[2. Uzumaki Naruto will frown, refuse Sarutobi Hiruzen, and tell him that he still hasn't fully comprehended the Will of Fire, so he shouldn't become a ninja this early.
Inner thoughts: I'm still too young. I can only grasp the surface of the Will of Fire—I can't comprehend its core at all. And I still haven't earned everyone's recognition, otherwise I wouldn't be as lonely as I am now!]
The moment Option [2] appeared—
the people who had chosen Option [1] without hesitation regretted it again.
This Option [2] was obviously more reasonable!
After all, Uzumaki Naruto had received the Third Hokage's "true teachings."
There was no way he would still be as crude as before.
Even if he didn't respect the Third Hokage in his heart, at his core, he still acknowledged the Will of Fire—and studied seriously.
Mm…
People are diverse.
So their inner thoughts weren't "wrong," either.
Very normal.
After all, what they had received was a closed, carefully designed education—personally arranged by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
And everyone was praising how wonderful the Will of Fire was.
Of course… maybe some of them had noticed the problem.
But they wouldn't easily admit it.
Otherwise, if they truly comprehended that so-called Will of Fire—
how could they have treated a powerless child that way?
The moment Option [2] finished displaying—
in the Pure Land, Kushina hurriedly said:
"Last time there were three options!"
"Mikoto, get ready!"
"We're gambling!"
"The instant [3] appears, click immediately!"
"Otherwise we won't have a chance!"
Kushina decided not to participate.
If she participated too, there was a chance Uchiha Mikoto wouldn't be able to secure first.
"Mm!"
Uchiha Mikoto clearly understood it as well.
If there were still only three options,
then the third one would undoubtedly be correct.
The first two… no matter how you looked at them, they were off.
So—
Uchiha Mikoto took a deep breath.
Closed her eyes, then snapped them open.
She directly activated her three-tomoe Sharingan.
Uchiha Mikoto was not some pretty vase.
She was a truly beautiful Konoha jōnin.
With the Sharingan's visual acuity—
and with Mikoto's hand already resting on the light screen that appeared before everyone—
and with Kushina even feeding her a sip of "Nine-Tails-brand milk"—
it would be hard not to place.
But first place was still uncertain.
[3. …]
The instant that symbol appeared on the light screen—
Mikoto's hand had already pressed down.
On the other side, Kushina was watching Mikoto's finger the whole time.
The instant Mikoto touched it, Kushina also pressed down immediately.
[3. Uzumaki Naruto will jump up happily, but when he takes the chakra refinement technique scroll, he will look at Sarutobi Hiruzen in confusion and ask when he ever gained the qualities to become a qualified Konoha ninja.
Inner thoughts: You rotten old man! After working so long, you finally believe in me completely.
"Qualified qualities"?
You mean you believe in the me who has "comprehended the Will of Fire," and you believe I've already decided you're my great benefactor, right?]
[Ding—]
[The reward quiz has ended. Processing information…]
The comparison viewing system's voice rang out again.
Most people grew tense.
Even the group of Konoha villagers and shinobi who had chosen Option [1] were a little nervous.
By contrast—
the ones who chose Option [2] weren't nervous at all.
The most nervous were the ones who chose Option [3].
Of course, they weren't nervous about whether the answer was correct—
they were nervous about whether they could make it into the top three.
Because the top three rewards were just too generous.
There were even rewards like reviving the dead.
In the Pure Land, Kushina's cheeks were flushed.
Beside her, Uchiha Mikoto was equally tense—
but her face had no color at all.
She was still in soul form.
Meanwhile, on Konoha's side, although many wore stunned expressions—
when looking at Option [3], their hearts kept telling them:
The correct answer should be [3].
The previous reward quiz was still fresh in everyone's memory.
The Will of Fire might exert influence—
but Black-Frame Naruto's willpower was terrifying as well.
Even if he changed…
he wouldn't change that fast.
And the answer didn't make the shinobi world wait long.
Very soon, the black-framed giant screen continued showing Black-Frame Naruto's life.
[Little Naruto stared at the scroll in Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand.]
[His breathing hitched.]
[Chakra refinement technique!]
[If he could learn this, he'd basically count as a ninja!]
[Running up walls and walking on ceilings—those would be nothing in the future.]
[He forced himself to suppress the craving in his heart.]
[But he couldn't control his facial expression—he was so excited he even jumped.]
[Then he reached out to take it, but immediately asked against his true feelings: "Hokage Grandpa, I… I… when did I ever gain the qualities to become a qualified Konoha ninja?"]
["Can I… really have such noble qualities?"]
["I feel like I haven't even comprehended the Will of Fire yet."]
[That response made Sarutobi Hiruzen's old face smile so stiffly it looked like a withered chrysanthemum.]
["Hahaha~"]
["Naruto, do you know?"]
[Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally rubbed little Naruto's head.]
[At that moment—]
[Little Naruto's slightly long blond hair no longer looked irritating to him.]
[Instead, the mood flipped completely, and it even looked dazzling.]
[A preliminary plan had already formed in his mind.]
[A plan regarding little Naruto's background.]
[If used well, it would bring even greater profits in the future.]
[Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen like that, little Naruto showed an eager expression.]
[Yet inside, he was full of contempt.]
['You plague-ridden old bastard… I spent more than half a year, and I finally gained his trust!']
['But… it's also possible that if I train this chakra refinement technique, it might suppress the fox demon inside me.']
[There was very little knowledge about this in books.]
[But through scattered clues, plus his own experiences and everything useful he could gather, little Naruto arrived at a fairly likely guess.]
[That is—his so-called "fox demon incarnation" might actually be because a fox demon is sealed inside him.]
[Because of the whispers from before, the comforting feeling, and the scene of his eyes turning red in the mirror.]
[All of that made little Naruto feel this possibility was very real.]
[The moment little Naruto took the chakra refinement technique, the corner of his mouth lifted unconsciously.]
["Thank you, Hokage Grandpa~"]
["You truly are my great benefactor~!"]
["I definitely won't let you down!"]
[…]
Little Naruto's inner thoughts were basically the same as Option [3].
In an instant—
the people who chose [1] and [2] were stunned again.
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Uchiha Izuna: Heh. Still dared to choose [1] and [2]? Truly talented—what do you call that?
Yamanaka Ino: "A dog can't stop eating shit!"
Blunt-mouthed Ino immediately earned Uchiha Izuna's praise.
Uchiha Izuna: Well said! Little girl, since you can talk, keep talking!
Uchiha Izuna: If I can be revived, I guarantee I'll grant you one wish!
Uchiha Izuna: Of course, it has to be within my ability… ahem.
Uchiha Izuna: And if you want to acknowledge me as your adoptive father, that's totally fine too. I like your vibe, hahaha~
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