Naruto listened carefully to every word of their conversation.
Although he still couldn’t speak, he discovered something unexpected.
He could understand everything they were saying.
It was rather strange.
Before transmigrating, he hadn’t known a word of Japanese.
Still, it certainly made life easier.
At least he probably wouldn’t have to struggle to learn how to speak later.
Because no one knew about Naruto’s unusual circumstances, the Third Hokage had ANBU guard the hospital room door to prevent anyone from interrupting or eavesdropping.
Then, right there inside the room, they began discussing what should be done with Naruto in the future.
In the end, the Third ordered every jōnin who had been close to the Fourth Hokage to keep absolute silence.
“Next, I’ll convene a jōnin meeting.”
“I’ll inform everyone that from this day forward, no one is permitted to discuss this child’s background.”
“His identity as the Fourth Hokage’s surviving son must never be revealed.”
“Nor can anyone expose the fact that he is the village’s most important treasure, the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki.”
“Until he grows up safely, he will simply live in Konoha as an ordinary war orphan.”
“And don’t worry.”
“Although the Fourth Hokage’s belongings and estate cannot be handed over to him directly.”
“I will personally do everything I can to care for him.”
With those words, the Third Hokage made the final decision regarding Naruto’s future.
Not only would his true identity remain hidden even his parents’ inheritance and personal belongings would be withheld.
Naruto continued pretending to sleep.
But his tightly pressed lips betrayed the resentment buried inside him.
Minato Namikaze had fallen for Kushina Uzumaki from childhood.
Neither of them had any expensive hobbies or extravagant lifestyle.
There was no way the couple hadn’t owned a house.
There was no way they hadn’t left enough savings to ensure their son could grow up without worrying about food or clothing.
Yet all of it had been taken away.
No wonder the original Naruto lived off instant ramen.
So that’s what happened even his parents’ belongings were confiscated.
Before long, the Third Hokage and the others left the room.
This wasn’t an appropriate place to continue talking.
Nor did they want anyone to become suspicious of Naruto.
Since the Third had already made his decision.
No one else could object.
Only after everyone had gone did Naruto slowly open his eyes.
A trace of bitterness flashed across his bright blue irises.
Actually he already knew.
In the original story, although people called Naruto the reincarnation of the Demon Fox.
Very few actually knew he was the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki.
Whether they believed the rumors or not, people merely called him a demon fox.
No one openly mentioned the Nine-Tails itself.
From that perspective perhaps the Third Hokage’s efforts at secrecy had succeeded.
But now that everything has happened to him personally the entire arrangement felt unbearably cold.
He should have been the Hokage’s son.
He should have grown up as a rich second-generation heir.
Why had a few simple decisions completely rewritten his life?
In an instant.
He had gone from being a privileged heir to a penniless orphan.
Why has Uchiha Sasuke always been so popular?
Was it really because Naruto wasn’t handsome?
Naruto certainly didn’t believe that.
Their styles were simply different.
The real reason was obvious.
The Uchiha were one of Konoha’s most prestigious clans.
And Sasuke was the young master of the clan leader’s family.
“Like I said.”
“Whoever wants to stay in Konoha can stay.”
Naruto snorted inwardly.
His determination to leave the village only grew stronger.
Still he also understood that there was absolutely nothing he could do right now.
Forget leaving.
Even standing up remained difficult.
Although Ashura’s chakra had awakened and dramatically strengthened every aspect of his body.
He was still only two days old.
Being able to sit up and lift a bottle was already his current limit.
“No.”
“I can’t spend my time doing nothing like an ordinary baby.”
“I need to start preparing now.”
Naruto narrowed his eyes as he silently made plans.
Without making a sound his sensory perception spread outward once again.
The entire Konoha Hospital came within his awareness.
He was still inexperienced.
He hadn’t mastered the ability yet.
Even so, inside his spiritual perception, the entire hospital gradually took shape like a three-dimensional map.
Within that mental landscape he could perceive everything.
Even insects hiding in distant corners.
The movements of doctors, nurses, and patients.
Every footstep.
Every person.
He also sensed the Third Hokage’s group leaving the hospital.
Outside the building, hidden within a secluded corner, several ANBU quietly stood guard.
Their attention was fixed on Naruto’s room.
Apparently those were the hidden guards the Third had assigned to protect him.
Fortunately they remained outside.
As long as no one entered Naruto’s room they wouldn’t interfere.
After confirming that Naruto suddenly did something astonishing.
Then, with considerable effort he actually began doing push-ups.
If anyone witnessed such a scene.
They would probably faint on the spot.
If that nurse happened to walk back in now she’d almost certainly pass out again.
A baby only two days old doing push-ups?
What kind of joke was that?
No that wasn’t normal.
That was a monster.
If anyone saw it the rumor that he was the reincarnation of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox would become impossible to dispel.
Fortunately Naruto had already awakened his sensory ability.
He continuously monitored the hallway outside.
The instant someone approached he would immediately collapse onto the bed and pretend to be asleep.
Naruto refused to simply wait for fate.
He had already decided that one day he would leave Konoha.
Since that was his goal he understood perfectly that he needed to prepare in advance.
The most important thing was.
Strength.
Since there was little else he could do at the moment.
He might as well focus on what was within his ability.
Namely training his body from today onward.
He wasn’t worried about damaging his still-fragile body.
Ashura’s chakra was constantly strengthening his physique.
A small amount of exercise would only accelerate that process.
And so while everyone assumed he was nothing more than a helpless infant.
Naruto secretly began training.
He understood better than anyone that the body formed the foundation of everything.
Many people mistakenly believed that ninjutsu was all that mattered.
True powerful ninjutsu looked impressive.
But no matter how destructive a technique was it meant nothing if it couldn’t hit the opponent.
This wasn’t a turn-based game.
If mastering powerful ninjutsu alone guaranteed victory.
Then everyone would simply spend their lives studying ninjutsu and nothing else.
As for genjutsu, ordinary genjutsu was largely meaningless against a Jinchūriki.
Genjutsu worked by disrupting and manipulating the target’s chakra flow within the brain.
As long as the victim could disturb their own chakra the illusion could be broken.
And once a Jinchūriki reached mutual understanding with their Tailed Beast.
The beast could instantly disrupt the chakra flow for them, breaking almost any ordinary genjutsu.
The prerequisite, of course, was that both sides accepted each other.
Otherwise a Tailed Beast sealed away in hatred wouldn’t lift a finger to help.
So, for now Naruto couldn’t do much.
Nor was there much he was capable of doing.
He simply took advantage of the opportunity to strengthen his body.
Because he intended to build an unshakable foundation for the future.