"Aomi, what should we do?"
Upon hearing the knocking and calling outside the door, Naruto, who heard the Third Hokage was looking for him, anxiously asked Aomi.
Regarding how to deal with Konoha...
Naruto still hadn't made a clear decision.
Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina's words had indicated that Sarutobi Hiruzen was a hypocritical Hokage, very possibly responsible for creating Naruto's childhood hardship for some unspeakable purpose...
But Naruto, who from childhood had only received kindness from the Third Hokage, was still a bit hesitant.
Could the amiable Third Grandpa really be a bad person?
Young Naruto was neither stupid nor stubborn.
Although Uzumaki Kushina was fuming with rage upon seeing Naruto's current situation, Namikaze Minato, as his father, was still vaguely speaking in favor of Konoha and the Third Hokage...
Until Aomi showcased power beyond their imagination.
Minato and Kushina temporarily put aside their disputes, allowing Naruto to study well with Aomi...
But the problem was, even Aomi hadn't provided Naruto with a clear definition of Konoha or the Third Hokage.
He merely told Naruto that human nature is complex, and the Will of Fire isn't necessarily right or wrong, urging him to analyze it himself…
Yet Naruto hadn't had enough time to gather sufficient information to ponder over his conclusions when Sarutobi Hiruzen promptly sought him out.
This panicked Naruto, instinctively wanting to seek help from Aomi…
"Kid, do you really need to bother Mr. Aomi with this? Are you joking!"
The Nine-tails first glanced at Aomi, who had no intention of speaking, then angrily shouted at Naruto, "That old coot is just controlling you!"
"Kushina was right, the Third Hokage never saw you as the Fourth Hokage's orphan, you're merely a vessel with Uzumaki blood, suitable for housing my power!"
"Your father may be the Fourth Hokage, but he's dead, who's going to stand up for the ill-treatment you've suffered? From the people you've seen over these years, none of your father's former subordinates or friends have stepped forward."
"I'm telling you, this is the ugly face of the Ninja World! You don't think there are others like Mr. Aomi, who, without seeking anything in return and out of mere interest and goodwill, contribute their power to let us grow freely without control?"
The Nine-tails glanced at the dim Asura Chakra beside it, sneering coldly: "I'm telling you, there's no one else like Mr. Aomi… even the Six Paths Sage who once saved the Ninja World couldn't do it."
"Under His arrangement, I am a beast responding to your call, and you are a template for replicating his second son's path…"
"We are not independent entities, merely pieces on a chessboard." The Nine-tails' voice grew increasingly sullen, and when it mentioned the pieces, the red Tailed Beast Chakra seemed to ignite, emanating an intense aura of ominousness and negative emotions.
Aomi glanced at the Nine-tails' state in surprise.
Heh, interesting…
Under his words, it seemed like the Nine-tails had undergone quite profound contemplation, vaguely showing signs of turning dark, with its unstable emotions, even displaying a tendency to rampage.
In contrast, young Naruto, having seen too few things, was still unable to independently think about issues of human nature…
"I-I'm not bothering Aomi!"
Naruto first instinctively denied the Nine-tails' statement, then his little face flushed red, but he stammered, unable to articulate clearly: "I just, I just…"
The Nine-tails laughed heartily, raising its head disdainfully, and said: "A useless coward! If I were you, I'd kill that old coot on the spot!"
"With Mr. Aomi here, with my Chakra, who in this Ninja World could stop you?"
The Nine-tails' voice was extremely tempting, its Tailed Beast instincts that deceive and induce emotions were on full display at this moment.
But after mentioning Aomi.
Naruto suddenly shook off his previous cowardice and timidity, and his voice suddenly rose:
"Kurama, you're wrong! Aomi taught us to grow strong on our own, not to mindlessly seek his power to vent our emotions!"
"Doesn't Aomi know the true answers to these issues? He knows everything!"
"More important than Konoha or the correctness of the Third Hokage's actions, I think Aomi wants me to learn how to think independently!"
Naruto loudly rebutted the Nine-tails, proclaiming their virtues.
Yes, during the recent learning time with Aomi, the Nine-tails had long revealed its real name...
After all, since someone as strong as Aomi revealed his own name, what did it matter if a little fox like him did too?
Constantly being called Nine-tails, Nine-tails, it instead made the Nine-tails feel like a beast, unlike a human like Naruto, there was even a hint of self-doubt…
So the Nine-tails deliberately found a chance to reveal its name, and hoped Aomi and Naruto could call it by its name in the future…
Mainly Aomi, Naruto was actually incidental.
During Naruto's rebuttal against the Nine-tails, his emotions were stirred up, also tinged with a bit of turbulent Nine-tailed Chakra…
Aomi raised an eyebrow, chuckling lightly: "Alright, Naruto, Kurama…"
After Aomi spoke.
Naruto and the Nine-tails immediately fell silent, and the one boy and one fox who were just about to engage in a vocal battle eagerly looked at Aomi, hoping he would support their viewpoint…