["That doesn't make sense."]
["If that's the case, instability should've arisen within the Uchiha long ago."]
["But up until now… the Uchiha don't seem to have resisted at all. They've just accepted suppression."]
[Young Naruto felt something was off.]
[But there was really too little information.]
[The only somewhat detailed parts were the names of the First and Second Hokage.]
[Even so, he could understand—it involved Uchiha main family secrets. It was normal not to tell him.]
["The First Hokage developed hidden injuries after a major battle… after his death, the First Great Ninja War broke out."]
["Hm?"]
[Young Naruto grew even more curious.]
["A world war immediately after his death?"]
["What exactly happened during that time?"]
["Still… Konoha must've been the strongest village back then. Who could've injured the First Hokage badly enough to shorten his lifespan?"]
["With that kind of strength, why not expand outward?"]
["Even if not—given Konoha's overwhelming lead at the time, even after the First Hokage's death, there should've been residual deterrence."]
["Unless… the other four villages had something to rely on."]
["Could it be… tailed beasts like the fox inside me?"]
Young Naruto's murmuring and inner thoughts—
Silenced the entire ninja world.
Senju Hashirama: "Hahahaha~"
Senju Hashirama: "What an amazing kid!"
Senju Tobirama: "Brother! I told you back then—why did we distribute the tailed beasts to other villages?!"
What?!
That single sentence shook the entire ninja world.
The tailed beasts… were distributed by Konoha?!
Just how powerful was Konoha back then?!
Ino Yamanaka: "Wait!"
Ino Yamanaka: "According to the Second Hokage… does that mean Konoha could've easily crushed every other village back then?"
Uchiha Madara: Exactly. But some people prefer indulging in their own dreams.
Uchiha Madara: Peace built on force—hmph. After I left, after Hashirama died, look at what Konoha became.
Uchiha Izuna: My brother's right. Peace enforced by strength will reveal its true face once that strength disappears.
Uchiha Izuna: So the tailed beasts were distributed?
Uchiha Izuna: Honestly… I'm not surprised. Hahaha~
Kurotsuchi: "First Hokage of Konoha—why are you smiling less and less?"
Ōnoki: "Kurotsuchi!"
["After the First Great Ninja War, the Second Hokage died while covering the retreat of the future Third Hokage and his disciples."]
["That at least aligns with the Will of Fire."]
["But… isn't the Third Hokage supposed to be the strongest?"]
["Then how could this happen? Maybe he was still young—hadn't reached his peak?"]
["Kumogakure… fickle, underhanded, yet bold enough to act openly."]
[Young Naruto even gave Kumogakure a preliminary evaluation.]
Fourth Raikage: "Hahaha~ Thanks for the compliment!"
Senju Tobirama: I'd rather not have Black-Frame Naruto's approval. I regret this so much it hurts!
["The Second Great Ninja War."]
["The information here is completely different from what Sasuke gave me initially."]
["Sasuke's first version was as absurd as that old man's self-written Will of Fire."]
["Konoha's White Fang, the Legendary Sannin…"]
["Then why did it end with the White Fang's suicide, and the Sannin leaving the village one after another?"]
["And… is the so-called 'strongest Hokage' really the strongest?"]
["Why haven't I seen that old man fight even once?"]
["The First and Second Hokage, and all these heroes, fought on the front lines."]
["So why does this 'strongest Hokage' always hide in the rear?"]
["The Third Great Ninja War—Uchiha produced Shisui the Body Flicker."]
["At the same time, a civilian-born ninja emerged—the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, the future Fourth Hokage."]
["His achievements overshadowed even Orochimaru, the frontline commander, and with public support, he became the Fourth Hokage."]
["That's not right!"]
["Orochimaru… one of the Legendary Sannin. Whether in seniority or strength, he's top-tier."]
["As a frontline commander, unless he made a catastrophic mistake…"]
["Wait!"]
["That old bastard!"]
["During the Third Great Ninja War, even freshly graduated academy students were sent to the battlefield—yet he sat safely in the rear?!"]
["Where's the dignity of the strongest Hokage?!"]
["Where's the Will of Fire?!"]
["Isn't it supposed to be old leaves burning themselves to illuminate young sprouts?!"]
[As he sorted through everything—]
[Young Naruto felt his head start to ache.]
[Too many questions. Far too many.]
[And this was after deliberately waiting half a year to organize things—afraid there'd be too many gaps otherwise.]
["I can only keep waiting patiently. Right now… I'm probably still not worth investing in fully."]
["Damn it, this is driving me crazy!"]
Kurotsuchi: "Same here!"
Kurotsuchi: "Those Hyūga and Uchiha clan heads too!"
Kurotsuchi: "If you're going to give information, just give it all! Drip-feeding like this is infuriating!"
Ino Yamanaka: "Exactly!"
Sakura Haruno: "I really want to see the most crucial information next!"
Tenten: "If they gave him a bit more, Black-Frame Naruto might've already figured out his own origins!"
Shino Aburame: "That's reasonable. Perhaps that's precisely why they didn't give it all at once."
[Even without further information, Young Naruto continued thinking.]
["The Fourth Hokage took office… Orochimaru isn't in the village anymore."]
["I've never heard of him, and Shikamaru and the others don't know him either."]
["Disheartened?"]
["It's very possible that the Third Hokage's continued survival until now isn't due to being the 'strongest,' but because he's been wielding the Will of Fire as a weapon."]
["After all, that's exactly how it was used on me."]
["Though these historical records are fragmented—and some aren't even recorded by the Uchiha or Hyūga—major events are still there."]
["What's missing now… is the full truth of the Nine-Tails Incident."]
["And information on the Fourth Hokage is scarce—then everything stops right at the Nine-Tails Incident."]
["These points overlap too perfectly. There must be a huge connection."]
[Young Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.]
["Forget it. No use overthinking and tormenting myself."]
["Right now, steady growth is what matters most."]
Kurotsuchi: "That's the right choice!"
Temari: "Agreed. Just wait a bit longer—until those two clans finish giving information. Otherwise it's torture to watch."
Danzō Shimura: "Hmph! And what if he finds out?"
Danzō Shimura: "Hiruzen, say something!"
Senju Tobirama: Shut up!
Senju Tobirama: I'm already miserable enough!
Senju Tobirama: Speaking of which, you damn monkey—how long have you been in office?! Why haven't you stepped down?!
Senju Tobirama: What happened to Konoha's White Fang?! Why were children sent to the battlefield?!
Senju Tobirama: Orochimaru—say something!
Orochimaru: "My apologies, Lord Tobirama. I'd prefer to learn these answers from Black-Frame Naruto himself."
Senju Tobirama: "!!!"
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