msmithbooks Chapter 334: Danzo, You Really Are Blind
Chapter 334: Danzo, You Really Are Blind
Chapter 334: Danzo, You Really Are Blind
When Naruto went to see the Third Hokage, he happened to run into the Old man, who was glaring and scolding an Old black dog lying under the veranda, basking in the sun and sleeping soundly:
"Danzo, you really are blind!
You’ve rubbed ink all over the calligraphy I just finished writing again!
Look at this! This puddle! This piece of calligraphy is ruined!"
The Old black dog, ’Danzo’, merely lazily lifted an eyelid, glanced at the Third Hokage with its one good left eye, let out a whimper, rolled over to expose its belly, and continued sleeping, completely ignoring its old master’s ’fury’.
Seeing this, the Third Hokage grew even more irritated but was helpless, only able to grumble to himself as he cleaned up the Xuan paper soiled by the dog’s paws.
He was wearing a simple home kimono, his graying hair combed meticulously, but his back revealed a sense of stifled frustration from having nowhere to vent his energy.
Hearing footsteps, the Third Hokage turned his head.
Seeing it was Naruto, a flash of surprise crossed his face, followed by a complex smile—a mixture of relief, sentimentality, and a clear sense of liberation that said, ’Finally, someone is here’.
"Oh, it’s Naruto. You’re back. Come, have a seat."
The Third Hokage beckoned.
Naruto walked over and sat down under the veranda.
After a few pleasantries and asking about his health and home situation, the Third Hokage soon couldn’t help but sigh, his face showing that ’hero with no place to use his skills’ expression of deep grievance.
"Sigh, Naruto..."
The Third Hokage stroked his beard, his tone carrying obvious disappointment and expectation. "Is the war on the front lines going smoothly?"
He looked at Naruto, his eyes filled with undisguised hope:
"You see... could you arrange some work for me? It doesn’t have to be anything too important. Even just organizing old archives, giving suggestions on school textbooks, or..."
"Helping you analyze the intelligence reports sent from the borders?"
"Being home alone... I always feel quite lonely."
He said the last sentence in a lower voice, filled with a sense of profound solitude.
Naruto listened quietly, understanding perfectly.
The Third Hokage had been abruptly removed from the center of power and busy affairs; the massive psychological gap and misplaced energy made it difficult for him to adapt.
Furthermore, Biwako Sarutobi had already passed away during the Nine-Tails Attack, making this sense of domestic loneliness even heavier.
However, to Naruto’s slight surprise, the Third Hokage hadn’t sought out Orochimaru to ask her to ’resurrect’ Biwako using Edo Tensei or some other method.
Perhaps he respected the peace of the dead, or perhaps he was afraid to face Orochimaru, so he didn’t seek her out.
"The war on the front lines is going very smoothly. I’ve come back to settle some matters within the Village. Once those are resolved, it will be time to advance toward the Land of Water and the Land of Lightning. When the Ninja World is unified, I might even need you to come out of retirement."
The Third Hokage’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.
"That’s good, that’s good."
The two chatted simply for a while.
Only then did Naruto learn why the Old man had called the dog Danzo.
It turned out that while the Third Hokage was out for a walk once, he found an Old black dog that looked very aged and was completely blind in its right eye.
Seeing the dog’s solitary state, the Old man probably associated it with himself. Feeling pity, he brought it home, cleaned it, fed it, and treated its ailments.
Perhaps out of nostalgia for his old friend, the Third Hokage gave it a name: Danzo.
It just so happened that Danzo was also blind in one eye.
Hearing this name, the corner of Naruto’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.
Naming an Old black dog with a blind right eye ’Danzo’...
The Old man’s way of reminiscing was truly unique.
Listening to the Third Hokage’s complaints about retired life and watching the Old black dog named ’Danzo’ snoring heartlessly, Naruto didn’t feel particularly amused.
When the topic reached a temporary lull and the Third Hokage seemed to still be pondering how to ’beg’ for some work from Naruto, Naruto spoke up seemingly casually, throwing out another primary purpose for his visit:
"Third Hokage Old man, there are some old matters concerning the Village and a specific Family... I’d like to ask you about them. Do you know... Yakumo Kurama?"
As that name left Naruto’s mouth, the previously somewhat lazy and relaxed atmosphere suddenly froze for a moment.
The Third Hokage’s hand holding the teacup paused slightly, and a subtle change appeared in his expression.
It was a complex look, a mixture of memory, regret, and a heavy sense of responsibility.
He slowly set down the teacup, his gaze turning toward an aged cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, as if his vision were piercing through time and space.
After a silence of a few seconds, the Third Hokage finally let out a long sigh, one filled with the sentiment of life’s unpredictability.
"Yakumo Kurama..."
His voice lowered, carrying the weathered tone of someone recounting the past.
"That was also... a child of misfortune."
He began to narrate, his tone steady yet sketching out a poignant past:
"The Kurama Family was once a prestigious clan during the Sengoku period, famous for their unique Kekkei Genkai.
Unfortunately, their Bloodline grew thinner and thinner, with very few awakeners.
Yakumo was one of the rare Geniuses of their clan in recent decades to have awakened the Kekkei Genkai."
"Her parents... were overjoyed at the time. It was as if they saw the hope of Family revival. They placed great expectations on Yakumo, pouring all their resources into nurturing her."
The Third Hokage reminisced, "Because the Kurama Kekkei Genkai is closely related to Genjutsu, they specifically invited Kurenai Yuhi—who was still a Chunin then but whose talent in Genjutsu was outstanding among the younger generation—to be Yakumo’s tutor."
"Kurenai was also very young then, full of passion, and taught Yakumo with all her heart.
In the beginning, everything was fine.
Yakumo had exceptional talent and made rapid progress, but when Kurenai reported to me, she mentioned that Yakumo didn’t seem to have the temperament to be a Ninja."
At this point, the Third Hokage’s tone suddenly darkened:
"Later, I paid less attention to the matter.
However, not long after Kurenai reported to me that Yakumo wasn’t suited to be a Ninja... tragedy struck."
His brow furrowed tightly, as if he were seeing that painful report once again.
"No one knows exactly when it started... but inside Yakumo’s body, a terrifying ’monster’ was born."
The Third Hokage used the word ’monster’, which spoke to the severity of the situation at the time.
"That thing was called ’Ido’. It seemed to be an evil Spiritual entity manifested from some deep negative emotions within Yakumo, or perhaps her uncontrollable, vast Bloodline Limit power, combined with some unknown factor."
"That day... ’Ido’ went on a rampage without warning."
"It controlled Yakumo’s power... or rather, its own power... and killed Yakumo’s parents."
A dead silence fell under the veranda, broken only by the light snoring of the Old black dog, ’Danzo’.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting swaying spots of light on the ground, yet it couldn’t dispel the chill brought by this story.
"Afterward, we investigated the scene and found powerful Genjutsu residues and traces of reality being distorted.
Yakumo’s parents were burned to death by Ido.
Yakumo was unconscious at the time and had no memory of what happened. She even thought Kurenai had killed her parents.
But the existence of ’Ido’ and its danger were already beyond doubt."
The Third Hokage’s gaze became serious and heavy:
"According to standard procedure for handling such dangerous, uncontrollable Bloodline Limit rampage cases—especially those resulting in the tragic death of immediate Family—the safest measure, and the one many high-ranking officials favored at the time, was to secretly ’dispose’ of the source of danger, Yakumo herself, to eliminate any future trouble."
Naruto listened quietly, his face expressionless, but his eyes were focused.
He could understand that cold logic based on ’the safety of the Village above all else’.
In the Ninja World, examples of individuals being erased because their power went out of control and caused disaster were not uncommon.
"But..."
The Third Hokage’s tone shifted. "Yakumo’s uncle, Unkai Kurama, knelt before my Hokage Office, bitterly pleading.
He was willing to use all the remaining assets and influence of the Kurama Family as a guarantee, begging me not to kill that poor child.
He said Yakumo was innocent, a victim of her own power, and the Family was willing to take full responsibility for supervision and find a way to control or separate ’Ido’."
"I... ultimately agreed."
The Third Hokage’s voice carried a hint of the struggle he felt when making that decision and the complex feelings he had looking back now.
"On one hand, it was out of consideration for the Kurama Family’s past contributions and pity for the child.
On the other hand, I also believed that directly erasing a gifted child whose tragedy was not entirely of their own making was too cruel.
Perhaps, there was still room for redemption."
"So, later we transferred her and arranged for her to stay at the Kurama Family’s ’Jianqiu Villa’ outside the Village.
It was quiet and secluded, allowing us to isolate her to prevent ’Ido’ from rampaging and harming the Village again, while also letting her live in a relatively stable and safe environment. Meanwhile, the medical department continued to observe her and attempt treatment."
"Kurenai... has always blamed herself. She felt that it was her poor teaching or her failure to discover Yakumo’s abnormality in time that led to the tragedy.
Over the years, she never gave up on helping Yakumo, frequently visiting her and searching for various methods. Unfortunately... the results have been minimal. ’Ido’ seems to be deeply bound to Yakumo’s spirit, making it difficult to separate.
Yakumo’s health has also been deteriorating; that terrifying power has instead become a curse."
After the Third Hokage finished, he let out another long sigh and looked at Naruto:
"Why ask about her all of a sudden? Did Kurenai ask for your help again? Or... is there some new development in the Village?"
Naruto didn’t answer directly, only nodding. "Something like that. Sakura is also involved and thought maybe I could do something."
The Third Hokage looked at Naruto’s young yet already unfathomable face, a flash of sentiment and hope in his eyes. "If it’s you... perhaps, we really can see a different kind of hope.
That child’s ability... is too unique and too dangerous.
If it can be properly resolved, it will be a good thing for both her and the Village."
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