Chapter 196: Minato and Kushina
What exactly did Kitagawa Gen mean? Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others probably didn't fully understand…
But just from seeing how excited Tobirama was, it was clear enough—Gen's plans for the Hidden Cloud were nothing short of ruthless.
Every proposal he made pushed Kumogakure closer to a dead end.
Yet ironically, these very same ideas brought tremendous benefit to Konoha's alliance. Hiruzen already felt the headache of future debates with Ōnoki and Genji…
---
"Finally out."
Gen muttered, shaking off the politics. Those disputes had little to do with him anyway—he wasn't Hokage, after all.
What really occupied his mind was Tsunade's research. Now that he'd given her some critical information, what kind of progress would she make?
"Especially Kakashi's eye… it won't last much longer."
Ever since learning the truth about his Sharingan, Kakashi had been using it recklessly. Who knew how long it could hold out? Unfortunately, Tsunade's research hadn't advanced quickly enough, so Gen could only drop hints where possible.
"And then there's Akatsuki… looks like they've started to change. Interesting."
That piece of news came from Kisame, which made sense—Akatsuki had been suffering constant beatings "under different names" from Gen. If they didn't adapt now, they'd have no future at all.
"But I didn't expect the biggest victim to be… not Black Zetsu, but Itachi Uchiha?"
Gen rubbed his chin, half amused. Thinking back, Itachi's luck had been nothing but terrible ever since crossing paths with him.
Akatsuki's philosophy was basically: 'If he isn't dead yet, then keep squeezing him dry.'
They had Itachi constantly dragged back from the brink, only to be thrown into battle again.
"That'll just burn him out faster… but I suppose you could call it a small power-up."
Gen wasn't sure how White Zetsu cells would affect Itachi, but he doubted Itachi could endure for long. Not that it mattered—no matter how much they "strengthened" Akatsuki, as long as Gen didn't act like a reckless Ōtsutsuki, he'd be fine.
"Still, I should keep an eye on others… ah well. Time to deal with Naruto's matter first."
He hadn't forgotten the "home visit" task tied to Naruto. Asura was truly stingy—Sasuke had gotten a special mission and immediately received part of a unique Yin Release chakra reward. Yet Naruto? Even after two rounds, Gen still had no idea what reward awaited him.
"Once I get that reward… I'll head for the moon."
The thought made him grin. With a flicker of Flying Thunder God, Gen vanished, reappearing in his own room.
---
"Ah, you're back, Senpai?"
The moment he landed, Karin's voice greeted him. Turning, he saw her and Naruto busy planting flowers.
Despite their best intentions, they had somehow managed to kill every plant they tended… but at least their attitude was earnest. Naruto especially worked with almost comical seriousness.
"Heh, all done!"
Naruto beamed, dirt smudged across his face.
"Thanks. Tonight, you're buying dinner."
Gen plopped down casually, flashing a teasing smile.
"Eh?!"
Naruto nodded on reflex, then immediately froze.
"Wait, what? Me? I helped you plant these!"
"Didn't you also help kill them?"
"E-even so! Shouldn't Karin pitch in too?"
"But her stipend isn't as high as your allowance. Besides…"
Naruto's face turned green. Gen beckoned him over with a mischievous grin.
"Come here. I want to try something. Might sting a bit."
"…What now?"
Grumbling, Naruto reluctantly sat down. Gen placed a hand on his stomach.
"Karin, set up a barrier. No matter what happens, don't panic. And you—Naruto."
"Huh?"
Gen smirked.
"Tonight, you're definitely paying."
The instant he finished speaking, Gen's chakra surged. Heat exploded in Naruto's abdomen, and suddenly, a flood of crimson chakra burst out of him!
---
"This is reckless…"
Karin had long noticed the sinister chakra hidden inside Naruto. Sharing the same surname, she couldn't help but be curious, but she had never spoken of it—everyone had their secrets, just as Gen did.
"Seriously, Senpai, what are you doing?"
Karin asked, though she obediently wove the sealing barrier. Since coming to Konoha, she had learned a lot about seals and barriers, and this was one of her strengths.
"…Still, I don't think anything will go wrong."
She whispered to herself.
Meanwhile, Naruto groaned in pain, his body burning with heat. In his haze, he glimpsed it—
A gigantic fox, roaring within the depths of his soul.
"Focus. Control your emotions."
Just then, Kitagawa Gen's voice suddenly echoed in Naruto's mind.
"And remember—don't move around, don't struggle. As long as I'm here, nothing will go wrong."
"You… this guy…"
The moment he heard that voice, Naruto's whole body slowly calmed down.
His trust in Kitagawa Gen was unimaginable. Sure, he always thought Gen's personality was as nasty as it gets—but still… This was his very first true friend, the first person who had ever really acknowledged him!
As Naruto forced himself to stay calm, Kitagawa Gen quietly slipped into his spiritual world.
The first thing he did upon arriving was glance down at the reflections in the water below.
"Looks like I really can control this well."
Seeing his reflection, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Not as convenient as using the Byakugan or Tenseigan to come in directly… but this will do."
He began walking forward, and the moment he did, the imprisoned Nine-Tails stirred. Its eyes snapped open, harsh breaths rattling from its throat—but Gen had no intention of wasting words with it.
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu."
With a single hand seal, roaring chakra thundered across the spiritual world.
The Nine-Tails bellowed furiously as the massive cage shattered open in an instant. The wooden dragon coiled upward, binding the beast tightly.
"Senju Hashirama? No…! Who are you?!"
The Nine-Tails roared, but Gen didn't pause.
"Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is—I need your cooperation. Now stay quiet."
"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique."
A colossal wooden figure rose with a ground-shaking boom, and Gen shifted his hand seals again.
"Wood Release: Kōan Nyūten Suishu!"
The wooden giant's palm pressed down on the Nine-Tails' head. As the glowing character for "Sit" appeared, the beast froze, its body swaying before all nine tails drooped lifelessly.
Within moments, the great fox collapsed unconscious. Only two clusters of chakra drifted upward, slowly taking shape.
"Well then… greetings to you both."
Smiling faintly at the sight, Gen let himself be lowered to the ground by the wooden giant's palm.
With a pulse of chakra, Naruto was drawn into the space too, blinking in confusion at the scene.
"Huh? This place…!"
Naruto's eyes went wide. He recognized this place—this was where the Nine-Tails was sealed.
And now…
"You broke the cage?! And… you knocked out that fox?!"
He gaped at the sight of the beast bound in wooden coils, its head pinned beneath the wooden titan's hand, completely unconscious.
"This is bad! If the cage is gone, then doesn't that mean—"
"What's there to worry about? It's just a seal. Fixing it is nothing."
Gen waved him off, his gaze fixed firmly on the two chakra forms.
"And besides… I told you that you'd be treating me tonight, and I always keep my word."
As he spoke, the two clusters of chakra slowly condensed into human figures.
A blond man.
A red-haired woman.
The two of them appeared before Naruto and Gen.
Naruto froze the instant he saw them, his mind struggling to process it. There were people sealed inside him?
And more than that—just looking at them stirred an overwhelming urge to cry. The feeling shook him to his core, leaving him both restless and unsettled.
"They… they look so familiar…"
Naruto turned toward Gen, forcing an awkward smile—only to receive a sharp knock on the head.
"Idiot! You walk past the Hokage Rock every day and never bothered to remember the Fourth Hokage's face?!"
"The… the Fourth Hokage? What's he doing here?! Is this because of the fox?!"
"Are you seriously this dense, or just pretending to be?"
"I…"
Naruto's throat tightened. He couldn't find words. His eyes were already turning red.
"Lord Fourth. Kushina-senpai. It's an honor."
Gen ruffled Naruto's blond hair and then stepped forward, bowing slightly.
"Uh… hello…"
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki both still looked stunned, clearly lost in confusion.
Their sudden manifestation was a result of the broken seal and the Nine-Tails' surge of chakra. They had expected disaster—but instead, what they saw left them speechless.
Especially when their eyes fell on Naruto. Their emotions surged too strongly to be hidden.
"What… what exactly is going on here?"
Kushina finally broke the silence, her voice trembling.
"And you—who are you?"
"I'm a jōnin of Konoha. One of Naruto's instructors. And more importantly—his friend."
Gen smiled faintly, his voice calm.
"Congratulations. Naruto is now a shinobi. I'm simply here for a routine home visit."
He gave a little bow.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you both."