Chapter 257:
"Who are you, really?!"
"Don't make such a scary face, Kurama." Hanabi waved her hand lightly. "Oh right, Nine Tails, if I let you out, would you be willing to lend me your power?"
The Nine Tails stared at the young Hanabi in front of him and gave a nod.
As long as he could get out, prying the information he wanted from this little brat would be a piece of cake.
A trace of the Nine Tails' chakra leaked through the bars, lifting Hanabi into the air and bringing her to the sealing tag pasted directly in front of the cage.
"Power, huh? If you let me out, I can give you as much power as you want!"
The Nine Tails looked at Hanabi with eager anticipation.
Just then, a flash of yellow appeared. A man swept in and cradled Hanabi's small body in his right arm, pulling her away from the cage that confined the Nine Tails.
Watching his chance at freedom vanish before his eyes, the Nine Tails let out a furious roar of impotent rage.
"You are...?"
The Nine Tails opened his blood-red, rage-filled eyes and glared intensely at the back of the man who had ruined his chance at escape.
"Grandpa!"
"Grandpa?"
Minato Namikaze looked bewilderedly at the little girl in front of him. Though her eyes bore the Byakugan, it didn't rule out the possibility that Naruto's wife might be from the Hyūga Clan. What puzzled him more was the lack of blond hair. After all, blond hair was the Namikaze family's signature trait—Minato's father and grandfather both had it. The thought gave him a moment of insecurity, as if wondering whether his son had been cheated on.
"No, no, that can't be it!" Minato shook his head and looked at Naruto, slumped unconscious against the wall. He was still so young—how could he possibly have a child already? "Who exactly are you?"
"Actually, I'm Boruto Uzumaki from the future. Uzumaki Naruto is my father. For some unknown reason, I ended up in the past, and somehow took over the body of this era's Hanabi-nee."
Hanabi explained to Minato, who responded with a skeptical look as if to say, Do you really take me for a fool?
"You came here to gain power to protect yourself, didn't you… I don't know how you got in here, but whenever someone tries to undo the Nine Tails' seal, I appear."
"Hey, kid! Hurry up and release the seal! The real Fourth Hokage has long been dead—what stands before you now is just a powerless puppet! If it's power you want, just release the seal and I'll give you as much as you need!"
The Nine Tails roared from behind the cage.
"This guy's really noisy. Let's go somewhere else to talk…"
Minato smiled and snapped his fingers. More importantly, he feared this little girl might really be swayed by the Nine Tails and try to break the seal.
Inside the space of light.
"You didn't even panic when the environment changed so suddenly. Not bad—seems like you've got some talent."
Minato smiled and offered a compliment.
"I told you already, I'm from the future."
"Right, right. From the future, huh? So that's why you need power in this era to protect yourself. If that's the case, I've got a few decent jutsu I could teach you."
Minato scratched his head.
"I already know a lot of jutsu."
As Hanabi spoke, her hands moved in a blur of seals, almost like spasms. Since she didn't use chakra, it was purely the hand signs without any jutsu activation.
"Those sequences… quite a few are A-rank jutsu…"
Minato's face showed surprise.
Boruto did know some S-rank jutsu, of course, but how many of those were learned through formal sealing techniques?
"So what I'm lacking is the chakra to support using them." Hanabi looked at Minato. "And the fact that I can perform this many A-rank jutsu should be enough proof I'm from the future."
Boruto naturally understood that Minato didn't really believe the whole "from the future" story.
"Well…" Minato scratched his head awkwardly. "By the way, since you're from the future—how's Naruto doing there?"
"He becomes the hero who saves the ninja world, and later the Seventh Hokage of Konoha. He marries the eldest daughter of the Hyūga Clan head… has a smart, handsome son, and a daughter who's adorably cute."
"I see…" Minato squinted, as if he were seeing the future in his mind's eye. A gentle smile spread across his face. "Whether it's true or not, I hope Naruto really is that happy…"
"But because of the demands of the Hokage's duties, Father rarely comes home. He doesn't really pay much attention to his family."
"…Is that so…" For some reason, Minato thought of himself and his expression grew somber. "As for the Nine Tails' chakra… I can give you some."
What was sealed inside Naruto was only half of Kurama. The other half had been taken to the afterlife along with Minato. The Minato now standing before Hanabi was actually sustained by the remaining chakra from that half.
"To remain in Naruto's body, I can only give you a portion of Kurama's chakra." As Minato spoke, a mass of Nine Tails chakra appeared in his right hand. "It's only a portion, but it's at the level of a jōnin's chakra reserves."
"A jōnin's chakra is more than enough."
Hanabi nodded and reached out to absorb the chakra from Minato's hand.
"You really just absorbed it all in one go?"
"Mm. I was once a Jinchūriki of the Nine Tails, so I've got some experience absorbing its chakra."
Especially since this chakra lacked Kurama's malice—it made the absorption smooth and easy.
"Well then, I should be leaving soon. With this portion of chakra gone, the remaining Nine Tails chakra can only support one more appearance."
"Mm. Thank you, Grandpa."
Minato smiled and waved.
Outside Naruto's home.
"Hyūga Clan Head."
"Lord Hokage."
The two men—one for Hanabi, one for Naruto—met at the doorstep. One brought his clan members; the other came with Anbu.
Hiashi Hyūga looked solemn. Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a light smile.
"Please, Clan Head Hyūga."
"Then, if you'll excuse me, Lord Hokage."
Hiashi nodded, his right hand gripping the door handle. A burst of powerful chakra erupted from him, blasting open the tightly shut door.
Standing before them were a cold-faced Hanabi and Naruto, who was rubbing his eyes.
"Grandpa Hokage! What are you doing here?!"
Naruto looked surprised.
After all, the Hokage's duties were busy, and Hiruzen didn't often come to see Naruto.
"Naruto, it's been a while."
The Hokage smiled and gently ruffled Naruto's hair, though in truth he was quietly sensing the Nine Tails inside Naruto. Only after confirming that nothing was amiss did he finally let out a sigh of relief.