Before he could become independent and earn enough money, if he didn't rely on Grandpa Third, he probably would have been ostracized to death long ago because of the village's hatred and animosity toward him as the incarnation of the Demon Fox.
At critical moments, the Third Hokage would take him out fishing, have barbecues, watch the stars in the night sky together, and let him feel warmth.
He would always pay attention to Uzumaki Naruto's mental health, quietly checking his diary to observe his psychological changes.
Only after seeing him walking with members of the Uchiha clan did he rush over so anxiously to check on his safety, to see if he had been controlled by Uchiha Shisui.
Therefore, Grandpa Third, who cared so much about him, Uzumaki Naruto, and cherished him, definitely wouldn't be the one who pushed him, a Nine-Tails Jinchūriki whose identity should have been kept secret, into such a predicament, right?
After the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, got the answer from Naruto, he returned to the Hokage's office.
The high-ranking advisors who were waiting there nervously also couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura really couldn't forget that blood-red night a few years ago that severely damaged Konoha's vitality and caused heavy losses.
While breathing a sigh of relief, the aging Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu couldn't help but grumble.
"The Uchiha clan is really getting more and more excessive!"
The Uchiha clan's secret family gatherings, which they thought were hidden, were actually always under the observation of the Konoha village higher-ups.
The more frequently they held meetings in the clan shrine, the more worried the Konoha village became, feeling that the Uchiha clan was walking further and further down the path of a coup d'état.
"What feels most excessive is that the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Naruto, actually hung out with Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi."
In the Hokage's office, Shimura Danzō slammed the table heavily in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, looking down at him.
"Hiruzen, I want an explanation!"
"I've told you many times, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki should be under our control. If you just hand the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki over to me, a situation like this would absolutely never happen!"
Facing Shimura Danzō's accusations, Sarutobi Hiruzen was somewhat troubled.
"They just made friends, that's all. Danzō, no need to make a mountain out of a molehill."
"Hmph, who knows? Who knows if Uchiha Shisui wasn't sent by the Uchiha clan to deliberately gain your trust and then has been waiting for this day to come!
Monkey, if the Nine-Tails is controlled by the Uchiha clan again and released in the village, this time, there won't be a Fourth Hokage to stand up!"
Shimura Danzō ruthlessly poked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart.
The departure of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, the extremely excellent successor in Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart, had always been a thorn in his side.
During the Nine-Tails' Rebellion, the Fourth Hokage and his wife died to seal the Nine-Tails. A large number of Konoha elites died under the Nine-Tails' claws, directly causing Konoha's comprehensive strength to decline significantly in an instant.
Even those guys from Kumogakure, who were scared by the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique into not daring to offend, dared to come and cause trouble for Konoha again.
Unfortunately, at that time, they really didn't have the strength or the confidence to fight another war with Kumogakure.
At that time, the Sharingan that appeared in the Nine-Tails' eyes was also seen by many ninjas.
Even to this day, although Sarutobi Hiruzen was willing to believe that Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi were geniuses among the Uchiha clan who had goodwill towards the village and were working hard for both the clan and the village...
Sarutobi Hiruzen sometimes would also speculate about the background of that Uchiha who controlled the Nine-Tails back then.
Not suspecting the Uchiha was impossible; otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to let the Uchiha clan move from the center of Konoha to the outskirts.
Nor would he have been so anxious and worried today when he learned from the Anbu that the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was walking with Uchiha Shisui!
Shimura Danzō was now using today's incident with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and the increasingly frequent meetings of the Uchiha clan to constantly exert pressure in the high-level meetings of Konoha, wanting to force Sarutobi Hiruzen to do something.
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a hard drag on his pipe. Shimura Danzō's words forced him to consider carefully.
Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi were indeed good children, and they should be given more opportunities and space.
But, if it involved the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, the safety of the village, and the inheritance of the Will of Fire of Konoha, then he couldn't be soft-hearted.
"I will handle this matter well. Danzō, you go and do your things first."
Sarutobi Hiruzen dismissed the meeting, and then began to understand the recent matters regarding Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Sasuke from various aspects and channels.
He wanted to confirm that their being together today was purely a coincidence.
That they were not deliberately approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Fortunately, very quickly, from Naruto's diary, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen finally understood why Naruto and Sasuke had gotten closer over the past few days.
Coupled with the intelligence review of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally ruled out the idea that they were deliberately approaching Naruto.
It turned out that Naruto and Sasuke had just become friends, and Shisui and Itachi, these two children, were happy for Uchiha Sasuke.
However, while Sarutobi Hiruzen might think this way, Shimura Danzō would not feel the same.
He had originally been pushing to completely eliminate the Uchiha clan and control the evil power of the Uchiha clan in his own hands.
He didn't want to let go of such a good opportunity now.
Coupled with the Uchiha clan's frequent gatherings recently, the relationship with the village was becoming increasingly stiff.
Shimura Danzō felt that perhaps adding more fuel to the fire could force Sarutobi Hiruzen to make a decision.
...
"Although at first, I thought Uchiha Sasuke was a smug guy, actually, he's just a somewhat tsundere and awkward idiot, that's all.
However, he was willing to stand up and testify for me. I feel that this smug guy might be kinder and more loving than any other classmate.
Today, I met Sasuke and his brother. Those two Uchiha ninjas don't look like other Uchiha at all.
They asked me how to make Uchiha people have better relationships with others and become friends.
I decided that tomorrow I will teach them my secret ultimate move."
Late at night, in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the somewhat childish handwriting in his hand and couldn't help but smile.
They are all good children, all people who will inherit the Will of Fire and continue to protect the village in the future.