Having obtained the latest edition of Icha Icha Paradise, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kakashi with complete satisfaction.
“Now, where were we?”
With a dark expression, Kakashi explained the recent changes in Naruto’s body.
Hiruzen froze momentarily.
His gaze then became solemn as he set his pipe aside.
“You’re saying Naruto’s body has become noticeably stronger?”
Kakashi nodded.
“Yes.
Naruto is now approximately one hundred and ten centimeters tall, and there’s much more strength in his movements.
His condition has improved considerably.”
Even Kakashi was astonished as he spoke.
He frequently saw Naruto purchasing ramen in the village.
Could eating ramen for all three meals every day truly improve someone’s physical condition?
Hiruzen’s brows knitted tightly together.
Although he hadn’t assigned anyone to monitor Naruto constantly, he frequently observed the boy through his crystal ball.
Consequently, he knew precisely what Naruto’s physical condition had been.
Malnourished!
The other students in Naruto’s class ranged from approximately 104.1 to 132.1 centimeters in height.
Naruto, however, had barely reached ninety-five centimeters.
Hiruzen knew this perfectly well.
In fact, he had deliberately engineered the situation because he didn’t want Naruto’s body to develop too well.
The slower Naruto’s physical development remained, the lower his chances of awakening the Uzumaki clan’s kekkei genkai.
If this continued until graduation, Naruto wouldn’t be able to awaken the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
He would become nothing more than an ordinary shinobi.
But now…
Naruto’s physical condition had improved under inexplicable circumstances.
Could it be that he was about to awaken the Uzumaki clan’s kekkei genkai?
The more Hiruzen considered the possibility, the graver his expression became.
The Uzumaki clan’s kekkei genkai was the Adamantine Sealing Chains, renowned as the most powerful sealing ability in the shinobi world.
It allowed a single individual to suppress even the Nine-Tails.
After giving birth, Kushina Uzumaki had remained capable of restraining the Nine-Tails with the Adamantine Sealing Chains despite her severely weakened state.
If Kushina hadn’t been too weak to perform another sealing technique, Minato Namikaze would never have needed to use the Reaper Death Seal.
If Naruto awakened the Adamantine Sealing Chains, it might not be long before he gained control over the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
He wouldn’t allow Naruto to escape his control.
Rising from his chair, Hiruzen spoke solemnly.
“Kakashi, wait outside.
We’ll visit Naruto shortly.”
After Kakashi left, Hiruzen’s expression became gloomy.
“Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki—please don’t blame me.
I had no other choice…”
“This was a necessary sacrifice for the sake of Konoha.
I can only hope that Naruto fails to awaken his kekkei genkai.
Otherwise…”
Hiruzen rose and looked through the window with a dark expression.
The streets below were filled with people.
Merchants loudly advertised their products while children chased one another through the bustling crowds.
The village appeared exceptionally lively and prosperous.
“Yes.
This was a necessary sacrifice for Konoha.”
After the Nine-Tails’ attack, Hiruzen had deliberately chosen to sacrifice Naruto so the villagers wouldn’t direct their hatred toward him.
He had concealed Naruto’s true identity and turned the boy into an outlet for the entire village’s anger.
That way, Hiruzen’s own reputation remained completely unblemished.
However, if Naruto awakened the Adamantine Sealing Chains and learned the truth from the Nine-Tails, he would undoubtedly come to resent Hiruzen.
“I absolutely cannot allow that.”
A cold light flashed through Hiruzen’s eyes.
He picked up his cloak and Hokage hat before striding out of the office.
Dark beings—demons—were encroaching upon Tokyo, the Demonic Metropolis.
Standing against them was the righteous Taimanin, Asagi.
One night beneath the new moon, hundreds of demons appeared, claiming to serve Oboro, the evil Taimanin who was believed to be dead.
Defeating them was only the prelude to an even fiercer battle…
Asagi should have destroyed the forces of darkness, but instead, she fell into an evil trap and was subjected to depraved conditioning.
Asagi’s younger sister, the Taimanin apprentice Sakura, was also captured by the lust demons.
Their wicked hands closed in… upon the noble sisters…
Helplessness appeared in his bright blue eyes.
“Writing really is troublesome.
If only I could accept missions.”
However, Naruto knew that was impossible.
If he revealed his Scorch Release, his freedom would probably be taken away the following second.
Neither Hiruzen Sarutobi nor Danzō Shimura would permit a jinchūriki with overwhelming strength to exist outside their control.
Only a weak jinchūriki was a good jinchūriki.
Naruto exhaled and calmed himself.
He was still far too weak.
He couldn’t reveal too many of his true emotions.
Just as Naruto picked up his pencil again, someone suddenly knocked on his dilapidated door.
“Who is it?”
Naruto frowned.
He had no family, and his friends from the Academy rarely visited him.
Why would anyone be knocking on his door?
Could it be…
Coldness entered Naruto’s eyes as flames ignited around his five fingers.
“An enemy?”
“It’s that old Hokage and Minato Namikaze’s student.”
Kurama’s lazy voice echoed inside Naruto’s mind.
With Naruto’s permission, Kurama could sense their immediate surroundings.
Naruto’s expression gradually turned cold.
He then shook his head and restored his usual gentle smile.
No.
He had to keep his emotions under control.
Naruto turned toward the bathroom and quickly found what he was looking for.
The leftover broth from dozens of cups of instant noodles!
Instead of throwing them away, Naruto had left them inside his home to ferment.
Mixed with the corpses of several insects, the resulting liquid could only be described as a biological weapon.
Naruto poured the foul broth from dozens of noodle cups into a large basin.
Carrying the basin in both hands, he approached the front door.