The Third Hokage's Telescope Technique, once activated, would always be aimed at Naruto, the human Jinchuriki.
Koji directly blocked the Third Hokage's ninjutsu. Aside from using this technique to watch Naruto, that old man also used it to peep at places like bathhouses.
His disciple Jiraiya was extremely envious of this kind of ninjutsu. With it, he could peep directly, and the risk of being discovered would be relatively small.
In the Hokage's office.
Crack—
A fracture appeared on the crystal ball sitting on the desk. Sarutobi Hiruzen was startled. This had never happened before.
He did not know that Koji had done it. He only assumed that it had worn out after being used for too long.
Even so, his heart ached. This was not only a tool for monitoring the Jinchuriki, it could also satisfy some of his personal hobbies. Making a crystal ball like this would take time.
If he could teach disciples like a pervert, a gambler, and a poisonous schemer, then even if it was largely due to their personal factors, there was definitely also some influence from the company they kept.
…
After finding a place to stay, Koji rubbed his hands together and began forming hand seals.
No, wrong. Why form seals?
A true ninja master should clap both hands together and summon whatever he shouted for.
"Edo Tensei: Enhanced!"
The enhanced Edo Tensei did not require a living vessel. Pale-gray ash appeared out of thin air, slowly gathered together, and finally formed a humanoid figure.
She had long red hair, wore a green dress, and her skin was ash-white, covered in cracks like shattered porcelain.
Kushina Uzumaki.
The wife of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. The previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Naruto Uzumaki's mother.
Even the enhanced Edo Tensei was not a true resurrection. It was still the body of the dead. A ninjutsu that desecrated the deceased had been completed.
Although she was a married woman, Koji had no interest. Klee's mother, Alice, was far more to his taste.
Lumine and the others looked at Kushina after the Edo Tensei with great interest. This ninjutsu really was miraculous, touching upon the taboo of life and death.
A few seconds later, Kushina's eyelashes trembled. Then she slowly opened her eyes.
Those eyes held not the slightest trace of life. Her whites were dull and murky, her pupils empty and without light.
"Where is this… And my stomach…"
Kushina looked at the strangely dressed people before her and slowly spoke. Her voice carried a dry, hoarse roughness.
She touched her abdomen. The place where the Nine-Tails had pierced through her was now completely intact.
"Edo Tensei?"
Before long, she understood her current state.
As a member of the Uzumaki clan, and someone who had lived with Uzumaki Mito for a long time, she was not unfamiliar with this forbidden technique.
Her skin looked like broken porcelain glued back together. That matched the traits of Edo Tensei very well.
"What does Your Excellency intend by using this ninjutsu that desecrates the dead?"
Kushina moved her body a little. She was not under the caster's control. That really was strange. It seemed the caster was very confident in his own strength.
He had reincarnated her through Edo Tensei. Could it be because he wanted to know the secrets of the Uzumaki clan?
"Nothing much. I only did it out of interest. Kushina Uzumaki, mother of the demon fox, Naruto Uzumaki."
Koji spoke slowly.
Kushina was of no real use to him, but she could let him watch something entertaining.
"Demon fox?"
"Naruto is not a demon fox. Do you know him?"
Hearing that extremely unfriendly title, Kushina felt an ominous premonition rise in her heart.
Just what had happened to her son?
"You know the Transformation Technique, right? Come outside with us and you'll understand."
Koji said this with a playful tone.
Once Kushina saw what Naruto had gone through, she would probably tear down the Hokage building.
Poof!
Kushina said nothing. She transformed into the appearance of an ordinary passerby. Her original appearance could no longer be seen at all.
…
"Demon fox, hurry up and get lost! A monster like you should just die!"
"Disgusting. Seeing that monster ruined my whole day."
"Get lost! Don't come near here!"
"…"
On the street, all kinds of malicious words were hurled at Naruto.
Aside from loneliness and sadness, he showed no other emotion.
Every day was like this. He had already gotten used to it.
Most of the villagers avoided him like the plague. The gazes of those who faced Naruto directly were filled with undisguised disgust and fear.
Compared to a few years ago, this was already considered much better. At the very least, fewer people threw things at him now.
That was also because the Third Hokage had been afraid Naruto might be beaten to death.
Creak!
At the edge of the street, Kushina, still disguised as a passerby, clenched her fists tightly.
Those vicious words were like sharp daggers, stabbing into her heart one after another.
As his mother, she was in unbearable pain. Seeing her son treated like this made it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Third Hokage, what are you doing right now!
Kushina roared inwardly.
She did not respect the Third Hokage as much as Minato Namikaze did.
At this moment, apart from heartache for Naruto, what filled her heart was boundless rage.
Her temper had always been fiery. It was only after marriage that she had become somewhat gentler.
But right now, she was truly angry.
Angrier than she had ever been before.
Lumine and the others shook their heads.
Even unrelated outsiders like them could empathize with Naruto's suffering.
If it had been them, they would probably have fallen into darkness long ago.
Koji also had no idea how Naruto had endured it.
Was it Asura's chakra?
Or had he later been hit by Danzo's Kotoamatsukami?
A child's emotions were very sensitive. After suffering treatment like this, not falling into darkness was what was truly strange.
Koji and the others then went to Naruto's current home.
It was even more unbearable to look at.
This was not a place a child should be living in at all.
Forget the filth, mess, and poor conditions. Even the food was crude, expired garbage.
With expired food and almost no nutrition, it would be strange if a child could develop properly.
"…"
Drip…
Edo Tensei bodies could not shed tears.
But a mother could.
Tears welled up in Kushina's eyes.
She was a mother, yet also an utterly unqualified parent.
At this moment, her heart was filled with guilt toward her son. The pain in her chest was suffocating, as if a giant hand had clenched tightly around her heart.
If…
If she were still alive, then her son definitely could have had a happy childhood.
"This matter is connected to the Third Hokage, isn't it?"
There was no longer even a trace of respect for the Third Hokage in Kushina's voice.
The Third Hokage's actions had chilled her heart completely.
They had clearly entrusted him with taking good care of their son.
And this was what he called taking care of him?
If someone said this had nothing to do with the Third Hokage, she would not believe a single word of it.
"He is the Hokage. It's impossible for him not to know about this. He definitely has his own selfish motives."
"I understand."
…
(End of Chapter)
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