Naruto: In the name of the Senju, he made the ninja world tremble.

Time is the best medicine to heal all wounds.

Spring of Konoha 52.

Many ordinary people in Konoha who lost loved ones in the Nine-Tails attack are still deeply saddened, but they are trying to move on, because life must go on.

In the warming weather, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stood alone in front of the window of the Hokage's office. His pipe had long since gone out, and his gaze was fixed on the newly built commercial street in the distance, where people were bustling about.

A moment later, the office door was pushed open, and consultants Koharu Utatane and Homura Mito walked in, their expressions solemn, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere of contention.

This month marks their third conflict with Hiruzen Sarutobi, all concerning the placement of Naruto Uzumaki, the orphan of the Fourth Hokage.

"Hiruzen, how long are you going to hesitate?!" Koharu Utatane's voice was unusually sharp and cold, devoid of any emotion. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is the village's ultimate weapon. As the weapon that contains the Nine-Tails, Naruto's only fate is to be imprisoned!"

"If we follow your idea and let him return to a normal life, who will bear the consequences if things get out of control? You? Or us! Placing him in the shadows, where we personally train and control him, is the responsible thing to do for the village!"

Mitokado Homura, standing beside him, nodded slightly and added, "Hiruzen, Koharu is right. The Nine-Tails' power is Konoha's last trump card. You know the village's current situation better than we do. This is not the time to be sentimental."

After speaking, Mitokado Homura remained silent for a few seconds before a look of shame appeared on his face. "We've wronged Minato and Kushina in this matter. After I die and enter the Pure Land, I will personally kneel down and apologize to them. But Naruto really can't be released!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly raised his head to look at the two men, turning his pipe over and over in his hand before throwing it on the table. His eyes showed no sign of wavering, which made the two advisors realize that they would probably have to return empty-handed again today.

The third generation leader looked at his two old friends who had worked together for many years, without a trace of anger on his face. He understood their concerns and knew that they were not targeting the child, but simply stating the facts.

"I understand what you're saying," Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a low voice. "Back then, the Nine-Tails was sealed in a child by Minato because Naruto had the Uzumaki bloodline, which could effectively limit the Nine-Tails' chakra. But that's not a reason to keep Naruto imprisoned for life."

He raised his head and gently rubbed his throbbing temples. His mind involuntarily drifted back to that bloody night and his deceased wife, Sarutobi Biwako, and he felt a sharp pain.

"Hiruzen, wake up! You're the Hokage. You can't gamble with the safety of the entire village just because you're soft-hearted! That child is the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, and the Nine-Tails is the culprit that destroyed the village!"

Koharu Utatane sharply interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi, reminding him to be mindful of his status and not let personal feelings sway his emotions.

Seeing the two of them embroiled in another argument, Mitokado Yan shook his head helplessly, already beginning to resent this fruitless dispute.

Mitokado Homura first pulled out a chair for the excited Koharu Utatane to sit down, then picked up the pipe that Hiruzen Sarutobi had thrown on the table and slowly filled it with tobacco.

"Since we can't reach a reconciliation on this matter, why don't we all take a step back?" Mitokado Homura packed the tobacco and handed it to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Naruto can stop being watched by the Anbu."

"You, Mitokado Homura!"

He reached out to stop the agitated Koharu Utatane, "But you can't just leave her in an ordinary person's house. She also has to be guarded by the three of our subordinates. The Wood Release ninja in your hands can't leave Naruto's side for even a moment."

"If your guess is correct, then we can try to gradually integrate Naruto into Konoha as he grows up."

"Furthermore, all of Minato's former guards and students are forbidden from contacting Naruto or knowing his identity. Hiruzen, you must find a way to keep the news from anyone who knows anything about him."

"This is the final line, Hiruzen. Your actions have actually violated the mindset a Kage should have."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the pipe that Homura Mitokado handed him, then glanced at Koharu Utatane, who was deep in thought beside him, and finally took the pipe. "Let's keep this from Danzo for now."

"Of course," Mitokado Homura said with a relaxed expression, "He has always wanted to get involved in the Nine-Tails' affairs, so Koharu and I didn't tell him in the first place."

"You old fox, you're always so cunning."

"At such an old age, he still acts impulsively. Even an old monkey is still a monkey."

Watching the two arguing, Koharu Utatane, standing nearby, finally smiled after a long time. No matter what, they were all doing it for Konoha, so there was nothing they couldn't overcome.

At noon, at the main gate of Konoha, Chiba took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly as she looked at the familiar gate.

"I'm finally back. I felt like I was going to get moldy these past few days in the Land of Rain. You can smell me if you don't believe me."

As Qianyu spoke, she raised her arm, gesturing to Gekko Hayate and Uchiha Tsukuyomi beside her. The next second, the two of them simultaneously slapped her arm away with their scabbards.

"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and go to the Hokage Building to hand in the mission. Go back and change your clothes before going to the dinner party," Uchiha Yue urged, dodging away with a look of disgust.

Seeing this, Chiyu stopped dawdling and, under the strange gaze of the gatekeeper ninja, the three of them walked straight through the gate and headed towards the village.

"My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, it really is the Second Hokage, what Father said is true!" The ninja guarding the gate was the same one who thought he was seeing things when Chiba left.

He knew from a young age that his family had also branched off from the Senju clan, but after so many years, he didn't have much of a sense of family honor, since the Senju clan had already disappeared.

However, after attending a family festival last time, my father came back in a much better mood. He said he had met the second patriarch, but we took it as drunken talk.

But after meeting Qianyu twice, he realized he was wrong; there really were two people who looked so alike.

And there are quite a few ninjas in Konoha with similar situations to this one.

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"Send word that the child is a nine-tailed fox spirit in disguise, the more exaggerated the better. Now, go!"

In the dark underground, the belatedly aware Danzo Shimura was still sparing no effort to smear the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, trying to incite the villagers' emotions and force Hiruzen Sarutobi to hand over Naruto Uzumaki to him.

Unbeknownst to him, fellow advisors Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane had already reached an agreement with the Third Generation, and he had been excluded from the matter.

"Only through my training can the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki truly serve Konoha to the fullest. Hiruzen, you are too weak!"

Danzo Shimura imagined himself commanding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to pacify the ninja world and becoming Hokage.