"Uzumaki Naruto!" Danzo Shimura pointed straight at him, his eyes bloodshot, his expression twisted. "Do you realize your actions have violated the laws of Konoha? With a single order, I can have you executed!"
Minato Namikaze, possessing Naruto's body, sneered coldly.
"Danzo, those tricks might work on others—but against me, they're still far from enough."
His gaze swept across the battlefield. The Root ninja clenched their teeth, yet none of them dared to move. What Minato had just displayed made the gap between them painfully clear.
"You dare look down on me?!" Enraged, Danzo formed seals.
"Wind Release: Suppression!"
He completely disregarded his status and launched an attack at Naruto.
"Well done," Minato said mockingly.
He extended his right hand. A Rasengan formed instantly, roaring as it tore through Danzo's Wind Release and continued forward—straight toward Danzo's aged face.
Danzo's expression changed violently.
Rasengan?!
That was Minato Namikaze's technique—an A-rank ninjutsu known throughout the shinobi world. Even among the living, only Jiraiya of the Sannin was known to use it.
Could Uzumaki Naruto really have become Jiraiya's disciple?
Impossible.
With nowhere to dodge, Danzo was about to activate Izanagi when a loud shout rang out:
"Monkey King! Restrain him!"
A staff shot through the air, intercepting Minato's attack and forcing a momentary pause.
At that instant, Minato seized the opening. A Flying Thunder God kunai flashed from his hand, streaking straight toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Flying Thunder God!"
Hiruzen's mind went blank for a split second.
The next moment, Minato appeared right in front of him—Rasengan already in hand.
He spun midair and drove the Rasengan directly into Hiruzen's chest.
Boom!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground with a hoarse cry of pain.
Minato landed calmly a short distance away, his expression indifferent.
The surrounding ANBU and Root ninja were stunned.
No one had expected Uzumaki Naruto to injure the Hokage so severely.
Danzo's eyes lit up with a dangerous gleam.
"All Konoha ninja!" he shouted. "Move immediately! Capture the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki!"
Before the order could be fully carried out, three figures appeared, forming a triangle in front of Naruto.
Shiranui Genma, a senbon clenched between his teeth.
Aoba Yamashiro.
Iwaushi Tatami.
"You're the Fourth Hokage, aren't you?" Genma asked quietly.
Minato smiled faintly.
"I didn't expect you to recognize me so quickly."
Aoba and Iwaushi's eyes widened.
"Lord Fourth Hokage!"
"It's really Lord Fourth!"
Their voices carried, instantly spreading through the battlefield.
"He's the Fourth Hokage!"
"No wonder that Flying Thunder God felt so familiar!"
"Look at Naruto—doesn't he look just like him?!"
The ANBU froze, expressions conflicted.
From the very beginning, many of them had sensed that familiar chakra—but common sense dictated that the dead could not return. Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had died during the Nine-Tails incident. Their graves lay in Konoha Cemetery.
And yet now, the Fourth Hokage stood before them—possessing the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
At that moment, Kakashi rushed in from outside and dropped to one knee before Naruto.
"Teacher!"
Minato looked at him, his voice calm.
"Kakashi… you still came. I didn't want you involved."
"A teacher is always a teacher," Kakashi replied hoarsely, lowering his head. "How could I stand by and let you face danger alone?"
Minato shook his head slightly, then turned his gaze to Danzo.
"Danzo… I never thought that after all these years, you would still be so calculating."
Danzo's face twisted.
"No! Minato Namikaze is dead! You're not him—you're the Nine-Tails, the fox pretending to be him!"
In his heart, Danzo knew the truth.
But he could not acknowledge it.
Minato Namikaze's prestige was too great. If the village truly accepted his return—even in this form—everything Danzo had built would collapse.
Several Root ninja grit their teeth and charged again—
Only to be intercepted by a new presence.
Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward.
He felt the familiar chakra, snorted coldly, and turned toward the Root forces.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
A blazing dragon roared across the battlefield, slamming into the ground. Screams rang out as Root ninja were knocked unconscious one after another.
Fugaku's control was precise—enough to incapacitate, not to kill.
"I'm not late, am I?" Fugaku said without turning around.
Minato laughed softly.
"Fugaku… you've grown even stronger."
Before they could say more, Danzo interrupted harshly.
"Uchiha! Why are you approaching the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? Are you planning another Nine-Tails incident?!"
Minato frowned, irritation flashing across his eyes.
Before he could respond, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly struggled to his feet.
He looked at Naruto—at Minato within him—his eyes filled with tears.
"Minato… is that really you? You've come back?"
Minato met his gaze.
For a moment, Hiruzen felt as though he were being pierced by that look—anger, disappointment, coldness, and finally… indifference.
"Lord Third," Minato said through Naruto's body, his voice distant, "Minato Namikaze was never anything special. Just an ordinary ninja who was a little stronger than others."
Hiruzen closed his eyes tightly.
"Minato… I'm sorry."
A long silence followed.
Then Minato's voice echoed softly, tinged with desolation.
"…It's too late."
(A/N)
Guys we have officially reached 200 power stones, 5 reviews and we are also official in the top 70 power stones rankings!!!
Thank you to all of you handsome men and beautiful girls for this and please continue to support it further.
So, as promised 4 Bonus Chapter will be uploaded soon just as promised.
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