Minato couldn't shake the feeling.
The man who had appeared during the Nine-Tails' rampage fit too many impossible conditions. Friendly to Konoha. Ridiculously powerful. Mastery of Flying Thunder God. Knowledge of Uzumaki sealing arts.
If the masked man truly was Uchiha Madara returned from the grave, then why couldn't the Second Hokage have survived as well? Appearances changed. History lied. Shinobi vanished and returned all the time.
There was also another possibility.
A survivor of the Uzumaki clan.
Hair color meant nothing when it came to bloodlines. If the Second Hokage had secretly passed Flying Thunder God to the Uzumaki, it would explain everything. His urgency to save Kushina would make sense too.
Minato was still turning these thoughts over when Fujimoto Tōma calmly pulled a map of Konoha onto the desk and pointed to a location.
"I want you to keep an eye on this orphanage."
That was it.
No explanation. No elaboration.
Minato blinked, surprised, but nodded. Supporting an orphanage wasn't controversial. It helped civilians. It helped morale. And after last night, the village needed something good.
"I'll arrange it," Minato said.
Tōma nodded in approval. "Good. Also, it was wise not to mention me in your report."
Minato smiled faintly. "I had that impression."
He hesitated, then finally asked, "May I know your name?"
Tōma lifted his teacup, thought for a moment, then smiled in a way that made Minato's instincts flare.
"Very well. A proper introduction."
He reached into a sealing scroll. In a puff of chakra, a white cloak appeared over his shoulders. Flame patterns along the hem. Bold kanji on the back.
Sixth Hokage.
"I am Fujimoto Tōma," he said lightly. "The Sixth Hokage."
Minato froze.
"…Sixth?"
"Yes. From the future. And not even from this world, strictly speaking."
Minato didn't speak. His mind was racing, rearranging memories, fragments, instincts. The explanation was absurd. It was also the only one that fit.
Then Minato asked quietly, "In the original future… Kushina and I died last night, didn't we?"
"Yes."
Minato exhaled slowly. "So you changed history."
"Maybe," Tōma said. "Or maybe I was always part of it. Different world, different rules."
Silence stretched.
"You're certain this isn't your world?" Minato asked.
"I checked."
Minato believed him more than he wanted to admit.
Tōma smiled. "That's why I didn't reveal myself earlier. If you'd known I was from the future, you'd never have let me interfere."
Minato didn't deny it.
"Believe me or don't," Tōma said, standing. "Either way, goodbye. Or maybe never again."
He vanished.
Minato remained seated, staring at the empty space.
"…Guess suicide's off the table," he muttered dryly.
After a long pause, he stood and went straight to the archives.
He found the file quickly.
The name still visible beneath his fingers.
Fujimoto.
Later that day, Minato arrived at the orphanage.
Yakushi Nono nearly dropped what she was holding when she saw him.
"Lord Hokage!"
"No need for formalities," Minato said kindly. "Is the Fujimoto child here?"
She nodded and led him inside.
"This one," she said softly. "His mother died shortly after childbirth. No relatives. He was almost declared stillborn."
The infant lay quietly, eyes wide open.
Too clear. Too aware.
Minato crouched slightly. "…You're calm."
The baby stared straight back at him.
Inside that tiny head, a single thought echoed.
Why are you alive?
Minato smiled, unaware.
"What's your name?" he asked Nono.
She flustered. "Yakushi Nono. I run the orphanage."
"You're doing remarkable work," Minato said sincerely. "It can't be easy."
She nodded, thinking of pressures she couldn't name.
Then Minato said, almost casually, "May I name him?"
Nono hesitated, then nodded. "It would be an honor."
Minato thought hard. Naming was his weakness.
Then inspiration struck.
"…Menma."
Nono smiled. "And the family name?"
Minato waved it off. "Use mine. Or Fujimoto. Either is fine."
Nono paused, then said carefully, "Then… Namikaze Menma?"
Minato stiffened for a split second.
Then nodded.
The baby's eyes widened.
Inside his head, outrage exploded.
You absolute fraud!
Minato picked him up, chuckling at the sudden squirming.
And that's when it happened.
Warmth.
Right down the front of his cloak.
Minato froze.
"…Ah."
Nono panicked. "I'm so sorry! He's never done that before!"
"It's fine," Minato laughed. "My own son was just born. Consider this practice."
From the shadows, Tōma watched the scene, rubbing his temples.
Namikaze Menma, huh…
Bold move.
Really bold.
He vanished, feeling the pull of time closing around him.