Chapter 13 – Hatake Sakumo's Shock
Uzumaki Naruto must not fail to be born!
It wasn't because Hatake Kyūjō felt the need to protect the original storyline, or because he cared about how the world was supposed to unfold.
No, the reason he couldn't let things go off course was far simpler.
First, he genuinely liked the kid named Naruto.
Second, both Minato and Kushina were good people. They were his friends. If he could help them find happiness together—then why not?
Ever since arriving in this ninja world, Kyūjō had chosen to follow his heart.
If something pissed him off, he'd beat it down. If someone was evil, he'd end them without hesitation.
And if the opponent turned out to be too powerful?
Then he'd go down swinging, head held high. After all, a real man should be bold enough to tear through the heavens...
Well, ideally without dying, of course. If he was going to mess with fate, then he at least wanted to shape it into something better. That was the honest wish of Hatake Kyūjō.
— — —
Minato Namikaze was lying in bed when he noticed a certain someone hanging outside his second-floor window. For a moment, his hand flinched—almost throwing the kunai he had instinctively drawn.
"Kyūjō… what are you doing there?" Minato asked, raising a brow in confusion.
"No time to explain! Your wife's been kidnapped by ninja from Kumogakure! If you don't move now, they'll be outside Konoha's borders any minute—!"
But before Kyūjō could even finish his sentence, Minato—fully dressed, though Kyūjō didn't even see him change—had already jumped out the window and landed in the front yard.
As he leapt into the air, Minato looked over his shoulder and shouted,
"Kyūjō! Which direction did they take Kushina?!"
Kyūjō blinked. That was fast. No wonder this guy would become the fastest man in the shinobi world.
Also… he called her "your wife" without hesitation, huh?
Kyūjō didn't bother commenting. He simply pointed southeast, toward the edge of the village.
"They went that way. Be careful, Minato—"
But before he could finish, the blond prodigy had already vanished from sight.
Kyūjō let out a small laugh, shaking his head as he casually took off after him from a distance.
— — —
When Minato spotted strands of red hair scattered on the ground, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
That meant he was heading the right way. And if Kushina had been able to leave a trail like this, it also meant she wasn't seriously hurt yet.
Judging from the situation, the kidnappers weren't high-level Jōnin. If they were, there's no way Kushina would've had the chance to leave clues like this.
With that assessment, Minato picked up speed—racing through the forest toward his beloved.
Thanks to Kyūjō's interference, the timeline was gently nudged back onto its rightful track…
Minato's sudden appearance, with an aura of quiet charisma, stopped the Kumogakure shinobi dead in their tracks—just a few meters from crossing Konoha's border.
And finally, the world got a glimpse of the innate talent of Konoha's golden boy—Minato Namikaze.
In mere seconds, three experienced Chūnin were effortlessly taken down by a ten-year-old boy. They barely had time to blink before they found themselves kneeling in the dirt, completely overwhelmed.
The secret behind it?
Minato possessed a neural reaction speed that exceeded human limits. That was the divine blessing bestowed upon him—the key to becoming the future Fourth Hokage.
To him, enemy movements were like slow-motion video. That's why he could take them down so easily.
It reminded Kyūjō of the breathing techniques he once mastered in the world of Demon Slayer… but compared to back then, his strength had long since surpassed that era.
And someday, Minato would further enhance that physical prowess with his signature technique—the Flying Thunder God.
Even before Kyūjō's arrival in this world, Minato had already been the most compatible user of the Flying Thunder God since its original creator, the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju.
Of course, Minato's success wasn't just physical.
His intelligence, composure, and sharp combat intuition also played a massive part.
— — —
Bathed in moonlight, Minato Namikaze leapt through the trees, holding Kushina safely in his arms.
His calm expression, lit by the soft glow of the moon, made Uzumaki Kushina fall silent, her eyes fixed on him.
Her heart fluttered.
"Minato… really is handsome, huh…" she muttered softly to herself.
— — —
From afar, Hatake Kyūjō watched the touching scene and nodded with satisfaction. He turned around, taking a detour to return to the village ahead of them.
But as he approached the main gate, he found himself face to face with someone very familiar—
His older brother, Hatake Sakumo.
The legendary White Fang of Konoha, captain of the Anbu, and the right hand of the Third Hokage, stood at the head of an elite Anbu unit. His expression was grim and full of pressure.
Even for Kyūjō—who had lived through countless lifetimes—the presence was… intense.
Sakumo's eyes widened the moment he saw his little brother.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Kyūjō and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"Kyūjō! You little rascal! If you're okay, why didn't you leave a single trace behind?! I thought those bastards from Kumogakure had kidnapped you!"
Kyūjō smiled softly, unbothered by the scolding. His tone was calm and reassuring.
"Relax, bro. I'm fine. Those Kumogakure guys… were way too weak to take me."
"Weak…?" Sakumo's face twitched.
Was Kyūjō talking about the two bodies currently being dissected in the Anbu morgue? The ones confirmed to have Jōnin-level chakra?
As Sakumo's expression turned conflicted, Kyūjō simply shrugged.
He'd never planned on hiding his strength from his brother. Sakumo just… never asked before.
"They came for me. So I fought back. And since they were weaker, I killed them," Kyūjō said matter-of-factly.
Even though Sakumo had already suspected as much, hearing it directly from his brother still left him stunned.
— — —
Until now, Sakumo believed he had judged Kyūjō's abilities fairly.
He figured Kyūjō—fresh out of the Academy—was probably already around elite Chūnin level. Easily stronger than his peers from powerful clans like the Uchiha or Hyūga.
But now he realized…
He had underestimated him.
During training, Sakumo had felt his own sword techniques improving quickly. He thought it was just thanks to consistent practice and effort…
But no. It was Kyūjō who had quietly helped him grow, using skills he'd mastered over multiple lifetimes.
— — —
Taking a deep breath, Sakumo asked about Kushina's status.
Once Kyūjō confirmed she was safe, Sakumo ordered two Anbu to retrieve her and Minato.
Then, he pulled Kyūjō aside to a quieter place, away from prying eyes.
His voice was serious now.
"Kyūjō… you do realize the shinobi you killed tonight were Jōnin, right?"
Kyūjō nodded casually. "Of course. But I didn't think much of it. They were too weak. I don't think Jōnin-levels are a threat to me anymore."
"WHAT?!"
Sakumo's eyes bulged.
Jōnin aren't a threat?
Then who was a threat to you? The Hokage?!
He couldn't even process the thought properly.
After a long moment of silence, Sakumo began to worry.
How was he supposed to report this to the Third Hokage?
Should he tell him everything?
But then he looked at Kyūjō—still just a boy, at least on the outside.
He compared him to the bloodstained, mission-heavy life he'd endured…
"Haaah…"
Sakumo sighed heavily.
He had made up his mind.
He would not tell the Hokage about Kyūjō's real power.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Sarutobi Hiruzen… nor was it about fearing Kyūjō would be used as a tool.
It was simply… a big brother's instinct.
He didn't want his little brother dragged too early into the merciless world of shinobi.
Even if Kyūjō might already surpass him.
Sakumo knew all too well how cruel the world could be.
If Kyūjō could start as a Genin and rise through the ranks slowly, his future would be so much brighter.
And if their parents were still alive… they'd surely want the same.
His resolve solidified.
— — —
Sakumo gently placed a hand on Kyūjō's shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"Kyūjō, about your strength—don't let anyone find out. Unless you absolutely have to, stay low."
"Don't draw attention. You know how this world works—"
But Kyūjō cut in calmly, "It's fine, bro. As long as you can cover for me, I promise not to show off. I'm not some brat who needs to flaunt his power."
Sakumo's heart eased.
Yes… this was his brother.
Even as a child, it was Kyūjō who often took care of him. Only after marrying Yumiko had Sakumo started noticing that shift.
If not for her, he might've never realized it.
Now, looking at his brother…
All Sakumo felt was pride.
Kyūjō had truly grown up.
— — —
One week later, after finishing yet another D-rank mission—like weeding fields and chasing cats—Hatake Kyūjō, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina finally looked like they'd been released from purgatory.
You know what they'd been doing for the past seven days?
Pet walking. Rat hunting. Hoeing dirt. Harvesting cabbages. You name it.
Basically, everything but fighting.
Kyūjō even considered sending Shadow Clones to do the missions for him next time. Thankfully, that morning, their unpredictable sensei—Jiraiya—announced that they'd finally graduated from D-rank missions.
If not, Kyūjō was ready to puke from the boredom.
As for the attempted kidnapping incident from a week ago…
It was all neatly cleaned up thanks to one man: the White Fang of Konoha, Anbu Captain, and right-hand man to the Third Hokage—
Hatake Sakumo.
To be honest, Sakumo didn't do much publicly. He simply… redirected the investigation.
He asked the right questions:
How did two Kumogakure shinobi know so much about Konoha's internal workings?
Why were there so few Anbu patrolling the area that night?
Once Sakumo pulled the thread, someone began to panic.
The man known as Konoha's "Shadow Hokage"—Danzo Shimura—was suddenly under pressure.
Of course… proving Danzo's involvement was no easy task.
But at least, for now, it left Danzo with… a bit of a headache.
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