At this moment—
Back inside the sealed space.
Kushina and Minato turned their eyes toward Naruto once again.
And in that instant, a wave of emotion overcame them.
To become the person he is today…
Just how much pain had he endured?
How much suffering had their child gone through—suffering they couldn't even begin to imagine?
Looking at Naruto's calm, composed expression, both Kushina and Minato felt a deep ache in their hearts.
Words couldn't capture it.
They simply couldn't fathom—
How a child who once knew nothing…
Could survive in such an environment and still grow into a strong, kind person.
"Naruto..."
Kushina looked at him again, her voice soft and uncertain.
She didn't know what to say.
Minato was silent too.
But in contrast to their sadness, Naruto remained calm.
The past—was already behind him.
It was the future that he needed to focus on now.
"Mom, Dad... you don't have to feel sad for me," Naruto said gently. "The past is over."
Hearing their son speak so maturely—
Their hearts broke all over again.
It felt like invisible hands were tightening around their chests, making it hard to breathe.
And then—
Kushina suddenly remembered something.
She quickly asked:
"Wait... Naruto, did you ever meet Jiraiya? One of the Legendary Sannin?"
"And what about Hatake Kakashi—Kakashi of the Sharingan?"
Her voice trembled.
Even if the Third Hokage hadn't looked after Naruto…
What about Jiraiya, Minato's own teacher?
And Kakashi, Minato's former student?
Why hadn't they shown up for him?
Minato's face darkened slightly at the realization.
Even if the Third Hokage had failed Naruto—what about his own teacher, Jiraiya?
Naruto understood what they were thinking.
He knew the truth.
Under the strict orders of the Third Hokage…
No one was allowed to approach him—the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
Anyone who tried would be viewed as a threat with ulterior motives toward the Kyūbi.
And back then, when his newborn self was entrusted to the Third Hokage…
Only a select few were present.
The Third Hokage and his most trusted confidants.
No one else even knew he existed.
No one knew that the Fourth Hokage and Kushina had left behind a son.
For one, Hiruzen had issued a strict information ban on Naruto.
And second, Kushina's pregnancy—as the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails—was a top-level secret.
The villagers had no idea the wife of the Fourth Hokage was even expecting.
Likewise—
Jiraiya, who was already traveling the world at the time,
Had no way of knowing Naruto had been born.
As for Kakashi—
Despite being known across the ninja world as "Copy Ninja Kakashi" or "Sharingan Kakashi"…
At the end of the day, he was just a Konoha jōnin.
He had neither the power nor authority to defy the village leadership, especially the Third Hokage and Danzo.
And with a Sharingan in his possession, Kakashi being close to the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki would have made the higher-ups even more nervous.
They would never have allowed someone like Kakashi near Naruto back then.
The only reason he's Naruto's team leader now—
Is because Naruto has grown strong enough to handle the Nine-Tails' seal himself.
And after six years of being subtly conditioned in the Ninja Academy…
The higher-ups deemed it "safe" to assign Kakashi to monitor and guide him.
Otherwise—
Kakashi never would've been allowed near him.
"Mom, I've never met Jiraiya before," Naruto said calmly. "But Kakashi is my current team leader."
Kushina froze.
Then her temper exploded.
"WHAT!? You've never met that perverted old toad!?"
Her face twisted in fury, her fiery red hair rising like flames.
"That damned Jiraiya! He couldn't even be bothered to look after his own student's son!?"
"What the hell has he been doing all these years!?"
She cursed at the top of her lungs—
Letting her famous 'Red-Hot Habanero' temper loose.
Minato stood nearby, watching helplessly.
He didn't know why Naruto had never met Jiraiya…
But deep down, he had a bad feeling.
Something must have gone wrong.
It wasn't like the Jiraiya he remembered.
Seeing his mother get so worked up for his sake—
Naruto felt deeply moved.
Only your parents… would love you unconditionally like this.
But he didn't want her to stay angry.
So he gently explained everything.
He told Kushina that Jiraiya didn't even know he existed.
If he had known…
Things never would've turned out this way.
Kushina froze in place, stunned.
She hadn't expected that.
Jiraiya didn't know?
That could only mean one thing—
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi…
Had intentionally hidden the truth from Minato's teacher.
Realizing this, Kushina's anger burned even hotter.
Her fury now aimed squarely at the old man who had made so many decisions without their consent.
The one who stole their son's future.
"Mom… it's okay," Naruto said softly, seeing the grief in her eyes.
"It's all in the past now."
Naruto's voice was steady—reassuring.
He offered them a small smile.
Minato and Kushina listened to their son speak with such maturity—
And it only made their hearts ache more.
It felt like invisible hands were gripping their chests, making it hard to breathe.
Just then—
Kushina suddenly remembered something.
She quickly asked,
"Wait… Naruto, have you ever met Jiraiya? You know, one of the Legendary Sannin?"
"And Hatake Kakashi—Minato's student? The one known as 'Sharingan Kakashi'?"
Her thoughts were racing.
Even if the Third Hokage hadn't personally raised Naruto…
What about Jiraiya, Minato's own sensei?
What about Kakashi, his direct disciple?
Minato's eyes darkened at the thought.
Even if Hiruzen hadn't done anything… shouldn't Jiraiya-sensei have come?
Shouldn't Kakashi have at least checked in on Naruto?
Naruto understood their confusion.
So he calmly explained.
It was the Third Hokage's decree.
No one was allowed to approach him—no one was permitted to interfere with the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
Anyone who did... would be seen as having ulterior motives.
Back then, when Naruto had been entrusted to the Third Hokage—
Only Sarutobi Hiruzen and a handful of his most trusted subordinates were present.
No one else knew Minato and Kushina had left behind a child.
No one knew the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki had been reborn.
The fact that Kushina had even been pregnant was an S-rank secret.
None of the villagers were aware that the Fourth Hokage's wife had been expecting.
Jiraiya was traveling through the ninja world at the time—
So naturally, he had no idea.
And Kakashi...
Despite his fame as the Copy Ninja, despite wielding the Sharingan...
At the end of the day, he was just a jōnin. A soldier.
He had no power to oppose Konoha's leadership—not Hiruzen, not Danzo.
They'd never allow a Sharingan wielder like Kakashi to grow close to the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
It wasn't until Naruto had grown older—
Had mastered the basics, had nearly been conditioned after six years at the Academy—
That Kakashi was finally permitted to be his jōnin instructor.
Why?
Because now he could supervise him.
Now, he could help ensure the seal would remain stable.
Not because of trust.
"Mom… I haven't met Jiraiya yet," Naruto said softly. "But Kakashi-sensei is my team leader now."
Kushina's eyes went wide.
"What! You haven't met that pervy old Jiraiya yet?!" she shouted, voice full of outrage.
"That damn idiot! He didn't even check on his student's son?!"
"Just what the hell was he thinking?!"
She stomped her foot, her chakra surging in a familiar flash of red-hot fury.
The Red-Hot-Blooded Habanero was back.
Minato gave a helpless smile, though a bit of guilt lingered in his eyes.
He didn't know the full story either.
But he trusted Jiraiya enough to believe—something must've gone wrong for it to end up this way.
Naruto, watching his mother rage on his behalf, felt a warm wave of emotion rise in his chest.
Only your parents... would care for you like this.
But he didn't want Kushina to get upset.
So he quickly explained everything.
That Jiraiya had never even known he existed.
And if he had...
Things might have turned out differently.
Kushina fell silent.
She hadn't expected that.
She hadn't known that Hiruzen had deliberately kept Naruto's existence a secret.
That even Jiraiya—Minato's own teacher—had been left in the dark.
And the more she thought about it...
The angrier she became.
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The Third Hokage.
He had betrayed the trust placed in him.
"Mom… it's fine. It's in the past."
Naruto's voice cut through her growing fury.
—
He couldn't help but hug her again.
To comfort her.
Kushina embraced her son tightly.
She still didn't know how he had survived all those years alone.
"Mom… I'm okay now. I have Kakashi-sensei. I have friends—Hinata, Shikamaru, Chōji, Ino, Sasuke... I'm not alone anymore."
Naruto smiled and began telling her about his life.
His friends.
His battles.
His growth.
Kushina listened with quiet care, eyes full of love.
As Naruto spoke, her heart lightened.
Looking at that warm smile on his face...
It was like seeing a younger Minato.
Minato, too, smiled as he listened.
He could feel his mood lift just watching his son speak.
When Naruto finally finished...
Minato stepped forward.
And with deep regret in his voice, he said,
"Naruto... I'm sorry. I never wanted you to go through any of that."
Kushina followed, choking back tears.
"Sweetie... all I ever wanted was for you to grow up happy and healthy."
"Neither your father nor I wanted this for you."
"We're so sorry."
Minato and Kushina...
Found themselves questioning the decision they made on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack.
Had they done the right thing?
Or had they simply passed on a burden too heavy for their newborn child to carry?
They didn't know.
But the regret...
Was overwhelming.
Naruto stood quietly.
He didn't speak for a long moment.
If his parents had lived...
Would things be different?
Better?
He didn't know.
But what mattered—
Was the present.
What mattered was tomorrow.
At last, Naruto smiled again.
"It's okay," he said quietly. "You didn't know it would end up this way."
He understood.
All of this—this pain—was because of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The Third Hokage.
If he had fulfilled his promise…
If he had protected Naruto the way he swore he would…
If he had used his authority as Hokage to suppress the hatred and ignorance in the village…
Then maybe—just maybe—everything would've been different.
After all…
He was the Fourth Hokage's son.
He could've been a second-gen prodigy.
A respected heir.
He could've grown up happy.
But instead—
He'd been forced to grow up strong.
Not because he wanted to.
But because he had to.
And so…
Naruto looked at both his parents.
And with unwavering resolve, he said—
"Mom. Dad."
"That's why I'll bring down the Third Hokage with my own hands."
"I'll overthrow Shimura Danzō and every corrupt leader still clinging to power in Konoha."
"And I'll wipe out the ninja who remain loyal to them."
"That's why…"
"I need your support."
His voice was calm.
But the weight behind it was like a storm.
—
After hearing all that Naruto had endured—
Neither Kushina nor Minato were surprised anymore.
The child they had sacrificed everything for...
Had lived through hell.
And come out stronger.
They could feel the fire in his heart.
They could feel the will.
Kushina didn't hesitate.
"I support you!"
"That old man doesn't deserve to be Hokage anymore!"
She declared her support without a second thought.
Minato looked at her, a bit helpless—but he didn't object.
Still...
He couldn't help but worry.
Overthrowing the Hokage... was no small thing.
Even now, Naruto was strong.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi had once been called The Professor—the God of Shinobi.
He wasn't just an old man.
He was a living legend.
And the Hokage didn't stand alone.
He commanded the elite ANBU.
He held sway over the top jōnin.
And he had the full military might of Konoha behind him.
And more than just Hiruzen—
There was Danzō.
There were the elders.
The entire village leadership.
And all their loyal forces.
If Naruto wanted to bring them down...
Then he'd need the strength of a god.
The strength of Hashirama Senju himself.
Otherwise...
It would be impossible to stand alone.
At this point, Minato tried to explain to Naruto everything he was thinking of, just in case he didn't understand.
He needed Naruto to understand the danger ahead.
Even if this was the path forward—
He had to think carefully.
He had to plan.
Otherwise his situation could become even worse.
At that moment, Minato's words struck home.
Kushina finally grasped the full weight of Naruto's situation.
Just how dangerous his current path was.
As a mother, the last thing she wanted was to see her child suffer.
"Naruto… let's take a step back and think this through first."
Kushina's voice was soft, trying her best not to push him away.
However—
Their concerned expressions only made Kurama—the Nine-Tails—burst out laughing.
"Pfft—Hahahaha!"
"You two really don't get it, do you?!"
Kurama laughed so hard it looked like he might roll over.
To him, Minato and Kushina's fears were… amusing.
It wasn't that their concern was misplaced—but that they were clearly underestimating Naruto.
Naruto had already anticipated the dangers.
He had already started moving.
Even now, as they spoke, a clone of Kurama was still carrying out infiltration work in the background.
Kurama's amusement left the couple confused.
"What's so funny, Kurama?!"
Kushina snapped, a little embarrassed and flustered.
Kurama simply grinned and gave her a slight nod.
He didn't answer.
This wasn't his story to tell.
It was Naruto's.
And right now, Naruto could feel the genuine care from his parents. He understood.
They weren't trying to stop him.
They were just… worried.
In this world, there were only two people who would always love him unconditionally—Minato and Kushina.
But—
"Mom. Dad."
"I know what I'm doing."
"I want to show you something."
Naruto's voice was calm, but his eyes were firm.
Kushina and Minato exchanged a glance, unsure what he meant.
Still, they nodded and waited.
Then—without hesitation—
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
With a pop!, Naruto's hands came together in a familiar seal.
In an instant, the iconic orange pigment of Sage Mode bloomed around his eyes, forming symmetrical markings.
Both Kushina and Minato's eyes widened in surprise.
A tremendous surge of senjutsu chakra erupted from Naruto's body, its sheer intensity stirring the air into a violent gale.
It roared outward, howling in all directions.
The shallow water pooled across the ground rippled wildly—Naruto at the center—creating expanding waves that pulsed with raw energy.
At that moment, Kushina and Minato were stunned.
That chakra... no, it wasn't just chakra.
Naruto had mastered Sage Chakra.
He had entered Sage Mode.
Kushina and Minato both recognized it instantly.
They had seen Sage Mode before—Jiraiya had demonstrated it once.
And Minato himself had even attempted to train in it.
But before he could complete the training, the Nine-Tails' attack on the village had cut everything short.
Even so, Minato understood Sage Mode well.
And he could see it clearly now—
Naruto's form wasn't just stable.
It was perfect.
The natural energy surrounding him, the flawless balance with his chakra… it was the ideal Sage Mode.
The air around Naruto trembled with power.
"...Naruto!" Minato breathed, eyes wide with disbelief.
Kushina stared in shock, her mouth slightly open.
Neither of them had expected this.
At such a young age—
Naruto had not only inherited their will… but had surpassed their expectations entirely.
Then, seeing their stunned expressions, Naruto grinned.
For the first time… he had someone to share this with.
"Mom. Dad."
"This isn't all."
The next moment—
Under Minato and Kushina's astonished gazes, a swirling sphere of energy formed in Naruto's hand.
Senjutsu chakra gathered, spinning at high speed—
"Rasengan!" he declared.
Minato recognized it instantly. After all, he was the Rasengan's creator.
But before he or Kushina could speak, their eyes widened again.
Because what Naruto held wasn't just a Rasengan.
It began to change.
Its form twisted—its nature evolved.
Wind chakra infused the senjutsu-enhanced Rasengan, merging two forces into one.
The chakra took on shape, edges, and a sharp, whirling cry.
In the blink of an eye—
"Rasen Shuriken!!"
The sound was deafening.
BZZZZZ—GANN!!
The air tore apart as the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken formed fully in his hand, the razor-like shriek echoing throughout the sealed space.
Brilliant and blinding, the chakra construct radiated power so intense it seemed to pierce the very air.
The sealed space shook.
Minato and Kushina could hardly believe it.
...
TN: These are two smaller chaps folded together. 😅
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