With Minato's godlike return, Konoha entered a golden era of absolute calm.
Under his iron hand and benevolent rule, reconstruction advanced in steady order. With Kushina's deterrence, no other village dared stir. And under Shinju's subtle guidance, the Namikaze's influence seeped into every corner of the village.
Naruto, once a swaddled infant, had grown into a lively, energetic child who could run and jump.
On this day, in the village's central district—prime land beside the Hokage Building—a new estate symbolizing the Namikaze's absolute status was finally completed. The project had taken years, and its scale was nothing short of outrageous.
The previous manor had only been a stopgap.
When the shrouding curtains fell at the unveiling, every passerby—villagers and shinobi alike—stopped in their tracks and gasped in awe.
The scale truly defied belief.
Its grounds alone nearly equaled the combined compounds of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans. The architecture was grand and imposing; the main hall rose as high as the Hokage Building not far away.
It could no longer be called a "manor."
It was a city within the city, rising from the heart of Konoha.
On the front gate's plaque, two bold characters were carved with vigorous strength—Namikaze.
This was the new home of the shinobi world's foremost clan: the Namikaze.
On the day of completion, Minato, in his capacity as clan head, sent invitations to the leaders of every Konoha clan.
By evening, the clan heads arrived at the Namikaze estate one after another, mixed feelings in their hearts.
Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, Hyuga Hiashi, Inuzuka Claw, Aburame Shibi…
All the village's notables gathered under one roof.
Only after crossing the threshold did they feel, more keenly still, the terrifying depth behind this rising clan.
Walls and buildings alike were etched with dense arrays of runes, glittering with gold.
Those glyphs braided into seal formations of extreme complexity, interlinking to form a flawless, vast barrier that covered the entire estate.
The chakra wavering from the barrier was steady and weighty, ringed with an absolute dignity that brooked no trespass.
Jiraiya had been invited as well.
A master of fūinjutsu by any measure, he could only stare in pure shock and puzzlement at these arrays.
"Wh-what level of sealing barrier is this?" he muttered. "The underlying principles… I—I can't understand them at all!"
He could feel it: the defensive strength likely surpassed Konoha's outer Four Purple Flames Formation—and by several folds exceeded the top-tier barriers recorded in ancient texts!
"Minato, was this your handiwork?"
Minato sighed and shook his head.
He glanced at the quiet teen sipping juice in the corner, pride warm in his eyes.
"No. Not mine."
"The entire defensive system of this estate was designed by Shinju."
That sentence shook the room more than the estate itself.
Every gaze snapped to the slight, calm-faced boy.
A child?
Who had designed an ultra-S-class defensive barrier Jiraiya himself couldn't parse?
What kind of monstrous talent was this?
Hyuga Hiashi felt an unprecedented shock.
He had always assumed the Byakugan was Konoha's strongest bloodline limit, and the Hyuga its proudest noble house.
But looking at the boy sipping juice as if such god-tier arrays were idle doodles…
The pride of the Hyuga main family shattered to dust.
An absurd thought stole into his mind.
Perhaps, before long, having a son-in-law like Namikaze Shinju would matter far more than guarding the so-called honor of the main branch.
Instinctively, he glanced at the little girl beside him—his daughter, Hinata—peeking shyly from behind him to sneak a look at Naruto.
Nara Shikaku gave Shinju a long, deep look, then raised his cup to Minato. "Fourth—no, Clan Head Minato. Congratulations. The Namikaze future is bright."
His tone held unfeigned sincerity.
With a peak powerhouse like Minato in residence—and a monstrous heir like Shinju—the Namikaze's rise would be unstoppable. Before absolute strength, scheming is just ornament.
To make enemies of them was impossible; one could only befriend them—and better yet, bind one's clan to that giant vessel as early as possible.
Smiling, Minato clinked cups, then stepped to the hall's center.
He looked around at everyone and spoke in a ringing voice:
"Thank you all for coming to the banquet."
"From today on, this is the Namikaze seat."
"I, Namikaze Minato, vow here and now: every member of the Namikaze will receive absolute protection within these walls!"
A promise inward, and a warning outward.
Every clan head caught the meaning at once.
They rose in turn, lifted their cups, and offered the highest respect to Konoha's new uncrowned king.
The banquet's mood reached a crest.
On this day, the Namikaze announced their founding in the strongest possible fashion.
Or rather: for years now, their standing had already towered above every clan in Konoha—above even the "Hokage."
Everyone understood.
Konoha's center of power had shifted from that old Hokage Office to this resplendent "Namikaze Castle."
When the banquet ended, the clan heads departed in sequence.
At last, the Namikaze welcomed their first peaceful night.
Minato and Kushina formally began guiding Shinju's shinobi training.
Shinju's talent hardly needed instruction—but this kind of family teaching was itself a way to deepen bonds.
Shinju did not refuse.
He savored this parental warmth he had never known in his previous life.
At the same time, he poured most of his energy into developing the "Uzumaki Sen'nin-tai (Uzumaki Sage Body)" and researching the system's functions.
So the days passed, one by one.
With Minato quietly pushing and the clans cooperating fully, Konoha's reconstruction proceeded like clockwork.
The whole village flourished.
That calm did not last.
Half a month later—
A message from the border rushed to the Namikaze estate.
An Anbu knelt on one knee and reported respectfully:
"Lord Minato, news from Konoha's border."
"Kumogakure's delegation has entered the Land of Fire. Estimated arrival in Konoha, three days."
"They're coming to celebrate 'Konoha's rebirth' and to discuss a peace accord."
Hearing this, Kushina—who'd been coaching Shinju's shuriken practice—could barely contain the fire flaring in her eyes.
"Kumogakure? A peace accord?"
Her temper was still explosive.
Minato's gaze turned cold and deep in an instant.
No one knew the Cloud's true nature better than he did.
His eyes slid, almost of their own accord, to his two preternaturally gifted sons.
One—a perfect jinchuriki.
The other—a godlike existence bearing the "Uzumaki Sen'nin-tai."
Chances were, those two would be the Cloud's most coveted targets.
"Celebrate our 'rebirth,' is it?"
"Very well."
"Let's see exactly how they plan to 'celebrate.'"
(End of Chapter)
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