Kushina shook her head decisively.
Namikaze Minato was asking — "Is there anything unusual with Naruto's Chakra?"
Kushina's answer was no.
This indicated that Naruto's thoughts and speech were not influenced by Aomi.
The fact that Naruto had no friends in the village had nothing to do with Aomi…
For a moment.
Even Namikaze Minato, whose mind was always on Konoha's interests, couldn't figure out what he should do first in this situation…
Uncovering Aomi's background was certainly important, but as a father, Namikaze Minato desperately wanted to know why his son, as the orphan of the Fourth Hokage, could have only a stranger as a friend in the village?
This was too absurd!
"Both of you, although I've known young Naruto for a short time, I feel quite unsettled by his experiences… If you wish to understand Naruto's experiences, why not link the Chakra of the three of you together?"
Aomi said calmly, "Take a look at Naruto's experiences…"
Namikaze Minato took a deep breath and nodded, "No matter what… thank you!"
A powerful figure capable of breaking the Eight Trigrams Seal and easily suppressing the Nine-tails… even with their current ghost-like states, what could they do against Aomi, even if they resisted desperately?
Let alone Aomi, even the unsealed Nine-tails required them to sacrifice their lives at their peak to seal it.
Namikaze Minato had no choice but to hope that Aomi indeed harbored goodwill towards Naruto.
"Naruto, put out your hand…"
Kushina slowly clasped Naruto's hand. While Namikaze Minato was more concerned about the village's interests, as a mother, her worries for her son weighed heavier in her heart.
Namikaze Minato also walked over and sighed lightly, placing his hand on top.
Thus, the hands of the family of three were stacked together.
Through the connection of their Chakra, Namikaze Minato and Kushina saw everything in Naruto's memories!
Starting from a childhood always spent alone…
Labeled as a demon fox and an ominous being by the entire village, he was bullied by the children in the village and lived alone in a cramped room.
Expired milk, leftover instant noodle cups on the table, clothes seemingly distributed by orphanages…
Each scene gathered together, making Namikaze Minato and Kushina understand why Naruto only had one friend!
Even at the Ninja Academy, the teachers from the village discriminated against Naruto…
The teachers in the village were not uninformed villagers but at least Chunin who had undergone rigorous screening!
How could they not know Naruto's information?
If Naruto were just an ordinary Jinchuriki, Namikaze Minato and Kushina would not have been too surprised by his tragic experience.
Because in the environment of the Ninja World, the common practice towards Jinchuriki was just like this.
Killer Bee, Gaara… or rather ninjas who became Jinchuriki from childhood, all grew up under such extremely oppressive environments, bearing the dual pressures of the Hidden Village and the Tailed Beasts within them.
From Aomi's perspective as a former high-level Hidden Village member, this was essentially a test of obedience and endurance…
A Jinchuriki, at its core, is a bomb.
The most important consideration is stability — following orders under any circumstances is the most important.
As an extreme method, they start subjecting him to environmental stress from a young age. If he can withstand the temptations of the Tailed Beast and negative emotions in his heart without losing control under such conditions, he has passed the test.
Among these, some auxiliary methods are usually mixed in.
Generally speaking, each village's Kage would also appear as "kind" and "reliable" figures during the childhoods of these potential Jinchuriki to act as pillars of support for the Jinchuriki, gaining their goodwill.
Take the Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee, for example…
Indeed, perhaps this brotherly duo later had genuine feelings, but it all began with Killer Bee being a "young and able to control the Eight-tails" Jinchuriki.
In the case of Konoha, it was Naruto and the Third Hokage…
No one could reach Naruto, so no one was Naruto's friend.
Therefore, the Third Hokage, who could come to visit Naruto every month, naturally became the Nine-tails Jinchuriki's only friend over time.
This might sound like a conspiracy theory, but from a perspective of interest, it is also an undeniable fact.
"Why is it like this…"
Namikaze Minato let out a long sigh, covering his forehead, his mind racing: "It shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be…"
Treating an ordinary Jinchuriki this way is indeed not a problem…
But Naruto is not just any Jinchuriki!
More important than his identity as a Jinchuriki is Naruto's identity as the son of the Fourth Hokage!
Standing aside, Kushina already seemed to lose her rationality. Her blood-red hair ominously floated in the air, with rage uncontrollably erupting on her face!
"Perhaps Konoha did not want Naruto to know his identity for special considerations…"
Namikaze Minato opened his mouth slowly, "If others knew Naruto was the son of the Fourth Hokage, perhaps various dangers would follow, becoming especially troublesome…"
"No need to say more!"
Kushina's eyes turned red; although she was no longer the Nine-tails Jinchuriki, her aura out of rage seemed to have Tailed Beast Chakra swirling around:
"I know what you are thinking, Minato! But this village no longer deserves for my child to suffer here!"
"The Nine-tails Jinchuriki is the existence that the enemies pay the most attention to! Even if you add the identity of the son of the Fourth Hokage, so what? The dangers faced won't diminish by one bit!"
Kushina shouted, "Spreading rumors in the village that my son is the reincarnation of a demon fox is exposing Naruto as the Nine-tails Jinchuriki! They think since we're not here, they can bully Naruto as an orphan and a vessel?"
"Minato and I died for the village! Naruto took on the Nine-tails vessel also for the village!"
"Have those damn high-ranking officials forgotten?!"
Namikaze Minato shrunk his neck, sensing something seriously wrong and shut his mouth tightly.
If Naruto was alone…
For the greater good, Namikaze Minato might still find a way to argue for Konoha, persuading Naruto not to walk the so-called wrong path.
But Kushina's temperament, Namikaze Minato knew too well…
Especially with the reasoning being quite solid; given Kushina's identity as the previous Nine-tails Jinchuriki and her experience being captured by ninjas from other villages and later monitored by the village, she was the most qualified to speak on this.
Back when Mito was around…
Kushina still had a certain degree of freedom.
Now Minato and Kushina are no longer there.
Yet Naruto received treatment inferior to Kushina, which honestly could not be easily explained by the Will of Fire…
"Because Minato and I died, does our sacrifice get written off? Is my son to be treated as a vessel, a political resource, and a tool for the Hokage?"
The adamantine chains behind Kushina flew, recalling the memories of Naruto from a young age, staring angrily at Namikaze Minato: "Where's Jiraiya? Where's Kakashi?"
"Are they all dead?"
Unlike Naruto in the original timeline at age sixteen, having already passed through the toughest times…
The Naruto still enduring suffering and in his childhood, that natural display of grievance and bitterness pierced Kushina's overflowing maternal heart like a sword!
To hell with the Will of Fire and the big picture! Get lost!
My adorable little son must not endure such a childhood or treatment in the village!
No permission, no matter who you are!
At that moment, even if Senju Hashirama or Uzumaki Mito were resurrected, Kushina would have dared to point at them and question…
Namikaze Minato was left speechless but could only remain silent temporarily.
Indeed, never mind Kakashi; where was Jiraiya-sensei?
Could he have died in battle? It shouldn't be…
Suddenly, young Naruto widened his eyes, his gaze trembling.
Even though he was young and naive, he could still hear some information from this basic conversation…
He is the son of the Fourth Hokage?
He is…
The son of the Hokage?
"Why… why did I become the Nine-tailed Demon Fox…"
Naruto looked at Namikaze Minato, trembling: "Father, why did you seal the demon fox inside me… the adults all treat me coldly, I find it difficult to make friends, I'm so tired of living…"
Seeing the sadness emanating from young Naruto, Namikaze Minato's heart throbbed violently.
Aomi quietly watched the scene, stroking the soft pelt of the Nine-tails, wrapping strands around his fingers.
Interesting…
The Will of Fire seems unable to convince Kushina as a mother…