"Not only that, but even the wife of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju—who is also This Fox's first Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito—that powerful woman, she also had to stay in the Village."
Upon hearing this, Naruto did not refute it.
But compared to his own mother, Uzumaki Mito was clearly much freer.
Naruto's intuition told him that Uzumaki Mito was very strong.
However, after the great battle between Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, Uzumaki Mito essentially placed herself under house arrest in the Village.
In reality, she was guarding Konoha, preventing petty thieves outside the Village from coveting it.
Senju Tobirama: "Indeed, my sister-in-law's strength... is unfathomable!"
Hashirama Senju: Mito's strength is definitely not weak. Black-Framed Naruto has good judgment.
Uzumaki Mito: After Hashirama passed away back then, I did stay in the Village specifically to guard Konoha.
Uzumaki Mito: To prevent others from thinking that the Land of Whirlpools was trying to seize power in Konoha, I didn't even participate in politics.
Senju Tobirama: "Even though my sister-in-law was Konoha's strongest combatant back then."
Senju Tobirama added.
In the Pure Land World, Uchiha Madara secretly nodded.
Uzumaki Mito.
That woman was truly admirable.
Honestly, Konoha's setup back then was leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else.
They could easily handle four opponents at once, and even sweep the floor with them.
What a pity.
Otherwise, the current situation wouldn't be like this.
Of course, Uchiha Madara was more concerned with when Uchiha Izumi would wake up.
Once Uchiha Izumi awoke.
Then, the Family History Document Stone Tablet inside the secret base beneath the Naka Shrine in the Uchiha Clan Compound would definitely be deciphered.
At that time.
He would just quietly wait for Black-Framed Naruto to resurrect him.
"So, kid."
The Great Fox said earnestly, "You need to think of a fallback plan first."
Naruto's lips curled slightly as he said, "Thank you for your concern, Great Fox."
The Great Fox: "..."
*Cough*... After sincerely thanking the Great Fox, Naruto's thoughts returned to the present.
'What the Great Fox said is highly likely to happen.'
'If, after becoming a Ninja, I still can't escape the fate of being confined to Konoha...'
'Then I'll just wait a little longer. I'll wait until they can bring me useful information, allowing me to select powerful enough 'allies' who can help me, before tearing off the facade with Konoha.'
But doing it this way would make it too easy for that Old Thing, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to die.
Naruto was never a generous person.
On the contrary, he held grudges deeply.
Everything Hiruzen Sarutobi had done to him, he would repay manifold.
Similarly, Naruto was not an absolute villain.
Generally, if he didn't have to act, he wouldn't. After all... did they think they could offend Naruto and still leave Konoha?!
Conveniently, rebuilding the Ninja World and reviving the Land of Whirlpools both require a lot of labor.
Making the best use of resources, Naruto didn't want to waste such excellent assets.
'I'll take things one step at a time.'
'That Old Thing is unpredictable; no one knows what choice he will make.'
Naruto took a deep breath, and then continued chowing down.
Thinking too much was useless; for now, he should honestly focus on developing himself.
If anything came up, he'd just push it onto the Old Thing.
That old geezer was always happy to handle it anyway.
...
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.
"Alright, don't be too excited and don't be too nervous."
"Your teacher knows that tomorrow is the Ninja Academy's Graduation Exam, and it's hard for you to control your emotions."
"So, for this final class, let's have self-study."
"Do not disturb your other classmates."
Iruka stood at the podium, looking at the children in front of him, a slight smile on his lips.
"Students who need to review can look over the foundations of being a Ninja."
"Also, if you don't understand anything, you can come up and ask your teacher."
Iruka took a deep breath.
He finally said those words.
He had been holding back those words... for five years!
A full five years!
No one knew how he had spent those five years.
If you don't understand anything, you can ask your teacher?
Wait... The last time Teacher Iruka said that was... the last time!
Only at this moment did the students realize how quickly time had passed.
Thus, the reluctant students immediately formed groups and went up to ask Iruka questions.
At first, it was fine; Iruka felt reluctance too.
Until he saw the members of the Naruto Gang appear.
Iruka's smile froze.
...
Iruka Umino: "How miserable."
Iruka Umino: "When students are too outstanding, the pressure on a Ninja Academy teacher is truly immense~!"
Sakura Haruno: "Teacher Iruka, you're clearly very happy!"
It was the last day; how could he not be happy to put a perfect end to it?
The next morning.
In front of the Ninja Academy gates.
The graduating students looked at the Ninja Academy gates, which hadn't changed in seven years, and felt a mix of emotions.
Senju Tobirama: "So, you mean to say that such an important place as the Ninja Academy hasn't changed at all in seven years?"
Orochimaru: "It has changed, definitely."
Senju Tobirama: "What?"
Orochimaru: "The Will of Fire has been updated several times. The official contributor is the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, but the actual contributor is Uzumaki Naruto."
Senju Tobirama: "..."
Ōnoki: "They neglect the Ninja Academy like this? Heh, without Orochimaru's Konoha Crush, Konoha would collapse on its own before long."
Mei Terumī: "Looking at it this way, Orochimaru, despite being a rogue Ninja, seems to love Konoha more deeply than those people, and not just with words."
Uchiha Izuna: Exactly. It's quite normal for someone's lineage to be like this—killing one's teacher, after all.
Similarly, standing in front of the Ninja Academy gates.
Naruto's mind was also somewhat unsettled.
Starting today, everything was going to change.
If he could become a normal Ninja, perhaps he could continue to develop peacefully for a while longer.
If he couldn't, then tonight would be the scene where Uzumaki Naruto wreaks havoc in Konoha before leaving the Village.
In that case, before truly leaving, Naruto would give the Konoha he supposedly loved a gift imbued with his profound feelings.
Compared to seven years ago, when he stood like a nobody in front of the Ninja Academy gates.
Now, Naruto was the focus of everyone's attention.
"Darling~"
A soft, sweet voice sounded from behind him.
Naruto had sensed her arrival immediately.
He didn't turn around.
That familiar gaze, devoid of malice but full of resentment, landed on his back again.
*Pfft~*
"Why won't you turn around and look at me?"
The girl jumped onto Naruto's back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
"I dare not move. If I move, I'll get another slash inside your father's brain."
Ino froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
She glanced back at her father, whose face was terrible, and waved a hand.
"Dad, hurry up and go home. You're completely useless here. Blegh~"
Ino made a face at her father.
Inoichi Yamanaka: "..."
"Damn it!!"
"That inherently evil Black-Framed Naruto!"