Slowly, Minato's Chakra-formed body began to turn transparent, like a thin mist about to dissipate in the morning light. The time for farewell had, after all, arrived.
"My Chakra is no longer sufficient..."
Minato felt his consciousness gradually blurring and his connection to the present world weakening. He spoke with a touch of reluctance and bitterness.
He lowered the hand that was stroking Naruto's hair, watching his own body become increasingly ethereal, his eyes filled with deep regret. He truly wished to witness this child's future with his own eyes... But as someone long deceased, he knew he didn't have that right.
"You truly make me proud," he struggled to maintain a gentle smile, "And your mother... When I return, I will surely tell her your story, exactly as it happened... She actually... also has so, so many things she wants to say to you..."
Naruto watched his father's gradually disappearing figure, a surge of impulse rising within him. He wanted to say something to make him stay. "Dad... It won't be too long! Once everything here is over, I will definitely find the Shinigami's face...?!"
However, Minato's unfinished words and Naruto's urgent promise both stopped simultaneously!
Because the Fourth Hokage's figure, which had already become mostly transparent and almost merged into the spatial light particles, solidified and became clear again, as if time had reversed!
The power that was about to pull his consciousness back to the Pure Land was forcibly interrupted. His consciousness was forcefully anchored in this Seal space, like by a solid "anchor"!
"Alright, it's done."
The Nine-Tailed's voice, carrying a hint of playfulness, sounded at the opportune moment. "But this isn't for you. This old one is just afraid Naruto will be sad. You're really getting off easy."
It looked at the two, especially Minato's expression, which was full of surprise and anticipation for an explanation, and flicked its huge tail, continuing.
"This old one has injected a trace of its Origin Chakra into your remaining consciousness. Of course, when the Seal shackles were still present, this old one couldn't have done this. Chakra simply couldn't have been transferred to you so smoothly."
"Now, as long as this old one's Chakra continues to recover, it can continuously nourish this wisp of consciousness you've left behind, allowing you to temporarily maintain your existence." The Nine-Tailed glanced at Minato with a malicious grin, looking forward to a good show. "Fourth Hokage... this old one is truly 'eager' for you to see with your own eyes what kind of expressions those hypocritical fellows in Konoha, who once mistreated Naruto, will reveal."
It finished speaking unceremoniously, then turned to Naruto, its voice noticeably softer than when it spoke to Minato just now.
"Also, this old one has some important matters that must be made clear in front of both of you. You," it pointed a claw at Minato, "also need to listen carefully here, understand?"
The Nine-Tailed spoke in a commanding tone, then looked at Naruto again, who was still in shock from his father being "lost and found," trying to process the sudden turn of events.
"Naruto..." The Nine-Tailed's voice softened. "This old one just now... through the Chakra connection, saw some fragments of memories deep within your Soul."
It observed Naruto's reaction. "So, that's why you seemed a bit... at a loss, not knowing how to interact naturally when facing Kushina, and the Fourth Hokage, right? Feeling like there was a layer between you, right?"
Memories? Didn't know how to interact?
Minato's brows furrowed slightly as he heard these words, his heart filled with confusion. Naruto... didn't know how to interact with him? What did that mean?
"Nine-Tailed, what do you mean by that?" Minato couldn't help but ask.
"Hmph," the Nine-Tailed snorted, answering in the simplest and most direct way, "Simply put, this kid's perception has a slight deviation. He was misled by some complex memory fragments in his Soul, making him suspect... that he might not be your true child."
Watching Minato's pupils suddenly contract and Naruto's somewhat stunned expression, the Nine-Tailed flicked its tail and continued,
"Anyway, there's still some time until dawn, so this old one will make things completely clear to you both right here."
——————
Some time later, within the Seal space.
The Nine-Tailed comfortably stretched its massive body, lying prone on the now exceptionally soft and comfortable grass, its huge tail gently tapping the ground intermittently.
Naruto's main consciousness had returned to sleep to rest, as mental conversations also consumed energy, and the body instinctively needed sleep to recover.
Minato Namikaze sat silently to the side, his face seemingly calm and unruffled, but anyone familiar with his personality would know that his heart was currently deep in thought.
The future... Naruto... once sacrificed himself? Then his Soul went to another completely different world, living a peaceful life unrelated to Ninja... Finally, he returned here, but forgot most of his memories?
The impact of this information was already immense. However, there was another truth revealed—the culprit who killed his wife, controlled the Nine-Tailed to attack Konoha, causing countless casualties, that mysterious masked man... his true identity was?!
"Obito..."
Minato murmured the name to himself. He simply couldn't connect the enthusiastic, cheerful, compassionate, somewhat reckless black-haired youth from his memories, who always adhered to the belief of "protecting comrades," with that cold, cruel demon who orchestrated the Nine-Tails Attack.
"So noisy."
The Nine-Tailed's disdainful voice came from the side, with a clear hint of provocation. "Do you think this old one wants to share a consciousness space with you? Stay away from me when there's nothing going on, just looking at you is annoying."
Minato was pulled back from his painful thoughts. He looked up at the Nine-Tailed. "Nine-Tailed... I am grateful that you kept me here. But I am, after all, a deceased person, someone who should not continue to exist in this world... I should not interfere too much with the order and destiny of the present world..."
"Shut up!"
The Nine-Tailed abruptly turned its massive head towards Minato, its voice deep and oppressive, its eyes flashing with anger.
"You are even more ignorant and rigid than this old one imagined, Fourth Hokage!"
It growled, "'Deceased people should not return to this world'? Who decreed such a narrow view?! Do you know what we Tailed Beasts are? We are formed from immense Chakra, and there is no such thing as what you humans call 'death'! This old one has lived for thousands of years, so am I to be denied by you the way of life and choices this old one recognizes?!"
Although they were now in a "roommate" relationship, the Nine-Tailed's attitude towards Minato was clearly worse and more impatient than even its worst moments with Naruto.
It looked at Minato's silent demeanor, snorted coldly, and impatiently pawed at the ground with its huge claw.
"Naruto will wake up soon... After dawn, this old one has some 'things' that I absolutely must make you see with your own eyes."
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