"But after discussing it with Danzo, I decided to conceal Naruto's identity and mold him into... what a jinchūriki was expected to be."
He could not go on.
Hashirama picked up where he had left off.
"To put it plainly, you made him a monster for the villagers to hate, so no one would sympathize with the Nine-Tails or try to get their hands on him."
His voice was calm, but everyone heard the weight behind his words.
"A newborn child, with no parents, no family, shunned by the entire village as a monster, bullied, isolated, despised..."
Hashirama looked around at everyone.
"Do you think that was reasonable?"
No one dared speak.
Hashirama continued.
"The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to protect the village. His son should have been treated kindly, protected, and respected. Not..."
He shook his head.
"Never mind. Let's leave the past there."
He turned to Tsunade.
Tsunade stood.
"From today onward, Naruto Uzumaki will receive the benefits accorded to a Hero's Orphan. All negative records concerning him will be destroyed. As for those who took part in isolating and bullying him..."
Her gaze swept across the gathering.
"We will let bygones be bygones. But anyone who dares disrespect him again will be dealt with under the village regulations."
No one dared object.
The Third Hokage nodded and continued.
"The second matter."
He looked toward a section of the crowd.
"Kakashi Hatake."
Kakashi raised his head.
The Third Hokage looked at him, his gaze complicated.
"Today, I will formally explain here what happened to your father, Hatake Sakumo."
Kakashi's expression changed.
The Third Hokage spoke slowly.
"During a mission years ago, Hatake Sakumo abandoned his objective to save his comrades, causing the village to suffer losses. Afterward, rumors spread throughout the village, accusing him of putting personal feelings