Early morning in Konoha was a symphony of routine. But for Naruto, every sound, every breath, was a new layer of information perceived through the Eye of the Multiverse. Since his conversation with Kurama and his pact with Aethel, a new determination had taken root within him. The hatred and loneliness that once consumed him hadn't vanished—but they were now eclipsed by a sharp sense of duty and a power he had never imagined. He had the power to bring the dead back to life. That thought, once a distant idea, had become a burning certainty—centered on two faces he had only known through rumors and fragments of imagination: his parents.
The Daimyō of the Fire Country had demanded compensation for the insult involving the cat, Tora. In response, Kakashi had assigned Team 7 another round of D-rank missions—tedious and repetitive. Naruto carried them out with his usual feigned enthusiasm, all the while observing his teammates. Sakura, her chakra aura growing ever more stable and radiant, continued to train with determination. The shadow of her admiration for Sasuke was still present, but the pink thread connecting her to Naruto had grown thicker, warmer.
Sasuke, for his part, remained an enigma—his aura dark and intense, focused entirely on power. Naruto knew he had to keep his distance from the raven-haired boy, not destabilize him too much, so as not to disrupt the delicate balance of their team. The Eye of the Multiverse showed him paths for Sasuke—twisted, shadowed paths he hoped to divert in time.
But the most important part of the day came with the night. As soon as Konoha fell asleep, Naruto slipped out of his apartment. He didn't head for the usual forest. Instead, he searched for a place steeped in history, a place touched by the souls of Konoha. His destination: the Hokage Monument.
He climbed to the top of the Fourth's face—Minato Namikaze, his father. The air was thinner up there, the wind stronger. The Eye of the Multiverse bloomed open, revealing the tapestry of energies that shaped this sacred place. He saw the resonances of the past, echoes of lives once lived, of sacrifices made. Minato's aura, etched into the stone, was a blend of pure blue and radiant gold—a mark of a shinobi with a noble heart and immense power. Beside it, the aura of Kushina, though less visible on the monument, shimmered as a vibrant red, a vortex of passion and strength.
Naruto closed his eyes, focusing deeply. He wasn't seeking raw power, but a profound connection. He extended his consciousness, diving into the Shadow of Death, not to challenge it, but to question it. He searched for the threads of their souls—separated from their physical forms long ago. It was an act of immense complexity, requiring a level of concentration only the Guardian of the Multiverse could attain.
He felt resistance—the laws of nature tightening against him. Death did not give up its prey easily.
"Kurama," he murmured inwardly.
The deep voice of the Kyūbi echoed in his mind.
"Kid, are you sure about this? Bringing back the dead is taboo. It carries unforeseen consequences. The balance..."
"I know," Naruto replied, his mental voice filled with unwavering resolve. "But they're my parents. They weren't taken by old age or illness—they were sealed. I can feel it. The Multiverse gave me this power for a reason."
Kurama's aura—a blend of Chaos and Destruction—flickered, then stabilized, showing reluctant acceptance.
"Very well, Guardian. But do not tear the fabric of reality. It's more fragile than you realize."
Naruto ignored the tremors rippling through the universe itself. He drew upon the energy of Life, fusing it with the energy of Creation, shaping a bridge—a reverse path through the Shadow of Death. The Eye of the Multiverse shone with a golden, iridescent light, casting threads into the darkness.
He felt them—two souls. They were there, intertwined, waiting.
He pulled them gently, but firmly, out of the limbo.
The air atop the Hokage Monument wavered. Two translucent forms began to materialize before him—at first ethereal, then gradually gaining substance, drawn from the vast reservoir of primordial energies Naruto was channeling.
The silhouette of a man with spiky blond hair, clad in a Jōnin uniform and the cloak of the Hokage, took form. Beside him stood a woman with long, vibrant red hair, her expression one of surprise, her eyes sharp and full of life.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had returned.
Their eyes, clouded at first by confusion, slowly cleared. They looked at Naruto—the young man standing before them, wearing the Konoha forehead protector, marked by the fox-like whiskers. And then, they recognized him. Not the infant they had left behind, but the boy he had grown into.
"Naruto...?" Kushina whispered, her voice barely audible—a mixture of disbelief and overwhelming tenderness. Her eyes filled with tears.
Minato, ever composed, analyzed the situation calmly, his Hokage presence still radiating despite his resurrection. He could feel the immense power emanating from his son—a force beyond his comprehension.
"How... ? You're... how is this possible?"
Naruto couldn't hold back his tears. He ran toward them, embracing them tightly. He could feel them—their warmth, their solidity. It was real.
"Dad... Mom... I... I brought you back. The Multiverse gave me this power."
He explained quickly, the words tumbling out. The gift from the Multiverse, his role as its Guardian, the need for secrecy. He saw understanding begin to form in Minato's eyes, and unconditional love and acceptance in Kushina's.
"You can't stay here," Naruto said. "The village wouldn't understand. The truth about your deaths is too deeply buried. And my power... it has to remain hidden. I have a place where you'll be safe. A sanctuary."
Minato, ever the strategist, nodded. "You're right, my son. This power is far too great to reveal. But this 'Multiverse dimension'... what exactly is it?"
Naruto extended his hand to them. "It's my dimension. My link to the Multiverse. I have the power to create spaces—a place where you can live safely, without anyone ever finding you."
He channeled the Expanse of Space and the energy of Creation. Before them, the air shimmered, opening into a swirling portal. But instead of endless void, it revealed a lush, serene landscape—a pocket dimension, a haven forged entirely by Naruto's will. Verdant forests, winding rivers, and a sky of eternal blue stretched out before them.
"It's... beautiful," Kushina whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks—this time, tears of joy.
"It's a tremendous risk, Naruto," Minato said, gripping Kushina's hand tightly. "But if you say this is the only way... we trust you."
Together, they stepped through the portal. Naruto followed, closing the rift behind them. Inside, the silence was profound—broken only by birdsong and the whisper of the wind. It was a paradise, a world created just for them.
Naruto shared a fragment of his own power with them—a gift of Life energy and longevity, enough to keep them in perfect health and shielded from the passage of time. It wasn't the infinite gift he himself possessed, but it was enough to render them timeless within this sanctuary.
"You're safe here," Naruto said softly. "I'll come see you whenever I can. I'll bring you news from the village, I'll tell you everything."
The warmth of having his family—finally—was a balm to his soul. He felt Kushina's protective aura, Minato's aura of wisdom. For the first time in his life, he was no longer alone.
After a few precious moments, soaking in their presence, he knew he had to go. The world was waiting.
"I have to return to Konoha. They mustn't suspect my absence."
Minato pulled him into a firm embrace—a father's gesture Naruto had never known.
"Take care of yourself, my son. And know this: we are proud of you. Incredibly proud."
Kushina held him even tighter, her embrace overflowing with all the motherly love she had never been able to give him.
"Come visit us soon, my little darling. And don't get into too much trouble!"
Her smile was that of a loving mother, finally reunited with her child.
Naruto nodded, a genuine smile on his face. He stepped back through the portal, closing it behind him and leaving his parents in their dimensional sanctuary. He was back atop the Hokage Monument, dawn just beginning to break over the horizon. The air was cold, but his heart was filled with a new warmth—an unshakable connection.
The weight of the secret was immense, but the burden of loneliness had lessened. He had a family. Hidden, yes, but alive. And now he had an even greater purpose: not only to protect Konoha, but to safeguard the Multiverse and preserve the secret of his gift for the good of all.
The adventure was only just beginning.