Revealing Some Information

"Me? Hokage? Really? Uncle Hyuga, do you really think I can become Hokage?" Naruto still put on an innocent look. He was very curious why Hiashi Hyuga dared to bring up him becoming Hokage so early.

"Of course, Naruto. This is something I inferred after considering many factors. Would you like to hear my analysis?" Hiashi Hyuga instantly assumed the air of a reclusive sage.

Naruto's grin was harder to suppress than an AK, but he still gave Hiashi Hyuga some face. "Sure, Uncle Hyuga. Tell me, what's your basis?"

Hiashi Hyuga immediately stood up, giving off the impression that he was about to put on a show. With his back to Naruto, he said, "Listen carefully, then. First, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, thinks highly of you. You could tell from the Ninja Academy's opening ceremony."

Watching Hiashi Hyuga turn around with the look of someone who had everything under control, Naruto thought, Are you Zhuge Hyuga or something?

Naruto also wanted to see what brilliant insight Hiashi Hyuga had.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Naruto instantly became the straight man, following along with Hiashi Hyuga's words.

"You know, I was at the opening ceremony too. From the moment the Third took the stage, I noticed that he kept looking in your direction. That shows he cares about you greatly. That's the first point."

"Second, after the opening ceremony, the Third Hokage was clearly busy with government affairs, yet he did not immediately return to the Hokage's office. Instead, he stayed behind to chat with you. That shows he was very curious about your reaction."

"Then, he asked about your understanding of the Will of Fire. Given the Third's personality, he would never ask such questions for no reason. It was very likely that he was assessing your abilities. And your understanding of the Will of Fire back then was so impressive that even us old-generation ninja felt ashamed in comparison!"

"Not only was your understanding spot-on, but that line—'It isn't by becoming Hokage that one earns everyone's acknowledgment; it's by earning everyone's acknowledgment that one becomes Hokage!'—I still remember it vividly to this day."

"As the person involved, you might not know it, but I saw it clearly from the side. The Third's expression was like he had found a successor. That's why I think you have a very high chance of becoming Hokage."

Hiashi Hyuga laid out his analysis. Naruto had thought it would be something more substantial. Just one question about the Will of Fire and he had Hiruzen Sarutobi figured out? Uncle Hyuga, you're still too naive! You have a long way to go in your training!

"Uncle Hyuga, just because of my understanding of the Will of Fire, I can become Hokage? Isn't that a little too childish?" Naruto continued, wanting to know whether Hiashi Hyuga had any other thoughts. It was rare to have such a chance to watch someone analyze people. As a bystander, he was requesting the next topic on the spot.

"Of course there's more, Naruto. Since we may become family in the future, I'll let you in on a few classified secrets!"

Hiashi Hyuga looked all mysterious as he opened his Byakugan.

"Byakugan, activate!" He scanned the surroundings and confirmed that there were no ninja within several dozen meters. The ANBU ninja guarding them in secret were several hundred meters away and could not hear Hiashi Hyuga and Naruto talking.

"Uncle, you're making this so mysterious. What exactly is this secret?"

"It's like this. From what I understand, on a certain day, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, separately summoned the heads of several clans close to the Hokage faction. I don't know what they discussed in private, but the general gist was that they should have more contact with you. When the Third summoned me, he simply told me that I could interact with you more, as long as I did not cross any lines!"

"I guessed those clans were probably the Yamanaka Clan, the Nara Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Akimichi Clan, and the Aburame Clan. Later, I noticed that you got along very well with the younger members of those clans. That made me think my guess was correct. It should have been those clans."

Naruto had not expected Hiashi Hyuga's guess to be quite accurate.

Naruto had already felt that the people from those clans must have received Hiruzen Sarutobi's instructions. Otherwise, they would not have dared to let their younger members freely associate with Naruto or take the initiative to approach him.

Otherwise, given their good relationship with the Third Hokage, they definitely would not have risked making unauthorized contact with the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.

"But Naruto, don't overthink it. At first, they surely only let their children try playing with you. But for you to truly become friends later on, that was only possible because of your own personal charm. I hope you won't overthink it and assume the heads of the great clans are all bad people!"

Although Hiashi Hyuga did not mention himself, the fact that he had allowed the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan's main house—Hinata Hyuga—to freely be friends with Naruto indirectly showed that Hiashi Hyuga must also have received either explicit or implied instructions from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He mentioned everyone else while selectively leaving himself out. Hiashi Hyuga really did have a talent for speaking.

Then again, it made sense. Given Naruto's reputation in the village, everyone knew he was connected to the demon fox and that he was very likely its incarnation. Yet, for some reason, they still dared to gossip about Naruto behind his back and bully him openly.

Were they really not afraid that he would get angry, undo the seal, and treat them to a few delicious Rasengan?

As future heirs of their clans, the younger members of the great clans being willing to approach Naruto on their own instead of looking down on or rejecting him definitely meant someone influential had guided them behind the scenes.

Still, Naruto later relied on his own charm to turn them all into his true friends. Did they understand the true value of the Hidden Leaf's charm demon? The passive effect of Heavenly Mouth was no empty reputation!

"But Uncle, what use is that? Is it impressive that I have these friends? Did they express some kind of opinion too?" Naruto still asked with an ignorant look.

Since he had chosen to start acting, he had to see it through to the end!

"Of course, Naruto. When the heads of those great clans first had their children approach you, they would not have told their children to shamelessly stick to your side and force themselves into being your friends. Even as clan heads, they would not do something like that."

"Later, when their children became friends with you, they saw the changes afterward clearly. So among the upper ranks of the Hidden Leaf's Hokage faction, their attitude toward you gradually changed as well. At first, they were merely following the Third's words. Later, they began wanting to get to know you on their own initiative."

"That also shows that the upper ranks of the Hidden Leaf's Hokage faction admire you greatly!" Hiashi Hyuga looked deeply satisfied.

It seemed that this line of reasoning had gotten him a little excited.

"Uncle Hyuga, what you said does make sense. But I can't become Hokage based only on that, can I?"

"Naruto, you're very smart. Naturally, that isn't all. To become Hokage, aside from strength, the most important thing is one's background. Naruto... sigh, for certain reasons, I can't say it directly!"

Just as he was enjoying himself and speaking enthusiastically, Hiashi Hyuga seemed to remember something. He sighed and stopped talking about it.

Hearing Hiashi Hyuga's words, Naruto understood what he was trying to imply.

Naruto thought it over. He now had the chakra reserves of an elite jonin, along with the Rasengan and an improved version of the Flying Thunder God Technique. And if he could not win, Kurama could take over his body and fight in his place. His future was truly bright.

If he was not going to show off now, then when would he? Naruto was done pretending. He decided to lay his cards on the table.

"It's because my background is special, right, Uncle Hyuga?" Naruto slowly picked up where Hiashi Hyuga had left off.

"That's right! Naruto, do you know about your background?" Hiashi Hyuga instinctively followed Naruto's words, but quickly realized something was wrong. Did Naruto really know?

"Naruto, how much do you know about your own circumstances?" Hiashi Hyuga asked probingingly. He had no idea how much Naruto knew, but the Third had previously said at a Hidden Leaf high-level meeting that Naruto's identity had to be kept secret and that Naruto could not be allowed to learn his true identity.

If Naruto learned of the unfair treatment he had suffered all these years, his hatred toward the Hidden Leaf would surely reach its peak. By then, it would not be something an aging Third Hokage and a Danzo who only knew how to take the blame could withstand.

This was also what left Naruto utterly speechless. They insisted on talking trash about him, but if he actually got angry, they would not like it. What kind of gangster logic was that? Especially Danzo, who spread rumors everywhere—if Naruto really went berserk, what could he possibly use to stop him?

Shisui was still alive at this time. Danzo had not obtained Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, much less mastered Kotoamatsukami. It was also unclear how many Uchiha Clan Sharingan he possessed. Over the years, when members of the Uchiha Clan went out, some ninja encountered accidents that looked like accidents but were very likely the work of Danzo Shimura.

All to collect the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. However, Danzo at this time had not gone through the large-scale Uchiha Clan massacre, so he naturally would not have particularly many Sharingan.

"Everything! Uncle Hyuga, whether it's that I'm the demon fox's incarnation or my identity, I know it all clearly!" Naruto also intended to use his Heavenly Mouth to pull Hiashi Hyuga completely onto his pirate ship.

"Naruto! Where did you learn that information?" Hiashi Hyuga was instantly shocked.

It had to be said that the Third's secrecy had been handled quite well. Although the entire village knew Naruto was connected to the Nine-Tails demon fox and was very likely its incarnation, Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son had indeed been kept well hidden. Only a small number of Hidden Leaf upper ranks knew.

Was this Schrödinger's secrecy?

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