Is It Strange That I Know?

Even more laughable was that, when faced with a rampaging Tailed Beast, they ultimately had to rely on a group of newly graduated Genin to give chase and stop it.

They had practically entrusted the village's safety to luck and the potential of a few children! How absurd!

What Tejima Shinichi found most incomprehensible was that when the Third Hokage was trapped inside the "Four Violet Flames Formation" set up by the Sound Four, not a single one of Konoha's elite Jonin or Anbu experts outside tried to forcibly break the barrier and rescue their Hokage!

Was it because they couldn't?

Or were their actions restricted by some invisible "rule" or "understanding"...?

Or perhaps... the upper ranks themselves had become entangled in inertia and compromise, leaving no one willing—or rather, daring—to bear the responsibility and risk of breaking the deadlock at such a critical moment?

Whatever the reason, it exposed the enormous hidden dangers lurking beneath Konoha's façade of peace!

And all of this was inseparable from the Third Hokage's long-standing governing style, one overly focused on "balance"... and at times even indecisive.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's final sacrifice had undoubtedly been tragic and heroic, worthy of respect. But in Tejima Shinichi's eyes, it was more like atonement—a painful price paid for his past failures in leadership, rather than a perfect finale.

If he had dealt with the village's internal maladies earlier and more decisively... perhaps things would never have ended this way!

Watching Tejima Shinichi sink into thought, his gaze deep and distant, Sarutobi Hiruzen could not fully guess at the thoughts churning within the boy's heart, but he could sense that the barrier between them had not entirely disappeared.

He sighed and said earnestly:

"Shinichi, I have no intention of making too many excuses for the rights and wrongs of the past. But I hope you can understand, and I ask that you believe me—"

"—As long as I still draw breath, as long as I wear this hat, I will never allow anyone, under any pretext, to force darkness and sacrifice upon your generation again! Konoha's future should be written by you yourselves, choosing your own path beneath the sunlight, according to your own will."

"This is my promise, Sarutobi Hiruzen's promise as the Third Hokage, to you—and to every young sapling in Konoha."

His words echoed through the silent park, carrying the old man's final stubbornness.

Tejima Shinichi finally raised his eyes and met Sarutobi Hiruzen's weathered gaze once more.

After a moment of silence, he finally voiced a question that had troubled him for a long time:

"Hokage, there's something I've always wondered about. Why has Shimura Danzō fixated on me? Is it merely because I'm this year's Top Student?"

"As far as I know, previous Top Students, and even some exceptionally talented ninja, did not seem to receive such 'favor.' Why me alone? Is there some other reason behind this that I don't know about?"

At that question, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face twitched, and a trace of complexity and guilt flashed through his eyes.

"Since you've asked... very well. With your current strength, there are some things you have the right to know!"

He took a deep breath and met Tejima Shinichi's probing gaze honestly.

"The reason Danzo is so obsessed with you, aside from the astonishing talent and Chakra you've displayed, is even more importantly because... he has his eye on the bloodline you inherited from the Senju Clan."

"Senju Bloodline..." Tejima Shinichi frowned slightly and waited for him to continue.

Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated, then asked, "Shinichi, you know something about Jinchuriki, don't you?"

Tejima Shinichi looked thoughtful as he answered, half-truthfully:

"I know. My parents told me a little about the forbidden technique of sealing Tailed Beasts inside human bodies. I wasn't born yet when the Nine-Tails rampaged through the village twelve years ago, but I've heard them mention that disaster."

"Since you know, then it'll be easier to explain. He... he sees you as a... Backup Container for the Nine-Tails."

"A backup... container for the Nine-Tails?"

Tejima Shinichi's eyes lit up.

If that's all it is... you old dog Danzo, you should've said so sooner!

Keeping a little fox inside me wouldn't be so bad!

When I'm happy, I can pet it. When I'm not happy, then—[Nine-Tails, you're too powerful, you need...]

"That's right." Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice carried suppressed anger. "He believes that the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... is emotionally unstable and poses an enormous risk. You possess vast Chakra and a powerful physique sufficient to match a Tailed Beast. In his eyes... should the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki lose control, you would be the most perfect 'backup plan' to take over the Nine-Tails and ensure the village does not lose its strategic power."

So that was it...

Everything finally had a reasonable explanation.

Why Danzo had refused to let this go, even going so far as to deploy Root's elite forces to kidnap him.

It was not merely because of his talent. It was because his role had long since been defined in advance—a "fuse" that could be activated at any time...

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly lifted his head, his gaze passing over Tejima Shinichi's shoulder toward the fourth young and resolute face carved into Hokage Rock in the distance.

Sunlight traced the outline of the stone visage. For a moment, that brilliant blonde hair and those gentle yet steadfast blue eyes seemed to come alive, overlapping with the figures in his memory of the couple who had given everything for the village.

"In any case... I will never agree to this 'Backup Container' plan! I believe in the current Jinchuriki. He inherited his parents' will and character. With proper guidance, he will surely overcome the difficulties, truly master that power, and become a pillar protecting Konoha!"

Tejima Shinichi nodded thoughtfully and casually added:

"Mm. If it's Naruto, then although he usually seems a bit... idiotic, he really can do it!"

"Mm, you're right—"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in agreement, but before he could finish, his expression froze. His pupils abruptly contracted, and the calm composure he had maintained finally showed an obvious crack as he nearly cried out in shock:

"You... how do you know... that Uzumaki Naruto is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?!"

This information was one of the village's highest secrets!

Other than a very small number of high-ranking officials and relevant personnel, no one knew!

How had Tejima Shinichi learned of it?!

Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's intense reaction, Tejima Shinichi was the one who froze for a moment. Then he scoffed, as though the Third Hokage had asked an extremely strange question.

"Third Hokage, isn't it obvious?"