Naruto made his way to the Hokage's office. He chose to avoid the streets, moving silently through the dark alleys. As he approached the building, he noticed two of the elders leaving, which indicated that the meeting was over, just as he had expected. Naruto walked into Jiji's office without knocking. He saw Jiji sitting at his desk and Danzo standing nearby with an annoyed expression. It was clear that Danzo was unhappy with the elder council's decision, which likely meant they had voted to allow Naruto to stay in his new home.
"Jiji, I have so much to tell you—so many stories..." Naruto began, but was rudely interrupted by Danzo, who said, "Fine, I am leaving, Hiruzen." With that, Danzo left, giving Naruto a sidelong glance.
Jiji let out a heavy sigh, reflecting on how much his friend had changed since childhood. Years of living in darkness had led Danzo to take actions that altered his nature, making him increasingly ruthless. Hiruzen understood that darkness was often necessary for the survival of the village, especially after enduring three Ninja Wars in quick succession and losing so many talented individuals. He did not blame Danzo for what he had become.
Glancing at Naruto, Jiji was momentarily reminded of young Minato standing before him. He looked over at the portrait of the Fourth Hokage and hoped that, once he moved on to the afterlife, Minato and Kushina would forgive him for everything.
With a sad expression, Naruto said, "Jiji, I don't want to meet people. They only abuse and curse me." Tears began to fall as he continued, "They call me a demon fox. Some even try to attack me." Jiji felt a deep sense of regret; he was helpless to change this situation, and his head throbbed with pain.
Naruto went on, "I don't have family, except you. I don't have a mom, dad, sister, or brother." He was sobbing openly, revealing his true feelings, and decided to embellish a bit, "The day before yesterday, in my dream, I met a huge nine-tailed fox behind the cage."
Hiruzen's expression darkened; he felt horrified.
Naruto continued, "He told me about the seal, about how my father, the Yellow Flash, sealed half of Kurama inside me and why people behave the way they do toward me." He screamed, "WHY DID HE HAVE TO SEAL THE BIJU INSIDE ME?"
Hiruzen's heart ached. No, this cannot be happening. The fox might soon manipulate the boy, and he was already beginning to hate his father. I have failed. I urgently need to call Jiraiya. Only he can help him.
Hiruzen waited for Naruto to calm down, then said, "Yes, the fox spoke a lot of truth. This was kept a secret because the fox could fill you with hatred for everyone and try to take over your body. Lord Fourth believed that you could do things he could not—that you could master the power of Kurama. He wanted you to fulfill your parents' dreams. He believed in you, which is why he entrusted you with this burden. You should not hate him; he sacrificed himself for the village. Right now, the villagers may not understand it, but one day, when you save them, they will all bow down to you and ask for your forgiveness. Mark my words."
Hiruzen's expression darkened; he felt horrified.