"Teacher, you..." Sarutobi Hiruzen felt the Nine-tailed Chakra emanating from Naruto, gasping in surprise as the sheer force caused Konoha Village's average temperature to drop by a tenth of a degree...
The overwhelming Nine-tailed Chakra, at this moment, flowed in a tightly organized manner, appearing to be completely tamed...
Its chaos and ominous aura could only be faintly sensed...
The Nine-tails, a powerful Tailed Beast that required the Fourth Hokage to sacrifice his life just to barely seal, could even serve as a formidable weapon in a legendary ninja confrontation, was now Konoha's greatest trump card...
Yet sadly, none of the previous Jinchuriki could wield it perfectly, not even the strongest female Sealing Ninja, Uzumaki Mito.
For a long time.
The Nine-tails was Konoha's trump card, yet also a ticking time bomb hidden within the village, a final weapon feared by enemy Hidden Villages, but it also cost Konoha many resources to maintain the stability of the Jinchuriki.
The mighty Nine-tails, from a weapon standpoint due to Konoha's weakness, appeared somewhat useless as no one could harness and unleash its full power...
After all, if the Nine-tails weren't so strong, Konoha could still find a ninja capable of mastering its power and train a Jinchuriki suitable for the battlefield...
But today.
Konoha's problem is solved!
Senju Tobirama, taking over Naruto's seven-year-old, yet undeveloped body, could effortlessly command the Nine-tails Power...
When this body matures at sixteen or seventeen, and basically reaches maturity...
A Jinchuriki capable of bearing the full power of the Nine-tails alone would be enough for Konoha not to fear invasions from other Hidden Villages across the Ninja World...
Counting Senju Tobirama's talent, and the Second Hokage's mention of harnessing Kekkeigenkai throughout the world, including but not limited to Hashirama's Cells and the Sharingan...
In a Ninja World devoid of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama...
Sarutobi Hiruzen was horrified to realize something.
Even if his teacher became a seven-year-old child, as the Third Hokage, even if he disregarded emotions and attempted to use force against Senju Tobirama...
It was already an impossible matter.
With the Nine-tails by his side, regardless of mentioning battle strength, simply from a Tailed Beast balance perspective, he naturally stood undefeated from Konoha's side...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's final trump card, the Shinigami Sealing, couldn't take the remaining half of the Nine-tails from Konoha to the Death God's belly!
Konoha is already weak enough as it is...
Should the Third Hokage and the Nine-tails disappear together, then village destruction would be an inevitable result following a Ninja World war.
Because no Kage Level power is there to stand up and bear the brunt.
Therefore...
Even if Senju Tobirama fell into the Demon Path, with no one to control him, pursuing immortality like a more intense ultimate Orochimaru...
Sarutobi Hiruzen, for Konoha's sake, had no means to counter him!
This is an open strategy.
An entirely straightforward strategy.
Senju Tobirama's possession of Naruto was so timely, and the reasons given on the surface so aligned with the Will of Fire...
To end chaos and usher in peace!
Although...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's decades of Hokage experience, let his sixth sense vehemently warn him—sudden resurrection and possession of Naruto by Senju Tobirama definitely wasn't for those superficial reasons...
He's highly likely not for the Will of Fire, not for Konoha!
Senju Tobirama, who once sacrificed a life for the village, returned this life anew, and Sarutobi Hiruzen simply felt his teacher seemed to unshackle himself, beginning to speed down a dangerous road, entirely abandoning worldly morals and constraints, fully unleashed!
Even Naruto... Even knowing Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage, he possesses him...
But undeniably.
This version of Senju Tobirama fit Sarutobi Hiruzen's imagination of his teacher after succumbing to darkness.
By comparison...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's beloved disciple Orochimaru was merely a cheap imitator living in the shadow of this elder...
Though their behavioral trajectory was similar, Senju Tobirama engaged in a deadly combination of open strategy and conspiracy, directly binding Konoha and the Nine-tails to himself, leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen with no avenue.
Even if he wished to oppose Senju Tobirama's approach... Yet he could only watch, and even had to heed Senju Tobirama's commands!
"Teacher... you, you make me feel unfamiliar!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fists, saying in a somber tone, "Do you consider tying Konoha's fate and yourself together?"
Aomi chuckled lightly, casually answering, "Monkey, you're right... As I grow stronger, I naturally better protect Konoha, as the Second Hokage, what's wrong with stating this?"
"Alright, remember what I said."
"Regarding the Uchiha Clan's matter, do not interfere, watch the changes... During this period, do not disturb me, prevent some troubles from approaching..."
Senju Tobirama slowly said, "Otherwise... for the ultimate peace of Konoha and the Ninja World, I can only eliminate some chaotic factors in advance."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep breath and lowered his head.
Understand the meaning?
Being a long-time friend and rival of Shimura Danzo, how could Sarutobi Hiruzen not understand the meaning?
He heard such words countless times—every time Shimura Danzo used the Will of Fire as a big hat to coerce the village's ninja, it was always said this way...