Although the two continued to fight later... in their daily interactions, Kaguya realized that Aomi was a straightforward man who never lied, much like herself, valuing honesty in their relationship.
Therefore, in Kaguya's eyes, Aomi used to be a man who wouldn't even deceive his enemies.
But now…
Aomi seemed to have turned dark!
With just a few expressions, without even using Chakra, he manipulated those cunning mortals…
Kaguya felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity exploding in her heart.
This version of Aomi, Kaguya had never seen before…
"Aomi, why have you become like this?"
Kaguya murmured to herself, a ripping emotion transforming from a fantasy into a real dagger, tearing at her heart: "It's all my fault! Aomi turned dark because he found out I lied to him, and now he no longer believes in the sincerity of people's hearts..."
"My deception... led Aomi to turn dark! But the speed of his transformation far exceeded my imagination..." Kaguya blamed herself with great pain: "How can I make Aomi return to who he was?"
Kaguya fell into a chaotic contemplation.
"Teacher… you, you..." Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth wide, trying awkwardly to ask something.
While Aomi's gaze sharpened slightly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately became much more alert, his tone growing more respectful, adopting honorifics: "May I... ask you some questions?"
Naruto and the Nine-tails watched this scene intently, trying hard to learn.
This manipulation of people's minds, though not as direct as the forced control under Genjutsu, had an incomparable and deeply penetrating natural feel...
"Monkey, no need to be nervous..."
Aomi's expression remained unchanged, his tone revealing no emotion: "I'm just a former Hokage of Konoha, while you've been the Third Hokage for forty years, the one whose word is law in this village... ask whatever you wish."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart trembled—gasp, why did he feel that Teacher's words carried deep meaning?
It seemed to have a strong sense of criticism...
Yet, in this situation, an anxious need to clarify everything compelled Sarutobi Hiruzen, despite his discomfort, to ask: "Teacher... what exactly was the situation back then? Did you plan all of this from the start?"
"This Kinjutsu of yours... used on Naruto, how will it develop next?" Sarutobi Hiruzen gathered courage and asked the most perplexing part of his heart.
Aomi smiled, observing Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Monkey, may I understand it as you thinking my sacrifice for your escape back then was a staged death and withdrawal?"
"I never meant that, Lord Tobirama!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly lowered his head, speaking in a deep voice: "I was merely... merely stunned by your plan, overwhelmed with doubts..."
"Is that so?"
Aomi nodded thoughtfully: "Since you, as the Hokage, have doubts, then I, as a Konoha Ninja, am obliged to tell you... about this Kinjutsu, indeed, I prepared it long ago... if you've perused my Kinjutsu notes, you might have already guessed some of it?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled long, after pondering, responded: "Yes, Lord Tobirama... when I was still a student, you were already delving into soul and Pure Land research..."
And at this moment.
The Nine-tails patted Naruto's shoulder, expressing admiration: "Did you see... Naruto! This is the technique... Mr. Aomi may only know Senju Tobirama as a Kinjutsu Master, but surely doesn't know everything he's researched..."
"But it doesn't matter; the already engaged Sarutobi Hiruzen will construct a logical self-interpretation!"
Naruto nodded in sudden realization: "So that's how it is..."
Aomi was Naruto's grand mentor, and the Nine-tails, having become friends with Naruto, naturally became his little mentor...
"Good, it seems you've read the notes I've left... but, Hiruzen..."
Aomi looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's aged face, his powerless frame, shaking his head: "But you haven't grasped the essence... to protect Konoha, how can your strength stand before others?"
"In your elderly state, you don't look like a protector of all, but rather an old man in need of protection."
"Your lack of ambition is unacceptable..."
Aomi's tone carried a hint of disappointment: "Where did you get that weird sense of morality? My elder brother doesn't encourage Kinjutsu because his power allows him such capriciousness... but you, Monkey, what do you have?"
Aomi picked up the Chronicles of Konoha on the table, turning to the chapter on the Third Hokage, pointing to the "Strongest Hokage" title and asked: "To elevate your prestige, as Hokage I can understand such self-promotion... but do you really believe you're the 'Strongest Hokage'?"
"You might fool the children in the village, but don't deceive yourself..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's toes clutched instantly!
The embarrassing feeling that made him want to bash his head against the wall caused Sarutobi Hiruzen to wish he could find a crack in the ground to use Earth Release and burrow into: "Sorry, Teacher... I, I..."
"Hiruzen, the more I practiced, the more I sensed the limitations of being a mortal ninja..."
Aomi imitated Senju Tobirama's calm yet slightly fervent tone while researching Ninjutsu, saying softly: "Not everyone possesses my older brother's talent... even I, born into the Senju, proficient in Ninjutsu development, couldn't go far..."
"During the First Ninja World War, I wondered... if I held my brother's power, could I intimidate the entire Ninja World, deterring anyone from waging war?"
"But I couldn't, my talent only allowed me to get that far, unable to progress further."
Aomi spoke gently: "To draw closer to my brother, I needed greater power... I had tried the path of the Senju... and comparing to the Senju, only the Uchiha remained..."
"If I, as a Senju, could obtain the power of the Uchiha, merging them, maybe I'd have the potential to surpass my brother... then I could end the Ninja World's wars and bring peace!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned: "Then you... why did you choose Naruto?"
"Naruto… he carries the Uzumaki bloodline, able to bear the Nine-tails Chakra as just a child, fitting my requirements for a new body."
Aomi spoke without reservation: "I may find ways to regain Senju's power... Uchiha's too, but to find a vessel capable of controlling the Nine-tails is not so easily encountered."
"Understand?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen instinctively groped at his pocket.
The overwhelming amount of information made Sarutobi Hiruzen uncontrollably want to smoke a cigarette to ease himself.
But immediately he stopped.
In front of Senju Tobirama, he was no longer the Third Hokage who could smoke freely in front of anyone, but still the little monkey who needed to obey.
"Obtaining Senju's power... Teacher refers to Lord Hashirama's cells! And as for Uchiha's power, naturally for Teacher, it's a matter of plucking a pair of eyes... only Naruto's bloodline and talent are inimitable..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen instantly "understood" Aomi's implication.
However.
Sarutobi Hiruzen still found it difficult to accept one point.
Naruto was the orphan of the Fourth Hokage... could they truly allow Teacher to possess him just like that?
Though Sarutobi Hiruzen might not have been as conscientious in treating Naruto... this didn't mean he wanted Naruto, still a child, to be possessed by the former Hokage...
Dark.
This was just too damned dark!
This matter could be regarded as the darkest scandal in Konoha's history! If leaked, the Will of Fire would be utterly demolished instantly, regardless of whether Senju Tobirama's initial intention had any good parts...
"Teacher... do you, do you know Naruto's identity?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, clinging to his last hope.
And Aomi chuckled softly: "Yes, the son of the Fourth Hokage..."
"So what?"
"Hiruzen, whatever you want to say, you might as well say it directly?"