Kushina's voice was deafening, her words shaking the entire atmosphere.
There was no movement from Tobirama Senju. He did not say anything about being born evil, nor did he prepare to act. He simply remained quiet, his silence deeper than words.
Even though Kushina had said she wanted to destroy the village, Tobirama did not move because he understood one thing clearly: this was a mother's cry for her child.
Not only had Kushina become the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails for the sake of Konoha, but her husband, the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, had also sacrificed himself—allowing their newborn son to become the next Jinchūriki in exchange for the village's safety.
And in the end, both husband and wife had perished.
That was the kind of heroism that Konoha celebrated.
Yet what followed for their son, Naruto, was anything but heroic. He had endured a miserable childhood, scorned by the very people his parents had died to protect. He had nearly fallen into darkness, nearly turned into the very thing the village feared.
Thinking about this, Tobirama's sharp gaze shifted toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage. Suddenly, regret twisted inside him.
Had he chosen the wrong successor?
Why had so many disasters unfolded under the Third Hokage's leadership?
So Tobirama held his tongue. Instead, he looked to his elder brother, Hashirama Senju—the First Hokage, the true founder of Konoha—silently urging him to speak.
Hashirama was pushed forward, his usually warm demeanor weighed down. When he looked at Kushina, guilt stirred in him as well. Everything she said was true.
On the side, Madara Uchiha watched silently, his younger brother Izuna beside him.
When Madara had killed his own brother, he had sworn: Anyone who threatens the village, no matter who they are, will be eradicated at all costs.
The intention behind that oath was good.
But even Madara could not deny the irony now—Naruto Uzumaki, the son of Konoha's savior, had suffered so cruelly that he could have easily become another example of tragedy.
And yet… unlike Hashirama's hesitation, it was the Third Hokage himself who finally stepped forward.
Sarutobi Hiruzen bowed his head and spoke with the weight of years in his voice:
"Kushina… I am sorry. In this matter, I was negligent."
He sighed before continuing, his tone heavy.
"When Naruto's identity as a Jinchūriki became known, I thought I could at least protect him by hiding his identity as your child. If it was revealed that he was the son of Minato Namikaze, then enemies who hated Minato for ending their comrades' lives would target Naruto."
"That is why I gave him the surname Uzumaki instead of Namikaze. If he carried the Namikaze name, assassins from other villages would have sought his death."
"The Uzumaki name, however, was different. It allowed others to assume Naruto was simply another chosen vessel of the Uzumaki clan, selected to hold the Nine-Tails. Anyone who tried to harm a Jinchūriki risked sparking war with Konoha, and they would think twice."
Hiruzen's eyes dimmed.
"I also placed him under constant watch by the Anbu. He was surrounded at all times. But…" He hesitated, shame pulling at him. "I neglected his education. That was my greatest failure. I gave him money, I gave him surveillance, but not guidance."
Kushina's fury did not abate. Her fiery hair seemed to bristle with her anger.
"Third Hokage-sama, no matter what excuses you make—whether you hid his name or surrounded him with Anbu—it doesn't change the truth!"
Her voice broke, raw emotion pouring out.
"You and the rest of the Konoha leadership treated Naruto like a weapon, not a human being! Not your comrade, not your child—just a tool!"
Hiruzen fell into silence, her accusations piercing his old heart.
Kushina pressed on.
"Yes, Uzumaki was your consideration. I understand that. But what harm would it have been to give him a teacher? To give him some real care?!"
Her fists clenched.
"Don't tell me it was impossible. You had Anbu watching him every day. You could have assigned one capable shinobi to not only guard him but teach him—guide him as Minato and I would have!"
Her words were sharp, filled with a mother's rage and grief.
"In the end, you treated Naruto as nothing but a vessel, a weapon! You never once saw him as a true companion of Konoha!"
Hiruzen sighed deeply, his face worn with regret.
"Kushina… what you say is true. The leadership at the time was… overly cautious, overly fearful. I failed to balance their paranoia with my duty as Hokage. I failed Naruto."
He bowed his head. He could not deny it. Everything Kushina said cut through to the truth.
If Naruto had indeed turned dark during those years, Konoha itself might have collapsed into chaos. His negligence could have cost the entire village.
Kushina opened her mouth to unleash more, but her son's hand caught hers.
Naruto looked at her with his characteristic smile—the same smile that had carried him through his suffering.
"Mom… the past is the past."
He turned to Hiruzen and spoke softly.
"Grandpa Third Hokage was still kind to me when I was a kid. Even if it wasn't enough, he still looked out for me."
His voice carried the memories of lonely days.
"I used to prank everyone in the village. The other teachers scolded me. The villagers looked at me with disgust. But he—he was the only one who ever defended me. He was the only one who showed me kindness when no one else would."
Naruto's eyes softened.
"In a sense, even if it wasn't perfect, as Hokage… you still took care of me in your own way."
In truth, Naruto understood more than anyone else. As someone who had once worn the Hokage's hat himself in his future, he knew just how heavy that burden was. Hiruzen had countless responsibilities, and his abilities—though vast—were not limitless. He had to constantly contend with men like Danzō Shimura, always pulling at the shadows of the village.
Hiruzen had not given Naruto all the love he deserved. But deep down, Naruto knew he had still cared.
Hiruzen's old eyes glistened as he listened to Naruto's words.
"...Naruto. I truly am sorry. I did not protect you the way I should have."
Naruto smiled again, the same smile that had once brought light to his dark childhood.
"Grandpa Third Hokage, I'll never forget that time we sat by the river and ate fish together. For me, that meant everything. Even if Mom thinks it wasn't enough, I know you gave me as much as you could."
Those words struck straight into Hiruzen's heart. Guilt consumed him. Had he really done all he could? Or had he simply taken the easier path, convincing himself that Naruto would endure?
Hiruzen bowed his head in shame.
"As Hokage… I have failed in too many ways. I wanted to protect the village, but I could not even protect a child who should have been cherished. My indecisiveness led to tragedy—Orochimaru, Danzō, the Uchiha massacre… all of it."
His shoulders trembled with the weight of his own failures.
Minato stepped forward, his expression calm but firm.
"Third Hokage-sama… everything has passed. What matters is that Konoha is still standing, stronger and more stable now than ever. The shinobi world is closer to peace than it has ever been."
Minato took Kushina's hand gently and glanced at Hiruzen.
"Kushina loves our son with all her heart. That is why her words are so harsh. Please do not take them as malice."
Hiruzen waved a hand weakly, his eyes still clouded with sorrow.
"No… she is right. I failed him. I failed as Hokage. Kushina, I can only say that I am sorry. I am truly sorry."
Kushina's anger softened slightly. She let out a long breath, then touched Naruto's cheek gently.
"Since both Naruto and Minato have chosen to forgive, and you have admitted your mistake, I have nothing more to pursue. My son has already suffered enough."
Her eyes softened, but her voice still carried steel.
"I only regret that he had to endure that pain."
Minato smiled faintly, squeezing her hand.
"Perhaps this suffering has become part of Naruto's strength. It shaped him into who he is today."
Kushina rolled her eyes, her temper flashing again.
"Who says you have to suffer to succeed? That's the nonsense of idiots! I hate when people who've achieved greatness claim that suffering is a requirement, as if others must endure the same pain just to rise."
Her eyes burned as she looked at her husband.
"Don't you dare say that to me, Minato! You had everything smooth from the start—you genius, you golden boy! You never suffered the way our son did."
Minato was left speechless, scratching his cheek awkwardly.
It was true. From childhood, he had been gifted—graduating the Academy at ten, excelling beyond his peers, admired for his looks, his charm, and his genius. He had captured Kushina's heart as a young man, fought heroically in the Third Shinobi World War, and risen to fame as the Yellow Flash of Konoha, feared and respected across the ninja world.
By the age of twenty-three, he had already become Hokage.
Could someone like him truly understand suffering?
Minato chuckled bitterly, shaking his head.
"Suffering, huh? Maybe… Naruto's strength lies in something even I couldn't imagine enduring."
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