"Ahem." Nara Shikaku cleared his throat and spoke directly.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is the village's most important strategic weapon. He can no longer be monitored by the Third Hokage alone."
The Third Hokage glanced at Luhe. "What does Advisor Luhe mean?"
Luhe said bluntly, "The Police Force and ANBU should supervise him jointly."
The Third Hokage could not refuse at this point.
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 monitor Naruto together and ensure his safety."
"That alone isn't enough!"
Zhengye raised a 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 that, 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 if she were an idiot.
"Who in the village doesn't know Naruto is the Demon Fox? An outsider could ask anyone at random and learn who the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is. Are you fooling yourself?"
Utatane Koharu's expression stiffened. That really was the truth.
If even information everyone knew had to be concealed, that would be far too foolish.
They had not educated the villagers before only because the Third Hokage had wanted to use their hatred to win Naruto's favor.
But that had already been botched.
With the Police Force involved from now on, no villager would be able to get near Naruto anyway.
Naturally, the Third Hokage had already considered this. He looked toward the newly appointed Luhe.
"In that case, Advisor Luhe will handle this matter."
Luhe acknowledged him, but he was thinking to himself.
This move of Zhengye's 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 spoke.
What he was most worried about was that Zhengye had tampered with Naruto, allowing him to control him directly whenever necessary.
He could compromise on everything else, but he had to investigate this thoroughly.
Zhengye gestured 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 array formed by combining Dual Four Symbols Seals.
They studied it for a long while, uncertainty written across their faces.
The Third Hokage walked over and asked, "Have you found the cause of the Nine-Tails' Chakra leakage? Is there still a possibility of another rampage?"
The Sealing Team reported in low voices, "The seal left by the Fourth Hokage inherently contains gaps."
"If Naruto becomes enraged or is near death, the Nine-Tails' Chakra will leak out."
"As for whether he could rampage again..."
The Sealing Team members shook their heads. "We cannot guarantee it."
"Clap, clap, clap..." Zhengye applauded as he spoke. "Wonderful. Truly wonderful."
"Getting angry or nearing death—isn't that exactly what those ignorant villagers make him do every day?"
"It doesn't matter if those villagers want to court death themselves, 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 or bully Naruto will be executed by the Uchiha on the spot!"
The Hyuga Clan and the other ninja clans exchanged looks and 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 cluster of light flames ignited on each of his five fingers in succession.
The characters for water, fire, earth, wind, and lightning could faintly be seen upon them.
Zhengye's eyes narrowed 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 knotting tightly together.
Unable to interfere with the Eight Trigrams Seal, so he's simply adding another layer of sealing on the outside?
Zhengye was not surprised. Both Orochimaru and Jiraiya had 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 let out a breath.
"I have added a Five Elements Seal atop the original seal. Naruto's seal will be more secure from now on."
"Furthermore, I will assign 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, this alarm is lifted."
Just as the people around them breathed sighs of relief and prepared to leave, Zhengye spoke again.
"However, Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō 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 a little so he would have some leverage to bargain with during Shimura Danzō's trial.
Yet in just a few days, Zhengye's successive schemes had utterly crushed him.
He was already struggling to hold on.
"Danzo is physically weak right now and can barely speak. He needs at least another seven 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 initiated by Danzo against the Uchiha had ultimately ended with the Third Hokage suffering a crushing defeat.
After Zhengye and the others left, the other ninja clans quickly dispersed as well.
Itachi and Shisui tossed Mikawa Ze to the ground and left too.
Mikawa Ze was somewhat ashamed. He lowered his head and approached the Third Hokage.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage."
The Third Hokage patted his shoulder. "Don't think too much about it. They both have the Mangekyō Sharingan. Losing was normal."
"You are all my most loyal subordinates. No matter what, I will never abandon you."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
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?"
Jiraiya saw so many dead people at the scene and the other ninja clans leaving one after another. He asked awkwardly.
The Third Hokage stared fixedly at the lipstick marks on Jiraiya's neck and face, without even the strength to get angry.
He waved a hand helplessly. "The person I told you to notify—go notify them 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 place, Jiraiya knew he had gone too far this time and hurriedly slipped away.
Watching the unreliable Jiraiya, the Third Hokage suddenly felt utterly exhausted.
It would be nice if Orochimaru could come back.
Before you continue