Minato Namikaze's Collapsing Faith

Kushina Uzumaki: Yeah, it seemed the Third Hokage had been very concerned about Naruto's safety!

Seeing what Minato and Kushina said, Makoto Ito curled his lip...

Makoto Ito: Yeah, yeah, he protected him very well! But was it really protection, or was it surveillance?

Although the Third Hokage had not been very involved in Naruto's daily life, he had been extremely attentive when it came to controlling Naruto's thoughts! He would go to the academy whenever he had time to brainwash him! He even frequently went to Naruto's home to brainwash him personally!

It had to be said that the Third Hokage had truly gone to great lengths to "take good care of" Naruto!!

Hearing Makoto Ito's words, Minato and Kushina both frowned, not quite understanding what he meant.

Makoto Ito: You two had better prepare yourselves mentally!

Minato Namikaze: Prepare for what?

Kushina Uzumaki: Yeah, what exactly do you mean by all this?

Makoto Ito: Do you remember what I told you before? The person you had been thinking about day and night might not have been living very well!

With that, Makoto Ito strolled leisurely some distance away from Naruto, as though he were merely taking a walk, without looking even remotely like he was following Naruto.

The Anbu ninja did not pay Makoto Ito much attention either. After all, he was just some brat from the Ninja Academy!

Just like that, the big shots in the group all noticed the problem!

Every pedestrian on the street seemed to be avoiding Naruto Uzumaki as if he were a plague god!

Not a single person was willing to give him a pleasant look. When they saw Naruto Uzumaki approaching, they hurriedly moved aside while muttering curses under their breath!

Most outrageously, some people even spat in Naruto's direction...

"Hey, hey, the demon fox is out again! Everyone, get away!"

"Yeah, I really don't know what Lord Hokage was thinking. Why did he make us live alongside this demon fox?"

"The demon fox is far too dangerous! Just look at him—you can tell he's no good!"

At that moment, a little girl slowly ran over to Naruto's side...

Suddenly, her mother appeared and hurriedly scooped her up!

"How many times have I told you?! Stay away from that demon fox!"

Naruto showed no reaction at all to any of this, as though he had long since gotten used to it...

At this moment, Minato and Kushina were completely dumbfounded!

Previously, they had thought Naruto Uzumaki had inherited the Uzumaki Clan surname to conceal his identity—first and foremost, his identity as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, because the Nine-Tails was far too important to the village! Secondly, it was to conceal that he was the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze! Minato had made quite a few enemies in the Ninja World, so they had thought this was done to protect Naruto's safety!

But now they realized that did not seem to be the case. Why did everyone in the village seem to know Naruto was the demon fox, yet no one knew he was the Fourth Hokage's son?

The couple could not believe the scenes before their eyes!

Minato Namikaze: Th-This... what exactly is going on?

Kushina Uzumaki: Minato! Could it be... could it be that Naruto had lived like this ever since he was little?

Makoto Ito: Honestly, I really didn't want to crush you two like this, but I still have to say it: Naruto was actually doing fairly well now. When he was younger, things had been far more miserable for him!

Minato Namikaze: Why? Why exactly? Why did the Third Hokage do this? I, Minato Namikaze, do not believe I ever wronged Konoha in any way! I even gave my life for Konoha! Why was my son treated like this?

Makoto Ito: And you're still talking about the Third Hokage? Let me make this perfectly clear! Without the Third Hokage, Naruto would definitely have lived much better than he did now!

Minato Namikaze: What do you mean?! Explain yourself!

Makoto Ito: Back then, you sealed the Nine-Tails inside Naruto. How many people knew about that? Other than him, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who else do you think knew? Even if anyone did know, they would definitely have been village higher-ups! So without the Third Hokage's approval, how could the news that Naruto was the Nine-Tails demon fox have spread?

Minato Namikaze: But... but... but I just can't understand it! What benefit would treating Naruto this way bring the Third Hokage? And besides, couldn't someone else have done this?

Makoto Ito: Why were you still clinging to that fantasy? Who else could it have been besides him? If someone else had wanted to spread that news, as the Third Hokage, could he not control public opinion? Could he not completely suppress the information? And how could it not benefit him? The benefits were enormous!

First, he had Naruto firmly branded as the demon fox, ensuring everyone in the village hated him. Now think about it: if someone suddenly appeared and treated Naruto well, do you think Naruto would become dependent on that person?

And that was precisely the role Hiruzen Sarutobi played! He visited Naruto once a month and gave him some spending money, immediately creating a stark contrast with everyone else! Once Naruto grew up, wouldn't the Nine-Tails' power be his to control as he pleased?

Minato Namikaze: No! No! That's impossible! It can't be! How could the Third Hokage possibly do such a thing?

Makoto Ito: Tch! Why do you think Naruto didn't take the Namikaze surname?

Minato Namikaze: Why?

At that moment, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who had remained silent for a long time, spoke up.

Tobirama Senju: Because you, Minato Namikaze, were the hero who sealed the Nine-Tails! Because you were the Fourth Hokage! Because you had many supporters! Do you understand now? If Naruto had taken the Namikaze surname, then the people of the village would not have hated him! They would even have regarded him as a hero! In that case, how could Hiruzen Sarutobi make himself seem so special in Naruto's eyes?

So Naruto could only be a Demon Fox Kid! He could never be the descendant of a hero! Nor could he be the son of you, the Fourth Hokage! Do you understand now?

Tobirama Senju's analysis struck right at the heart of the matter. From Hizashi Hyuga's death, to the Uchiha Clan's massacre, to the Senju Clan's destruction, Tobirama Senju had seen through his good disciple more and more clearly!

At this moment, Minato Namikaze's faith had completely collapsed!

Minato Namikaze: Why? Why did they do this? I was clearly the Hokage of the village! I had clearly devoted everything I had to this village! Even my life and my wife's life! Why did this village treat my son like this? Why? Why exactly?