At this moment, Minato Namikaze realized—his son was an idiot.
After all, he had only just explained the parallel world theory to him not long ago, and had gone to great lengths to help him understand it. Yet now, Naruto had gone and called this place the Underworld, making Minato want to cover his face.
Uchiha Kei sighed. "What a fantastical leap in logic. I'm stunned, you know? Parallel world theory—did you really understand it?"
Hearing that, Naruto Uzumaki also realized he might've misunderstood. He scratched his head in embarrassment. "Uh… this uncle here did talk to me about parallel worlds, but didn't he say both were the Shinobi World, just different in time and space? Then you guys said it was another world or something… And you're an Uchiha, so I couldn't help but think that way…"
Uchiha Kei spread his hands helplessly. "That's *exactly* what a parallel world is. Besides, our worlds are about twenty years apart. It's completely natural for there to be differences—it'd be strange if there weren't."
Naruto scratched his head. "Uh… that does make sense. Ah, sorry, sorry… So, you're really my uncle, and you were close to my dad? Even my… Godfather?"
When saying the words "Godfather," Naruto looked both awkward and conflicted. It was as if he were desperately trying not to break down. Clearly, for a boy who grew up as an orphan, calling someone "father" was difficult—especially someone who looked about the same age as him.
To this, Uchiha Kei took on the demeanor of a reliable, gentle senior—only missing a pair of square-framed glasses to fully cosplay a certain Aizen from another set. Smiling, he said, "No need to be so formal. I understand this is all hard to accept in a short time. So, just call me 'senpai'—whatever you're comfortable with."
After hearing that, Naruto looked gratefully at Uchiha Kei. His fondness for him grew again. Then he wiped his nose with his finger and said, "Okay, Kei-senpai, got it!"
Uchiha Kei smiled and said, "Naruto, I know you're anxious about your parents, but don't rush. Like I said before, Minato didn't know how to tell you about your parents because he was afraid it might put you in danger."
"So before we talk about them, can you tell us about your world first?"
Hearing that, Naruto looked toward Minato Namikaze, who gave him a helpless but apologetic smile, silently confirming Uchiha Kei's words and hoping Naruto would understand.
For Naruto, this was exciting. He had thought this blond uncle was just like everyone else—refusing to tell him anything, which had made him lash out emotionally.
Now that he knew they *did* want to tell him, but were concerned for his safety and wanted to understand the situation first, his mood immediately improved.
He nodded hard. "Mm! Got it! So… you can ask me anything!"
Then, a little embarrassed, he added, "Uh, I mean, just don't ask about Konoha's top-secret information. I can't talk about that."
Clearly, though emotionally charged and trusting, Naruto hadn't forgotten the basic discipline of being a shinobi.
Uchiha Kei nodded with a smile to show he understood, while Minato gave a pleased, gentle smile—clearly touched that his son hadn't forgotten his duty.
Then the questioning began. Minato took the lead while Uchiha Kei assisted. They didn't let Naruto speak freely—after all, the boy wasn't sure where to start—so Minato guided the conversation with precise questions.
Minato was highly professional. As the Hokage's assistant, he knew exactly which questions to ask and which were sensitive, so nothing he asked forced Naruto to reveal classified secrets.
In truth, the most important secret Naruto had to protect was his status as the Nine Tails' jinchūriki. But as seen in the original series, Naruto himself often leaked it. Anyone who fought him and saw him use the Nine Tails' chakra could easily guess it—and he even *told* people himself.
So given Naruto's inability to keep secrets, others simply didn't entrust him with many.
Unknowingly, Naruto ended up saying a lot. He drank so much water from talking that he got thirsty again and drank even more.
Thus, the other Konoha, Naruto's own story, and many things unknown to Mukade the rogue ninja were revealed.
The Fourth Hokage wasn't one of the Legendary Sannin, but someone else.
During the Nine-Tails' Attack, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to seal the Nine Tails inside Naruto, making him the jinchūriki.
Konoha only had one jinchūriki—Naruto. There wasn't another. Naruto didn't even know the Nine Tails inside him was only half.
The Nine-Tails' Attack had inflicted enormous casualties and pain on Konoha. The villagers hated and feared the Nine Tails, and that hatred transferred onto Naruto. His childhood was lonely and painful.
Though his living conditions were above average, with a multi-story apartment and enough money to freely buy limited-edition ramen, his life was enviable by other orphans' standards.
Still, due to rumors that he was the Nine Tails reincarnated, villagers feared and shunned him. Adults told their kids not to play with him, leaving Naruto lonely and sorrowful, often crying at home.
When talking about this, Naruto looked a little embarrassed, ashamed of his "weakness" back then.
But to Minato Namikaze, this was like a knife to the heart. He immediately felt deep resentment toward the Third Hokage, who resumed power after the Nine-Tails' Attack.
He couldn't help asking, "How could this happen? Your status as a jinchūriki should've been a top secret. Why was it leaked? Didn't the Third Hokage stop it?"
He didn't even call him "Lord Third" anymore—just "Third Hokage." That showed how deep his resentment ran.
Naruto quickly waved his hands. "No no! You misunderstood. Grandpa Third really took good care of me! He *did* stop it! If not for his care and protection, I wouldn't have grown up like this."
Minato's rage instantly faltered.
Naruto scratched his head, thinking. "How do I put it… Actually, when I was fifteen, I did start resenting Grandpa Third. I'd grown up a bit by then and started thinking more. So when I remembered my childhood, I got really angry and thought Grandpa Third was too cruel."
He looked a little sheepish. "But… my teacher, Pervy Sage—uh…"
Here, Naruto glanced at Minato, realizing it was probably inappropriate to call Jiraiya by his nickname in front of him. So he corrected himself. "Jiraiya-sensei told me a lot about what happened. That's how I learned Grandpa Third actually did a lot for me."
Minato's eyes widened slightly. "Jiraiya-sensei… was your teacher?"
Naruto nodded quickly. "Yep, that's right! Wait—wait, you called Pervy Sage 'sensei'? So… you were Jiraiya-sensei's student too?"
Minato sweatdropped. That nickname was really impolite… though, to be fair, it *did* suit Jiraiya.
He nodded with a sweatdrop. "Yeah, I was also Jiraiya-sensei's student."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Awesome! Then you must know the Fourth Hokage! Pervy Sage was the Fourth Hokage's teacher, after all! Uh… wait, wait, I—I feel like I've seen you somewhere before…"
"Hold on! No way—you, you, you—Uncle Minato, you look *exactly* like that picture of the Fourth Hokage! Y-You're the Fourth Hokage?!"
By the time he said the last part, Naruto had jumped to his feet, breathing hard, body trembling, utterly stunned.
Minato's eyes widened in turn, stunned. "I'm… the Fourth Hokage?"
Clearly, that revelation shocked him. After all, the Third Great Ninja War hadn't even started yet in his world, and Tsunade had already been confirmed as the Fifth Hokage. He had never imagined skipping past her to become the Fourth.
As for Uchiha Kei, he wore an expression of surprise too—though completely feigned. Internally, he was roasting Naruto.
Only now did he figure it out? Seriously?
This level of density… there were no words. Even knowing Naruto was that kind of person, experiencing it firsthand made him realize just how exhausting it would be for Shikamaru to support him as Hokage in the future.
Then Uchiha Kei patted Minato's shoulder and said with admiration, "Minato, that's just like you. Becoming the Fourth Hokage! Too bad… according to Naruto, he's from Year 67 of the Hidden Leaf. Sounds like you didn't stay Hokage for long in that world before you died."
Minato: "..."
Suddenly, the idea of being Hokage didn't seem so great anymore—it sounded dangerous.
A long moment passed before everyone recovered from the revelation. Minato gestured for Naruto to continue his story.
"When I started to resent Grandpa Third," Naruto said, "Pervy Sa—uh… Jiraiya-sensei told me a lot. That's how I learned what was really behind the way people treated me when I was a kid…"
"About me being the Nine Tails' jinchūriki, Grandpa Third kept it secret the whole time. In fact, when I was really little, the rumor about me being the Nine Tails' reincarnation hadn't even started yet. It only began when I got a bit older."
"But once Grandpa Third found out, he immediately locked down the information. He banned the villagers from discussing it, and from mentioning the Nine Tails in front of me."
"Well… the villagers *did* follow his orders. But my very existence felt like a curse to them. They couldn't talk about me or say the Nine Tails' name, so they just called me a 'monster' and told their kids not to play with me."
"Grandpa Third wanted to change that. He tried hard. Iruka-sensei is one of the people who became important to me because of that. Haha… sorry, I'm rambling again."
"Anyway, Grandpa Third really did care about me. He kept the secret well. Uh, though honestly, you might not believe this—but the person who leaked the jinchūriki secret the most… was me."
At the end, Naruto scratched his head awkwardly.
It was clear Naruto was speaking from the heart, and he was genuinely grateful to the Third Hokage.
Uchiha Kei wasn't surprised. That was exactly the kind of person Naruto was. Even without the full understanding he gained in *Boruto*, he wouldn't resent the Third Hokage for failing to protect him.
As for Minato Namikaze, his anger had already dissipated. He was now trying to put himself in the Third's shoes—considering Konoha's situation at the time—and analyzing the Third's perspective. He was also picking up new intel.
After a while, Minato asked, "So, Naruto… did Jiraiya-sensei tell you the rumor about the Nine Tails was deliberately leaked by someone in the village?"
Naruto's expression turned serious. He nodded firmly and said with undisguised anger, "Yes, Uncle Minato. Jiraiya-sensei told me. I don't know who that guy is, but he's *despicable.* Hmph! When I become Hokage, I'm going to ask him *why* he did that!"
Minato tilted his head. "Become Hokage? Did Jiraiya-sensei tell you that only after becoming Hokage can you learn who that person is?"
Naruto looked shocked. "Eh? Uncle Minato, how did you know that? Oh—right, you *are* the Fourth Hokage, and you're also Jiraiya-sensei's student. No wonder you'd know this stuff."
He nodded as he spoke, fully accepting Minato's understanding—after all, he was *the* Fourth Hokage.
Hearing that, Minato realized his son had misunderstood. But he didn't correct him. Instead, he exchanged a knowing look with Uchiha Kei.
Danzo Shimura, right? It *has* to be that guy. Only *he* would do something like that.
Uchiha Kei nodded. He had come to the same conclusion as Minato.
Seeing this, Minato took a deep breath. All he could feel was—some evils just never die. It seemed like Danzo Shimura would be born no matter the world.
At the same time, Minato felt more than ever…
The Third really *was* getting old.
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