Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly lifted his head, his gaze resolute as he met Senju Tobirama's eyes: "Teacher, I know your Kinjutsu is for the good of the village, but you really shouldn't seize Naruto, an innocent child to whom Konoha owes a debt!"
"If you need another body, I'll use all of Konoha's resources to help you find a suitable one..."
"You may not know, but the village has made progress in researching Lord Hashirama's cells. Although we cannot mass-produce Wood Release, I believe under your leadership, creating a body abundant in Chakra is definitely possible!"
Aomi narrowed his eyes slightly, sizing up Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Under the oppressive gaze of Aomi, Sarutobi Hiruzen forced himself to face the intimidation in his heart, regarding his envisioned Senju Tobirama with a mix of fear yet firmness.
He, Sarutobi Hiruzen, although having shortcomings regarding Naruto… still never intended to take Naruto's life!
These words.
Were Sarutobi Hiruzen's way of subtly expressing to Senju Tobirama—despite being his student, he does not support his teacher's intent to seize Naruto's body...
Naruto, lost in thought, stared at Sarutobi Hiruzen and sighed softly, murmuring, "Third Grandfather..."
Meanwhile, the Nine-tails let out a cold snort, swatting Naruto's head with a paw: "Kid, what are you thinking? Do you feel this old man isn't so bad, at least he considered you?"
Naruto nodded in surprise, "Kurama, how did you know?"
"Brat, don't be deceived! Compared to pure malice, the behavior of the Third Hokage, forcing decisions in your life under the guise of what's best for you, is far more frightening..."
"This is a cruel murder, in that it murders the potential for your independence and molds your personality into what he desires..."
The Nine-tails pointed to the dimly curled Asura Chakra, solemnly stating, "Have you forgotten it?"
"This ball of Chakra, although it has granted you some power… yet it slowly affects your thoughts, dulling your perception of negative emotions, pushing you to seek so-called mutual understanding irrationally..."
"In the long run, Naruto, are you yourself, or the second being created by this Chakra?" the Nine-tails said to Naruto with heartfelt sincerity.
As these words were spoken to Naruto.
The Nine-tails also, faintly within its heart, felt a new understanding.
Not only was Naruto led by the Asura Chakra, indeed it, a fragment of the Ten-tails, had its fate arranged by the Six Paths Sage—merely waiting to be called by the Child of Prophecy.
"You are right, Kurama..."
Naruto exhaled a long breath, and the hint of sentiment in his gaze towards Sarutobi Hiruzen gradually vanished, slowly saying: "Only Brother Aomi is truly good to us... He never assigns tasks to us, and specifically instructs not to concern ourselves with him..."
The Nine-tails snorted disdainfully, "Do you need to say these things? Truly an idiot!"
Aomi listened to the dialogue between the Nine-tails and Naruto with a silent smile...
This comparison is indeed unfair.
He is different from Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Six Paths Sage... Aomi doesn't need to have any plans for Konoha or the Ninja World, only to give power to Naruto and the Nine-tails, improving his strength, while turning his original fate upside down!
But, what does unfairness matter?
Not to mention in Otherworld, but in the time-space Aomi resides in, before gaining sufficient power for self-protection… if one could gain power yet abstains due to so-called mercy or compassion, that is the greatest cruelty to oneself and this planet!
"Monkey, it's delightful that you have the Will of Fire in your heart..." Aomi looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's serious expression, genuinely smiling with relief.
This scene, he is very familiar with.
In the time-space Aomi inhabited, Sarutobi Hiruzen, unable to accept Aomi being seized by Senju Tobirama, erupted in conflict during their first meeting, even resorting to Dead Demon Consuming Seal Jutsu to perish alongside his teacher...
Though compared to Aomi, Sarutobi Hiruzen of Otherworld evidently didn't hold feelings for Naruto deep enough to be willing to die for him… but being able to oppose Senju Tobirama face to face, that is commendable.
As the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen still maintains a peculiar conscience.
Listening to Aomi's praise, a hint of delight appeared in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart, yet it suddenly cooled down—"But your Will of Fire is so limited, teacher doesn't like this..."
"I ask you, Monkey."
"If killing a Konoha ninja filled with the Will of Fire could exchange for eternal peace for the whole village's future, would you do it?"
Aomi, mimicking Senju Tobirama's tone, naturally infused a hint of the Uchiha Clan's demon aura: "What are you hesitating for, Monkey... I tell you, as the Second Hokage, I would kill him without hesitation!"
"Even if what I do is wrong, violating the Will of Fire, I personally commit wrongdoing...
"But concerning the entire village, it is the right thing!"
"Take Naruto for example… he is an innocent child, a rightful heir of the Hokage lineage, in seizing him I, Senju Tobirama, wrong him… but afterward, with Naruto's body combined with my research capability and the Nine-tails within him..."
Aomi slowly said: "I shall gather all Kekkeigenkai within the Ninja World, surpassing my brother and Uchiha Madara, becoming the unique strongest ninja in the history of the Ninja World, or a perfect being!"
"In the face of my overwhelming force, peace will naturally arrive... Understand, Monkey! Moreover, I will gain immortality, guarding the peace I create forever, thoroughly ending all possibilities of conflict!"
"So, sacrificing one Naruto but preventing every war that costs thousands of lives... Do you think it's worth it? The blazing flame always needs fuel to burn..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen instinctively nodded.
Is it not worth it?
Bear in mind, not to mention so-called eternal peace...
Sarutobi Hiruzen once sacrificed Hyuga Hizashi to exchange for a temporary peace treaty… if indeed, as Senju Tobirama stated, trading one life for true eternal peace...
As a leader, what is unacceptable?
Yet.
Sarutobi Hiruzen unintentionally doubted… Is his teacher truly revived for peace?
The unconscious hint of madness in his tone made Sarutobi Hiruzen involuntarily recall the Uchiha and his disciple Orochimaru.
The former Orochimaru… claimed to seek the ultimate ninjutsu and gain immortality, falling into an irretrievable Demon Path.
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly awakened.
Just like hereditary, actually, Orochimaru and Senju Tobirama, this pair of grand-disciple and grand-master, are so alike!
Both obsessed with scientific research and Kinjutsu, with bold, imaginative thoughts...
Yet.
Orochimaru's talent falls far short of Senju Tobirama's, but even so, in the absence of restraint, he walked toward the Evil Path…
What about Senju Tobirama?
In a Ninja World without Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito, Sarutobi Hiruzen dare not speculate why his teacher truly revived…
Is it honestly for the Will of Fire and peace?
Or is it to escape the two who could monitor him, to a timeline where Senju Tobirama can do whatever he pleases?
The word immortality always fills Sarutobi Hiruzen with a sense of sinister perverseness!
Unreasonable, profoundly unreasonable nine-tenths!
"Monkey, don't disturb me in recent times… regarding the Uchiha Clan, don't interfere either…"
Naruto's finger surrounded by delicate Nine-tailed Chakra, continuously dabbled in high-level form transformations: "Uchiha, I have my arrangements… And concerning the Nine-tails, I have initially mastered this fox's power..."
"How so, do you distrust your teacher, or wish to test the capacity of a perfect Jinchuriki?"
Naruto's porcelain face revealed a grin far from his age: "If you want to take action, do it now?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's back instantly soaked in cold sweat.
Just in that moment… a thought indeed crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind to first control Senju Tobirama and then have a serious talk…
Was this noticed?
And even worse, Senju Tobirama has evidently mastered the Nine-tails Power...
Meaning, even if resorting to force, it seems not feasible!
So…
It seems the only path is to follow Senju Tobirama's guidance?