"Hmm," Minato mused inwardly, his expression thoughtful. "No matter what kind of defense they have, it can be broken."
"Even the defenses of the Third Raikage wouldn't withstand this power," he concluded confidently.
"Indeed," came the familiar voice from deep within his soul, tinged with hesitation. "But if you can't control it perfectly… can you accept the consequences?"
Minato hesitated for a moment, the weight of the question sinking in. But then, a faint chuckle echoed in his mind. "I believe it will succeed. The arrival of that child already proves something."
The child Minato referred to was Naruto—the boy from the future whom he and Kushina had encountered during their mission to Roran ten years ago.
Though Minato had refrained from prying into Naruto's future for the sake of balance, the few words exchanged had given him enough insight to piece together fragments of what lay ahead.
Yet, there was one mystery that still puzzled him.
What exactly happened to the half of the Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto? How had the beast been split in two, and why was Naruto still a Jinchūriki in the future?
He knew himself and Kushina well, and it was clear they had been present in Naruto's life as he grew up. From Minato's current knowledge, the only technique capable of splitting the Nine-Tails was the Shiki Fūjin—the Reaper Death Seal.
But the soul of anyone who performed the Shiki Fūjin would be devoured by the Shinigami. Yet, in the future, both he and Kushina had survived.
The only person who might have mastered this technique besides them was the Third Hokage. In his previous life, Minato had taught the Uzumaki clan's forbidden jutsu to Hiruzen, but since his rebirth, he hadn't passed on that knowledge.
Even if circumstances forced him to use the Shiki Fūjin in the future, Minato would never allow the Third Hokage to sacrifice himself. He would bear that burden instead.
These contradictions made it impossible for him to predict the exact events of the future. But one thing was certain: he and Kushina had been there for Naruto.
That was the one piece of hope Minato clung to.
"As expected," came the inner voice again, this time with a faint smile. "How could I ever convince myself otherwise?"
They were, after all, the same person—two halves of the same soul, coexisting through some strange twist of fate. Both knew their shared temperament all too well.
For Minato, making this decision was inevitable.
Rin and Kakashi had been kidnapped by Kirigakure. Though their lives weren't in immediate danger, Minato couldn't rest easy. He had failed to protect Obito once—he would not let history repeat itself.
If Minato could break the current stalemate on the battlefield, Konoha would gain the upper hand in the Third Shinobi World War. Once victory was assured, they could exert pressure on Kirigakure to release Rin and Kakashi.
And even in the worst-case scenario—if Kirigakure refused to release them—Minato was prepared to infiltrate the Hidden Mist Village himself and rescue them.
This was Minato's resolve.
Hatake Sakumo watched Minato carefully. He could see the determination etched in his features.
Though he didn't want to add to Minato's burden, Sakumo understood this wasn't just about personal feelings or even Suzuka's grief. Kakashi and Rin were Minato's students, and as their sensei, he felt a deep responsibility.
If Sakumo were in Minato's shoes, he would have made the same choice.
The weight of the current situation pressed heavily on Sakumo's mind. If he had the power to break the deadlock, he would have done so without hesitation. But even the White Fang of Konoha lacked that kind of strength.
However, if Minato was confident enough to make this decision, it meant he had a solution.
Sakumo couldn't help but chuckle at himself. Since when had he—and so many others in Konoha—begun to rely so heavily on Minato?
A significant part of Konoha's victory in the last Shinobi World War was thanks to Minato. The name "Yellow Flash" still resonated throughout the ninja world. Even their enemies acknowledged Minato's unparalleled abilities.
Sakumo turned to Minato with a small smile. "This situation feels oddly familiar."
"I keep letting you shoulder the burden. Compared to you, I feel a bit… incompetent."
Minato shook his head firmly. "This is my responsibility as a Konoha shinobi. We all carry the weight of this war equally. No one's burden is heavier than another's."
"Everyone is fighting as hard as they can," Minato continued, his gaze steady. "I just want to do my part."
Sakumo nodded. When it came to influencing the tide of battle, the top shinobi like them were indispensable. But the strength and sacrifices of every ordinary Konoha ninja were just as vital.
Without them, Konoha could never stand against the Four-Nation Alliance. Many had given their lives for this cause.
As Minato said, how could they not give their best in return?
"Is there anything I can do?" Sakumo asked.
"It'll take some time for me to prepare," Minato replied. "I'll need you to keep an eye on the Cloud Ninja and hold the line."
Normally, they would handle this together, but with Sakumo shouldering it alone, the pressure would be immense.
"Don't worry," Sakumo said with a casual smile. "I've got this."
Minato nodded. "I'll be in the nearby forest. If the Cloud Ninja make any moves, send me a signal immediately."
Minato knew that without his presence, Konoha might not withstand the full force of the Third Raikage's army. But this was necessary.
Sakumo gave a final nod. In the next instant, a flash of yellow light filled the tent, and Minato vanished.
Somewhere in the forest, a few miles from the Konoha camp…
A specially marked kunai was embedded horizontally in the trunk of an old tree.
In the silent forest, a sudden flicker of light heralded the arrival of Minato.
He glanced around quickly, ensuring no one was nearby. His expression hardened as he exhaled slowly.
"Here we go," he muttered to himself.
"Be careful," his inner voice echoed almost simultaneously.
Minato nodded and slowly closed his eyes.
Whoosh.
As his breathing steadied, the stillness of the forest shifted. A strange energy began to flow around him, emanating from the very fabric of nature itself.
This was no ordinary power.
Minato was about to tap into the very essence of space and time
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