Land of Fire, Konoha.
Look, that guy is out in public again—
That—Demon Fox!
Ugh, how disgusting. Do not come over here—
A small blonde boy walked quietly through the busy streets of Konoha, his bright orange tracksuit decorated with the red Uzumaki crest on the back.
Feeling the cold whispers and harsh looks around him, Uzumaki Naruto was already used to it and did not show much of an emotional reaction.
Boss, I need two buckets of paint!
Arriving at a small paint shop, Naruto slapped his money down onto the wooden counter with a very vibrant and energetic smile.
The shop owner frowned at him, looking very displeased to see the boy.
However, Konoha had been far too peaceful these past two years, and there was not much demand for new home renovations lately. He saw no reason to turn away good money, so he took Naruto's cash and waved him off, signaling for him to just pick two buckets and get lost.
Hehe~
Naruto carried the heavy paint buckets and swaggered out of the shop, heading straight for the massive Hokage Rock.
He was going to do something truly big today!
As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto had endured enough cold stares and mean comments from the villagers over the years; he was sick of living his life like a complete nobody.
So, after thinking about it for a long time, he came up with a way that would surely attract everyone's attention.
That was to do something that others simply did not dare to do, and simply could not do!
Watching Naruto walk toward the Hokage Rock with that silly look on his face, not only Minato, but even Matatabi and Gyuki could easily guess what he was planning to do.
Is this the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of this specific space-time? He looks to be quite dim-witted.
Inside the dark Seal space, Matatabi curiously observed Naruto's small figure from a distance.
More importantly, Minato, look at the stone portrait on the far right of that Hokage Rock. It looks exactly like you!
Gyuki rumbled in a deep voice: It seems you actually became the fourth generation leader of Konoha. But with your level of strength, it should not have been this easy for us to slip into the village.
I am probably dead in this world, right?
Minato said very calmly: Normally, the Jinchuriki of this generation in Konoha should be Uzumaki Kushina—my girlfriend.
Wait, isn't your girlfriend a member of the Uchiha? Matatabi's eyes widened in surprise.
That is the other one.
Minato laughed a bit awkwardly, leaving both of the Tailed Beasts in a long moment of stunned silence.
This child... he should be the future child belonging to Kushina and me.
I can tell. He has the same hair and eye color, though he looks a lot more simple-minded than you are, Gyuki noted with great interest.
His face shape is very much like Kushina's, Minato said with a soft smile.
This kid's current situation is not great at all.
Gyuki watched Naruto's back as he climbed. It seems the "you" of this world really is dead; otherwise, he would never end up living in this state. I even suspect the people here do not even know his true identity.
Your suspicion is completely correct.
Seeing that Naruto was just about to start his colorful graffiti, Minato's body dissolved into tiny specks of bright light and instantly reappeared directly behind the young boy.
If you play these kinds of pranks, everyone will only grow to dislike you even more.
Waaah!!
The sudden sound of the voice gave Naruto a huge fright. He spun around quickly, looking at the newcomer like a startled and defensive cat.
Upon seeing Minato's face clearly, Naruto could not help but freeze in place.
The same bright hair color, the same blue eyes, and they looked to be roughly the same age.
The cold wind on the cliff gently brushed the collar of the stranger's white haori, and his handsome face wore a very warm and approachable smile.
For some reason, Naruto's heart suddenly began to throb very violently inside his chest.
At the same time, deep inside the dark Seal space.
Minato! NAMIKAZE!
Accompanied by a frenzied and angry roar, the Nine-Tails suddenly sat up, looking at Minato with a gaze that was full of alarm and pure fear.
This is impossible, that guy is dead—Wait, these two Chakra signatures—
You are still just as irritable as ever, Kurama.
Gyuki's voice echoed loudly in the Nine-Tails' mind, and the Nine-Tails gave a cold and sharp snort.
Are you sharing a room with Matatabi now? If I remember correctly, you two should be stuck in Kumogakure right now.
Minato released us.
Matatabi's single short sentence immediately made the Nine-Tails boil over with a sudden rage.
What did you just say?
Hearing this, the Nine-Tails' crimson slit pupils were filled with complete disbelief. He actually released you?
That is not how he treated me back in the day!
He just went 'clack-clack' and split my body in two, then dragged the other half down into the Shinigami's stomach—
And now you are telling me that he just released you?
What exactly is going on here?
We are not the Tailed Beasts of this specific world, but it seems that no matter which world it is, the connection between us still exists, Gyuki remarked with deep emotion.
Hmph—
The Nine-Tails gave a tsundere snort and lay back down on the floor.
If they were truly from another world, then there was nothing to be surprised about.
It seems that no matter the world, this kid is an extraordinary fellow.
Gazing at Minato, the Nine-Tails' expression was somewhat complicated and hard to read.
Of course, after all, he possesses two different types of Kekkei Genkai and even inherited the First Hokage's Wood Release—
Hold on just a second—
The Nine-Tails raised its head once again, its eyes full of shock. Two types of Kekkei Genkai? Wood Release? What on earth is that all about?
Does the Minato of this world not have those powers? Gyuki scratched his head.
The kid in this world has no Kekkei Genkai at all! He only knows one move, the Flying Thunder God, flashing around everywhere like a damn fly.
The Nine-Tails gripped the heavy bars of the Seal space cage. So, you were all sealed by him too, right?
We were sealed by him, yes, but it is very different from your case.
Matatabi chuckled softly. We encountered a powerful enemy, and at the critical moment, Minato sealed us away. Otherwise, we would have been picked off one by one. Besides the two of us, Son Goku, Kokuo, and Chomei have all been released by him already.
We believe Minato is the person from the Old Man's ancient prophecy. Only now do we realize the Minato from our world is very different.
Gyuki naturally understood the Nine-Tails' strange mood.
It was a case of being worried about your brothers' suffering, but even more worried about them doing better than you.
Hearing this, the Nine-Tails was completely stunned in its place.
Why is it that my timing was just so very bad?
Although he could not say he watched them grow up, he knew all about Minato and Kushina's early romance. Thinking about it now, with Minato's personality, he truly was the most likely person to reach a mutual understanding with the Tailed Beasts.
Why is the Minato of our world so incredibly weak?! The Nine-Tails looked very frustrated.
To become the Hokage, he could not have been weak, right? By the way, how did the Minato here actually die? Gyuki asked with curiosity.
The Nine-Tails guiltily looked away and avoided the question. Do not worry about that. So, what are you guys doing here?
We arrived in this world by a total accident. Although we have found a way back, Minato wants to take a good look around. After all, this world could very well be the future of ours.
Gyuki explained the situation: But looking at it now, there are some clear differences between here and our world, mainly regarding Minato himself. That is why I wanted to ask how the Minato of this world died. With his level of strength, no one should have been able to kill him.
Uh—
The Nine-Tails' mouth twitched slightly. You could say he died for love. He could have lived.
Died for love?
Matatabi and Gyuki looked at each other in confusion.
...
Matatabi got a bit gossipy: So—the person he loved died?
Mm— the Nine-Tails grunted.
Matatabi pressed further: Was the one who died from the Uzumaki Clan, or was it the Uchiha Clan? Or did they both die?
Nine-Tails: ???
What the hell is this guy even talking about right now?
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