"Obito… So it really was him."
Minato's expression became complicated.
Although the revelation still felt difficult to accept, he had already chosen to trust Menma's judgment.
More importantly, when he carefully retraced the events of the past, the conclusion did not seem entirely impossible.
As the leader of Team Minato, he had witnessed firsthand the bond shared by Obito Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, and Rin Nohara.
Despite being a member of the Uchiha Clan, Obito had never cared much about status or clan prestige.
To him, Kakashi and Rin had always been more important than anything else.
Especially Rin.
Minato knew better than most how deeply Obito cared for her.
And he also knew how Rin had died.
If Obito had learned the truth surrounding that tragedy and subsequently fallen into darkness, Minato could not honestly say he would be surprised.
After a moment of silence, Minato raised his head and looked at Menma.
"Menma, what about the three disciples you mentioned earlier? Jiraiya-sensei's students from the Land of Rain."
A trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.
Minato was aware that Jiraiya had once taken in three war orphans during the Second Shinobi World War.
However, Jiraiya had rarely spoken about them in detail.
Likewise, Minato had never been the type to pry into his teacher's private affairs.
But judging from Menma's earlier words, the situation surrounding those three individuals was far from simple.
"It's an inevitable tragedy created by war."
A faint sigh escaped Menma's lips.
The faces of Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan flashed through his mind.
For a brief moment, a complicated emotion appeared in his eyes.
Then he slowly began explaining.
He summarized the origins of the three Ame orphans, Yahiko's dream, Nagato's Rinnegan, and Konan's role in their group.
He explained the formation of the original Akatsuki and Yahiko's death.
He spoke of how Nagato had inherited Yahiko's will and eventually become the leader of the organization.
He also revealed the connection between Nagato and Obito, as well as the hidden influence of Madara Uchiha behind many of these events.
Naturally, Menma did not reveal every secret.
Some matters were deliberately phrased as deductions rather than absolute facts.
After all, there were limits to how much foreknowledge he could reasonably possess.
Even so, the amount of information he disclosed was more than enough to leave Minato stunned.
The Fourth Hokage genuinely had not expected such a convoluted truth.
The most dangerous criminal organization in the shinobi world was deeply connected to Konoha.
Its true mastermind had once been one of his own students.
Its apparent leader was Jiraiya's former disciple.
And their ultimate objective was nothing less than gathering all nine tailed beasts.
For a long moment, Minato remained silent.
He neither questioned Menma nor asked where such information had originated.
There was no need.
If Menma had chosen to reveal all of this, it meant he had already weighed the consequences.
Eventually, Minato reached out and gently patted Menma's shoulder.
"Since you've already uncovered the truth behind all of this, there isn't much left for me to say."
His voice was calm.
"If there's anything I can do to help, then tell me. Whatever assistance I can provide, I will."
The moment those words fell, Menma did not hesitate.
"Yes."
His expression became serious.
"There are several things I need."
"First, I want the core principles of the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Minato nodded immediately.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was his signature ninjutsu.
If Menma possessed the talent to learn it, there was no reason for him to withhold it.
"Second, I need your help weakening the Eight Trigrams Seal."
Menma glanced toward the massive sealing gate behind him.
"Although the key to the seal was left within Naruto's chakra and entrusted to Jiraiya, you are still the creator of the seal itself. As the original caster, you should possess methods of influencing it from within."
Minato remained silent and continued listening.
Then Menma voiced his final request.
A request that caused both Minato and Kurama to freeze.
"And finally."
"When the time is right, I intend to use the Impure World Reincarnation."
Menma's gaze sharpened.
"I want to summon you back."
"Because I need the other half of Kurama's chakra that was sealed within you."
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly changed.
Even Kurama, who had been quietly observing from below, suddenly raised his massive head.
His scarlet eyes widened slightly.
The other half of his chakra.
Twelve years ago, during the Nine-Tails Attack, Minato had divided Kurama into Yin and Yang halves using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
The Yang Half had been sealed inside Menma.
The Yin Half had been sealed within Minato before he sacrificed his life.
At the time, Minato had made that decision because Menma was only a newborn child.
Although Menma had inherited Kushina's powerful Uzumaki vitality, Minato had still worried that an infant would be unable to withstand the entirety of the Nine-Tails' chakra.
As for Naruto
In this timeline, Minato had ultimately chosen not to burden his younger son with becoming a jinchūriki as well.
Thus, half of Kurama had vanished alongside Minato into the Shinigami's stomach.
Now, Menma intended to reclaim it.
After a brief moment of surprise, Minato smiled faintly.
"The other half of Kurama, huh?"
He nodded.
"That's not a problem."
Then his expression became more serious.
"However, before you can summon me through the Impure World Reincarnation, you'll first need to resolve the restrictions imposed by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal."
"The souls trapped within the Shinigami cannot be summoned normally."
"Otherwise, Edo Tensei won't be able to bring me back."
"I understand."
Menma nodded.
This was something he had already considered.
Seeing that Menma had a clear plan, Minato continued.
"As for the Flying Thunder God Technique, I'll leave its fundamental principles to you."
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Consider it my final gift as your father."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Minato sighed softly.
"Menma…"
His eyes reflected both pride and regret.
"I failed you."
"There is no excuse for that."
"But regardless of what path you choose, I hope you'll always remember who you are."
"I hope you'll continue walking forward without losing yourself."
"Your life is still long."
"Far longer than mine ever was."
The warmth in Minato's voice caused Menma's expression to soften slightly.
Yet before he could reply, Minato suddenly formed a hand seal.
Clap!
The chakra sustaining his existence had finally reached its limit.
Buzz
Golden ripples spread throughout the inner world.
A brilliant light enveloped Minato's body.
His figure gradually became translucent.
"Menma…"
His voice grew quieter.
"I am sorry."
Those were the final words he left behind.
The next instant, Minato's body dissolved into countless particles of golden light.
The fragments shot forward and merged directly into Menma's consciousness.
Then everything became still.
Silence returned to the chamber.
For several moments, Menma remained motionless.
Truthfully, there had never been enough time for genuine father-son affection to develop between them.
They had only met through this fragment of chakra.
And yet…
Minato was still his father.
The man whose blood flowed through his veins.
The first father he had ever truly met in this life.
Watching him disappear inevitably stirred complicated emotions within Menma's heart.
After a long silence, he slowly exhaled.
A trace of determination appeared in his eyes.
Father…
I was never destined to become the person you hoped I would be.
But I will honor the promise I made.
As long as those fools know their place, I won't become the monster you fear.
The turbulent emotions gradually settled.
Menma clenched his fists.
Then slowly relaxed them.
When he opened his eyes again, all hesitation had vanished.
His gaze turned toward the massive sealing gate.
Toward the enormous talisman bearing the seal that had restrained Kurama for twelve long years.
The Eight Trigrams Seal.
Menma took a step forward.
His chakra began to rise.
The enormous sealing formula trembled faintly.
Looking directly at the giant fox behind the bars, Menma's lips curved into a slight smile.
"Kurama."
His voice echoed throughout the inner world.
"Wait a little longer."
A powerful chakra pressure erupted from his body.
The sealing formula immediately reacted.
The entire chamber shook violently.
"I'll break the Eight Trigrams Seal right now."
Behind the gate, Kurama slowly stood.
The Nine-Tails' enormous eyes narrowed.
A savage grin appeared on the fox's face.
At long last
The moment both of them had been waiting for was finally about to arrive.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ON CHAPTER 283 ON PATREON.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCED CHAPTERS BEFORE PUBLIC RELEASE OR PURCHASE THE BOOK FOR LIFETIME ACCESS!
Patreon.com/HACKDWORLD