Naruto stood frozen, his mind reeling. "The Fourth Hokage… is my dad?"
Minato Namikaze looked at Naruto's incredulous expression, his heart filled with pity. "Yes, Naruto. I am your father."
Tears suddenly streamed down Naruto's face. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why did you let me be an orphan for so long? Why did you choose me to be a Jinchuriki?"
"Do you have any idea how much I've suffered?"
"Everyone treated me with contempt! If it weren't for Kawasaki-senpai, I'd still be all alone!"
As Naruto cried out his grievances, he was suddenly pulled into Minato's embrace.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. You've truly suffered a great deal."
Naruto's body went stiff for a moment before he collapsed against the Fourth Hokage's chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
"All I've left you with are painful memories. Thankfully, you've made many friends over the years and are no longer alone."
"As your father, I have no right to ask for your forgiveness."
Naruto's emotions gradually settled, and he wiped away his tears. "It's okay. It's all in the past."
"Dad, why did you choose me to be a Jinchuriki?"
After crying, Naruto felt a sense of relief, and the word "Dad" came out naturally.
Minato opened his mouth to speak, but his form began to blur. "Kawasaki, I'm leaving him to you…"
Naruto's arms felt empty as Minato's figure vanished in an instant.
"Dad!"
Naruto broke down crying again. He had just met his father, and after only a few words, he was gone.
Ahem.
Kawasaki cleared his throat from the side. "What are you crying for? You'll just see him again next time."
"I didn't expect Minato's chakra to last for such a short time. He should have at least stayed long enough to say a few more words. Honestly."
"Huh?"
A small bubble formed in Naruto's nose. His tear-streaked face looked particularly comical.
"I can see Dad again?"
Kawasaki rolled his eyes. "Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
Naruto's eyes widened in bewilderment. "But… isn't my dad already dead?"
Kawasaki nodded affirmatively. "That's right, he is. But certain advanced jutsu can allow the dead to return to the world of the living for a short time."
Naruto's face was a mask of disbelief. "A jutsu like that actually exists?"
"It does cause some damage to the soul, so it can't be used for a permanent resurrection. However, if you just want to see him every few months, it shouldn't be a problem."
Naruto was stunned by this news. To be able to see a deceased loved one every few months was simply incredible.
"Oh, right. There's one more thing," Kawasaki added.
"As for why your father sealed the Nine-Tails inside you, I'll tell you the reason."
Naruto set aside his grief. The thought of being able to see his father again dissipated much of his sadness, replacing it with a burgeoning curiosity about his own origins.
"You just met your father, Minato Namikaze. Your mother's name is Kushina Uzumaki. You got your last name from her."
"Your mother also left some of her chakra in your spiritual world, so she can speak with you, though not for too long."
"I'll tell you everything I can now, and then I'll let you meet Kushina in a little while."
This series of revelations left Naruto feeling dizzy. Not only would he learn about his parents today, but he would also get a chance to meet them.
"Our Uchiha clan had a traitor named Obito. He lost the person he loved and decided to take revenge on the entire ninja world."
"Your mother, Kushina Uzumaki, was the previous Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. When she was giving birth to you, the seal weakened. Obito took advantage of this opportunity, kidnapped your mother, and undid the seal on the Nine-Tails."
"He summoned the Nine-Tails into the village and let it rampage. That disaster was the Nine-Tails' attack you've heard about."
"Your father, Minato, fought a difficult battle against Obito and finally broke his control over the Nine-Tails."
"When Obito saw things weren't going his way, he fled."
"Minato, considering that losing its Jinchuriki would deprive the village of a powerful weapon, decided to sacrifice himself. He used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal the Nine-Tails inside you."
"Minato believed that one day, you would be able to master this power."
"That way, even if the village were to be invaded again in the future, you would be able to protect it."
"So, remember this: the one who killed your parents was Obito."
Naruto nodded forcefully, engraving the name deep into his heart.
"There's an elder in the village, Danzo Shimura. He's a warmonger who will do anything to achieve his goals. He considered you dangerous and proposed that you be locked up."
"The Third Hokage didn't agree to imprison you, but he chose to place you under secret surveillance instead."
"Your parents' inheritance was completely controlled by the Third Hokage. He only gave you a tiny allowance each month to live on."
"The ordinary villagers didn't know you were a Jinchuriki, nor did they understand any of this. All they knew was that you were connected to the Nine-Tails, which is why you were bullied so much as a child."
"I'm telling you this today because after you were attacked last time, Kakashi was attacked as well."
"Obito's power will only continue to grow, and the Nine-Tails inside you has always been his target."
"You must get stronger, and fast. You need to learn how to use the Nine-Tails' power so you can protect yourself."
"Remember," Kawasaki said, his tone heavy. "The Third Hokage's so-called 'Will of Fire' is nothing but a pretext to have you sacrifice yourself for nothing."
"Mastering the Nine-Tails' power isn't about protecting everyone. It's about protecting yourself and the people who are important to you."
After hearing all this, Naruto finally understood just how difficult his life had been.
He said with determination, "Don't worry, Kawasaki-senpai. I understand!"
Over the years, although Naruto had been wary of the Third Hokage, Sasuke and the Uchiha family had always treated him with genuine kindness. Because of this, the Will of Fire that the Third had tried to instill in him had never truly taken root in his heart.
Then, Naruto asked nervously, "Kawasaki-senpai, can I really do it? For so many years, the Nine-Tails and I have never been able to communicate properly. I'm afraid I won't be able to control it."
Kawasaki chuckled. "It's fine. I've already found a good teacher for you. They'll be able to start teaching you how to control the Nine-Tails soon."
"Don't worry. I have faith in your potential."
Naruto nodded vigorously. "Yeah! I'll do my best!"
Kawasaki thought for a moment. Minato's appearance had been too brief. He had forgotten to ask him about his views on Obito. Oh well, asking Kushina would have the same effect.
Kawasaki looked up at the seal above them. "Well then, it's time for you to meet your mother."
Naruto's eyes lit up, his anticipation practically spilling out of them.
The key to the seal was currently with Gerotora, so the Nine-Tails' seal couldn't be opened, but Kushina's chakra could still be summoned.
Kawasaki beckoned for Naruto to come closer. He lifted Naruto's shirt, revealing the symbol of the Four Symbols Seal on his hand, and pressed his palm down.
Naruto saw the same symbol appear on his stomach as a wave of chakra spread out.
A figure slowly materialized in the air, a woman with beautiful, long red hair. A clip was fastened to the left side of her hair, and she wore a white short-sleeved blouse and a long green skirt.
"Kushina-neesan, it's been a long time."
"Kawasaki, it has been a long time."
Naruto already knew Kushina's identity from Kawasaki. Upon seeing her appear, his eyes welled up with tears.
Kawasaki waved a hand. "You two chat for a bit. Just leave me some time. I'm going to go see the Nine-Tails."
Kushina smiled gently. "Go on."
Kawasaki's form drifted toward the distant cage.
Seeing her son sobbing, Kushina pulled him into a tight embrace.
"You foolish child…"
…
According to the original owner's memories, Kawasaki had indeed protected a pregnant Mikoto Uchiha many years ago. It was through Mikoto that Kawasaki had met Kushina. It had been a long time, but they were indeed old acquaintances. What he had told Kakashi back then wasn't a complete fabrication.
Kawasaki's body passed through the bars of the cage, and the redundant bars vanished one after another. He appeared before the Nine-Tails.
Seeing Kawasaki approach, the Nine-Tails stood up and took a step back.
"ROAR! Kawasaki! What do you want?!" the Nine-Tails bellowed, but it was powerless against him. It couldn't win a fight, and it couldn't escape.
Kawasaki's Sharingan alone was enough to control it, not to mention his expertise with the Four Symbols Seal. In Kawasaki's hands, the Nine-Tails was utterly helpless.
"Hey, Kurama, don't get so worked up. Father and son, mother and son are having a reunion. Why are you trying to join in? Don't forget, you're the one who killed the Fourth Hokage and his wife."
*Huff… Huff…*
Kurama exhaled heavily through its nostrils.
"Hmph…"
It then slumped back down, shut its eyes, and stewed in its own anger. It hated the Fourth Hokage for sealing it away. For all these years, it could only observe the world from within Naruto. But Kawasaki was right. It had killed the Fourth Hokage and his wife, so they were even.
And this Kawasaki was a ruthless character. There was no chance for it to cause any trouble, so it could only sulk.
Kawasaki sat down cross-legged. "I say, Kurama, how come you haven't made any progress all these years? I told you to get along with Naruto, but you're still being so difficult."
Kurama remained silent, clearly having no intention of talking to Kawasaki.
"I told you last time that the Fourth Great Ninja War will happen in a few years. The ones who attacked Naruto a few days ago were part of their group."
"I forgot to mention it before, but the Uchiha who controlled you is named Obito. I've already disowned him from the clan."
"Obito?" the Nine-Tails said, lifting its head.
"That's right."
"Obito will be back in a few years, and he'll come to capture you directly. I don't need to tell you how important you are to that Gedo Statue."
"You may be trapped inside Naruto right now, but if you get swallowed by the Gedo Statue, you'll be gone forever."
"If you don't communicate with Naruto, the only thing waiting for you is oblivion."
The Nine-Tails sneered. "The kid has no power of his own right now. Why should I communicate with him?"
Well now, is the Nine-Tails being tsundere or just pragmatic? So in the original timeline, they only connected after Naruto defeated it.
Kawasaki raised an eyebrow. "Alright, I get it. I'll find someone to train Naruto properly. Once he's strong enough, I'll have him come find you."
The Nine-Tails grinned. "Fine. I'll be waiting."
With that, it lay back down.
Having finished his conversation with the Nine-Tails, Kawasaki floated back out. Naruto had already been sent out of the seal, leaving only Kushina behind.
"Kushina-neesan."
"It's been so many years, and now you're about to become the head of the Uchiha clan, Kawasaki." Kushina smiled at him. The young boy who had protected Mikoto had grown so much.
Kawasaki smiled back, his memories of that time a bit hazy.
"Kushina, I've learned the Second Hokage's Edo Tensei. In the future, I may have a chance to summon you again so you can reunite with Naruto."
"That jutsu… it requires a living sacrifice, doesn't it?" Kushina was still somewhat resistant to the idea of such a technique.
Kawasaki shrugged. "There are plenty of people in this world who deserve to die. They're going to die sooner or later anyway, so why not use their lives for something meaningful?"
"Don't you want to see Naruto again?"
Kushina no longer argued. She truly couldn't bear to be apart from her son.
"Kushina-neesan, I kept you here because I wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"You know that Obito was behind the Nine-Tails' attack, right?"
Kushina's fists clenched, her face contorted with rage. "I know. I can't believe it was that kid. We treated him well, yet he did something like this."
"He made my Naruto suffer for so many years."
"If I ever get my hands on him, I'll beat him to a pulp!" Kushina's knuckles cracked as she clenched her fists, her fiery red hair whipping around her. The image instantly shattered the gentle facade she had maintained.
A corner of Kawasaki's mouth curved up. What a fiery pepper.
Ahem.
Kawasaki coughed, and Kushina quickly composed herself, reverting to her gentle, big-sisterly demeanor.
"Obito will definitely become our enemy in the future. I hope the Fourth Hokage won't hold back when the time comes."
Kushina smiled. "Of course not. Obito may have been Minato's student, but he betrayed the village. He killed me and Minato, and so many other villagers."
Kawasaki was relieved to hear this. Thankfully, neither Minato nor Kushina was afflicted with any sort of naive saintliness.
Kawasaki then revealed his long-term plan.
"I intend to resurrect the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."
Kushina froze. "With Edo Tensei?"
Kawasaki shook his head. "A true resurrection."
Kushina covered her mouth in shock. "How is that possible?"
"I'll find a way," Kawasaki said. "The ninja world is going to become very dangerous. The fact that Naruto was almost captured this time is a warning."
"The Fourth Great Ninja War will definitely break out in a few years, and the Nine-Tails inside Naruto will undoubtedly become their target."
"To ensure Naruto has enough power, I want Minato to guide him."
"Minato is the most suitable person for the job."
Kushina said worriedly, "But Minato's soul is with the Reaper."
Kawasaki nodded. "I know. I will find a way to solve that."
"It's just… Kushina-neesan will have to wait a while longer in the Pure Land."
Kushina let out a breath and said softly, "It's fine. It's all for Naruto. Kawasaki, we're counting on you."
Kawasaki looked at Kushina with a determined gaze. "When I have the ability, I will find a way to bring you back, too."
A smile bloomed on Kushina's face as her figure began to fade. "Don't push yourself too hard, Kawasaki."
…
Kawasaki opened his eyes.
Naruto opened his at the same time.
"Keep what just happened a secret, okay?" Kawasaki said with a smile.
An unprecedented light shone in Naruto's eyes. "Don't worry, Kawasaki-senpai."
Kawasaki gestured to the side.
An Uchiha clan member immediately approached. "Clan Head, what are your orders?"
Although Kawasaki hadn't officially taken the position, Fugaku had already announced it within the clan, and everyone had started addressing him as Clan Head.
"Go and get Sasuke. Tell him Naruto is waiting for him here."
"Yes!"
The Uchiha clansman left swiftly.
"Is Sasuke's hand okay?" Naruto asked, remembering that Sasuke had been injured.
Kawasaki grinned. "Don't worry. I invited Lady Tsunade to be our clan's medical advisor. Sasuke's hand was healed long ago."
"Oh! You mean Lady Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage?" Naruto quickly replied.
Thanks to a stable life, Naruto was no longer a struggling student. Fugaku supervised their training every day and occasionally taught them other things. Not wanting to disappoint the elders who cared for him, Naruto studied diligently. While his academic performance couldn't match his taijutsu and ninjutsu, his grades were still good.
…
In the forest outside the food street.
"Konan, where have you been all these years? How are Yahiko and Nagato?" Jiraiya asked anxiously, following behind Konan.
Initially, it was because of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy and seeing Nagato's Rinnegan that Jiraiya had started teaching the three of them ninjutsu. He had even believed Nagato would be a hero who would bring change to the ninja world.
However, not long after, Jiraiya received news that the three of them had died, leaving him heartbroken. The three years they spent together had forged a real bond, and he never imagined that their parting would be final. In the transient world of shinobi, perhaps this was everyone's ultimate fate. But Jiraiya couldn't help but think that things would have been different if he had kept them by his side.
Now, Konan, whom he had thought was dead, had suddenly appeared. But her eyes looked at him as if he were a stranger. This made Jiraiya desperate to know what had happened.
Konan was silent for a long time before finally speaking. "Yahiko is dead."
"And Nagato… he's crippled."
A fire sparked in Jiraiya's eyes. "How could this happen?"
Konan said flatly, "It was Hanzo and Danzo."