Naruto's Disposition

"Ahem." Nara Shikaku cleared his throat and spoke directly.

"As the village's most important strategic weapon, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki can no longer be monitored by the Third Hokage alone."

The Third Hokage glanced at Luhe. "What does Advisor Luhe mean?"

Luhe said bluntly, "He should be jointly supervised by the Police Force and ANBU."

The Third Hokage could not refuse at this moment.

Because the Police Force was no longer just the Uchiha's alone. It also represented the interests of Konoha's other ninja clans.

"No problem. I agree."

"Everyone will jointly monitor Naruto and ensure his safety."

"That alone isn't enough!"

Zhengye raised an index finger and shook it. "Naruto is hated because the villagers are ignorant and don't understand what a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is."

"I demand that knowledge about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki be publicly disseminated."

The moment Zhengye said this, the surroundings fell silent.

Utatane Koharu was the first to speak.

"I object! Information about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is of the utmost importance and must never be leaked!"

Zhengye looked at her as though she were an idiot.

"Who in the village doesn't know Naruto is the Demon Fox? Outsiders could casually ask anyone and find out who the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is. Are you deceiving yourself?"

Utatane Koharu's expression stiffened. That was indeed the truth.

If information that everyone already knew had to be kept secret, that would be far too foolish.

They had not educated the villagers before only because the Third Hokage wanted to use the villagers' hatred to win Naruto's favor.

But now, it had already been ruined.

With the Police Force involved from now on, it would be impossible for any villagers to get near Naruto anyway.

The Third Hokage had naturally thought of this long ago. He looked toward the newly appointed Luhe.

"In that case, Advisor Luhe will handle this matter."

Luhe acknowledged him, but his mind was deep in thought.

[This move by Zhengye doesn't seem to benefit the Uchiha at all. Does he simply want to build a good relationship with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?]

"Now, Zhengye, why don't you put Naruto down and let the sealing team inspect the seal?" the Third Hokage said.

What he was truly worried about was Zhengye tampering with Naruto, then directly controlling him when needed.

He could make concessions on everything else, but he had to investigate this thoroughly.

Zhengye beckoned to the sealing team. Four sealing-team ninja hurried forward.

They came before Naruto, formed hand seals, then placed their hands on his stomach.

A massive Eight Trigrams Seal appeared.

It was an advanced sealing formation created by combining the Dual Four Symbols Seal.

They studied it for a long while, their faces uncertain.

The Third Hokage stepped forward and asked, "Have you found the reason for the Nine-Tails' chakra leakage? Is there still a possibility of another rampage?"

The sealing team reported in low voices, "The seal left behind by the Fourth Hokage naturally contains gaps."

"If Naruto becomes enraged or is near death, the Nine-Tails' chakra will leak out."

"As for whether he may rampage again..."

The members of the sealing team shook their heads. "We cannot guarantee it."

"Clap, clap, clap..." Zhengye applauded as he spoke. "Wonderful. Truly wonderful."

"Rage or near death—aren't those exactly the things those ignorant villagers make happen every day?"

"It doesn't matter if those villagers want to get themselves killed, but they insist on gambling the safety of the entire village."

"On behalf of the Uchiha, I declare that whenever our Police Force is on duty, any villager who dares insult, humiliate, or bully Naruto will be executed by the Uchiha!"

The Hyuga Clan and the other ninja clans exchanged looks, then nodded one after another.

They felt there was nothing wrong with Zhengye's declaration. After all, it was for the safety of everyone in Konoha.

The Third Hokage came before Naruto and stared at the Eight Trigrams Seal for a long time.

A ball of light ignited on each of his five fingers.

The five characters—water, fire, earth, wind, and lightning—could faintly be seen on them.

Zhengye narrowed his eyes slightly. The Five Elements Seal? As expected of the Professor of Ninjutsu—he knows everything.

"Whoosh!"

Wind swirled around the Third Hokage's hand as he swiftly pressed it onto Naruto's stomach.

The unconscious Naruto let out a pained groan, his brows tightly knitted together.

Unable to interfere with the Eight Trigrams Seal, so he's simply adding another layer of sealing outside it?

Zhengye was not surprised. Orochimaru and Jiraiya had both used the Five Elements Seal to suppress or release the chakra resonance between Naruto and the Nine-Tails.

It was the most reliable method they could think of.

The Third Hokage exhaled.

"I have added a Five Elements Seal atop the original seal. Naruto's seal will be more secure from now on."

"And I will send Kakashi to care for Naruto long-term, completely preventing such incidents from happening again."

Zhengye did not care that the Third Hokage was continuing to patch things up. His goal had already been achieved.

But that did not mean his offensive would stop.

"In that case, the alarm is lifted this time."

Just as the people around them breathed sighs of relief and prepared to leave, Zhengye spoke again.

"However, Third Hokage-sama, Shimura Danzo should be awake by now. When has his trial been scheduled?"

The Third Hokage's expression flickered. He had originally intended to suppress the Uchiha somewhat, so that he would have some leverage to bargain with during Shimura Danzo's trial.

But in just a few days, Zhengye's series of schemes had beaten him into utter collapse.

He was already struggling to hold on.

"Danzo is physically weak right now and can barely speak. He needs at least seven more days of rest."

Zhengye curled his lips and pressed forward forcefully. "Then the Uchiha will await the trial seven days from now."

He bent down and picked Naruto up. "Naruto is badly hurt. He needs to be taken home."

The Third Hokage gave Kakashi a look, and Kakashi immediately followed after him.

Zhengye greeted the people around him before gradually walking away.

A campaign launched by Danzo against the Uchiha had ultimately ended in the Third Hokage's crushing defeat.

After Zhengye and the others left, the other ninja clans quickly dispersed as well.

Itachi and Shisui threw Mikawa Ze, whom they had been holding, directly onto the ground, then left as well.

Mikawa Ze felt somewhat ashamed. He lowered his head and approached the Third Hokage.

"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama."

The Third Hokage patted his shoulder. "Don't overthink it. They both have the Mangekyo Sharingan. It's normal that you lost."

"You are all my most loyal subordinates. No matter what, I will never abandon you."

"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"

Mikawa Ze bowed, his eyes filled with the emotion of a man willing to die for one who understood him.

Only then did a burly, white-haired man arrive belatedly.

"Old man, what happened?"

Seeing so many dead bodies at the scene and the other ninja clans leaving one after another, Jiraiya asked awkwardly.

The Third Hokage stared fixedly at the lipstick marks on Jiraiya's neck and face. He did not even have the strength to get angry anymore.

He waved a hand helplessly. "Go notify the person I told you to notify. Now. Immediately."

"Now?" Jiraiya asked in surprise.

The Third Hokage suddenly glared at him. "Now! Immediately! Use Mount Myoboku as a relay!"

"U-Understood!" Seeing the corpses scattered all over the ground, Jiraiya knew he had gone too far this time and hurriedly slipped away.

Watching the unreliable Jiraiya, the Third Hokage suddenly felt utterly exhausted.

If only Orochimaru could come back.