After hearing Naruto's situation, Hashirama Senju's relaxed expression instantly froze, his brow furrowing tightly into a deep crease.
A flicker of anger and helplessness appeared in his eyes, and a complex mix of emotions surged within him.
"Monkey, this was a mistake." Hashirama Senju sighed inwardly, his tone heavy with disappointment.
The "Monkey" he referred to was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
In his view, as the leader of Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi should have given Naruto the care and protection he deserved, allowing him, as the son of a hero, to receive the respect and honor he was due, instead of letting him bear the stigma of a "demon fox" and grow up in loneliness and pain.
Thinking of how Naruto's parents had died on the battlefield protecting Konoha, and should have been hailed as heroes, yet their child was subjected to such unjust treatment, Hashirama Senju's heart felt heavy.
He let out a deep sigh, thinking to himself: If this boy ever learned the truth, it wouldn't be surprising if he defected outright.
After all, growing up in such an environment, the fact that Naruto still maintained his love for the village and his dream of becoming Hokage was truly admirable.
"How did Konoha come to this?"
A hint of bewilderment crossed Hashirama Senju's eyes as he gazed toward where Konoha lay.
Once, filled with burning passion and hope, he had founded Konoha, aspiring to bring peace and tranquility to the people.
But now, seeing everything Naruto had endured, he began to doubt if his original choice had been correct.
"Was I truly wrong back then, Madara?" A wave of intense frustration washed over Hashirama Senju, his thoughts turning to his former friend, Madara Uchiha.
Once, they had strived together for their shared dream, only to ultimately walk divergent paths.
At this moment, his heart was filled with questions and uncertainty, wondering if everything he had stood for still held any meaning.
Naruto, standing nearby, was completely unaware of the turmoil within Hashirama Senju.
"Damn it, what kind of jutsu is this, capable of resurrecting the dead??"
Kurama cursed from within the seal space inside Naruto's stomach. Its eyes, bloodshot, were fixed intently on Hashirama Senju outside.
This bizarre ability to bring back the dead seemed like something the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had researched.
"This Hashirama Senju, he hasn't changed a bit." Kurama watched the laughing Hashirama Senju, a look of disdain in its eyes, unable to resist sneering.
Once, Hashirama Senju's overwhelming power had left a lasting impression on it.
In Hashirama Senju, it vaguely sensed a trace of the Sage of Six Paths, an imposing pressure that seemed to command all creation.
But despite Hashirama Senju's immense strength, in Kurama's eyes, the fact that he could coexist peacefully with the other great ninja villages was utterly ridiculous.
It scoffed, its heart full of incomprehension and contempt for Hashirama Senju's approach.
However, just as its mockery was reaching its peak, it suddenly felt Hashirama Senju's gaze turn toward its direction; its heart clenched, and it instantly fell silent, frightened.
"Naruto, you're remarkable." Hashirama Senju's face held a gentle, approving smile as he softly patted Naruto's head, the warmth of his palm conveying comfort that stirred a warm feeling in Naruto's heart.
"I apologize on behalf of Konoha." Hashirama Senju's voice carried a trace of guilt and sincerity.
Naruto looked at Hashirama Senju with a puzzled expression, his wide eyes full of confusion, completely unaware why Hashirama Senju was suddenly apologizing.
Hashirama Senju didn't wish to say more. For a child, revealing such harsh truths would be far too cruel.
Naruto was still young, his heart full of dreams for the future and love for his village; he didn't want these dark realities to shatter Naruto's aspirations prematurely.
He thought to himself, it would be better to wait until Naruto was older and had the sufficient strength and mental readiness to face it, then let him discover these truths on his own.
"In that case, let me give you a gift." A light flickered in Hashirama Senju's eyes as he slowly closed them.
The next moment, a powerful wave of chakra emanated from his body, causing the surrounding air to tremble.
As he moved, a sealing technique slowly activated, and his consciousness entered Naruto's body.
Naruto, drawn by this immense power, involuntarily followed into a strange space.
Hashirama Senju guided Naruto gradually into the space where Kurama was sealed.
As Naruto stepped into this space, a wave of coldness and oppressiveness washed over him.
His gaze instinctively looked ahead, and there stood a colossal creature, its nine massive tails swaying freely, each movement seeming to cause a tremor in the space itself.
It radiated a vile and potent presence, its crimson eyes gleaming with ferocity.
Startled, Naruto instinctively shrank back.
He quickly looked around, finding the environment dim and eerie, with frigid water spreading silently, already reaching past his knees, sending a piercing coldness up from his feet.
He frowned, feeling a sense of déjà vu, as if he often came to this place in his dreams.
Vague fragments of dreams flashed through his mind, but he couldn't quite grasp the specific memories.
"Kurama, it's been a while."
Hashirama Senju looked at Kurama, a relaxed smile on his face, laughing heartily. The cheerful sound echoed strangely in the oppressive space.
"Damn you, Hashirama Senju, you spirit, what do you want now?" Kurama's voice carried anger and fear. Though it tried to appear fierce, its bluster was clearly a front.
But facing Hashirama Senju, known as the strongest under the divine, it knew full well it was no match. The painful memory of being sealed by him before made it deeply wary of this man.
"Old man, what is this thing?" Naruto, now slightly calmer, gathered his courage to ask, his eyes filled with confusion and curiosity.
"This is Kurama, sealed within you." Hashirama Senju explained gently.
Understanding dawned on Naruto, a complex expression crossing his face.
So this was the reason the villagers always called him a demon fox. He had thought it was just their malicious speculation, never imagining that a creature this powerful and fearsome was truly sealed inside him.
"Hmph, this great one is Kurama." Kurama seemed unimpressed by Naruto's look of realization. It roared, unleashing a wave of terrifying force that warped the surrounding air.
The immense pressure made Naruto's vision blur for a moment, his body swaying as he struggled to keep his balance.
In the next instant, the Conqueror's Haki roared.
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