This extremely high-profile situation arose from practical considerations of there was no doubt that Konohagakure's propaganda apparatus was actively at work behind the scenes.
Almost overnight, Hagoromo seemed to have inherited all the glory once belonging to the Yellow Flash. Not only this recent infiltration incident, but even many of his previously secret operations were suddenly brought to light.
Among them, the most jaw-dropping revelation was undoubtedly the killing of the Third Raikage.
From a publicity and symbolic standpoint, this achievement was far more sensational than Hagoromo facilitating peace with Kirigakure. After all, ninja possess an instinctive reverence for raw power—and at this moment, Hagoromo had become the embodiment of that ideal.
According to Konoha's official narrative, even the "assassination" aspect had been quietly erased. The story now portrayed Hagoromo as having fought the Third Raikage head-on, alone, while surrounded by ten thousand Iwagakure ninja, and successfully killed him.
Just imagining such a scene was enough to make one's blood boil.
Encircled by enemies, a young and cold Konoha shinobi stands his ground and kills the strongest Third Raikage—what could possibly be more inspiring than that?
The Third Raikage could battle ten thousand Iwa ninja.
And Hagoromo could single-handedly kill the Third Raikage.
Whether this propaganda was deliberate or born from desperation after losing Namikaze Minato, the higher-ups were never going to say that Hagoromo survived by playing dead on the battlefield.
After all, truth is often disappointing.
And now, Hagoromo's incursion into Kumogakure, dealing them damage equal to—or greater than—that inflicted upon Konoha, and reversing the unfavorable momentum of the war, served merely as further proof of his strength.
Even if that "unfavorable momentum" was largely psychological and morale-based, it did not diminish the significance of his success.
Thus, when Hagoromo returned to Konoha, the reception he received was even more enthusiastic than Minato's.
The Fourth Hokage had only just fallen. To say that the villagers had already forgotten the hero who died protecting them would be unfair—Minato's memory was still very much alive.
But this was how the times worked.
Dead heroes could no longer protect anyone.
Only living heroes could.
Even if only in terms of image and propaganda, Konoha needed a new source of light.
Granted, this "new light" looked rather miserable—his injuries were severe—but wasn't that normal? Wounds of that magnitude simply proved that Hagoromo had once again confronted an entire village head-on.
In truth, his injuries had been sustained inside Konoha and had nothing to do with the mission.
But people preferred to believe the version they imagined.
A hero's image, after all, was something imposed upon him by the collective will of the masses.
That said, Hagoromo was fundamentally different from Minato. None of what he had done stemmed from lofty ideals like "for the sake of Konoha."
He merely fulfilled his promises.
And the Hokage, naturally, had to provide what was owed.
According to their prior agreement:
First, the ownership of Uzumaki Mirai—
The Hokage initially called it "custody," but Hagoromo insisted on the term ownership—would belong to him.
Second, the Hokage would not restrict Hagoromo's contact with Uzumaki Naruto, provided that a third party was present. That third party was, in practice, equivalent to ANBU surveillance.
Third, Uzumaki Mirai would be publicly presented to the village as the child of a hero.
Fourth, Hagoromo accepted Konoha's insistence on concealing Naruto's identity as a jinchūriki, and would not reveal his status as the Fourth Hokage's son. However, in return, he would tolerate no distortion of the truth.
Overall, the difference in treatment between the son and the daughter was a full tier apart. Even so, this was the result of Hagoromo's utmost efforts.
And for Hagoromo, this arrangement was only temporary.
Naruto's situation, in his eyes, was merely a form of storage.
Naruto could endure loneliness. Almost all children born into war inherited such burdens—his case was not exceptional.
But Hagoromo would never tolerate slander.
And Konoha would ensure that.
This inevitability stemmed from a simple truth:
Hagoromo's position toward Naruto was much like Uchiha Itachi's toward Uchiha Sasuke.
Had you seen the drainage canals of Konoha that looked as though they'd been torn apart by violent demolition?
Had you seen Hokage Rock, still under repair?
That was Hagoromo's deterrence.
The so-called Will of Fire had never existed within Hagoromo. The Hokage could see that clearly. Otherwise, why would the Third Hokage—despite Hagoromo's youth and extraordinary talent—never consider him as a successor, at most viewing him as a Hokage's guard?
This did not contradict the belief that Hagoromo belonged to the Hokage's faction.
Those who truly possessed the Will of Fire were people like Might Duy, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Itachi.
And what were their endings?
The Hokage's refusal to entrust Naruto to Hagoromo was not illogical. Even if Hagoromo truly felt deep loyalty to Konoha—why would a head of state hand the nuclear launch button to someone else?
The Will of Fire?
Sometimes, believing in it was fine.
Other times… one could only scoff.
What treatment should Naruto have received?
He was undeniably the son of a hero.
Yet, merely to isolate him from the populace, rumors of a "demon fox" were deliberately spread.
In Konoha, there was a man accustomed to shouldering blame—Shimura Danzō. He was not innocent, but ultimately, the Hokage was the village's supreme authority. By the logic of leadership accountability, all of Danzō's sins could be traced back to the Hokage.
As for a leader unable to control his subordinates? Then perhaps Danzō should have been Hokage instead.
Under the banner of "everything for the village," do not underestimate the Hokage's moral floor—but do not overestimate it either.
That was politics.
After the Fourth's death, the Third Hokage returned to power.
...
However, due to a rather awkward issue, the children could not yet be handed over to Hagoromo—and he himself agreed.
Hagoromo.
Male.
Single.
Zero childcare experience.
If a six-month-old infant were entrusted to him, there was an eighty percent chance he would accidentally raise the child to death.
Thus, the two children would temporarily remain together, currently staying in Konoha Hospital.
This was Hagoromo's first time seeing them.
Facing two pairs of curious eyes, he found himself completely at a loss.
Given his current appearance… when he saw his reflection, his first thought was:
Is a zombie about to eat my brain?
Uh. Should he perform something as a greeting?
Hagoromo spread his thumbs and index fingers apart. Fine blue arcs of lightning formed a thin line between his fingertips.
That was all he could manage.
Such performances were extremely dangerous.
If you weren't talented, wouldn't it be better to behave yourself?
Still—Naruto truly lived up to his reputation.
The boy had six whisker marks, while the girl only had two.
Seeing Hagoromo in such a state, Naruto didn't cry.
Six whisker marks really were something else.
Naruto slapped Mirai's face with one hand, while the other swiftly grabbed hold of the lightning arc.
The Lightning Release wasn't strong enough to injure anyone. Experiencing that tingling numbness for the first time, Naruto burst into delighted giggles.
Unfortunately, the human body conducts electricity.
The girl beside him was clearly uncomfortable—so she bit down on Naruto's hand.
Infants might not have teeth, but as Kushina and Minato's daughter, her bite force was impressive.
Naruto immediately burst into tears.
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