This is… Wood Release?!
Looking at the towering tree behind Naruto, Jiraiya's eyes widened like copper bells.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was drinking tea and watching their interaction with a pleased expression, also spat out his drink.
Naruto actually awakened the First Hokage's Wood Release?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the scene in the crystal ball with a face full of astonishment.
The Fourth Hokage came from a civilian background, he was sure of that, so it must have come from Kushina's side?
Speaking of which, the Uzumaki Clan was indeed a distant relative of the Senju… but wasn't your clan into binding and imprisonment?
Putting aside his surprise, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly summoned an Anbu and handed over a prepared document.
"Immediately announce the contents of this document!"
"Yes!"
Watching the Anbu's retreating figure, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face showed a bitter smile.
He had already prepared to reveal Naruto's identity, which was also why he decided to ease relations with the Uchiha Clan.
On one hand, it was to build a bond between the Village and Naruto, and on the other, it was to appease the Uchiha, preventing them from stirring up trouble.
Furthermore, Minato was, after all, the hero of the entire Village. During the Nine-Tailed's attack, the Uchiha could also be considered part of those protected by the Fourth Hokage, and the Fourth Hokage had greatly eased relations between the Uchiha and the Village during his tenure.
This way, whether due to the clan's usual arrogance or the moral debt, it could effectively reduce their covetousness towards the Nine-Tailed.
The only thing Hiruzen Sarutobi worried about was someone using this opportunity to cause trouble, such as questioning the higher-ups' decision to conceal Naruto's identity…
He had already thought of a countermeasure for this. Firstly, Naruto's guardian, Minato's teacher Jiraiya, was on a long-term mission and not in the Village.
Secondly… Danzo was a very good scapegoat, wasn't he?
The higher-ups concealed the identity of the Fourth Hokage's son and the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki to prevent the Fourth Hokage's enemies from targeting Naruto.
However, someone within the Village had developed a covetous desire for the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki's power, spreading the Jinchuriki's identity, attempting to make the Jinchuriki fall into darkness, and seizing the opportunity to control the Nine-Tailed's power…
Just a few days ago, Danzo had come to him about Naruto, and he also had the ability to cause trouble right under the Hokage's nose.
Shifting blame was a technical skill. If he openly shifted it, Danzo would definitely not accept it, even if it was indeed related to him.
Fortunately, he had enough experience in this area. As long as he found an excuse to remove Danzo from his position, basically the entire Village would know…
Not only could it give the villagers an explanation, but it could also give Naruto an answer, and incidentally, it could also completely crush Danzo's undue ambitions…
Although it would damage the prestige of the higher-ups to some extent, how could a little bit of face compare to the importance of Wood Release and the Nine-Tailed?
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not treat Naruto as an ordinary child, but no matter what, Naruto was still a child after all, and his apparent coldness was, in his opinion, just a childish temper.
As long as an explanation was given, time would eventually dilute everything.
Thus, with the announcement, within half a day, the entire Village knew Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son.
"Hey, have you heard? About that kid…"
"I just heard about it too…"
"I never thought he would be the Fourth Hokage's son."
"They say the Fourth Hokage, to protect the Village, had no choice but to seal the Nine-Tailed into his newborn son…"
In the streets and alleys, people were discussing animatedly.
A small portion of people had already guessed some of the truth based on Naruto's appearance, but more people found it hard to believe.
It wasn't until two figures, one large and one small, appeared at the end of the street that people quieted down, pretending to be calm as they peered at the small figure.
Appearing in the Konoha streets after a long time, Naruto clearly felt the unusual atmosphere different from before, and the maliciousness that usually swept over him like a tide had largely disappeared.
Glancing at Jiraiya beside him, Naruto could easily guess the reason for this situation.
"Where's the Ninja Tool Shop?"
"It should be in the northwest part of the Village…"
Jiraiya chuckled, "I haven't been back in a long time, so I'm not very sure, but the weather is so nice, it's just a few extra steps anyway…"
Naruto ignored him and walked on his own towards the northwest of the Village.
He was just here to buy Chakra paper, too lazy to expose Jiraiya's little scheme.
Jiraiya observed the attitudes of the people around him, nodding secretly.
It seemed Hiruzen Sarutobi had already revealed Naruto's identity, and the villagers' attitude towards Naruto had also changed…
Although he had some complaints about the higher-ups concealing Naruto's identity, he couldn't complain now. If he hadn't returned, Naruto might have left the Village not long after.
The two walked through the streets of Konoha like this, and along the way, people cast inquisitive glances at them.
"Na… Naruto?"
As the two passed a dessert shop, behind the counter, a plump aunt tentatively waved at Naruto, a hint of apology in her smile: "Want some dessert—"
Before she finished speaking, Naruto had already walked far away.
Noticing the complex gazes of the people around, the aunt awkwardly smiled and put down the bag of desserts in her hand.
"Hey, Naruto!"
Jiraiya quickly walked to Naruto's side: "She was greeting you, that's very impolite."
Naruto glanced at him: "Did I say my name was Naruto?"
"Don't lie, kid!"
Jiraiya looked like he had seen through him: "To deceive an old man like me with a fake name…"
"Oh, sorry."
Naruto waved his hand, his tone devoid of any apology.
"Sigh…"
Seeing Naruto's indifferent expression, Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh.
"Well… I should be the one apologizing. I believe you've probably realized that I deliberately approached you, Naruto… I'm actually your father's teacher."
"What does that have to do with me? I don't have parents, and I don't acknowledge so-called parents, so you don't need to feel sorry."
Naruto was not surprised by Jiraiya's confession. After all, he wasn't the original protagonist who would fall for a simple trick.
I'm impervious to flattery and coercion, so what, are you going to use the Will of Fire on me?
"Don't be in a hurry…"
Jiraiya smiled and strode to Naruto's side: "You probably don't know who your father was, do you?"
"It wouldn't be a woman, would it?"
Naruto stopped and looked at Jiraiya as if he were an idiot: "The Fourth Hokage? Minato Namikaze? Is that what you're trying to say?"
"So you already knew after all…"
Jiraiya's expression was complicated: "Then I suppose you must have already met him, right?"
"No."
Naruto shook his head and smiled apologetically: "I was afraid of being disgusted, so after receiving the memories about Ninjutsu, I directly erased their Chakra."
"Their…"
Jiraiya was startled by the words, his face gradually turning grim: "This is not a joke, Naruto…"
Naruto shrugged, looking innocent: "So? Are you going to kill me?"
"Why did you do that?"
Jiraiya looked at Naruto in disbelief: "Minato believed in you…"
"Are you unable to understand human speech, Jiraiya…"
Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly: "I said, what does that have to do with me?"