"Although strength can solve ninety-nine percent of problems, no matter how powerful you are, there will always be enemies you cannot directly defeat. That's when you need to use your brain."
"And using your brain requires regular practice..."
Aomi slowly said:
"I won't judge who is right or wrong between Naruto and Kurama... Today, I ask you both: how can you keep the Third Hokage from bothering Naruto without confronting him, without using my chakra or the Nine-tails' chakra, and simply use rhetoric to give Naruto a peaceful environment?"
"Kurama, do you have any good ideas?"
The Nine-tails showed a troubled expression.
If you ask me to blow Sarutobi Hiruzen into pieces with a Tailed Beast Ball, the Nine-tails has absolute confidence.
But to make Sarutobi Hiruzen, who has been keeping an eye on Naruto from a young age, back off with just words, that's beyond what a fox can do.
Beside him, Naruto also fell into deep thought.
What should he do?
Should he reveal the existence of Aomi and the Nine-tails, or should he directly mention the appearances of Namikaze Minato and Kushina?
Should he question the Third Hokage about his identity as the Fourth Hokage?
Naruto's little brain was working swiftly, but every idea he came up with was obviously far from meeting Aomi's expectations...
"The way to achieve this, actually, both of you already have enough information..."
Aomi said softly, "Naruto, Kurama, do you remember the Chronicles of Konoha that you read?"
Naruto and the Nine-tails exchanged a confused glance and nodded.
They have read it.
But, so what?
The records merely contain stories of the Former Hokage, their signature techniques, and life accounts; nothing crucial is there...
"Naruto, tell me the information about the Second Hokage." Aomi smiled, his lips curling up as he spoke gently. "I remember you read through that book thoroughly, right?"
Naruto nodded vigorously, thinking hard as he replied, "The Second Hokage's name is Senju Tobirama. He is the brother of the First Hokage and the teacher of the Third Hokage..."
"Recognized in the Ninja World as a Kinjutsu Master, upon the First Hokage's request, he voluntarily sealed many forbidden techniques for humane reasons, serving as a reward resource for the village's reserve who could handle the Kinjutsu."
Aomi nodded and continued asking, "Okay, besides Konoha's official records, has Kurama told you other historical details about Tobirama?"
"Yes..."
Naruto replied quickly:
"Kurama said, many forbidden techniques created by Senju Tobirama were actually actively sealed by the First Hokage and his first Jinchuriki, who was also his wife, Uzumaki Mito, had a very opposed attitude towards those techniques..."
"Also, Senju Tobirama disliked the Uchiha clan and always tried to suppress them."
After Naruto finished speaking, he looked to the Nine-tails for help.
The Nine-tails looked at him, surprised: "Kid, nice memory. You actually remember those fragmented stories I told you so clearly!"
"That's all I know about Senju Tobirama... I also remember when I was inside Uzumaki Mito, that woman often reprimanded Tobirama, saying his forbidden techniques were violating human conscience too much, causing terrifying consequences..."
"Manipulating the dead, creating artificial Tailed Beasts, transferring time-space, imprisoning souls..."
Kurama commented sincerely: "Even for me, this is the first time seeing a ninja with such a low moral bottom line..."
"I was lucky that it was Uzumaki Mito who sealed me. If that guy were my Jinchuriki, who knows how he would have tormented me!"
Aomi listened to Kurama's rant about Tobirama and chuckled.
I, Uchiha Aomi, was once a Jinchuriki of Senju Tobirama, and he did quite well, didn't he?
It's not that you, Nine-tails, didn't do well enough!
"The intelligence we have is more than enough..."
Aomi looked at Naruto and Kurama: "This intelligence can sketch a portrait of Tobirama's personality, immersing into his perspective to simulate his actions..."
"You might not understand it yet, so I'll demonstrate it once, consider it a teaching session—about how to use intelligence to delay the opponent you currently can't defeat..."
"I won't use chakra, nor Genjutsu, but only the intelligence you and Kurama have inferred..."
Naruto and Kurama's eyes lit up!
Great, Aomi brother, Aomi-sama is teaching again! Both the boy and the fox are already addicted to being taught...
Especially since it's a unique lesson.
Someone as strong as Aomi won't use power but intelligence to simulate Naruto's position, to keep the Third Hokage away?
This is so intriguing!
Even Kaguya, who hadn't spoken since arriving in the Otherworld due to owing Aomi, secretly perked up her ears, attentively watching Aomi's actions.
How exactly will Aomi proceed?
Meanwhile.
Naruto's door still resounded with firm and slow knocking.
As if the knocking would continue forever if Naruto didn't open the door.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood at the door, squinting, turned his left hand from a fist to a palm and knocked harder, while his right hand gestured a few tactical moves and formed a seal.
He sensed a hint of Nine-tailed Chakra, which was hard to detect!
Around Naruto's house, several elite members of Anbu were lurking in various spots. Upon seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand gestures, they collectively gathered chakra, clutching the Sealing Scrolls, ready to enter combat mode at any moment.
According to the reports submitted by Uchiha Itachi and the Ninja School teacher—Naruto used the Tailed Beast's chakra and his emotions were unstable!
If this is true, Sarutobi Hiruzen must control Naruto and strengthen the seal left by Namikaze Minato!
"These bastards are coming to catch you, Naruto!"
The Nine-tails said coldly: "Malice, coming from every direction! This Third Hokage brought many ninjas, each one quite troublesome..."
"Aomi-sama, should we prepare for battle? This situation doesn't look like it can be resolved peacefully! The enemy comes with ill intention..."
Naruto lowered his head silently.
How heart chilling... just because he showcased progress at the Ninja School, Sarutobi Hiruzen wants to bring so many people, using the status of the Third Hokage to arrest him?
Back when he was sent living expenses and ate grilled fish together...
This seemingly kind old man, was actually surrounded by who knows how many ninjas, just waiting to strike if he made any move?
"Naruto, I need to borrow your body, is that alright?" Aomi asked lightly, as though unaware of the situation suddenly worsening.
"Okay, of course... but, Aomi brother..."
Naruto hesitated, saying: "They've come straight to our door, can we still just use rhetoric to make them retreat? Kurama says we've been surrounded..."
"Don't worry."
Aomi chuckled: "Watch closely, learn carefully."
After Naruto handed over his body.
Aomi, controlling little Naruto, walked towards the door with an upright posture and slowly opened the door.
And what came into view was Sarutobi Hiruzen's amiable smile, honed to perfection, capable of confusing Uchiha Itachi, full of the Will of Fire.
"Little Naruto, I've come to see you..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved at Naruto cheerfully: "How about it, did you miss grandpa Hokage?"
Aomi chuckled inwardly, without uttering a word, merely returning to the house as he pleased and sat by the table.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback.
Naruto didn't respond? It seems there really is something going wrong!
Sarutobi Hiruzen suppressed the astonishment in his heart. Observing Naruto's freshly cleaned room gave him an even stronger feeling of unease...
Yet he walked in nonetheless and sat down by the table.
"Naruto, lately you've been..." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Naruto, just about to probe further, when his entire body froze, as if even his breathing halted!
Naruto, still the same Naruto...
His features were childish, his face tender, altogether upon a brief glance, just an innocent little kid...
But upon closer inspection.
From the look in his eyes, the curve of his mouth, the expression in his brows and eyes, the way he folded his arms...
Sarutobi Hiruzen discovered, aghast...
Naruto...
How much he resembles his old mentor—Senju Tobirama?!