"That's why I sent you to monitor Naruto."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly mused, "Twelve years have passed, and yet Uzumaki Naruto still hasn't been able to use the Nine-Tails' power. Compared to his mother, Uzumaki Kushina, he's even worse. He's a complete waste..."
"..."
The Anbu Ninja was silent for a moment before replying, "But Uzumaki Naruto will be loyal to Lord Hokage. His mother was only loyal to her husband, Namikaze Minato."
The two outside fell silent temporarily.
Inside the room, Uzumaki Naruto was holding his nose tightly, not daring to make a sound, as tears trickled down, wetting the bedding.
Uzumaki Naruto never imagined that the first time he heard news about his parents, it would be in this way and from the mouth of someone he always respected!
Uzumaki Kushina, that name was his mother.
Namikaze Minato, that name was his father.
But both of these people were killed by Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Uzumaki Naruto suppressed his throat, not daring to make any sound, afraid that the people outside would notice, but his emotions were gradually becoming somewhat angry!
Yet now, Uzumaki Naruto was fully aware that he had to forcibly endure his pain since any disturbance, even the slightest fluctuation of chakra, would cause Sarutobi Hiruzen and that stranger outside to show up and kill him immediately.
After a moment of silence outside, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice rose again, "Are you persuading me to spare Uzumaki Naruto's life because you've grown soft after all these years of watching him?"
"No."
The Anbu Ninja spoke in a low voice, "I just think that Uzumaki Naruto is the most suitable vessel for containing the Nine-Tails. Killing him recklessly would make it hard to find a new vessel..."
"Yes, descendants of the Uzumaki Clan are not easy to find."
Sarutobi Hiruzen whispered and sighed lightly, "In the team from Hidden Grass Village participating in the Chunin Exams, there was an Uzumaki Descendant girl. Unfortunately, it's said the girl defected from Hidden Grass Village and joined the Hidden Rain Village."
After saying that, Sarutobi Hiruzen lamented, "Had I known this would happen, I would've sent someone to capture a few young ones from the Uzumaki Clan when Uzumaki Kushina asked us to save her hometown as potential Nine-Tails vessels."
"..."
The Anbu outside was silent for a while, seemingly unsure of what to say.
After a while, he spoke, "It seems some people in the village have begun to acknowledge Uzumaki Naruto recently. Your plan might face resistance. Should we eliminate them?"
"There's no need for that."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, his voice carrying an indescribable eeriness, "Back then, I forbade others from interacting with Uzumaki Naruto, so he could be fully loyal to me. Now he's utterly reliant on me, so that order doesn't matter anymore."
"What about Kakashi?"
The Anbu continued to ask, "Previously, you had Kakashi leave Anbu to monitor Uzumaki Naruto's every move. Now, he seems to care a lot about Naruto."
"Don't worry."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's elder voice was full of confidence, "Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Obito were teammates, he only feels guilty towards Uzumaki Naruto."
The Anbu Ninja's voice carried a hint of amusement, "You're right, Lord Hokage. After all, Kakashi knows about Obito killing Naruto's parents but has kept it secret..."
"Hmm..."
Just as the Anbu finished speaking, Uzumaki Naruto inside the room couldn't hold back anymore as tears streamed down his face, and a syllable involuntarily escaped his throat.
Realizing his blunder, Uzumaki Naruto quickly faked a yawn, wiped his tears away, and hid under his covers.
The sounds outside immediately quieted down.
After a while, the window in the room was quietly opened and then quietly closed again, evidently someone came to check on him.
Moments later, Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice sounded again, "Since nothing's going on here, keep a close watch over him. Tomorrow is the Chunin Exams finals, all the Daimyo and dignitaries will be present, make sure Uzumaki Naruto doesn't make any mistakes."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
The Anbu outside replied in a low voice.
Soon, it grew quiet outside.
Inside the room, Uzumaki Naruto bit hard on his blanket, tears and snot flowing, yet he dared not make a sound because he knew there were still ninjas outside watching over him.
Twelve years of dreams.
Shattered completely tonight.
Uzumaki Naruto's fingers dug hard into his thigh, covered in wounds, desperately trying to suppress his emotions and avoid any unusual behavior.
No wonder, all these years, despite his efforts to gain the villagers' recognition, he was met with alienation; every time he was hurt, Sarutobi Hiruzen would appear in front of him, teaching him to endure pain.
All of life's light and shadow.
Was nothing but the manipulation of that old man in Hokage Tower.
Uzumaki Naruto's body trembled slightly, recalling the scene of summoning Gama-Bunta, his mind sinking into an endless watery prison seal.
Uzumaki Naruto's eyes were filled with darkness as he slowly walked to the edge of the watery prison, looking up towards the huge figure within, his voice sullen as he spoke, "Stupid fox, you're called the Nine-Tails, right? You want to come out, don't you?"
"Roar!"
The Nine-Tails opened its massive maw, staring at the tiny figure by the water prison's edge, and suddenly roared with laughter, "Hahaha... brat, if you let me out now, I'll help you tear that old fool and the entire Konoha to pieces!"
Evidently, everything Uzumaki Naruto had heard earlier, the Nine-Tails had also heard completely.
Some secrets, even the Nine-Tails wasn't particularly aware of.
But this was a great opportunity for the Nine-Tails, the darker Naruto became, the easier it was to manipulate him!
The Nine-Tails didn't expect a village like Konoha to be so sinister, truly worthy of being jointly created by Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, those two gloomy bastards!
People of Konoha, always so adept at killing one another!
"No, this isn't enough to repay them."
Uzumaki Naruto looked at the Nine-Tails and shook his head slowly, the darkness on him growing thicker, "Tomorrow is a big day, let's cause some chaos together!"
The Nine-Tails' face twisted into a vicious grin, "Brat, didn't expect you to wise up the second time we met! Brat, you're much smarter than that Uzumaki Kushina woman!"
That woman, despite having such tremendous power, didn't think of how to use it, only thinking of suppressing it.
Even when she encountered problems outside, she'd take out her anger on it!
Damn, karma really doesn't spare anyone!
Now it was her son's turn to suffer, as Uzumaki Kushina's tenant, the Nine-Tails thought it should properly guide this Uzumaki Naruto!
Tomorrow would be its time to break free!
"Naruto."
Someone knocked on his window.
Uzumaki Naruto turned to see Haruno Sakura standing by his window.
The pink-haired girl's expression was somewhat tense as she spoke, "I haven't seen Sasuke-kun these days. Tomorrow's the exam, and there's still no one at Sasuke-kun's house. Can you come with me to find him?"
"Alright."
Hearing Haruno Sakura's request, Uzumaki Naruto put aside his thoughts, jumping out of the window, "Sakura, why are you going to Sasuke's at night?"
"Because I thought by this time, he'd be home no matter what."
Haruno Sakura frowned, speaking with unease, "But he still hasn't shown up... um, Naruto, your face, were you just..."
Uzumaki Naruto covered Haruno Sakura's mouth with his hand, nervously raising a finger, afraid the Anbu supposedly watching him would notice.
Uzumaki Naruto forced a smile, wiping his face, "Alright, let's find Sasuke first! That guy's probably hiding somewhere training hard!"
Some people, even when their hearts are already in tatters, continue to hide their wounds in front of those they like.