Just as the Nine-Tailed, Matatabi, and Gyuki were busy comparing information within the shared mental space, Naruto stood atop the Hokage Rock, staring blankly at Minato. The boy felt a strange sense of familiarity wash over him as he looked at the figure standing against the wind. The presence Minato radiated was warm yet inexplicably haunting, sparking a distant memory that Naruto could not quite grasp, making him feel as though he had seen this person in a dream long ago.
Who are you?
My name is Minato Namikaze.
Minato gazed at Naruto with a soft, practiced warmth in his blue eyes while his mind remained detached and analytical. What is your name?
Uzumaki Naruto, my name is Uzumaki Naruto.
Naruto replied hurriedly, his voice filled with a mix of awe and sudden excitement. You look so much like me.
After all, they were father and son. Minato could not help but let out a light laugh, though internally he was calculating the boy's potential utility. His eyes fell on the paint bucket held tightly in Naruto's small, stained hand. Are you going to play a prank?
Yeah, want to join?
Naruto nodded heavily, baring his teeth in a wide, mischievous grin as he looked up at Minato.
If you play pranks, everyone will hate you, you know, Minato said in a gentle, melodic tone, sounding exactly like a concerned older brother or a patient teacher coaxing a troubled child.
They already hate me a lot.
Naruto curled his lip in a momentary lapse of his energetic facade. For some reason, the boy felt an overwhelming urge to be honest with this stranger. I just want everyone to notice me.
Why do you have to manifest your presence so forcefully?
Minato shook his head slightly, his golden hair shimmering in the sunlight. When a flower blooms, butterflies will naturally flock to it. Your existence is an objective fact that no one can change; why do you need to prove anything to others?
Naruto pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes, thinking for a long time as he processed the deep words. Finally, a spark of understanding lit up his face, and he punched his palm with a loud smack. Ah! You're right! But how can I bloom, like you said?
Become stronger, become reliable.
Minato glanced at Naruto, noting the boy's ragged clothes and lonely aura. You should have already entered the Ninja Academy, right?
Ah—haha.
Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly, a nervous sweat breaking out on his brow as he realized he had skipped his lessons for the day.
Minato saw the boy's obvious embarrassment. Skipped class?
Aren't you the same?
Naruto feigned a look of composure, trying to turn the tables on the older teen. You must be a student at the school too, right?
I'm not.
Minato was not wearing a Forehead Protector today, as the one he possessed had a deep, meaningful scratch running through the leaf symbol.
However, I can teach you some Ninjutsu, which might solve your troubles. Do you want to learn? Minato asked.
I do!
Naruto nodded his head repeatedly with fervent energy. Although he did not know why, Minato gave off a very reliable feeling that made him trust the stranger unconditionally.
Then come with me.
Minato spoke with a pleasant smile, leading Naruto toward the training grounds. Naruto dropped his paint bucket without a second thought and quickly followed by Minato's side. As the two arrived on the busy streets of the village, the atmosphere shifted instantly. When the passersby saw Naruto, they instinctively frowned and stepped aside to avoid his path, their eyes filled with coldness.
However, when their gazes shifted to the young man walking beside the boy, their expressions transformed into masks of pure disbelief. Some older villagers stood frozen in the middle of the road, their faces turning pale with shock.
Hey, hey—I'm not seeing things, am I? That's—
The Fourth Hokage? He looks so much like him!
Because Minato's current appearance was simply a scaled-up version of his younger self, the people recognized the resemblance at a single glance. After all, that very face was carved in giant stone directly above the village. Minato did not intend to hide his presence or his face, openly leading Naruto through the center of the town.
Soon, within the quiet halls of the Hokage Office, the silence was shattered. Hokage-sama, this is bad!
An Anbu operative rushed into the room without a formal knock. An unknown person has appeared in the village and is approaching Uzumaki Naruto. That person looks very much like the Fourth Hokage!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was busy processing a mountain of documents, looked up with wide eyes. The Fourth Hokage?
Uh, yes, but he looks very young, about the same age as Uzumaki Naruto, but his appearance is exactly like the Fourth's, even his style of dress is—
Before the Anbu could finish the report, Hiruzen took out a crystal ball and performed the Telescope Technique to capture Naruto's Chakra signature. His vision landed on Minato walking calmly beside the boy. In the next second, as if sensing the intrusion, Minato in the crystal ball looked up and met Hiruzen's gaze across the distance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly broke out in goosebumps as a chill ran down his spine. What exactly was going on? Was it a dead person coming back to life, or perhaps a case of reincarnation? Calculating the time, if there really were such a thing as reincarnation, the timing would match this child's age perfectly. Seeing the two walking toward the Third Training Ground, Hiruzen abandoned his work. He grabbed his hat and jumped out of the window.
On the streets of Konoha, Inoichi Yamanaka, Nara Shikaku, and Akimichi Choza were walking together. The three friends had nothing to do today and were discussing where to find a few drinks. Suddenly, Shikaku's footsteps faltered. His eyes went wide as he looked at Minato and Naruto walking toward them from a distance.
The Fourth Hokage?!
The two men beside him followed his gaze and were immediately frozen in place as if struck by a bolt of lightning. Minato naturally noticed the legendary trio and gave them a slight, polite nod, but his footsteps did not slow down for even a moment.
I say, Minato—
Although Naruto was usually slow to catch on, even he noticed that the people on the street were acting very strange. Everyone seems to be quite afraid of you.
Probably because my presence is quite strong?
Minato said gently, offering a simple answer without giving any real explanation. Soon, they arrived at the Third Training Ground. Just as they reached the center of the field, Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed over to intercept them. Minato could clearly sense the dozens of Anbu hidden in the shadows nearby, their killing intent suppressed but present.
Ah—it's Grandpa Third!
Seeing Hiruzen, a genuine smile appeared on Naruto's face. Hiruzen smiled awkwardly at the boy, but after noticing Minato's calm, piercing gaze, his heart suddenly sank into his chest.
Little Naruto—
Hiruzen felt his throat go dry as he spoke. Grandpa has something to talk to this older brother about. Why don't you go play by yourself for a while?
Naruto looked at Minato for confirmation. Mm—okay, don't take too long, Minato promised to teach me Ninjutsu.
Minato!
Hiruzen's eyelids jumped at the mention of the name, and he hurriedly nodded to the boy. It was not until Naruto had run far enough away that the old man looked at Minato with a deeply complex expression. Child, you are—
I am Minato Namikaze, but not the Minato of this world.
Minato spoke calmly, his voice devoid of any warmth. However, given my personality, I should have asked you to take good care of my child before I died, Sandaime. It's just that Naruto doesn't seem to be doing very well.
Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat at the direct confrontation. Not the Minato of this world? A parallel world? Hiruzen breathed a secret sigh of relief; it was fine as long as it was not a ghost or a resurrection of the man he knew.
It's a long story—
Hiruzen sighed heavily. Back then, during the Nine-Tails' attack, the Minato of this world died to save the village. Considering that Minato was a hero of the Third Shinobi World War and had many enemies, I could only hide Naruto's identity for his own safety.
I see—
Minato nodded understandingly, though a cold glint appeared in his eyes. The identity of the hero's son needs to be hidden, but the identity of the Jinchuriki can be exposed. If you hadn't said so, I would have thought the Jinchuriki was a greater threat to enemies than the hero's son. Then I really must thank Sandaime for giving me a reason to live well, to prevent myself from following in the footsteps of the other me.
As the words fell, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into a stunned silence. Minato's words were like a loud slap, fiercely striking his face in front of his subordinates. He even felt that the way the surrounding Anbu looked at him had changed.
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