"Senior Shibi is right. So our next step should be figuring out the truth about Rōran," Namikaze Minato said.
"Oh right, Minato—besides the puppets, we also encountered something else."
Shibi Aburame then explained everything they had learned about Naruto to Minato.
After hearing the account, Minato frowned and said, "The Hokage entrusted this mission solely to me. No other shinobi from the village should be involved."
"But that shinobi was definitely wearing a Konoha forehead protector, and he's not weak," said Uchiha Yuan.
"Yuan is right. I saw it too," Shibi added.
"In that case, no matter what, we should verify his identity. He's already inside the ancient capital of Rōran. Let's move out," Minato suggested.
The others agreed, and under Shibi's lead, they began heading toward where Naruto was located.
Meanwhile, over on Naruto's side, events were unfolding much as they had in the original timeline. Mere minutes after Yuan and the others spotted him, Naruto was surrounded by armored puppets.
Minato was just about to intervene when red chakra burst from Naruto's body, and two tails appeared behind him.
Among all Konoha shinobi, Minato was perhaps the one most familiar with Nine-Tails chakra—aside from the Jinchūriki themselves. He'd lived with Kushina for years and had seen it countless times. Kushina could also control part of the Nine-Tails' power herself.
Even though the chakra emanating from this blond-haired boy felt a little strange overall, there was no doubt: it was definitely Nine-Tails chakra.
As Minato's student, Kakashi had also seen Nine-Tails chakra before. He looked to his teacher, stunned. "Minato-sensei..."
"This boy cannot be harmed. Wait here—I'll go save him," said Minato before vanishing from sight.
In a flash, he reappeared with Naruto in tow.
"Wh—who are you people?!" Naruto was startled by the sudden group and asked warily.
"Are you a Konoha shinobi?" Shibi asked.
"Of course!"
Minato knew he shouldn't trust this boy so easily—but strangely, he felt an inexplicable sense of trust toward him.
He hesitated for a moment, then removed his mask and took out a Konoha forehead protector. "We're Konoha shinobi too."
Naruto froze when he saw the face beneath the mask—then immediately lit up with excitement. "Dad! What are you doing here?!"
Shibi and Kakashi were both stunned. Dad? What kind of development was this?
An awkward silence fell over the group.
Just then, another figure appeared in the distance.
Seeing Naruto, he rushed over. "Naruto! There you are—I thought you... huh? Fourth Hokage?! Why are you here?"
"And who are you?" Shibi asked the new arrival, who was also wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
"I'm Yamato, the leader of Naruto's squad on this mission."
After some explanation, Minato pieced together the situation.
He then turned to Naruto. "Why do you have a tailed beast's chakra inside you?"
Minato knew he probably shouldn't be asking that question. Tailed beasts were immensely important. Their transfer only happened if something had happened to the previous Jinchūriki.
If Naruto had Nine-Tails chakra, it could mean something had happened to Kushina.
Even Minato, usually composed, was visibly shaken.
Naruto's answer only deepened the tension: "Because I'm the village's Jinchūriki!"
"What about your mother?" Minato asked again.
"Mom? She's probably at home right now. She hasn't been on any missions lately."
"Is your mother's name Kushina?"
"Of course my mom is Kushina! Eh? Dad, why are you asking me this? Don't tell me... you liked someone else before?"
Hearing that, Minato scratched his head awkwardly. So Kushina was fine... but how did the Nine-Tails end up inside Naruto?
"Lord Fourth, I think you're actually asking why Naruto has Nine-Tails chakra inside him," Yamato offered tentatively.
"You know the reason?" Minato asked.
"This isn't exactly a secret in the village. When your wife was giving birth, the Nine-Tails was released. You and the Fifth Hokage defeated it together.
"During the battle, the Fifth Hokage used Mangekyō Sharingan to cut the Nine-Tails into four parts.
"Two of those parts still had their own consciousness and were sealed back into Lady Kushina. The remaining two were just pure chakra.
"One portion of that chakra was sealed inside Naruto. The other was taken by the Fifth Hokage.
"Later, the Fifth also gathered chakra from other tailed beasts. Using the portion of Nine-Tails chakra within Naruto as a base, and combining it with the rest, they created an entirely new tailed beast.
"That's why Naruto became the second Jinchūriki of the village."
After hearing Yamato's explanation, everyone had different expressions.
Minato was first relieved Kushina was safe—then shocked. He was astonished that someone from the Uchiha clan had grown strong enough to cut the Nine-Tails into four parts and seal it—let alone become Hokage after him.
Shibi and Kakashi, on the other hand, weren't thinking quite so deeply. They only had one thought:
An Uchiha became Hokage? There's no way the Hokage, the two advisers, or Danzō would have ever agreed to that!
Uchiha Yuan silently lowered his head. Deep down, he had a feeling...
That Fifth Hokage was probably himself.
Not to mention—this "stunt" with Naruto and the tailed beast? He had been considering doing something very similar recently.
(To Be Continued...)