Ninja Ice House

Chapter 569 Speculation

A few short sentences of dialogue fully express the joys and sorrows of a child without parents.

Why is Naruto's affection for Iruka Umino and Jiraiya so special, and different from his teacher-student relationship with Kakashi Hatake?

Ultimately, Iruka Umino bears the true responsibility of a "master," acting as both a teacher and a father. In Naruto Uzumaki's eyes, who lacks paternal love, Iruka is one of the very few elders who is relatively familiar with him, knows his background, and is willing to give him enough care and help.

Then there's Jiraiya. Although his role is somewhat different from Iruka Umino's, they are similar in that respect.

During the most crucial stage of his life, Naruto Uzumaki had two such people who provided him with enough help and care. This was also an important factor in why Naruto Uzumaki, who had lived in exclusion and fear since childhood, did not "grow up badly." Just look at what Gaara, who was the same age and had similar experiences, became. You should understand that Naruto Uzumaki's growth process was really lucky, thanks to these two people.

Similarly, whenever night falls and the children playing together are called away by their parents, does Naruto Uzumaki, all alone, ever wonder why he doesn't have parents?

Neither deaf nor blind, and still has a brain, even if it's not very sharp. It can hear, see, and think, and over time, it will inevitably make some guesses.

What is a Jinchūriki? What kind of person is qualified to be a Jinchūriki? Why him? He has never done anything wrong, so why do so many people bully him and call him a monster?

Anyone with an independent personality will seek the truth after experiencing certain treatment.

Gaara's experience was even worse than his, but he also had proper parents, as well as an older brother and sister. Why didn't he have them?

He had tried to subtly inquire with Iruka Umino before, but received no answer, as the latter himself was not entirely sure either.

Later, during his travels, he also half-jokingly tested Jiraiya, asking why it was him, simply because he was a Jinchūriki and a powerful and useful tool for the village.

There was no direct answer, but... the lack of an answer itself was an attitude, letting Naruto know that his parents, or at least one of them, were very important figures, even those whose status was difficult to overstate.

The surname Uzumaki is quite rare. Unlike the Uzumaki clan, who is almost the only publicly known ninja in the original timeline, there are other Uzumaki clan members in this world.

Karin's mother is a member of the Uzumaki clan, and she has already begun to recruit her clan members, effectively restoring the Land of Whirlpools.

So, where did Naruto Uzumaki's "whirlpool" come from?

Some things aren't secrets, they're just things no one talks about openly, and no elder in the know would bring them up to Naruto. But if he wanted to investigate, there were ways.

The portraits of the Hokage of each generation are proudly engraved on the Hokage Rock and hung in the Hokage's office, where everyone can see them.

It might not have been obvious when he was a child, but as he grew up, Naruto Uzumaki wondered more than once where his blond hair and appearance came from.

Naruto Uzumaki had considered the possibility that he might be the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, but he had never asked anyone about it, so he couldn't confirm it.

Who wouldn't want a wise and heroic father?

Until today, after getting up close and personal with Minato Namikaze in the dream world—a man whose resemblance to the real world is unknown—Naruto Uzumaki finally felt a little bit of reality.

“Uzumaki…Kushina, right? The previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki…”

"Where did you get so much information? Although there was no deliberate attempt to hide it, those in the know generally keep it to themselves. No one will say anything unless asked."

The reason a secret remains a secret is not because it is forbidden to speak of it, but because people gradually avoid it, find it impossible to talk about, and eventually forget it, leaving no one to know about it.

"Just because no one says it doesn't mean that non-humans won't say it..."

"Huh? You mean..."

Nara Shikamaru looked at Uzumaki Naruto with a knowing look in his eyes. With his intelligence, he quickly understood what the other meant.

"Nine-Tails?"

Naruto nodded, confirming his companion's assessment.

"That female ninja squad, especially Usami and Karin, made Kurama very wary. Even Kurama Yakumo, that seemingly weak girl, was told by that guy to stay away from her as much as possible. Especially... Karin's father, that man called the young head of the family, whenever he appeared, the usually arrogant Kurama didn't dare to cause any trouble..."

When did this happen?

"A few years ago, when I had just graduated, Nine-Tails was acting strangely. Since last year, it has become even more frightened."

"So, you obtained a lot of information by exchanging intelligence?"

Indeed, the Nine-Tails has experienced and knows more than most ninjas have ever seen in their entire lives.

If you're willing, you can learn many secrets from the Nine-Tails.

The biggest difference between this world and the original timeline is that the relationship between Naruto Uzumaki and Kurama is not as bad as expected.

This is also why Naruto Uzumaki was able to fight several battles without being seriously injured, even though he was not yet proficient in Sage Mode. In the end, Kurama showed mercy!

After being trapped inside for so many years, it's normal to not want to "break" something so soon after finally having someone to talk to.

Just as the two were talking quietly, Hinata Hyuga, who was watching from a distance, suddenly warned them:

"The chakra reaction indicating an important figure... it's Orochimaru! Oh no, he's spotted us... Huh? He ignored us and walked away..."

"That's normal. Such a strong person has an almost instinctive intuition that they are being observed, and it's understandable that they don't want to lower themselves to our level. He is also one of the strong contenders for the Fourth Hokage."

To be honest, in the original historical record, Minato Namikaze's victory in the struggle for the title of Fourth Hokage was not entirely a given.

Among ordinary ninjas and low-ranking ninjas, Minato Namikaze certainly had many supporters. However, Orochimaru's reputation as one of the "Three Legendary Sannin" was also terrifying. His decades of accumulated prestige had earned him the support of many village leaders and ninja clans.

For example, the Aburame clan strongly supported Orochimaru's rise to power, the Hyuga clan was not too concerned about who would become the Fourth Hokage, but they also favored Orochimaru, whom they were more familiar with, and Minato Namikaze, who rose to power too quickly, had not yet established a network of connections.

Even the Uchiha clan, which itself coveted the Hokage position, held the stance that if they couldn't make Fugaku Uchiha the Hokage, supporting Orochimaru would be a good alternative.

The relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village has not yet reached the point of irreconcilable enmity. The Uchiha clan, which still has expectations for the Hokage position, all favor Orochimaru, which shows just how fierce the competition for the Fourth Hokage position is.

If it weren't for the support of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who indirectly won over the support of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Hatake, Shiranui, Yuhi, and Gekko clans, Minato Namikaze wouldn't even have been qualified to compete on the same stage.

Before he was completely out of the running for the position of Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru's mindset was closer to that of Danzo Shimura than to the later mad scientist, and he would never capture his fellow countrymen for live experiments.

Despite their different methods, they are ultimately on the side of Konoha Village.

Orochimaru, under the "spotlight," is observed by countless eyes, both overt and covert, every day. If he were to relentlessly pursue every single one of them, he would have no other purpose to serve.

However, just because Orochimaru himself doesn't care doesn't mean his underlings and followers don't. To put it bluntly, isn't the purpose of building power and controlling subordinates to do things for others when it's inconvenient for him or when he doesn't want to do it himself?

Before anyone could react, four people wearing ANBU masks suddenly appeared nearby and surrounded them.

"For unfamiliar ninjas, tell them your ninja number, identity, address, superior, and purpose. Do not resist, cooperate with the investigation, and you will be released after we confirm there are no problems..."