He glared at Hiruzen, fists shaking.
This man… always the sa. Calm voice, asured tone—but every word was ant to infuriate him.
Still seated, Hiruzen continued:
"Transferring the Kyūbi… it's too dangerous. Don't forget what happened with Kushina. She was attacked during labor."
Koharu and Homura nodded solemnly.
Konoha couldn't afford another disaster.
Danzo bit back his temper. "Fine. Then let try again: hand Naruto over to Root. We'll apply a seal. He'll never go out of control again—"
"That's not happening either."
Hiruzen's voice cut through cold and sharp. "Naruto is a citizen of Konoha. He's just a child. I will not hand him over to Root."
Danzo's lips twitched with scorn. He laughed angrily, fists clenched.
"You hypocrite. Don't act like a saint."
"You're the one who hid Naruto's heritage. Isn't that right? You were the one who buried his parentage."
Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "That was to protect him—"
"Cut the crap!" Danzo spat. "You just wanted to pave the way for your son."
"…Sarutobi Asuma, the next Hokage."
"Danzo!!"
Hiruzen's expression turned cold.
"I never intended for Asuma to beco the Fifth Hokage."
Danzo sneered.
No intention? Then why did you send him to protect the daimyo? Why all that groundwork with the Ino-Shika-Chō families?
Everything Danzo had witnessed pointed to one truth:
Hiruzen was grooming his son.
The longer he thought about it, the more furious he beca. Finally, Danzo turned to leave.
"You won't succeed, Hiruzen."
Hiruzen watched him go, snorting coldly.
Old fox… playing innocent like you're so noble martyr.
If I handed Naruto to you now, it wouldn't take five years before you had him brainwashed and brought him back here to kill .
Wouldn't be the first ti…
As the two parted bitterly, Koharu sighed.
"Hiruzen, Danzo does have a point. Naruto is a danger. If a seal—"
"Seals won't work."
Hiruzen cut her off. "Once a Jinchūriki begins to lose control, the Bijū's chakra renders all seals aningless."
Both advisors stared in shock.
That was sothing they didn't know.
Hiruzen let out a long breath.
If sealing were enough to control the Jinchūriki, he wouldn't have had to resort to this psychological manipulation for five years.
When a Jinchūriki enters transformation, they beco the beast itself—a living calamity, with devastating power and near-immortal vitality.
No seal could contain that.
"So what do we do now?" the two asked.
Hiruzen sighed, then offered the only plan he could muster.
"…Let Naruto calm down first."
"Then… maybe let him make a few friends."
…
"Heh. I heard so really juicy stuff today."
In the hidden space behind the Hokage's office door, invisible to all, Naruto leaned casually against the wall, chewing on a dango stick.
With a light toss, he flicked the skewer away and turned to leave.
His voice was faint as he headed toward Satomi Hill:
"Fifth Hokage… Sarutobi Asuma, huh?"
He'd never seriously considered that possibility before.
But now, thinking about it… the guy really did have a shot.
He had the daimyo's favor after serving as his escort.
Soon, he'd beco sensei to the next generation—Shikamaru, Chōji, Ino.
And his girlfriend, Yūhi Kurenai, would be teaching Hinata, Shino, and Kiba.
Together, that couple would hold ties to nearly every future clan head in Konoha.
Who else was even viable?
Kakashi? A lazy bum.
Might Guy? A musclehead.
None of the clan leaders would be picked.
That left only two nas who might challenge Asuma:
Jiraiya and Tsunade.
One a wandering sage. The other a traumatized gambler with blood phobia.
Realistically?
Asuma really was the top contender.
Naruto grinned to himself.
"Well now… that's pretty damn interesting."
(End of Chapter)
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