Under the double comfort of Naruto and Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kushina's mood stabilized.
After that, her Chakra was completely exhausted and dissipated into the air.
The Hokage's office fell into silence.
Hiruzen picked up his pipe from the ground and began fiddling with it slowly.
Outside the window, birds chirped, reflecting the apparent harmony of Konoha.
But beneath this harmony were the sacrifices of a few people.
After a while, Hiruzen spoke to Naruto:
"Little Naruto, I will do my best to eliminate the misunderstandings people have about you, but it will take time…"
At this point, it was like trying to undo a rumor.
Danzō spreads the rumor that Naruto equals the Nine-Tails demon fox.
All it takes is for his subordinates to spread it, and the whole village is in chaos overnight.
Hiruzen wanted to dispel the rumors, but it would take ten times—or even dozens of times—the effort.
Naruto had a different perspective.
"As I said, I'm living well now. Third Generation-sama, you should focus on your Hokage duties."
After awakening his memory, Naruto's concept of the village had blurred, and the Will of Fire had become more of a political tool.
To him, the village was dispensable. All he truly cared about were a few people living there.
Hiruzen, a Hokage for half his life, understood the meaning behind Naruto's words.
Watching Naruto leave, he opened his mouth to speak but found he couldn't.
He wanted to beg Naruto to love the village as Minato and Kushina did, but he couldn't force the words.
After Naruto left, Iruka, who had been waiting outside, rushed in.
"Hokage-sama! Why would anyone attack Naruto?"
Hiruzen was shocked again, dropping his pipe. Danzō immediately came to mind.
Hiruzen didn't continue worrying about Naruto after that.
At least, Naruto had not noticed any results.
From then on, the ANBU responsible for monitoring Naruto became more open in their protection.
Of course, the term "surveillance" was unpleasant. Calling it "protection" aligned with Konoha's purpose.
Naruto didn't care; he thought of it as having free nannies.
As time passed, Naruto's bloodline power began to awaken.
Senju bloodline plus Uzumaki bloodline—two extremely powerful lineages systematically integrated into his body.
Graduation was approaching.
Naruto had already lifted Kurama's seal again.
Because of his immense Chakra, he could suppress Kurama within his body.
Within these two years, Naruto's strength had increased dramatically.
Although the system did not issue tasks, Naruto had not gained new abilities from it.
On the eve of the graduation assessment, in an apartment building, Naruto looked at himself in the mirror.
Compared to two years ago, he seemed slightly more mature.
There was no doubt about his resemblance to the Fourth Hokage—he was far more handsome than in the original timeline.
After all, he was the child of Minato and Kushina, both good-looking, so he naturally inherited strong features.
Naruto, unlike in the original timeline, cared about his appearance and attire. At that moment, he wore a white windbreaker. Combined with his father's good looks, he was arguably the most handsome boy in the village.
As for the Cloud Village's attempt to kidnap Hinata two years ago:
Naruto discovered and stopped it. When the Cloud Shinobi attacked the Hyuga Clan, Sarutobi Hiruzen eliminated many of their messengers.
The surviving messengers returned to the Cloud Village to report to the Raikage, who still had not acted.
Thus, the Cloud Village gained a reputation for bullying and fearing the strong.
After Naruto finished getting ready, he left the apartment, which was occupied by ANBU.
As soon as he opened the door, he was discovered.
A purple-haired woman asked: "Naruto, where are you going?"
"To the training ground," Naruto replied casually.
The ANBU didn't ask further and simply called their teammates to follow.
Ever since the Root attacked Naruto, ANBU protection had reached almost obsessive levels.
Naruto left for the nearest training ground.
After finding a remote area, he checked the venue's size and whispered:
"Kurama, I'll give you your freedom today."
Kurama responded: "I knew you were the right person."
Without hesitation, Naruto opened his clothes and removed the seal markings on his abdomen.
Kurama sensed the fresh air outside and eagerly extended its Chakra beyond Naruto's body.
Suddenly, a group of ANBU surrounded Naruto.
A white-haired ANBU shouted: "Sealing Squad!"
Naruto turned to them: "Don't come over. I'm opening the seal voluntarily."
"What?!" The white-haired ANBU was shocked. Could Naruto have a psychological issue because of prejudice?
No—Naruto spoiled Hinata every day at the ninja school, and had a group of admirers around him.
There was no way he had psychological issues.
Naruto warned them again: "I said don't come over."
The ANBU silently watched the blond boy, hands in pockets, as Nine-Tails' Chakra continued to flow out of his body.
Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived quickly, but by then, Kurama's Chakra had fully separated from Naruto and condensed in the open space.
Nine-Tails was completely free.
"Roar!!!"
A massive roar echoed through Konoha.
Hiruzen, serious, asked Naruto: "Little Naruto, do you really intend to let the Nine-Tails go?"
Hiruzen knew about the deal between Naruto and Kurama: Nine-Tails had helped locate Hinata so Naruto could rescue her.
But Naruto's real goal was to free Kurama.
Hiruzen had thought it was just rhetoric. He hadn't expected Naruto to actually do it.
A thin line of sweat appeared on Naruto's forehead, but his tone remained calm:
"Of course."
Kurama roared with excitement.
Naruto shook his head: "Kurama, can you stop making so much noise? You're free now. Leave as soon as possible."
Kurama squatted, raised its proud head, and said:
"Naruto, do you know why Senju Hashirama originally assigned the tailed beasts?"
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