While the Nine-Tailed Beast, Matatabi, and Gyūki were exchanging intelligence, Naruto stood blankly at the top of Shadow Rock, staring at Minato.
He felt an uncanny familiarity with the man before him, as if they had met somewhere before.
"Who—who are you?"
"My name is—Namikaze Minato."
Minato gazed at Naruto. "What's your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto. I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto answered quickly. "You look just like me."
After all, they were father and son—
Minato chuckled softly, his gaze falling on the paint bucket in Naruto's hand. "Are you planning a prank?"
"Yeah! Want to join me?"
Naruto nodded vigorously, grinning at Minato.
"Pranks will make everyone hate you," Minato said gently, as if coaxing a child.
"They already hate me enough."
Naruto pouted. For some reason, he found himself being completely honest with Minato. "I just—I just want everyone to notice me."
"Why do you need to prove your existence so desperately?"
Minato shook his head slightly. "When a flower blooms, butterflies will naturally flock to it. Your existence is an undeniable fact. Why must you try to prove it to others?"
Naruto pursed his lips, frowning in thought for a long time before finally understanding Minato's meaning.
Suddenly, he slapped his palm. "Ah! You're right! But how can I... uh... bloom like you said?"
"Become stronger. Become reliable."
Minato glanced at Naruto. "You've already enrolled in the Ninja Academy, haven't you?"
"Ah—haha~"
Naruto scratched his head awkwardly, just then remembering he'd skipped class that day.
Minato noticed his embarrassment. "Skipped class?"
"Aren't you skipping too?" Naruto retorted, feigning composure. "You should be a student at the academy, right?"
"I'm not."
Minato wasn't wearing his forehead protector today; it had a deep scratch across it.
"But I can teach you some Ninjutsu that might help with your troubles. Want to learn?" Minato asked.
"Yes!"
Naruto nodded vigorously. Though he didn't fully understand why, Minato's reliable aura made him trust the man instinctively.
"Then follow me," Minato said cheerfully, leading Naruto toward the Training Ground.
Naruto dropped the paint and hurried to keep up with Minato.
As they reached the street, passersby instinctively frowned at the sight of Naruto, giving him a wide berth and avoiding eye contact.
However, upon seeing Minato beside Naruto, their expressions changed. Some of the older villagers stood frozen in place, their faces filled with shock.
"Hey, hey—am I seeing things? That's—"
"The Fourth Hokage? It really looks like him!"
Since Minato's features had been proportionally enlarged since childhood, people recognized him instantly. After all, his face was carved into the Shadow Rock.
Minato made no attempt to conceal his identity. He simply walked confidently toward the training ground with Naruto.
Soon, in the Hokage's Office.
"Lord Hokage, trouble!"
An Anbu member rushed in. "An unidentified individual is approaching Uzumaki Naruto. That person—they look exactly like the Fourth Hokage!"
"???"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been processing documents, looked up, his eyes widening slightly. "The Fourth Hokage?"
"Uh, yes, but they appear very young, about Naruto's age. Their features are identical to the Fourth Hokage's, even their clothing style—"
Before the Anbu could finish, Sarutobi Hiruzen retrieved the Crystal Ball. Using the Telescope Technique, he captured Naruto's Chakra.
The vision focused on Minato beside Naruto. The next moment, as if sensing his gaze, the Minato in the Crystal Ball looked up and met his eyes across the distance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen jolted upright, goosebumps erupting across his skin!
What was going on?
A dead person coming back to life?
Or reincarnation?
Considering the time, if reincarnation were true, the child's age would indeed align perfectly!
Seeing the two heading toward the Third Training Ground, Sarutobi Hiruzen abandoned his work. He casually placed his hat on his head and leaped out the window.
On the streets of Konoha, Yamanaka Inoichi, Nara Shikaku, and Akimichi Choza walked side by side.
The three happened to have no pressing matters that day and were contemplating where to grab a drink.
Suddenly, Nara Shikaku froze, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at Minato and Naruto approaching in the distance.
"Fourth Hokage?!"
"Hmm?"
The two beside him followed his gaze and froze as if struck by lightning.
Minato naturally noticed the trio and gave a slight nod, but continued walking without stopping.
"Hey, Minato—"
Even the slow-witted Naruto noticed the strange atmosphere: "Everyone seems to be really afraid of you."
"Perhaps it's my strong presence?" Minato replied calmly, offering no further explanation.
They soon arrived at the Third Training Ground. As soon as they did, Sarutobi Hiruzen rushed over.
Minato could clearly sense that many Anbu were hidden nearby.
"Ah—it's Grandpa Third!" Naruto's face lit up with a bright smile.
Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled awkwardly. When he noticed Minato's calm, steady gaze, his heart sank.
"Little Naruto—" His voice felt dry. "Grandpa needs to talk to this... young man about something. Why don't you go play by yourself for a while?"
Naruto glanced at Minato. "Hmm—okay. But don't take too long, okay? Minato promised to teach me Ninjutsu."
Minato!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyelid twitched, and he quickly nodded.
Only after Naruto had run off did he turn to Minato, his expression complex. "Child, you are—"
"I am Namikaze Minato, but not the Minato of this world."
Minato said calmly, "In my world, I would have asked you to take care of my child before I died, Third Hokage. But—Naruto doesn't seem to be doing well."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat.
Not Minato from this world—
A parallel world?
Hiruzen immediately relaxed. Thank goodness it's not the Minato from this world.
"This is a long story—"
Hiruzen sighed. "During the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox Incident, Minato from this world died saving the village. Considering his status as a hero of the Third Shinobi World War and the many enemies he made, I had no choice but to conceal Naruto's identity."
"I see—"
Minato nodded in understanding. "The identity of the Child of the Hero needed to be hidden, while the status of the Jinchūriki could be revealed. If you hadn't told me, I would have assumed the Jinchūriki posed a greater threat to our enemies than the Child of the Hero."
"Then I should truly thank the Third Hokage for giving me a reason to live properly, so I don't end up like my other self."
As soon as the words fell, Hiruzen fell silent.
Minato's words struck him like a resounding slap across the face.
He even felt the Anbu around him looking at him differently.
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