Why not just say it, what does it matter?
Aomi's words made Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had barely mustered his courage, freeze once again.
My dear teacher, my Lord Tobirama!
You know Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage, yet you don't know what you've done?
As a former Hokage, you used the forbidden Soul Jutsu to possess the offspring of the fallen Hokage...
This can no longer be said to align with the Will of Fire...
It's purely inhuman!
"Teacher... your jutsu, it will destroy Naruto's self-awareness, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath. On this crucial issue, even as a Tai Chi Grandmaster, he couldn't continue to smoothly probe, and his wording became direct and clear as he said solemnly:
"The Fourth Hokage... sacrificed his life using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal the Nine-tails and protect everyone... Naruto is his son, teacher, if what you're doing gets discovered, the consequences will be terrifying!"
Aomi let out a cold laugh.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen instinctively shrank his neck—previously, when Senju Tobirama criticized him for being immature, it always began with this classic prelude.
"Monkey, you mean I'm being unfair to Naruto and the Fourth Hokage?"
Aomi cast a cold glance at Sarutobi Hiruzen:
"Naruto, from a young age, doesn't know he's the son of the Fourth Hokage and can only interact with you, the Third. Is that the treatment he deserves as a Hokage's descendant?"
"Monkey, what do you think?"
Like the calm before a storm, Aomi's eyes seemed still but contained a hint of dangerous anger.
It was the stance of a superior about to reckon with an unfaithful subordinate!
Once, Senju Tobirama had confronted the defiance of the Uchiha Clan with just such a look!
When Sarutobi Hiruzen first assumed the role of Hokage, before he had absolute power, some seasoned Jonin would challenge or question him on certain decisions…
Then Sarutobi Hiruzen would emulate Senju Tobirama's look from memory, using the "Hokage's death gaze" to force those unruly ninjas back.
But the Third Hokage never thought…
One day, that gaze would come from Tobirama to himself!
This means…
Tobirama regards him as an enemy?!
Sarutobi Hiruzen trembled inside, but he had to admit…
He indeed had ideas differing from Senju Tobirama.
"I finally understand… why Hashirama and Lady Mito would strictly supervise teacher's jutsu development…"
"Teacher is truly too meddlesome! Even under Lady Mito's watchful eyes, he could still create such a Possession Jutsu…"
"If no one regulates teacher, I can't even imagine what terrifying jutsu he might develop… perhaps to the extent of destroying the Ninja World?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen vented his emotions internally without rush to answer Aomi's question, and instead scrutinized Aomi seriously…
Or rather, Naruto, the Senju Tobirama in his mind…
Fell into contemplation.
After a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath, speaking solemnly: "Teacher… I admit, I concealed Naruto's identity as the son of the Fourth Hokage, because I have doubts about Naruto's ability to become Nine-Tails Jinchuriki…"
"He is indeed too young… If it's revealed Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage and also a Jinchuriki, and he loses control again… it would cause a severe blow to Konoha's confidence!"
"Even with the Fourth Hokage's desperate sealing jutsu, the Nine-tails couldn't be subdued, and if both father and son face the demon fox and fail…" Sarutobi Hiruzen imagined the scenario if Naruto's identity was revealed and he went berserk, what the public and situation would be like.
Aomi chuckled softly, interlocking his fingers, examining Sarutobi Hiruzen carefully.
The meaning was clear—what was the point of dressing up his argument so nicely?
Seeing Aomi's gaze, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face froze.
He had said so many polite words about the Will of Fire, he had gotten a bit used to it…
Yet hadn't adapted to this rare sincerity between teacher and disciple, both being Hokage…
"I admit, teacher… I do owe Naruto."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart sank as he uttered words that were quite unbefitting of his Hokage status: "I withheld Naruto's treatment as the orphan of the Fourth Hokage, merely regarding him as an ordinary Jinchuriki, testing his suitability as a vessel in a harsh environment."
"On one hand, it was my inability, fearing the Nine-tails' rampage and public opinion… On the other, in governing the village, I also needed to groom a Jinchuriki who would fully support me…"
"The Uchiha Clan, Danzo, various Ninja Clans… I can't manage everything perfectly with my own skills and tactics like you did, teacher. Even though I'm already an old man, I don't know who to choose as the next Hokage…"
"Orochimaru is obsessed with Kinjutsu, defected from Konoha; Tsunade, emotionally struck, no longer wishes to be a ninja; Jiraiya immersed in Mount Myoboku's prophecy, roams outside with no heart focused on the village…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen launched into a deep self-criticism, seemingly confessing mistakes to his teacher.
But then the conversation turned—"However…"
"Teacher, I've never forgotten Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage… I have been nurturing him as the future Hokage! Although he's a bit mischievous, he is actually a good kid…"
"Even in the oppressive growth environment, Naruto has never had extreme thoughts. Those attention-seeking pranks, I understand, are Naruto simply wanting others' recognition."