Chapter 96: Minato: Naruto, Why Has Your Hair Turned Black?
Inside the seal space, Naruto sat before a computer, fingers flying across the keyboard.
And before another computer sat a chubby little fox.
Staring intently at the screen, it looked extremely cute.
But the next second, its voice, completely contradicting its appearance, instantly shattered that image.
"Awooo~ Damn it!"
Looking at the large "KO" letters before it, little Nine-Tails howled unwillingly: "How could I lose to you, brat!?"
"No, no, that was my mistake! Again, again!"
Saying this, it wanted to restart the game.
But Menma, standing behind the human and fox, directly grabbed little Nine-Tails by its tail and lifted it up.
Flicking its forehead, he mercilessly complained: "Kurama! Bad is bad! No cheating! You've already used that excuse twice!"
Then, ignoring little Nine-Tails' flailing short legs, he directly stuffed it into his embrace and sat down before the computer himself.
"Hmph!"
The Nine-Tails sat in Menma's lap, arms crossed, huffing angrily: "It must be because I split off too little chakra that my reactions are slow! If you let my whole self out, I'd definitely beat you both until you cry for your daddies and mommies!"
Menma and Naruto were originally having a lot of fun playing.
But this useless fox, who spent its days watching dramas, eating chicken (gaming reference), and drinking cola, immediately started clamoring to join when it saw the two playing some games it had never seen before.
So, it conveniently split off some chakra through a loophole in the seal, creating a small clone outside the cage.
Although it felt somewhat ashamed being seen by Menma and Naruto in its childhood form, it still couldn't stop its restless heart.
However, thinking of its sealed main body,
The Nine-Tails' eyes spun quickly. It asked with a cunning smile: "Naruto, don't you want to see me in my prime?"
Honestly, although it had grown accustomed to slacking off in the cage, if it could get out, that would be even better.
It had no thoughts of escaping.
After all, life in this seal space was much better than just sleeping and frolicking outside.
Besides, this brat Naruto possessed the Wood Release Sage Body, Adamantine Sealing Chains, and Mangekyō; even if it wanted to run, it couldn't get away.
As for being discovered by others...
"After I get out, can't Menma just seal part of my chakra back in without anyone knowing?"
The Nine-Tails' abacus clattered loudly in its mind. Menma also chuckled softly upon hearing its thoughts, but didn't stop Kurama's little scheme.
Naruto, whether in terms of mental state or potential, is already qualified to know the truth.
Besides, after I leave, Naruto will also need a "tool person" for guidance.
"Undo the seal?"
Naruto, who was initially chuckling, heard this, and the smile on his face gradually faded.
"If I'm not mistaken, the Fourth Hokage who sealed you..."
The serious expression was fleeting. Naruto smiled: "...should be my father, right?"
"Naruto brat..."
Little Nine-Tails showed a human-like bewildered expression: "When did you find out?"
It had thought Naruto was kept in the dark all along.
Naruto shook his head with a wry smile. Menma nearby, however, was not surprised at all.
How could Naruto, who has thoroughly studied the history of Konoha and the ninja world, not know?
One must know, the first Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was the First Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Mito. And the name of the second Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was also clearly written there.
-- The Fourth Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Kushina.
And the Uzumaki clan had almost vanished from the ninja world; in all of Konoha, only Naruto bore the surname Uzumaki.
What's more, right after the Fourth Hokage and his wife died in battle, a "Demon Fox Incarnation" appeared in Konoha.
"Fox Teacher, you really underestimate me."
Naruto reached up and slightly lifted his bangs.
"Never mind all those coincidences; actually, just looking in the mirror every day, one would notice something unusual, right?"
The Nine-Tails looked up carefully.
Complemented by that mature, gentle aura, Naruto's face and the Fourth Hokage's face almost perfectly overlapped.
"Hiss~"
Little Nine-Tails scratched its head, asking puzzledly: "So, you knew all along? Then why didn't you ask me?"
For a child with no parents, he should be very eager to know about his parents, right?
"Honestly..."
Naruto glanced guiltily at Menma. Seeing no reaction from him, he then said: "Maybe... I was running away."
"After all, before meeting Menma-nii, I always envied those children who had parents. But now I find out it was my parents' naivety that brought me all this suffering."
Naruto didn't suspect his parents intentionally caused him pain.
He used to close his eyes every night, wondering why his parents sealed the Nine-Tails inside him, why they made him a Jinchūriki destined to be discriminated against.
He even harbored some resentment towards his parents because of this.
But later, he figured it out.
"My parents sealed Fox Teacher inside me before they died, probably believing Sarutobi Hiruzen and his friends would take good care of me, would let me enjoy the treatment of a Hokage's son, a hero's son."
Naruto said calmly: "It's just that they were too naive. The Konoha higher-ups didn't publicize my identity, instead letting me bear the villagers' malice towards the so-called Demon Fox Incarnation, and attempted to use this to become the light in my heart."
If not for Menma-nii, they might have succeeded.
Thinking this, Naruto turned to look at Menma.
"No matter what, your parents owe you an explanation and an apology."
Menma looked into Naruto's eyes, ruffling his hair: "Do you want to know if, in your parents' hearts, the village was more important, or you were more important?"
Regardless, Naruto's tragic childhood was indeed inseparable from the Fourth's naivety.
Naruto heard this, his azure eyes trembling.
"...Can I still meet them?"
Although his words show some understanding, there's still an unresolved issue in his heart?
Later, when cultivating Sage Mode, one needs a clear mind. The more unresolved issues in the heart, the more detrimental to cultivation.
"Of course, you can."
The corners of Menma's mouth lifted in a sarcastic arc: "Although Namikaze Minato was terrible at political maneuvering, he was indeed a meticulous ninja. Naturally, he would leave a failsafe in the seal."
Namikaze Minato's iconic features, besides the elusive Flying Thunder God Technique, were his bright and brilliant smile, like sunshine.
Whether civilians, ninja, or even enemies, all praised him highly.
However, he was a ninja, a ninja whose hands were stained with blood.
When facing enemies, his superb ninja talent would truly come into play.
"Meet my somewhat incompetent parents who liked to pin their hopes on others, huh."
Naruto fell silent for a moment, then stood up from before the computer, a trace of determination flashing in his calm eyes.
"I won't run away."
Hearing Naruto's answer, Menma smiled, withdrawing the hand from Naruto's head.
He then aimed his arm towards the seal on the cage.
Click click click!
Under little Nine-Tails' expectant gaze, the "lock" on the cage began to twist.
But the instant the seal was touched,
A golden light, warm as sunshine, appeared before the two humans and one fox. A hand then pressed down on Menma's.
When the light dissipated, a man with blond hair and blue eyes, handsome features, wearing a white Hokage robe over a green flak jacket, appeared before them.
The Hokage robe fluttered in the sea breeze, the words "Fourth Hokage" on it very conspicuous.
But in Naruto's eyes, it seemed particularly laughable, ironic.
"You are... Naruto?"
Looking at Menma, with his black hair and mature face, Namikaze Minato's expression was first puzzled, then he quickly understood.
Although he looks somewhat mature, and his hair has somehow turned black, his face does bear a six or seven-tenths resemblance to my own.
Then this must be my child, no mistake!
Minato sized up Menma, his eyes filled with gratification and satisfaction.
When he passed away, Naruto was still a wailing baby.
He had once imagined meeting Naruto again.
Perhaps Naruto would already be Konoha's hero's son; perhaps Naruto would have become an outstanding ninja; or perhaps Naruto would already be married with children.
Looking now, his fantasy had come true.
Naruto had indeed grown into an adult.
And his temperament was gentle, possessing some of his own bearing from back then.
"Naruto, you've grown up."
Just as Minato was filled with gratification, wanting to reach out and pat Menma's head,
Smack!
"Fourth, are you an idiot?"
Menma slapped Minato's hand away, eyes twitching, complaining sarcastically: "You can't even recognize your own child?"
With that, under Minato's astonished gaze,
Menma pushed the cold-faced Naruto from behind him before Minato.
"You..."
Sensing the faint feeling of closeness, Minato couldn't help but freeze.
But after reacting, an embarrassed expression still appeared on his face.
Naruto and Minato stared at each other, big eyes meeting small eyes. The atmosphere instantly fell silent.
Minato looked at Naruto with a complex expression.
After all, it was his first time being a father, and he died sealing the Nine-Tails just after Naruto was born.
Facing this awkward situation of mistaking his son, he really didn't know what to say.
He couldn't just directly say "You're my son, I'm your dad", right?
Naruto's eye also twitched, his gaze becoming even colder.
Towards this father with whom he had no emotional foundation, and who mistook his son upon meeting, he really couldn't bring himself to like him.
But just as the seal space fell into a bizarre silence,
"Heeheehee!"
A pig-like snorting laugh suddenly came, breaking the awkward atmosphere.
The two turned their heads in unison towards the source of the sound.
They saw little Nine-Tails burying its head firmly in Menma's embrace, its exposed rear end and tail twitching and trembling continuously.
"Heehee~ Can't take it anymore! I'm gonna die laughing! Ha-huff-huff-huff!"
A helpless smile also appeared on Menma's face.
One could tell Kurama was trying its best to stifle its laughter.
But seeing the atmosphere between this father and son, it still couldn't help but laugh like a snorting pig, looking like it was about to convulse from laughing too hard.
All along, Namikaze Minato had always been basking in the protagonist's halo.
The Nine-Tails naturally felt extremely displeased with this guy.
Now seeing Minato eat humble pie, the Nine-Tails felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
"..."
However, thanks to little Nine-Tails' antics, the awkward atmosphere between Naruto and his father was somewhat alleviated.
"Sorry, Naruto,"
Minato bowed slightly in apology, somewhat formally.
But after straightening up, a hint more joy appeared in his eyes.
"Looks like Lord Third took good care of you."
Minato looked at Naruto – though still young, well-dressed, with a refined and gentle aura, and handsome features – feeling immensely gratified.
Especially that head of blond hair and azure blue eyes; indeed, this was his child.
Presumably, with the identity of a hero's son, Naruto's childhood must have been spent growing up supported by the villagers, surely very happy.
"Naruto, did you undo the seal because you want to try using the Nine-Tails' power, to practice Tailed Beast Transformation?"
Namikaze Minato asked with a smile, simultaneously wanting to reach out and pat his son's head.
But the next second, under Kurama's mocking gaze,
Naruto took a step back, dodging Minato's head-pat.
For a moment, Minato's hand froze in mid-air.
But Naruto's next words stunned him even more.
Naruto shook his head, saying calmly: "I just wanted to let Fox Teacher out for some fresh air. As for power or whatever, I don't need it."
Hearing this, Namikaze Minato frowned deeply, slowly withdrawing his hand.
Fox Teacher? Just wants some fresh air?
He suddenly thought of something, turned his head to look at the Nine-Tails in the cage, his eyes turning sharp: "Nine-Tails, are you up to something?!"
But the massive Nine-Tails in the cage didn't respond.
Instead, from behind him, came a familiar sneering laugh.
"Fourth, you truly are a failure. If not for me and Menma, the brat Naruto might have already become Sarutobi Hiruzen's puppet by now."
"...What?"
Minato turned towards the sound, instantly freezing on the spot.
He saw that chubby little orange fox, a mocking smile on its face.
And the one who just spoke was it.
"This... you're the Nine-Tails?!"
Minato's eyes widened, frantically looking back and forth between the Nine-Tails and Naruto.
Naruto doesn't look like his mind has been affected by the Nine-Tails chakra.
And that little fox... looks even more harmless!
"Could it be... Naruto, you've already become friends with the Nine-Tails?"
Minato snapped back. Thinking of this possibility, a smile appeared on his face.
He wanted to say more, but saw Menma suddenly snap his fingers.
In an instant, Namikaze Minato froze on the spot.
Menma had activated the Nine-Tails' malice-sensing ability.
And the dense, heart-palpitating malice within Konoha made Minato, a mature adult, shiver without being cold.
"...How could this be?"
Menma raised an eyebrow, suddenly asking: "Do you want to see Naruto's past? Everything Naruto has experienced over these years?"
"See the treatment your child received after your death?"
"Fourth."
The Nine-Tails suddenly interjected: "If I were the brat Naruto, I probably would have destroyed this village full of malice long ago. I'm surprised he managed to endure it until now."
"I..."
Minato opened his mouth, an ominous premonition suddenly rising in his heart.
Naruto's childhood... seems to be vastly different from what he had envisioned.
"Please... let me see..."
Looking at Minato's struggling expression, Menma smiled.
He then extended his right hand and waved. A mirror appeared before them.
Reflected in the mirror was, indeed, the young Naruto from the past.
(End of Chapter)
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