The night was darker than any night the Hidden Leaf Village had ever known. The air felt heavy, filled with the smell of smoke and the cries of frightened villagers. The moon hid behind thick clouds as if it did not want to see what was happening below.
On that night, chaos ruled.
A gigantic monster — the Nine-Tailed Fox — roared and swung its tails, smashing houses and throwing fire across the streets. Every movement of its tails caused explosions that tore through the earth. The village was burning, and the people ran in terror.
High above the village, on a mountain ledge, stood the Fourth Hokage — Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash of the Leaf. His golden hair was covered in dust and blood, but his eyes stayed calm. Beside him was his wife, Kushina Uzumaki, who was breathing heavily, holding a baby wrapped in a white blanket. Another small baby lay near her, sleeping quietly.
"Minato," Kushina said weakly, "you have to stop it… the Nine-Tails… it will destroy everything."
Minato's hand trembled as he looked at his wife. He knew what he had to do — but it was a choice no husband or father should ever make.
"I'll seal it," Minato said softly. "I'll seal the fox… inside our daughter."
Kushina nodded. Her long red hair glowed faintly under the moonlight. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at her children — Naruto and Hiromi. They were twins, born only hours ago. Naruto, the older one, had soft golden hair like his father. Hiromi, the younger one, had her mother's red hair and calm face.
"Promise me," Kushina whispered, "take care of them… both of them…"
"I promise," Minato said, though deep inside he already knew that promise could not be kept.
Below them, the Nine-Tails roared again, its massive tails crushing buildings. The Third Hokage, old but strong, was leading the village's defense. Ninjas from every clan — Hyuga, Uchiha, Aburame, and Nara — were fighting together, but the beast was unstoppable.
Minato placed his hand on Kushina's shoulder. "It's time."
Kushina nodded weakly and began to form seals with her hands. A bright red chain of chakra extended from her body, wrapping around the Nine-Tails far away. The beast struggled and screamed, trying to break free, but the chains held firm for a moment.
Minato's hands moved quickly. The sealing symbols began to appear around him in a circle of glowing light. The air shook with power.
"Reaper Death Seal!" he shouted, summoning the spirit of the Shinigami — the God of Death.
The Shinigami's giant hand reached out from behind Minato, its mouth opening silently. The ghostly figure moved closer, unseen by everyone but Minato himself.
The Nine-Tails roared again, sensing what was happening. Its chakra pulsed violently, shaking the entire mountain. Minato bit his lip, sweat running down his forehead.
"I'll seal half of its chakra inside me," he said, "and the rest… inside Hiromi."
Kushina gasped. "No! You'll die!"
"There's no other way," Minato said. "The world will need her power one day."
Kushina could not argue. Her strength was fading. "Then… what about Naruto?"
Minato hesitated for a moment. "Naruto will live… but without the fox. Maybe that's better for him. Maybe he'll have a peaceful life."
Kushina smiled weakly. "A peaceful life… that would be nice."
The Shinigami's arm extended through Minato's chest and struck the Nine-Tails. The monster screamed in fury as half of its chakra was torn away. Then Minato pressed his hand on baby Hiromi's small belly, drawing a sealing symbol with his own blood.
"Seal!" he shouted.
The air exploded in light. The Nine-Tails let out one last roar before being sucked into the seal on Hiromi's stomach. The wind blew hard, and when it stopped — silence.
The great beast was gone.
But so were Minato and Kushina.
When the villagers arrived, they found the bodies of the Fourth Hokage and his wife lying beside two small babies. The girl, Hiromi, was glowing faintly with red light from the seal. The boy, Naruto, was silent, his tiny hands gripping his blanket.
The Third Hokage picked them up carefully. "Rest in peace, Minato… Kushina. I will watch over them."
But the truth was not so simple.
Later that night, inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage sat with two men — Jiraiya, the toad sage, and Hiruzen's old friend Huen, a wise man who often advised him. They stared at the two babies sleeping in small cribs.
"The prophecy of the Great Toad Sage," Jiraiya said quietly. "One child will carry the power to save or destroy the world. I believe… that child is the girl, Hiromi."
Hiruzen sighed. "And what of Naruto?"
Jiraiya looked away. "He doesn't have the fox's chakra. I wish I could take both, but my duties as a spy master… I cannot raise two children. Hiromi must learn to control the fox. I'll take her with me."
Huen frowned. "So you'll leave Naruto alone?"
Jiraiya's eyes softened. "It's not what I want… but it's what must be done."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "Then I will make sure the boy is cared for."
But fate had other plans.
As the night continued, a shadow appeared at the door — Danzo Shimura, the leader of Root, the secret organization under the ANBU.
"So," Danzo said coldly, looking at the babies. "The legacy of the Fourth Hokage lives on."
"What do you want, Danzo?" Hiruzen asked sharply.
"I merely wish to help the village," Danzo replied. "Give the boy to me. I will raise him as a true weapon of Konoha."
"No," Hiruzen said firmly. "He will not be raised as a tool."
Danzo's one visible eye narrowed. "Very well… if I cannot raise him, I will still shape him." He turned and gave a small signal to one of his hidden agents. "Spread whispers," he ordered quietly. "Let the villagers think the boy carries the demon's curse."
The agent nodded and vanished into the shadows.
That was how it began — the night of the fox, the night that changed everything.
The village mourned its heroes. Statues were built for the Fourth Hokage and his wife. The people cried and celebrated the end of the Nine-Tails' terror. But behind closed doors, rumors started to grow.
They said a demon still lived inside the blond boy.
They said the baby smiled when the fox roared.
And so, Naruto Uzumaki — the son of the Fourth Hokage — began his life not as a hero, but as an outcast.