Golden hair. A white Hokage robe.
Minato Namikaze's figure appeared suddenly within the sealing space. He had left this sliver of his chakra behind not only to one day tell his son the truth, but also as a fail-safe to prevent the seal from collapsing.
Unfortunately, the Nine-Tails had been secretly trying to drive a wedge between father and son. Seeing Naruto being led astray by the fox's words, Minato could no longer hold back.
The Fourth Hokage glanced at his stunned son, then looked back at the demon fox in its cage. "How cunning, Nine-Tails."
"Fourth Hokage..."
The Nine-Tails' expression darkened. It was not currently under the influence of its Yin half, but even knowing the events from those memories, it was not ready to let go of its resentment.
The giant demon fox slowly rose to its feet, a low growl rumbling in its chest. "You... you dare to show your face to me?"
"You can't do anything to me," Minato said calmly. "Nine-Tails, I have no desire to see you. If it weren't for Naruto, I would never have appeared."
"Hmph!" The Nine-Tails raised its head contemptuously. "Do you think I want to see you?"
Minato nodded. "Since the feeling is mutual, it's best if Naruto and I go somewhere else to talk."
The hatred between them ran deep. It was the Nine-Tails' rampage that had torn their family apart. Minato hated the fox for killing him and his wife, and the Nine-Tails held a grudge against Minato for using the Reaper Death Seal to split its chakra.
"Idiot, what could you possibly tell him?" the Nine-Tails sneered, seeing Minato try to lead Naruto away. "Do you even know who the enemy was that pulled me from Kushina's body on the night Naruto was born?"
The Nine-Tails suddenly realized it could seize the initiative. It could use this opportunity to frustrate Minato. Even if it was just a chakra remnant, the thought was deeply satisfying.
"I know his identity perfectly well!" the fox declared, looking at the silent Minato with disdain. "You and that man are no strangers, Minato!"
They were, in fact, very familiar with each other. The Nine-Tails knew that even if Minato racked his brain, he would never guess the truth. After all, the identity of the person who caused the Nine-Tails' rampage was only officially revealed during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
The Fourth Hokage's expression turned grim as he voiced his suspicion. "Could it be... Danzo Shimura?"
The Nine-Tails was speechless.
How on earth did he think of Danzo Shimura?
It seemed Minato's logic wasn't entirely off. Since the person the Nine-Tails mentioned was no stranger to him, the circle of suspects became much smaller. To him, the most suitable candidate was Danzo.
Danzo had always been one of Konoha's most secretive high-ranking officials, and he had always coveted the position of Hokage. He had even raised a private army for this purpose, recruiting powerful ninjas to his cause.
As for the Sharingan that controlled the Nine-Tails that night, it was unlikely to belong to a true Uchiha. After all, causing the Nine-Tails' rampage would ensure the Uchiha clan could never truly integrate into Konoha.
Coincidentally, during Minato's time as Hokage, he had discovered that Orochimaru and Danzo were conducting human experiments in secret. It was highly likely that Danzo had a Sharingan implanted—one of his eyes, after all, was always wrapped in bandages.
Furthermore, besides coveting the Hokage title, Danzo's attitude towards the Uchiha clan was also very hostile. He had framed them more than once. This put him in direct opposition to Minato, who was a pacifist and insisted on the full integration of the Uchiha clan into Konoha. He even had mature ideas for it before he died.
Minato and Danzo were naturally opposed. Their fundamental ideals and political goals meant they could not coexist. If it were Danzo, controlling the Nine-Tails to cause chaos could eliminate the Fourth Hokage and frame the Uchiha. He could even lead Root to clean up afterward. No matter if it succeeded or failed, there was no downside for him.
So, it was natural for Minato's suspicion to fall on Danzo.
Naruto pondered for a moment and chimed in, "According to Pervy Sage and Kakashi-sensei, Danzo has always coveted the power of the Nine-Tails."
After hearing Naruto's words, Minato clenched his fists. "That guy... for the sake of power, would he disregard the life and death of the village?"
It was very possible. Minato had already obtained intelligence that Danzo had secretly executed ninjas from their own village simply because of political differences or because they wanted to submit evidence of Root's insubordination.
The Nine-Tails listened to the father and son's analysis. Seeing them about to reach a consensus, it couldn't help but snort. "Hmph. Minato, still as self-righteous as ever."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Alright, Kurama, I still don't know what really happened. Can you tell me in detail? It's perfect since you're both here."
Minato spread his hands and said softly, "Naruto, your mother's name is Kushina Uzumaki. She was the previous jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails in Konoha. On the night she gave birth to you, a man in a mask appeared...
"Because she was weakened from childbirth, Kushina had difficulty suppressing the rampaging Nine-Tails. That man used this opportunity to tear the Nine-Tails from your mother's body. After I managed to drive off the enemy, I saw the Nine-Tails venting its anger in Konoha. It killed many ninjas in the village.
"Later, for the sake of everyone in the village, your mother and I decided to seal the Nine-Tails inside you, for you to control its power one day. Naruto, it seems you're doing very well now, and you've become a qualified ninja. But don't ever fully trust the Nine-Tails. Its only purpose is to break the seal and kill everyone in the village."
The Fourth Hokage persuaded and comforted his son, hoping he wouldn't be blinded by the fox's words, while also taking the chance to bad-mouth the Nine-Tails. It was a perfect example of tit-for-tat.
The Nine-Tails lay down helplessly. "Idiot..."
After hearing his father's words, Naruto spoke. "Then... Dad, you and Mom never once thought about the kind of life I would have, did you?"
As his voice fell, Naruto punched the Fourth Hokage in the stomach.
Minato's figure flew backward, stumbling against the railings with a light gasp. "Naruto, you..."
"Thanks to you, I've suffered quite a bit." Naruto walked slowly towards Minato, his expression a mixture of pain, disgust, and regret. "Forget it. It doesn't matter anymore. I don't need you.
"Being the Fourth Hokage's son means nothing to me. My own parents didn't care about my life, so why should I? Thank you for sealing the Nine-Tails inside me and turning me into a tool. After this punch, I won't hate you anymore."
Minato stood up, his expression full of apology. "Naruto..."
The boy, barely a teenager, faced his father with a startling resolve. "As you wished, I have become a tool to seal the Nine-Tails. I am no longer the child who wanted parental love, but a qualified ninja. What I need to do now is to become the Hokage and unify the entire ninja world."
Minato looked at him in surprise. "Naruto..."
The Nine-Tails averted its gaze slightly. "Isn't that a little harsh?"
-----
Bonus:
Minato Namikaze: I don't know what to say...
Naruto Uzumaki: Then shut up.
Nine-Tails: Actually, he's not that bad...
Naruto Uzumaki: You shut up too!
Nine-Tails: ...
Minato Namikaze: Nine-Tails, what am I supposed to do with him?
Nine-Tails: I remember someone called the 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.' Everyone bowed to her will...
Minato Namikaze: Actually... besides me, no one else ever did...