Chapter 97: Minato: Old Thief Third, How Dare You Deceive My Son?!
Menma slowly extended his hand and waved it before them. A mirror appeared before the three people and one fox.
The reflection on the mirror gradually distorted, changing into another scene.
In the scene, was indeed the once young Naruto.
And the very first scene of the recollection made Namikaze Minato freeze on the spot.
Immediately, his eyes nearly split with rage, an immense anger surged into his heart, almost making Minato lose his reason!
"She!! How dare she?!"
In the scene, a sharp-faced woman stood before a baby carriage, looking spitefully at the blond baby within.
And in her hand was a baby bottle steaming with hot air.
Namikaze Minato only needed one glance to know the temperature was definitely above 60°C.
Such a temperature could absolutely scald an infant's throat, causing irreversible damage!
"It's all your fault! It's all because of you, demon fox, that my son died! I'm going to scald you mute!"
Vicious words spewed from the woman's mouth.
Under Minato's horrified and enraged gaze, the woman was about to force the bottle into the blond baby's mouth.
"No!!"
Seeing his child about to be harmed, Minato even forgot this was just a memory.
His figure flashed, about to touch the mirror's surface.
But the scene suddenly distorted and changed, once again becoming a scene of little Naruto being ostracized by villagers.
"This demon fox, why isn't he dead yet?"
"Such bad luck! Just being near him feels like misfortune!"
Little Naruto walked somewhat helplessly down the street, his ears filled with the villagers' vicious curses.
When timidly entering a shop, he was even cursed at, pushed and shoved out by the shopkeeper.
His small body was directly pushed to the ground by a middle-aged shopkeeper.
"Who told you to come in? Scram! Such bad luck!"
The wretched little Naruto, after getting up, could only bow humbly and submissively, apologizing.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why, but I'm sorry."
He clearly did nothing wrong.
Yet he still had to apologize to those people.
But even Naruto, so strong and optimistic, still couldn't sleep through the night when it was dark and quiet, only able to hide under his quilt and weep silently.
From the nanny's initial vile behavior, to the villagers' vicious curses, and little Naruto secretly shedding tears.
Namikaze Minato saw all of this.
"How... how could it be like this? They..."
Minato's body trembled slightly, unsure if from sorrow or anger, his eyes also bloodshot.
"Naruto... actually lived in such extreme misplaced anger and malice all along?!"
Minato simply couldn't believe his eyes.
The villagers who were so respectful and friendly to him when he was alive actually had such an ugly and vicious side.
The villagers he sacrificed his life to protect, whom he regarded as family, were actually harming his child after his death!
Minato once thought the malice Kushina endured was already dark enough.
But he never expected the malice Naruto suffered to be ten, even a hundred times greater than Kushina's.
The Konoha higher-ups absolutely did not, as Minato had anticipated, publicize Naruto's identity as the Hokage's son after his death!
Instead, they allowed the malicious title "Demon Fox Incarnation" to spread throughout the village, causing the villagers' hatred for the Nine-Tails to be entirely transferred onto this child, Naruto!
As for claiming Naruto's identity as the Hokage's son was concealed to prevent enemies from seeking revenge?
Is "Hokage's son" more easily coveted than "Nine-Tails Jinchūriki"?! What a joke?!
Naruto, as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, was clearly a hero who imprisoned the Tailed Beast!
Why did he become the so-called Demon Fox Incarnation?!
And also...
"Kakashi! Teacher Jiraiya! And the Third! What on earth were they doing?!"
The Hokage's personal guard unit he personally trained, his student Kakashi, and his Teacher Jiraiya, as well as the Third Hokage in whom he placed his hopes...
None of these people ever appeared when Naruto was suffering, never once extended a helping hand.
Not even once!
Not even a single time!
Where were they?!
"Curious what your friends, teacher, and senior were doing?"
A hint of mockery appeared on Menma's lips: "Then let me show you."
With that, he waved his hand.
Several more mirrors appeared before Minato.
The mirror directly facing him showed Naruto, out of money to buy ramen, going alone to the stream to fish and gather mushrooms to satisfy his hunger.
Minato watched wide-eyed as Naruto put both poisonous and non-poisonous mushrooms into his basket.
And the other mirrors,
Respectively showed Hatake Kakashi squatting on a nearby tree, engrossed in reading a book with great relish.
Not far from him was Naruto, gathering mushrooms.
And Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raidō, and Tatami Iwashi laughing and playing at a barbecue restaurant.
This Genma Squad, composed of these three, was the personal guard team Namikaze Minato had single-handedly promoted and trained.
Minato had even taught them a weakened version of the Flying Thunder God Technique – the Flying Thunder God Formation.
Yet they did nothing.
"...Choosing self-preservation?"
Although he could understand their choice, Namikaze Minato still felt an immense pressure in his heart, slowly clenching his fists.
Immediately, he shifted his gaze to the last mirror.
That was Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage in whom he had placed such high hopes.
And he was currently using the Telescope Technique, observing Naruto's every move.
Until dusk, when Naruto had prepared everything.
Sarutobi Hiruzen changed into casual clothes and agilely came to the Forest of Death.
Only when he was about a hundred meters from Naruto did he slowly decelerate, hunching his back and sauntering to Naruto's side.
Next was feigning a chance encounter, insincerely expressing concern to gain goodwill, even taking a share of the meager grilled fish.
And Naruto's line, "If I get a stomachache tomorrow, it means the mushrooms are poisonous. If I don't, then they're not. I've always tested them this way."
Almost made Namikaze Minato break down on the spot.
Then, watching those scenes flash by one after another,
Minato's eyes grew graver, his expression darker.
"The former Shinobi Hero... how could he become so hypocritical, so nauseating!"
He trusted the Third. Even after becoming the Fourth Hokage, he still hadn't tried to reclaim power from the Third's hands.
And he and his wife sacrificed their lives to protect the village and villagers, sealing the Nine-Tails into their own child's body.
He had guessed that Naruto, as a Jinchūriki, would endure some strange looks from the villagers.
Because his wife had been a Jinchūriki and would also occasionally endure some gossip.
But since not many people knew, it wasn't a major issue.
And on his deathbed, he also believed the Third wouldn't let his child suffer, which is why he chose to die with his wife, entrusting Naruto to the Third.
He originally thought the Third would have the villagers treat Naruto as a hero.
But the result went contrary to his wishes.
The Third, in whom he placed such high hopes, did nothing at all!
The villagers treated Naruto as the Nine-Tails Demon Fox's incarnation!
Using Naruto as an outlet for their hatred!
Naruto, as the Hokage's son, was reduced to being unable to even solve the problem of basic sustenance!
And in stark contrast was Sarutobi Konohamaru, the Third Hokage's grandson!
Not only did he have two little followers, but even his own private tutor – practically the treatment of a crown prince of Konoha.
Wherever he went, villagers would greet him friendly, a completely different reaction compared to how they treated Naruto.
This display made Minato feel a dual sense of physiological and psychological discomfort.
All efforts, all ideals shattered by reality. The beliefs he once firmly held seemed so absurd and laughable at this moment.
"Naruto... I'm sorry... I... I didn't know..."
Minato turned to look at Naruto, his expression pained, lips trembling as he spoke.
His eyes held unconcealable guilt. He took a step forward, wanting to embrace Naruto.
But was deeply stung by the coldness in Naruto's azure blue eyes, freezing on the spot.
"It doesn't matter. I'm just very glad I met Menma-nii and Fox Teacher before I met the Third Hokage."
Naruto's expression and tone were calm, but the detachment was so evident.
This made Minato's heart grow even more bitter.
"...I'm sorry, Naruto. I'm really sorry."
Even though he had many things he wanted to say, even though he knew it was useless,
At this moment, he could only utter a belated apology.
No matter how high his prestige, how strong his power, before Naruto, he was an incompetent, helpless father.
And at the same time,
The scenes in the mirror already showed the Third's various purposeful visits.
And under Menma's guidance, Naruto had already learned much.
Learned all sorts of knowledge, learned how to disguise himself, molding himself into a "good person" who loved Konoha and inherited the Will of Fire.
As long as Menma and the Nine-Tails existed, Naruto could face all slander and malice with a smile, self-sufficient, self-reliant.
Especially when seeing Naruto's genuine smile when facing Menma and the Nine-Tails,
Minato's feelings became exceptionally complex.
"...Uzumaki Menma?"
Namikaze Minato turned his head, looking again at this mysterious man.
"Mm, that's me."
The two met eyes. Menma nodded without hesitation: "Are you wanting to question my identity, and my purpose for approaching Naruto?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Naruto beside them couldn't help but frown, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
Just as that book Evening Talks by the Fireside said: "Judge sages by their deeds, not their hearts; for if judged by their hearts, there are no sages in the world."
Naruto didn't know what Menma-nii's purpose for approaching him was.
He didn't want to know, nor did he care.
Menma had shown him far more than just the grace of teaching; their relationship was definitely not just teacher-student or friends.
But under Naruto's gaze, Minato instead shook his head with a bitter smile.
"If I were still Hokage, then I could question you from the Hokage's standpoint. But... I am already dead."
"The me now is merely an incompetent father, with no standing or qualification to question you."
Although he didn't know where Menma came from, nor what Menma's goal in approaching Naruto was,
Everything Menma had done allowed Naruto to possess independent thought and the strength to stand on his own.
In contrast, he, as Naruto's father, chose to die with his wife.
Naively entrusting Naruto to that hypocritical Third for care, ultimately leading to Naruto's tragic childhood experiences.
What right did he have to question someone who cared for Naruto?
"..."
Nearby, Menma, seeing the father and son fall into silence and a stalemate again,
Smiled warmly: "Fourth, I didn't call you out just to hear your apology."
"Apologizing for past mistakes is meaningless. You'd be better off thinking about how to compensate Naruto for the suffering he's endured all these years."
Little Nine-Tails also jumped from Menma's embrace onto the dejected Naruto's head, patting his head comfortingly.
"That's right, Fourth!"
He said with a serious face: "Empty apologies are no match for some actual compensation."
Compensation?
Minato paused upon hearing this. Snapping back, he took a deep breath, looking again at Naruto: "I know saying anything now is meaningless. But I want to try, as a father, to make up for my mistakes with actions."
"Naruto, I hope you can give me a chance."
Saying this, he took a step back, about to kneel before Naruto.
But Naruto suddenly extended his foot, blocking Minato's knees.
"Are you trying to get me struck by five thunders from heaven?"
Under Minato's astonished gaze, Naruto spoke with a complex tone.
Although this kind of etiquette was common in this world, although he still held resentment towards this cheap father,
Naruto, having received Menma's modern education, clearly couldn't calmly accept his father's kowtow.
"No, I mean, what should I do?"
But Minato didn't understand his thoughts, only thinking Naruto didn't intend to give him a chance to make amends.
Minato lowered his head somewhat despairingly, his tone somewhat vacant.
The Yellow Flash, feared on the battlefield, the Fourth Hokage with extremely high emotional intelligence, appeared so helpless, so fragile, when facing Naruto.
"Fourth, in a while, I will be leaving Konoha."
Menma beside them suddenly spoke: "And Naruto's training will temporarily be your responsibility to guide."
Minato was overjoyed upon hearing this, but then instantly deflated again.
"I also want to accompany Naruto, but I cannot."
He sighed deeply: "This chakra clone has limited existence time."
Minato's tone was very low.
Finally able to do something for Naruto, yet in the end, he could do nothing.
He now incomparably hated himself for choosing to die back then!
Why choose to leave Naruto alone?
However, facing Minato's concern, Menma's expression remained unchanged.
"No need to worry about that."
Menma said casually: "Since I decided to let you stay and take care of Naruto, I naturally thought of this point."
With that, he walked before Minato, slightly raising his hands.
One hand held blue Yang Release Chakra, the other black Yin Release Chakra.
He then gently pushed towards Minato, and the two chakra masses instantly enveloped Minato's entire body.
"This is... Yang Release Chakra and Yin Release Chakra? You can use them directly without needing ninjutsu?"
Minato looked in amazement at his body enveloped by the two types of chakra.
He could feel the soul fragments and chakra within his body gradually strengthening and increasing.
Meanwhile, little Nine-Tails jumped back onto Menma's shoulder.
Whispering close to Menma's ear, it grumbled: "Since it's all settled, then let my main body out first."
This seal being half-undone, this neither-here-nor-there feeling is terrible!
Menma couldn't help but raise an eyebrow upon hearing this.
"Are you sure you want me to release you now?"
(End of Chapter)
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