The next afternoon.
Inside the office of the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, Shikaku, and Inoichi were all present.
Everyone was discussing who had spread the rumor that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Avatar.
Minato Namikaze spoke up: "I sent people to investigate, and the villagers learned of it from others. When asked what those people looked like, the descriptions they gave didn't match anyone in Konoha."
Shikaku rubbed his chin and muttered: "Transformation Jutsu?"
Minato Namikaze nodded: "It must be. Therefore, since the other party is well-prepared, it will be very difficult to investigate."
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado analyzed: "It is certain that the culprit is dissatisfied with the Fourth Hokage, perhaps even hostile. They definitely know about the Jinchuriki, and the purpose of spreading rumors that Minato's child is the Nine-Tails Avatar is to stir up opposition."
"There are already voices calling for Minato to punish the Nine-Tails Avatar. Now, regardless of whether we announce Naruto's identity as a Jinchuriki, such discussions will not cease, because in the eyes of many, a Jinchuriki is synonymous with the Tailed Beast itself."
Minato Namikaze's brows were tightly furrowed: "Who on earth would do such a thing?"
Shikaku speculated: "First, it is certain that the culprit is from Konoha. Being able to spread this rumor so quickly suggests that it is a group, not a single individual."
"The question now is whether this group decided to do this together out of dissatisfaction with the Fourth Hokage, or if it is led by a single individual who ordered their subordinate Ninja to carry it out."
"If it is a group, they are not to be feared; it is only a matter of time before we find them."
"However, if it is led by a single individual who ordered subordinates to do it, it is more troublesome, because it means the other party is organized and disciplined, and will not leave behind any clues for us to follow."
Minato Namikaze's expression was grave; he was worried about this very point.
If the other party is organized, then more serious situations could arise at any time.
Shikaku continued: "I am more inclined to believe it is an organized operation, because when the Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine-Tailed, besides Kamishiro and Uchiha Hikari who helped suppress it, only we, led by the Sandaime, were around."
"Therefore, we are the only ones who should have known that Naruto is a Jinchuriki. Excluding Kamishiro and Uchiha Hikari, the biggest suspects are among us, though we cannot rule out the possibility that others were watching from the sidelines at the time."
"Therefore, the investigation into this matter will be difficult and may not yield any results. The Fourth Hokage should be prepared for that."
Minato Namikaze sighed: "Perhaps it is possible that this incident and the leak during Kushina's childbirth were the work of the same person. This kind of enemy hiding in the shadows is truly troublesome."
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked: "Then, Minato, how do you intend to handle this? We must suppress this public opinion immediately; we cannot let it continue to spread."
"Let me think about it."
Minato Namikaze was currently at his wit's end. Even if the public opinion were suppressed, Naruto's identity had already been exposed. The people's prejudice against Jinchuriki would still cause the villagers to fear and discriminate against Naruto.
Minato Namikaze worried that Naruto's future growth would be affected by this.
Since it concerned his own child, Minato Namikaze wanted to think of a way to minimize the impact on Naruto.
Inside the puppet shop.
Uchiha Hikari, who was reading a book, looked at Kamishiro sitting beside her and asked: "Why aren't you in the studio tinkering with your puppets today? Why are you just sitting there in a daze?"
Kamishiro closed his eyes and replied: "I'm thinking about Naruto."
"As the Hokage, shouldn't the Fourth Hokage be able to handle it?"
Kamishiro opened his eyes and shook his head: "No, this is very troublesome. Minato is the Hokage, but Naruto's identity has become known to everyone. So, at most, he can make them shut up and stop gossiping, but if they gossip behind his back, who would know?"
Uchiha Hikari shrugged and said indifferently: "Then just issue an order. Punish whoever speaks nonsense. Isn't that simple?"
Kamishiro denied: "You are thinking too simply. Doing that would be counterproductive and would only make the villagers more afraid and more discriminatory towards Naruto."
Uchiha Hikari asked in confusion: "Then what should be done? Since it's already known, it seems that's the only way to solve it."
Kamishiro sighed: "By the way, why is everyone so afraid of Jinchuriki?"
Uchiha Hikari answered: "Jinchuriki are treated as a nation's military power, but if a Jinchuriki loses control of their emotions, they will transform into a Tailed Beast."
"And Tailed Beasts are symbols of disaster. Humans have an innate fear of disaster. For example, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Incident from a year ago—I don't think anyone wants to experience that again. They view Naruto as the Nine-Tailed and fear experiencing that kind of disaster again."
"Therefore, for people with no power or very little power, having a Jinchuriki around is like a ticking time bomb. It is actually quite normal to hold an attitude of fear and rejection."
Kamishiro pondered Uchiha Hikari's words.
Suddenly, Kamishiro's eyes lit up: "It seems I have a way. I'm going to the Hokage Building to find Minato."
Kamishiro suddenly jumped up from his chair, left the puppet shop, and ran quickly towards the Hokage Building.
Kamishiro arrived at the Hokage Building and pounded on the office door: "Minato! Minato!"
Minato Namikaze wanted to say 'come in,' but Kamishiro couldn't enter.
Because of previous lessons, the office now had a barrier; those outside could neither hear nor see inside.
Minato Namikaze got up and opened the door. Kamishiro immediately said: "Minato, I've thought of a way to solve Naruto's problem!"
Minato Namikaze quite appreciated some of Kamishiro's wild ideas, so he asked: "What way?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed: "Ahem, Minato, you two come in and talk."
Only then did Kamishiro see that Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others were also there.
Minato Namikaze brought Kamishiro inside and then closed the door.
Minato Namikaze said to Kamishiro: "Kamishiro, go ahead and tell us the solution you thought of for Naruto's problem."
Kamishiro replied: "In my opinion, the villagers' prejudice against Jinchuriki comes from the Tailed Beasts. They think a Jinchuriki is the Tailed Beast. If we can find a way to change this prejudice, perhaps it can be resolved!"
Utatane Koharu raised a question: "But human prejudice is very difficult to change. How do you intend to change this prejudice?"
"Popularize knowledge about Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts, let them know the importance of Tailed Beasts to a Ninja village, and portray Naruto as a hero who sacrificed for Konoha!"
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