When Naruto came to find Third, he happened to bump into the old man blowing his beard and scolding the old black dog who was lying on the porch basking in the sun and sleeping soundly:
"Danzo, you are really blind!"
I put ink on the words I just wrote again!
Look! This puddle! My calligraphy has been ruined!"
The old black dog "Danzo" just lazily raised his eyelids, glanced at Third with his intact left eye, whimpered, turned over, and continued sleeping with his belly exposed, not taking the old master's "anger" seriously at all.
Third was furious when he saw this, but he had no choice but to mutter to himself and pick up the rice paper stained by the dog's paws.
He was dressed in simple home clothes Kimono, and his gray hair was combed meticulously, but his back showed a sense of depression with nowhere to vent his energy.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, Third turned his head.
Seeing that it was Naruto, a trace of surprise flashed across his face at first, and then a complex smile appeared. The smile was mixed with relief, emotion, and a hint of... obvious sense of relief that "finally someone is here."
"It's Naruto, you're back. Come and sit here."
Third greeted.
Naruto walked over and sat down on the porch.
After exchanging a few pleasantries and asking about his health and family situation, Third soon couldn't help but sigh, with a look on his face that said "there is no place for a hero" and a bitter and resentful expression.
"Oh, Naruto..."
Third stroked his beard, with obvious disappointment and expectation in his tone, "Is the battle going smoothly on the front line?"
He looked at Naruto with undisguised hope in his eyes:
"Look... can you give me some work to do? It doesn't have to be too important, even if it's sorting out old files, making suggestions for school textbooks, or...
Can I help you look at the intelligence analysis sent from the border?"
"I'm alone at home... I always feel lonely."
He said this last sentence in a lower voice, full of loneliness.
Naruto listened quietly, understanding in his heart.
Third=He was suddenly separated from the center of power and busy affairs. The huge psychological gap and nowhere to put his energy made it difficult for him to adapt.
Moreover, Biwako Sarutobi had already passed away in Nine-Tails' Attack, making the loneliness in the family even worse.
However, what surprised Naruto was that Third did not go to Orochimaru and ask her to use Impure World Reincarnation or other means to "resurrect" Biwako.
Maybe he respected the peace of the deceased, or maybe he was afraid of facing Orochimaru, so he didn't go looking for him.
"The battle on the front line is going very well. I'll come back to solve the problems in the village. After I solve the problems in the village, it's time to attack Land of Water and Land of Lightning. When Shinobi World is reunited, you may be needed to come out."
Third's eyes lit up when he heard this.
"That's good, that's good."
The two chatted briefly for a while.
Naruto I also know why the old man called the dog Danzo just now.
It turns out that Third picked up an old black dog that looked very old and was completely blind in its right eye when he was walking outside.
The old man looked at the lonely dog, and probably thought of himself, and felt pity for it, so he took it home and cleaned, fed, and treated it well.
Perhaps out of nostalgia for his old friend, Third named it Danzo.
It just so happens that Danzo is also blind in one eye.
When he heard this name, Naruto's mouth Kakuzu couldn't help but twitch.
Name an old black dog who is blind in his right eye "Danzo"...
The old man's memory is really unique.
Naruto listened to Third's complaints about retirement life and watched the old black dog named "Danzo" snoring heartlessly, but he didn't feel happy either.
When the topic came to an end and Third seemed to be still thinking about how to "beg" something from Naruto, Naruto spoke seemingly casually and revealed another main purpose of his trip:
"Third Old man, I would like to ask you about some old things and special families in the village.
Do you know...Kurama Yakumo?"
When the name came out of Naruto's mouth, the initially lazy and leisurely atmosphere suddenly froze for a moment.
Third The hand holding the tea cup paused slightly, and the expression on his face also changed slightly.
It was a complex expression mixed with memories, regrets, and a hint of heavy responsibility.
He slowly put down the tea cup and looked at the somewhat old Cherry Blossom Tree tree among Courtyard, as if his vision penetrated time and space.
After a few seconds of silence, Third let out a long sigh, which was full of emotion about the impermanence of the world.
"Kurama Yakumo ah..."
His voice was deeper, with a sense of vicissitudes of telling the past,
"That is also a... miserable child."
He began to narrate, his tone was calm, but he outlined a sad past:
"Kurama Clan, once also the famous family of Warring States Period, is famous for its unique Kekkei Genkai.
Unfortunately, the bloodline is getting thinner and thinner, and there are only a few people who are awakened.
Yakumo is one of the few people in their family who has awakened the genius of Kekkei Genkai in recent decades."
"Her Parents... I was really overjoyed at the time. It was as if they saw hope for the family's revival. They had high hopes for Yakumo and spent all their resources cultivating her."
Third recalled, "Because Kurama's bloodline is closely related to Genjutsu, they specially invited Kurenai Yuhi, who is still Chunin, but Genjutsu's talent is outstanding among the younger generation, to be Yakumo's tutor."
"Hong was very young at that time, full of enthusiasm, and taught Yakumo with all her heart.
At first, everything was fine.
Yakumo is extremely talented and has made rapid progress, but when Hong reported to me, he said that Yakumo does not seem to have the talent to become Ninja."
Speaking of this, Third's tone suddenly dropped:
"Later on, I paid less attention to this matter.
However, not long after Hong reported to me that Yakumo was not suitable for Ninja... the tragedy happened."
His brows furrowed, as if he had seen that heartbreaking report again.
"No one knows exactly when it started... Yakumo's body grew into a terrifying 'Monster'."
Third used the word "Monster", which shows the seriousness of the situation at that time.
"That thing is called 'Ido'. It seems to be some negative emotions deep in Yakumo's heart, or the huge blood inheritance power that she cannot control, combined with some unknown factors, to manifest an evil spiritual body."
"That day...'Ido' ran away without warning."
"It controlled the power of Yakumo... or, in other words, its own power... killed Parents of Yakumo."
There was deathly silence in the corridor, except for the gentle snoring of the old black dog "Danzo".
The sun shines through the gaps in the leaves, casting swaying light spots on the ground, but it cannot dispel the chill brought by this story.
"Afterwards, we investigated the scene and found the powerful Genjutsu residue and traces of reality being distorted.
Yakumo's Parents was burned to death by Ido.
Yakumo was unconscious at the time and had no memory of what happened. She even thought it was Hong who killed her Parents.
But there is no doubt about the existence of 'Ido' and its danger."
Third's eyes became serious and heavy:
"To deal with such a dangerous and uncontrollable blood-inherited rampage case in accordance with the routine... especially the tragedy that caused the death of a close relative... the safest method, and the measure that many high-level officials tended to take at the time, was to secretly 'handle' the source of the danger, namely Yakumo himself, to avoid future troubles."
Naruto listened quietly, with no expression on his face, but his eyes were focused.
He can understand the cold logic based on "the safety of the village comes first".
In Shinobi World, it is not uncommon for people to lose control of their power and cause disasters, and then be wiped out.
"But..."
Third changed the subject, "Yakumo's uncle, Kurama Unkai, knelt in front of my Hokage's Office and begged.
He was willing to use all the remaining property and influence of the entire Kurama Clan as security and begged me not to kill the poor child.
He said that Yakumo is innocent and a victim of force, and the family is willing to assume all regulatory responsibilities and find ways to control or separate 'Ido'."
"I... finally agreed."
Third's voice contains a hint of the struggle when he made this decision and the complicated mood when he looks back now.
"On the one hand, it is out of consideration for the Kurama Clan's past contributions and sympathy for the child.
On the other hand, I also think that it would be too cruel to directly kill a child who is gifted and whose tragedy was not entirely his intention.
Perhaps, there is still room for redemption."
"So, we later moved her and arranged her at 'Mikyo Villa' in the Kurama Clan outside the village.
It is quiet and secluded there, which can not only isolate her and prevent 'Ido' from running rampant again and harming the village, but also allow her to live in a relatively stable and safe environment, while Medical Department will continue to observe and try to treat her."
"That kid Hong... has always blamed herself. She felt that it was her poor teaching or failure to discover Yakumo's abnormality in time that led to the tragedy.
Over the years, she has never given up helping Yakumo, often visiting her and looking for various methods. Unfortunately... little success has been achieved. 'Ido' seems to be deeply bound to Yakumo's spirit, making it difficult to separate.
Yakumo's health is getting worse and worse, and that terrible power has become a curse."
After Third finished speaking, he sighed again and looked at Naruto:
"Why do you suddenly ask about her? Did Hong ask you for help again? Or... is there any new trend in the village?"
Naruto didn't answer directly, but just nodded. "That's right. Sakura is also involved, and I think maybe I can do something about it."
Third looked at Naruto's young but unfathomable face, a trace of emotion and expectation flashed in his eyes. "If it were you... maybe, we can really see a different hope.
That child's ability... is too special and too dangerous.
If it can be resolved properly, it will be a good thing for herself and the village."