Hearing Ning Feng's words—clearly taking advantage of him—Minato, as his teacher, didn't get angry at all. Instead, he looked at Ning Feng with a fond, indulgent expression.
Then he gently placed a hand on Ning Feng's shoulder.
"Considering how desperately you helped your teacher during the Night of the Nine-Tails, I'll allow you to do things your way."
"When I've cleared away all the thorns ahead of you, and the flowers of victory are about to bloom—"
"That will be the moment you become the Fifth Hokage."
After saying this, Minato took a deep breath.
In truth, ever since he became Hokage, he had already come to a realization.
That realization was simple:
The previous generation plants the trees so the next generation can enjoy the shade.
In his eyes, progress always came step by step.
As long as he fulfilled the responsibilities of the Fourth Hokage, things would be much easier when Ning Feng eventually took over.
At the very least, building a strong foundation for Ning Feng to one day dominate the entire ninja world was absolutely possible.
Hearing this, Ning Feng didn't speak immediately.
He simply nodded firmly.
"Teacher Minato, don't worry."
"Even if one day you fail to unify the ninja world…"
"I, Uchiha Feng, will take up your burden and complete it."
At those words—
Smack!
The teacher and student slapped their palms together in a loud high-five.
Then the two of them suddenly burst out laughing.
…
After finishing their conversation, the two flashed away with Flying Thunder God and returned to the Sarutobi residence.
At this moment, Hiruzen's body had already been placed respectfully at the entrance.
Members of the Sarutobi clan were crying bitterly.
Even members of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans in the distance had tears streaming down their faces.
"Lord Hiruzen… why did you have to leave us like this…"
"Lord Hiruzen… you promised you would take our clans out for a trip…"
"Lord Hiruzen…"
Many clan members cried sorrowfully.
As for those who actually knew the truth behind Hiruzen's death—
They acted just as grief-stricken.
Seeing this, Minato glanced at Ning Feng in surprise.
Ning Feng himself looked equally shocked.
Neither of them expected the Sarutobi clan to act so quickly, already announcing Hiruzen's death.
Clearly, these people might not truly be mourning him.
Pretending to look solemn, Minato led Ning Feng forward.
After silently mourning in front of Hiruzen's body for a moment, they quietly left.
Perhaps forever—
The people of Konoha would only know that Lord Hiruzen passed away from old age, not that Ning Feng had forced him to his end.
Soon afterward, Minato brought Ning Feng back to his home.
At this time, Kushina, under the care of Uchiha Mikoto, had already recovered quite a bit.
She was hopping around energetically as if nothing had happened.
When she saw Ning Feng arrive, she was extremely happy.
She hurriedly held up the baby in her arms, eager for Ning Feng to see him and recognize him as his older brother.
Strangely enough—
The moment the sleeping baby sensed Ning Feng's presence, he suddenly revealed a bright smile.
His tiny mouth opened slightly, looking incredibly adorable.
He even stretched out his small arms toward Ning Feng, as if asking to be held.
"Pfft!"
Naruto's reaction immediately caused everyone in the room to burst out laughing.
Minato, especially, looked delighted.
"Ning Feng, look at Naruto."
"It seems he's determined to recognize you as his big brother."
"Hahaha!"
Ning Feng couldn't help laughing as well.
Naruto's cute behavior made him grin from ear to ear.
After finally escaping Naruto's enthusiastic attention, Minato spoke first.
"Kushina, you must have noticed what happened during the Night of the Nine-Tails."
"As the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, you are constantly at risk of losing control and putting the entire village in danger."
"Especially now that you've just become a mother—your ability to suppress the Nine-Tails has weakened."
"So Kushina, Feng and I discussed something."
"We're hoping Feng can help suppress another portion of the Nine-Tails."
"That way he can also become a Jinchūriki."
"It will strengthen him while reducing the risk to us."
"What do you think?"
As he spoke, Minato gently stroked Naruto's sleeping head.
Hearing this, Kushina's eyes lit up.
"Ha! Minato, you finally thought of it!"
"To be honest, during the Nine-Tails incident, I was already thinking about how to repay Uchiha Feng for saving us."
"But I was worried that if he became a Jinchūriki like me, he might also be bound to Konoha forever."
"So I never mentioned it."
"But now that you've brought it up, I definitely won't oppose it!"
Kushina spoke enthusiastically while looking firmly at Ning Feng.
It was the kind of look that said:
"Whatever my husband decides, I'll support it."
Watching the couple show their affection, Mikoto—who had been silent until now—couldn't help teasing them.
"You two haven't even been apart that long, and you're already showing off your love again."
"Our Uchiha Feng is still young!"
"If he keeps staying around you two, he might learn bad habits!"
Her comment immediately triggered another wave of laughter.
Meanwhile, Ning Feng remained quiet.
In the original story, Minato had sealed half of the Nine-Tails inside Naruto, while he himself sealed the other half.
Even that half of the Nine-Tails gave Naruto immense power later in life.
Now, even though Minato only intended to give Ning Feng half of the Nine-Tails, it would still significantly increase Ning Feng's strength.
Besides, if the entire Nine-Tails entered Ning Feng's body, even though he could suppress it, it would require considerable effort.
"Alright then, Feng. Let's begin now."
"I'll seal half of the Nine-Tails' chakra into your body."
"Whether you can truly become a Jinchūriki afterward will depend on you."
Minato didn't waste any time.
As he spoke, he gave Kushina a look.
Kushina immediately handed the sleeping Naruto carefully to Uchiha Mikoto.
After everything was prepared, Kushina sat cross-legged on the floor.
She quietly waited for Minato to begin extracting the Nine-Tails from her body.
To be honest—
After living with the beast inside her day after day for so many years—
Kushina was already exhausted.
But this was the fate of the Uzumaki clan.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
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