Chapter 168: Third Hokage! Aren't You Going to Explain?!
Konoha Village.
Outside Naruto's shabby apartment, several shadows lurked in the darkness. They were Anbu, tasked with monitoring every move of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Suddenly, the events inside the house struck them like a bolt of lightning!
"Is… is that… Lord Fourth?!"
"And… Lady Kushina?!"
The Anbu could barely believe their eyes. The two long-dead heroes were standing right in front of them, alive!
Another Anbu made a snap decision. "Quick! Report to the Third Hokage immediately!"
Before he could finish speaking or activate his Body Flicker Technique—Flash!
A golden light streaked across the night sky. Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki vanished without a trace.
The Anbu ninja's hand froze in mid-air, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Too fast! There was no time to react, let alone chase or report!
Inside the house, Naruto stared blankly in the direction his parents had disappeared. The warm embrace, the gentle words—was it all just a fleeting dream? He was terrified that this happiness he had just touched would burst like a bubble.
Just then, a strange feeling welled up from the bottom of his heart. He could clearly sense two familiar, warm presences in the distance, guiding him. It was the presence of his dad… and his mom!
This sudden connection instantly calmed Naruto's anxious heart. Is this… something I got from the contract too?
I won't let them leave me again! Absolutely not!
Naruto gritted his teeth, his eyes hardening with resolve. He focused, silently activating his new power. A faint, almost imperceptible shimmer enveloped his body. His presence seemed to melt into the night, becoming undetectable. He quietly pushed the door open and, following the blood connection he sensed, carefully gave chase.
"Hm? Where's the Jinchuriki?"
The remaining Anbu were preparing to adjust their surveillance strategy—after all, with the Fourth Hokage personally involved, they probably didn't need to rush. But when they looked back at the small house, they were horrified to find that Naruto Uzumaki was gone too!
"Damn it!"
"Quick! One of you go to the Uchiha compound and report to the Third Hokage! The rest of you, search for the Jinchuriki immediately!"
The surveillance team was thrown into chaos once again.
…
Uchiha Compound.
The murderous atmosphere was suffocating. Minato Namikaze, holding Kushina Uzumaki by the waist, flashed via Flying Raijin and appeared silently atop a high tower on the outskirts of the compound.
The scene before him made him frown deeply.
His friend, Fugaku Uchiha. Kushina's best friend, Mikoto Uchiha. And dozens of Uchiha clansmen with resolute expressions, burning with unyielding fire in their eyes. They were locked in a sharp standoff with the Konoha high command led by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, as well as a vastly larger number of Uchiha clansmen.
The air was thick with the bitter taste of despair and betrayal.
"Minato, what… what is going on?" Kushina asked. "Why are Fugaku and the others… against the village?"
Minato didn't answer. He couldn't understand it either. What had happened to the Uchiha clan after his death? Why had comrades from the same village come to point swords at each other?
Seeing the Konoha side, especially the Root ninja hidden in the shadows, seemingly ready to move and break the fragile balance, Minato hesitated no longer.
Golden light exploded! ZOOOM—!
A figure tore through the night curtain. Minato Namikaze appeared instantly in the center of the standoff! A powerful aura radiated from him, forcing both sides to involuntarily take a step back and pause their actions.
"Lord Third, Advisor Danzo."
"And Fugaku, everyone."
"What exactly has happened? Why are people of Konoha pointing blades at each other?"
His gaze swept over the crowd. Everyone who met his eyes felt an immense pressure.
"Minato?!"
"And Kushina?!"
Fugaku and Mikoto's eyes flashed with shock upon seeing the sudden appearance of the Minato couple. Then, connecting it to the mass resurrection of their clan, the shock quickly turned into a complex sense of relief. If the dead could be revived in droves, what couldn't happen?
"Mikoto!"
Seeing her old friend, Kushina ignored everything else and rushed forward, grabbing Mikoto's hands. "Mikoto! It's really you! I thought I'd never see you again!"
Thousands of words were stuck in her throat, the ecstasy of reunion overwhelming.
Mikoto looked at the familiar face and heard the familiar voice, equally excited. "Kushina… you're resurrected too…"
The two former best friends reunited in this unbelievable situation. For a moment, they were speechless, only their clasped hands conveying the turbulent emotions in their hearts.
Kushina took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions. Her gaze involuntarily fell on the cross-dressing boy beside Mikoto, who looked stubborn and a bit embarrassed. That outfit immediately reminded her of her own son's "cute" look earlier. She couldn't help but tug on Mikoto's sleeve and whisper, "Mikoto, are you… are you okay? Is that… your child? That outfit is certainly… unique!" She winked mischievously. "Maybe he can become great friends with our Naruto!"
"Hmph!" Sasuke flushed red and turned his head away.
On the other side, Minato's sudden appearance sent shockwaves through the Konoha high command and the crowd gathered at the compound.
"Sensei!" Kakashi Hatake's lone eye, hidden under his mask, reignited with hope after being dim for so long.
"OHHH! IS THIS THE REUNION OF YOUTH?! SO HOT-BLOODED!!!" Might Guy was as energetic as ever, tears in his eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura's faces instantly turned dark as water. Especially Danzo, whose single eye flashed with a cold light of jealousy and unwillingness. Minato Namikaze was back! This meant the Hokage seat he coveted was likely out of reach again!
"The Fourth Hokage is resurrected too?"
"What is going on today? The dead are coming back one by one?"
"Is this Konoha's Night of Resurrection?"
Murmurs erupted from the crowd, disbelief written on every face. The Uchiha who had chosen to submit were even more relieved they had made the "wise" choice, seeing that even the Fourth Hokage was back. After all, the Fourth had a good relationship with the Uchiha, which only reinforced their belief that Konoha's future was bright. Their gazes toward Fugaku and the others now held a mix of confusion and pity.
Minato and Kushina listened grimly to Fugaku and Mikoto's account. How, after their deaths, the Uchiha were ostracized again, suspected, and pushed step by step into the abyss of extinction by the Konoha high command. And the generous conditions Hiruzen Sarutobi had just offered.
Minato's face grew heavier with every word.
"Fugaku, Mikoto…" He took a deep breath, looking at his old friends with sincere earnestness. "Do you really not intend to stay? As long as I, Minato Namikaze, am here, I promise you, the Uchiha clan will never suffer injustice again. Such a tragedy will never happen again!"
Hearing this, Fugaku slowly shook his head. "Minato, it's too late. We… don't dare trust Konoha anymore. If we choose to stay, and if… if something happens to you again one day…" Fugaku's gaze swept over the clansmen nearby who were reassured by Minato's appearance, his eyes filled with sorrow and irony. "The Uchiha might have to face extermination all over again!"
Minato fell silent. He could understand Fugaku's fear, that bone-deep distrust. Once trust is shattered, it is incredibly difficult to repair.
He sighed heavily. "I understand. Since your minds are made up, I won't force you. I hope the village you build in the future will be peaceful. If possible, Konoha hopes to maintain friendly relations with you."
Minato paused, his expression suddenly becoming extremely serious. "By the way, Fugaku, I must warn you. The battle with the Nine-Tails before my death was no accident. There is a masked man with a Mangekyo Sharingan similar to yours. His ability is related to space-time ninjutsu, and he can use Wood Style. His Mangekyo ability requires him to be solid when absorbing or releasing objects; he cannot be intangible then. However, absorbing a target takes time, it's not instant. If you're fast enough, you can dodge it. And he can infiltrate Konoha's barrier silently, knows many secrets of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and can even control the Nine-Tails! I suspect he is Madara Uchiha, or an inheritor of his will. This is a massive conspiracy against Konoha, and possibly the entire ninja world! The future world will surely face greater storms because of him. If you encounter him, you must be careful!"
Fugaku nodded solemnly. "Thank you for the warning, Minato. We will remember."
In the heavy and complex atmosphere, the leaders of both sides finally took different paths. Fugaku led the few dozen remaining clansmen, preparing to turn and leave. This land was soaked in blood and despair.
Just as they were about to leave, Fugaku suddenly stopped. He turned back and gave Minato a deep look.
"Minato. Beware of Konoha's high command. Your son—Naruto Uzumaki—after your death, has lived… not well."
With that, Fugaku didn't stay a moment longer. He led his clansmen away, heading quickly towards the unknown distance without looking back.
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched their retreating backs, not signaling anyone to pursue. Doing too much in front of Minato Namikaze would be unwise.
But Danzo Shimura could no longer contain his killing intent. He would never allow any Uchiha "traitors" to leave Konoha's control alive! Several Root ninja lurking in the shadows silently pounced towards the rear of Fugaku's group!
However—
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Several special kunai nailed into the path of the Root ninja! Minato Namikaze's figure was already standing in front of them. He casually tossed them back with one hand. His face still wore his trademark gentle smile, but there was no warmth in it.
He narrowed his eyes, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura not far away.
"Lord Third, Danzo."
"Aren't you going to explain?"