Moreover, Aoki could also use this identity as a way to become Naruto's adoptive father.
He couldn't simply step into the boy's life without a convincing reason, and a disguise as a married man with a family gave him the opportunity to build a stable image in the eyes of others.
That identity was like a key that could unlock the door to Naruto's future.
Although Aoki longed to save Minato and Kushina, he knew that would be an almost impossible task.
No matter how strong his determination was, Aoki understood that certain threads of fate were far too rigid to alter without unleashing unforeseen consequences.
That was why he ultimately chose not to save Minato and Kushina. It was a heavy decision, piercing like a blade driven straight into his chest, but Aoki knew he had to swallow the bitter truth for the sake of preserving a greater balance.
Yet whether or not Aoki could truly become Naruto's adoptive father—that worry still lingered in his heart. The shadow of doubt constantly haunted his thoughts.
What if the village elders refused to trust him?
What if his plan had already been discovered from the very beginning?
Or worse, what if his presence itself would bring danger to the boy?
If Aoki could not be recognized as Naruto's adoptive father, then all he could do was hope to protect him from the shadows—without official ties, without any clear acknowledgment.
He would become a guardian cloaked in silence, an unseen figure always watching, ensuring that the boy grew without losing his way.
After all, the unborn Naruto would soon lose both of his parents, just as in the original tale. And that meant Aoki had to prepare himself to witness a tragedy he could not prevent.
Therefore, Aoki hoped—at the very least—to become Naruto's adoptive father and protect him so that he could grow well.
He wanted to offer the warmth that Minato and Kushina could no longer give, even if it was only in its simplest form: a quiet home, a hand that gently stroked his head, and a voice that could soothe his cries.
It was a silent promise Aoki bound tightly within his own heart—a promise that might determine his own path in life just as much as it would Naruto's.
...
...
...
In the vast yet silent underground chamber, the flickering torchlight wavered gently along the damp stone walls.
The scent of wet earth mixed with the heavy, stagnant air trapped within, pressing against the chest of anyone who entered that room.
This underground space had been built directly upon the massive roots of an ancient giant tree that towered high above the surface of the Land of Fire.
The tree had stood for centuries, its trunk so thick it seemed to hold up the sky itself, and now it served as the foundation for the Oni's hidden stronghold—their Main Headquarters.
Inside one of the core rooms of this base stood a long wooden table, scarred with scratches left behind from countless meetings of the past.
Gathered around it were figures radiating a strong and commanding presence: Aoki sat in the main chair, his expression calm yet carrying the weight of enormous burdens.
Kurisu stood not far behind him, her sharp gaze fixed and watchful.
Akarin leaned forward impatiently in her seat, her body tilted as though ready to spring, unable to wait for an answer.
Rin sat quietly, head lowered, though her eyes occasionally flickered upward with quick glances.
Tetsu grasped his knees tightly, as though struggling to contain the restless energy inside him.
And Ajisai leaned casually against the wall with arms crossed, her eyes calm, studying the scene with quiet composure.
"So, why are we here, Leader?" Akarin finally broke the silence with a question. Her voice rang clear and strong, yet carried a faint tremor betraying the weight of her curiosity.
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