The early morning sun rose gently over the Hidden Leaf Village, its golden light cascading across rooftops still scarred from the Nine-Tails' rampage. Rebuilding efforts echoed throughout the streets—hammer strikes, shouts, and chakra-fueled repair teams working tirelessly to restore what had been lost.
Tharion walked silently through the village's main road, his cloak flowing softly in the wind. Though his face remained calm, his mind was focused. After ensuring Obito's retreat, he had taken the last few hours to monitor the perimeter before returning. The lingering scent of burning wood and soot still filled the air.
As he reached Minato and Kushina's home, he found it cordoned off by ANBU guards. One of them turned to him as he approached.
"They're not here," the ANBU said, his voice formal. "The Fourth and Lady Kushina are in the hospital for post-delivery recovery and chakra stabilization."
Tharion nodded slightly. "Thank you."
Without another word, he made his way toward Konoha Hospital. The halls were bustling—shinobi injured during the attack, nurses rushing from room to room, and medical-nin tending to the wounded. The scent of antiseptic filled the air.
He soon reached the special ward at the end of the corridor, guarded by two elite ANBU. Recognizing him, they let him through after a brief inspection.
Inside, he found Minato sitting beside a bed where Kushina rested, her bright red hair slightly disheveled but her smile warm as she cradled a small bundle—Naruto.
When Minato looked up, his tired eyes softened. "You came back," he said with quiet relief.
Tharion smiled faintly, walking closer. "Of course I did. I said I'd return in two days."
Kushina chuckled lightly, though her voice was weak. "You vanished without saying much… Minato was starting to think you'd gone rogue already."
"I was making sure the danger wouldn't return," Tharion replied, tone steady but reassuring.
Just then, the door slid open, and Kakashi Hatake entered the room. His expression softened upon seeing his sensei alive and the baby in Kushina's arms.
"Sensei," Kakashi said quietly, bowing slightly. "I'm glad… you're okay."
Minato smiled. "Kakashi, this is my cousin—Tharion Namikaze. He's… recently returned from a long journey."
Kakashi turned his gaze to Tharion, who extended a hand. "You've got sharp eyes, kid. Good—keep them that way."
Kakashi hesitated for a second before shaking it firmly. There was something about Tharion's presence—calm but heavy, as though he'd seen more wars than any shinobi his age.
Moments later, another visitor entered—Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, carrying his pipe though he hadn't lit it. His wise eyes studied Tharion carefully.
"So," Hiruzen said with a small smile, "this is the mysterious relative Minato spoke of."
Tharion bowed respectfully. "Lord Third. It's an honor."
"The honor's mine," Hiruzen replied, placing a hand behind his back. "From what I've heard, you helped during the Nine-Tails' assault. The village owes you gratitude."
Tharion shook his head. "I only did what anyone with power should've done. Protect the innocent."
There was a brief silence before Minato looked up at him. "You mentioned you were looking to settle down?"
Tharion nodded. "Yes. After years of traveling between lands, I think it's time I stayed in one place. And… I'd like to be of use to this village. If possible, I'd like to apply for a position as a teacher in the Ninja Academy."
Hiruzen's brows rose with interest. "A teacher?"
"Yes," Tharion replied. "Children need someone who can guide them not only in strength but in control and principle. I've seen too many lose their path. If I can help even a few of them find balance, it's worth it."
Minato exchanged a thoughtful look with Hiruzen, then smiled. "I think that's an excellent idea. The Academy always needs capable mentors, especially after the recent losses."
Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "I'll see to it that your registration is processed. The village can always use another strong shinobi with discipline and wisdom."
Kushina grinned from her bed, rocking baby Naruto gently. "You'd make a good teacher, Tharion. Just don't scare the kids too much with that serious face."
Tharion chuckled quietly. "I'll try not to."
The room filled with soft laughter—the first warmth it had felt since the night of chaos.
As the day drew on, Tharion spent some time talking with Minato and Hiruzen about his experiences, deliberately omitting divine details and his true mission. By the time evening arrived, he stood outside the hospital, looking toward the Hokage Monument bathed in sunset light.
He whispered softly to himself:
"A new world, a new life… maybe this time, I can truly build something worth protecting."
And somewhere deep inside, the system pulsed again—
[System Notification]
Quest Progress: "Protect Naruto Uzumaki until age 12" — Stage 1 complete.
Subtask Added: Integrate into the Hidden Leaf as a stable civilian presence.
Bonus Objective: Teach future generation of shinobi (0/12 students inspired).
Tharion smirked faintly as the text faded from his mind.
"I suppose class starts soon," he murmured, watching the village lights flicker to life.
The next morning, sunlight spilled over the Hidden Leaf training grounds. The air was crisp, filled with anticipation and murmurs from the gathered shinobi. Word had spread quickly—Minato's mysterious cousin, Tharion, who had helped during the Nine-Tails attack, was to undergo an official combat evaluation before being granted his teaching position at the Academy.
It wasn't common for someone outside the standard shinobi structure to be considered for such a role, let alone one requesting it personally from the Hokage himself. And now, everyone wanted to see just what made Minato vouch for him so confidently.
On the far end of the field, Tharion stood calmly—arms folded, cloak fluttering in the wind. His sharp eyes observed everything: the rustling of the trees, the flicker of chakra signatures, and the murmuring crowd of genin and chūnin gathered to watch.
At the center, the examiner appeared—a seasoned Jōnin known for his speed and precision, Jiro Taneda, once part of the ANBU's strike corps. His presence commanded respect as he stepped forward.
"Tharion Namikaze," he announced, his tone even. "The Hokage has requested a combat assessment to confirm your level. You may use any technique or weapon at your disposal. The objective is simple—knock me out of the ring."
Tharion's lips curved slightly. "Understood."
Minato, Hiruzen, Kakashi, and several Jōnin, including Might Guy and Kurenai's sensei, stood to the side, watching. Even Kushina, carrying a sleeping Naruto, had come to see the match from the shaded benches.
The moment the proctor raised his hand, chakra surged across the field.
"Begin!"
Jiro vanished instantly, body flickering forward with lethal speed—his kunai gleaming as he closed the distance in a blur. Gasps erupted from the onlookers; the speed alone would overwhelm most Chūnin before they could blink.
But Tharion didn't move. His eyes followed Jiro's every motion, calm and unshaken. And just as Jiro was about to strike, Tharion raised a single hand.
BOOM!
The ground beneath Jiro cracked violently as an invisible pressure slammed him down. A swirl of air burst outward like a shockwave, sending dust and leaves spiraling. In the blink of an eye, Jiro's kunai flew from his hand, embedding itself into a nearby post.
When the dust settled, Jiro was flat on his back outside the ring, staring wide-eyed at the sky.
The field went silent.
Tharion lowered his hand casually, expression unchanged. "That was one move," he said calmly. "Do I pass?"
The silence broke into an uproar—shocked whispers and gasps filled the air.
"Wh-what just happened?" one chūnin stammered."He didn't even use ninjutsu!" another exclaimed."Was that… chakra pressure?!"
Minato smiled faintly from the sidelines, while Kushina shook her head with a knowing grin. She'd seen that before—when Tharion trained against wild Pokémon that could split boulders.
Hiruzen stepped forward, adjusting his robes. "Impressive… To suppress an elite Jōnin without a single hand sign. You've clearly mastered more than physical technique."
Minato nodded. "I'd say his skill exceeds the average Jōnin."
Hiruzen stroked his beard thoughtfully, then raised his hand. "By my authority as Third Hokage, I hereby designate Tharion Namikaze as a Tokubetsu Jōnin—an instructor-class shinobi authorized for high-level Academy and ANBU mentorship. Your request to teach is approved."
The announcement drew murmurs of awe and admiration from the surrounding shinobi.
Kakashi, who had been watching silently, finally stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Lord Fourth… if it's alright, I'd like to request additional training under Tharion."
Minato blinked, surprised, but then smiled. "You're already one of the best, Kakashi."
Kakashi shook his head. "If someone like that can defeat a Jōnin with one move… I still have much to learn."
Behind him, a few eager voices joined in—Iruka Umino, Anko Mitarashi, and Might Guy, all watching with wide-eyed awe.
"Me too!" Anko said with her hands raised. "That move was awesome! I wanna learn how to do that!""Iruka too!" another voice added, though less loudly. "I mean… for better defense training."Guy grinned, fists pumping. "Such youthful power! To overcome one's opponent with sheer spirit—Yosh! I must train under you as well!"
Tharion blinked, a little caught off guard by the sudden enthusiasm, but he couldn't help smiling. "You can all come to the training grounds tomorrow. But remember—discipline first, power second."
The young shinobi nodded vigorously.
After the formalities ended, Tharion walked toward the benches where Kushina sat. She smiled warmly, holding Naruto, who had just started to stir.
"You were amazing out there," she said, eyes glinting with pride. "But next time, warn the examiner before you use something like that. You almost gave him a heart attack."
Tharion chuckled softly and looked down at the baby in her arms. "Mind if I hold him?"
Kushina nodded, gently handing over little Naruto, who looked up at Tharion with wide blue eyes. "Careful. He's a restless one."
Tharion smiled, carefully cradling the infant. "Hey there, little one… Looks like you've got quite the future ahead of you."
Naruto giggled—a soft, happy sound that made Tharion's heart soften. And like any proud uncle, he couldn't resist adding a little flair—he lifted Naruto and spun him gently once in the air.
"Wheee—!" Naruto laughed, little hands flailing.
SMACK!
"THARION NAMIKAZE!" Kushina's voice rang like thunder as she bonked him on the head with her fist.
"Ow—!" Tharion flinched, clutching his head as he quickly steadied Naruto again. "Hey! It was a slow spin!"
"You never spin a baby, baka!" she scolded, snatching Naruto back protectively. "You could've scared him—or dropped him!"
Minato chuckled from behind her, trying to suppress a laugh. "Well, Kushina, I think he was just excited."
Kushina shot him a glare that instantly silenced him.
Tharion rubbed the bump on his head, sheepish. "Alright, alright… lesson learned."
But when he looked at Naruto, the little baby was smiling and giggling again, reaching out toward him.
Despite the scolding, Tharion couldn't help smiling back. "Guess you're tougher than you look, kid."
The golden light of sunset spilled across the training field as laughter filled the air—light, warm, and full of life.
For the first time since coming to this world, Tharion felt something unfamiliar settle in his chest.A sense of peace.A sense of home.