Chapter 157: The Fox Spirit Hero
Parallel Shinobi World.
Konoha Village.
Although the advancement of industry had helped Konoha Village achieve a hard-won victory in the Third Great Ninja War, it also brought with it severe environmental pollution.
Due to the heavy industrial contamination, Konoha was often shrouded in a grim haze. The air reeked of foul odors, and acid rain was a frequent occurrence.
The war had only ended a few years ago, but its aftermath left Konoha's economy in dire straits. With massive deficits and a significant transfer of wealth into the hands of industrial capitalists, Konoha eventually became unable to pay the promised compensation to both the fallen and surviving shinobi.
To make ends meet, many ninja were forced to take on side jobs. As a result, the crime rate in Konoha steadily climbed—indirectly leading to the dismissal of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
This was the eve of Namikaze Minato of the Namikaze Group becoming the Fourth Hokage.
The late-night movie had just ended, and the streets of Konoha were nearly deserted.
Minato Namikaze held his son Naruto's hand in his left and his wife Kushina Uzumaki's in his right. His face glowed with happiness.
"Hand over the money!"
"Alright, alright... I'll give it to you, just calm down..." Minato squeezed Kushina's hand, then gently comforted his child. "It's okay, Naruto. Don't worry."
After the death of Mito Uzumaki, the previous jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Kushina had become the new host.
For various reasons, the fact that Kushina was now the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki had not been made public in Konoha.
Though Minato remained Jiraiya's student, he clearly had far greater talent in business than in ninja duties.
"Hurry up!" the masked ninja barked.
"Alright, alright," Minato said as he pulled out his wallet and handed it to the masked attacker.
"And the necklace! Hand over your necklace!"
Minato turned to look at the necklace around Kushina's neck—it was the one he had given her when they became a couple, something with deep sentimental value.
Kushina shook her head slightly. Minato could only persuade her, "Kushina, think about our son."
Naruto shrank behind Minato's back.
As Kushina hesitated, the masked ninja suddenly hurled a kunai at Minato. It struck his chest, and blood quickly soaked through his white shirt.
"Minato!"
Kushina grabbed Minato's hand, and faint signs of the Nine-Tails breaking through her seal began to flicker around her.
"Kushina... Naruto..." Minato whispered.
Kushina glanced at their stunned and frightened son standing nearby.
She knew very well that if she revealed the Nine-Tails now, the village would never let her live.
The higher-ups of Konoha would never allow such a terrifying power to fall into anyone else's hands.
"Naruto, come here..."
"Mama..."
At Kushina's call, little Naruto walked toward her and was pulled into her embrace. She leaned in and whispered into his ear, "In a moment, I'll create an opening. Run—just run."
A warm energy flowed through Naruto's body.
Kushina sealed the power of the Nine-Tails inside him.
Still too young to understand the weight of what had just happened, Naruto nodded.
Kushina gently brushed his blond hair, then stood up to face the masked ninja. "I don't know who you are, but I won't let you get away with this... Adamantine Sealing Chains! Naruto—now! Run!"
At her shout, Naruto bolted without looking back.
"Hmph, the child was never my target anyway." The masked ninja began forming hand signs. "Wood Release..."
Wooden spikes erupted from the ground and pierced through Kushina's body with ease.
That night, little Naruto lost both of his parents. Uchiha Fugaku, who had been asleep, was awakened by the noise outside.
"Fugaku, what's going on? Where are you going?" Mikoto asked with a worried expression, seeing Fugaku grim-faced and preparing to leave.
"I need to go to the police force, Mikoto..." After a brief pause, Fugaku added, "Something happened to Minato and Kushina."
"Something happened?" Mikoto instinctively felt something was wrong.
"Yeah," Fugaku nodded. "They've been killed. Only their son survived."
Sadness washed over Mikoto's face as she choked back tears. "Fugaku, promise me… find the one who did this to Kushina."
Normally, Fugaku would agree to any of Mikoto's requests. But this time, he hesitated for the first time.
"...Sorry, Mikoto. All I can say is I'll do my best. The village is unstable right now, and this incident is far too suspicious. Minato was about to become the Fourth Hokage—he should've had Anbu protection."
Even though Anbu officially only guarded the current Hokage, it was an unspoken rule that they would begin protecting the confirmed successor in advance.
"Fugaku, are you saying..." Mikoto, being clever, knew what could and couldn't be said. "Sorry, Fugaku, I was being selfish. Just do what you can."
Fugaku nodded and left the Uchiha compound.
Though the Uchiha were known as the strongest clan in Konoha, that didn't mean they could act without caution within the village.
Konoha's largest estate—the Namikaze Manor.
Kakashi sat beside the sobbing little Naruto. Though his face was masked, the sorrow in his eyes was clear.
After Kakashi's father died, it had been the Namikaze Foundation that paid for him to continue his schooling, to learn powerful ninjutsu. Even when Konoha's financial crisis led to Kakashi being laid off from the Anbu, it was Minato who gave him a job as the manor's steward.
"You know, young master... before you were born, when I was about your age, my father died too..." Kakashi draped his arm around Naruto's shoulder. "So I understand how you feel. I promise you—no matter how dark your world may seem right now, there will come a day when the light returns."
Hokage Office, Konoha.
"Danzō! What the hell are you trying to do? Why did you send your men from Root to assassinate Minato Namikaze?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded angrily, glaring at the aged man before him.
"Hiruzen! I will never agree to let a mere civilian lead the village as Hokage!"
"But Minato has immense support in the village! And the policies he proposed would genuinely benefit Konoha!" Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk.
"Don't be ridiculous, Hiruzen! The people have simply been deceived by him! As for those policies—what does a merchant know? They're nothing but empty theory!" Danzō stared at Hiruzen and continued coldly, "Besides, with Minato and his wife dead, it relieves some of the village's financial burden."
Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe. After a moment of thought, he replied, "Don't go too far, Danzō. I'll be watching you."
(Support me and read ahead on Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxxtranslations.
3 new chapters are released daily—thank you for your support!
Powerstone Event: For every 50 powerstones, 1 chapter will be unlocked.)