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"That's true, but Naruto is different from Sasuke."
"Since you're so worried about this and that, why even bother making him stronger? Wouldn't it be better for him to just live an ordinary life? I think you're contradicting yourself and wasting my time."
Naruto is special?
Alright, he really IS special!
Asura's chakra influences him every moment of every day. Even if Naruto wanted to turn to the dark side, it would be difficult. In other words, Naruto has already taken on Asura's form—or rather, the form the Sixth Hokage hoped he would. Even if you pressed his neck down, forcing him to embrace darkness, he wouldn't be able to do it.
"If you're really that worried, all I can say is that your concerns are unnecessary. I'm sorry, but I don't see Minato's shadow in Naruto. Instead, I see you, Jiraiya. If you think you're such a failure that you can't handle even a little pressure, then forget I said anything."
"Ahem!!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "My shadow? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Kazuki didn't feel like elaborating and went straight to examples: "You've loved sneaking into women's baths to peek since you were a kid, and Naruto sneaking around too, just minus the women. You've loved sneaking into bookstores to read books kids shouldn't see since you were a kid, and Naruto still loves it. You've never been serious about studying since you were a kid, and your progress was abysmal. Naruto…"
"Alright, alright, stop. I believe you, I believe you." Jiraiya covered his face in agony.
Kazuki didn't stop. Instead, he drove the point home: "Minato didn't have any of these bad habits. So, tell me, how exactly do you see Minato's shadow in Naruto? Is it the blond hair?"
Jiraiya: "..."
Please, for the sake of mercy, treat what I just said as a fart and let it go, alright? Stop, really, I was wrong.
Only when Jiraiya settled down did Kazuki drop the subject. He stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the buildings and scenery outside. "Jiraiya, the shinobi world is far more dangerous than we imagine. If you're truly worried about Naruto, then help him grow stronger as soon as possible! Who knows, a new war might already be threatening us."
Waiting until Naruto is twelve or thirteen to start slowly getting stronger? Is that really necessary? Can't we start training him a little earlier?
Kazuki couldn't easily intervene with Naruto's training, but he refused to let Sasuke remain a weakling genin until he was twelve or thirteen. Kazuki wouldn't allow that. So, regardless of what happened with Naruto, Sasuke's training couldn't stop. Kazuki needed him to grow stronger sooner.
"I understand. I'll do my best to teach this child."
The shinobi world might seem calm on the surface, but underneath, turbulent waves are brewing. Once the calm is disrupted, a new war could break out at any moment. Kazuki wasn't joking. Recently, the village had received many unusual intelligence reports, and Jiraiya had seen them too.
"But shouldn't we warn our neighbors?"
Since the Akatsuki attacked Yagura, many things had happened in Kirigakure. Among the more significant events were the extermination of several Kiri ninja clans. However, these were Kirigakure's internal affairs, unrelated to Konoha. Outsiders had no right to interfere.
Lately, Kirigakure's long-dormant fleet had become active again on the high seas. For other countries and villages, this wasn't good news.
"It's useless. We can only focus on ourselves. As for others, even if we warn them, they won't take it to heart. It might ends up backfiring and making them suspicious of us. Why bother?"
Warn Sunagakure? Forget it. Not only had Sunagakure always been eyeing Konoha greedily, but why should they warn them? Just because of some so-called alliance on paper? Give me a break. Sunagakure had torn up alliance treaties and stabbed Konoha in the back more than once or twice.
Personally, Kazuki felt his heart was rather cold. He couldn't emulate the Third Hokage's burning passion, using his own warmth to heat up Sunagakure—a venomous snake that could bite them at any moment.
"Well, well, I didn't realize you two knew how to enjoy yourselves."
Just then, the office door was pushed open. Tsunade walked in holding two scrolls. She glanced at the items on the table, tossed the scrolls to Kazuki, picked up a bottle of sake, twisted it open, and started drinking.
Sis, my dear sis!! It's working hours. Is it really appropriate for you, the Hokage, to be drinking during work hours?
Jiraiya raised his hand, wanting to advise Tsunade, but she was already gulping it down. Meanwhile, Kazuki acted as if he hadn't seen anything and was already reading the scroll.
Fine, just treat me as invisible. After hesitating for a moment, Jiraiya decided not to remind Tsunade, lest she spray him with saliva or punch him.
"How interesting. Kusagakure really has the guts."
The content of the scroll amused Kazuki.
"You're still laughing? This is all your doing. By the way, is it really appropriate to keep the mother and daughter we brought from Kusagakure at Orochimaru's place?"
A few years ago, Kusagakure came to Konoha hoping to take advantage of them but was promptly driven away by Kazuki. Not only were they driven away, but Kazuki also sent people to Kusagakure to clean out their logistics department. Along the way, Karin and her mother were taken too.
Kusagakure suffered heavy losses, but they didn't know who was behind it. After all these years, they'd finally traced it back to Konoha. They'd even taken the matter to Iwagakure, hoping Ōnoki would stand up for them and help them seek justice.
"Why wouldn't it be appropriate?"
Kazuki tossed the scroll to Jiraiya and said dismissively, "They're just two people with Uzumaki bloodline. Back then, Konoha betrayed the Uzumaki clan—no, it was the Third Hokage and the others who betrayed the Uzumaki clan, leading to their downfall. It's normal for them not to want to use their original surname. Besides, Orochimaru isn't going to eat them."
"...."
Why bring up such old history? Tsunade was speechless, and Jiraiya could only force a dry laugh.
Under the Third Hokage's "wise" leadership, Konoha had indeed done many shocking things, including kicking the Uzumaki clan while they were down. Although Danzō was the one who carried it out, he couldn't have done it without the Third Hokage's approval.
The result was… touching. Under the pretext of helping their allies, Danzō took over the Uzumaki clan's legacy and brought back the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki. As for the other Uzumaki clan members… they were lucky not to be killed.
That's why the remaining Uzumaki clan members would rather abandon their surname and wander or flee through the shinobi world than seek refuge in Konoha.
*****
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