"Water… Minato??"
Sarutobi Hiruzen dropped his cigarette in shock and stammered.
Minato nodded slightly and said to Hiruzen: "The little girl of the Hyūga clan has been kidnapped, and Naruto is following them. Third Hokage-sama, please send ANBU to the Forest of Death. The specific location is—"
He spoke rapidly, clearly running low on Chakra.
Hiruzen felt his scalp go numb as he listened. He knew the Cloud Village envoys had come with ill intent, but he hadn't expected them to dare target the bloodline successor. That was audacious.
Hiruzen immediately shouted: "Come here!"
An ANBU appeared in the Hokage office. "Third Hokage-sama."
When he saw Minato, cold sweat broke out across his body. Who wouldn't be afraid of the resurrection of the Fourth Hokage?
Hiruzen said to the ANBU: "Have the ANBU who are currently preparing set off immediately and go to the Forest of Death to find Uzumaki Naruto!"
The ANBU bowed quickly. "Yes, Third Hokage-sama!"
Without hesitation, he used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.
Soon after, another ANBU, responsible for monitoring Naruto, arrived in a panic. "Third Hokage-sama… it's not good… the Fourth Hokage has returned…"
When he entered, he saw Minato—yet the Hokage appeared weak. His figure flickered as if the light sustaining him would fade at any second.
Minato said calmly to Hiruzen: "Don't worry. Naruto is my son. Nothing will happen to him. I'll leave it to you from now on, Third Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen looked ashamed. He hadn't fully known how Naruto had grown up. The ANBU was shocked.
What had they just heard? Uzumaki Naruto—the so-called "monster" ostracized by the village—was actually the son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato?!
Hiruzen and the ANBU monitoring Naruto were both silent.
Minato didn't notice any surprise. His Chakra had run out and dissipated into the air.
After a long moment, the ANBU stared sharply at Hiruzen. "Third Hokage-sama… what are you hiding?"
Hiruzen explained, "Minato has too many enemies. This is for Naruto's safety."
The ANBU felt conflicted. Who else but a Hokage could make such decisions? Minato was Konoha's hero, and yet his newborn son became a Jinchūriki, enduring the harshest treatment.
The ANBU's "Will of Fire" wavered slightly. The village was home, and the villagers were family.
But…
Hiruzen interrupted his thoughts: "Don't dwell on it. Some things we cannot change."
The ANBU shivered at the words and asked, "Third Hokage-sama… where is the messenger from the Cloud Village?"
Hiruzen replied: "Don't worry about that for now. Let's get Naruto back first."
In Hiruzen's mind, Naruto was the priority. Hinata, rescued through Naruto's actions, was secondary.
The ANBU's thoughts spun. Had Konoha really become so cautious and deceitful? He felt ashamed for having spied on Naruto before.
"Hokage-sama… maybe we shouldn't have spied on Naruto…"
"And what if there's a problem with the Nine-Tails' seal?"
Hiruzen waved off his concerns. "Enough. Don't discuss these matters with me. You're tired too. Go back and rest a few days."
The ANBU knew better than to argue—he was likely being given no more than a pretense of rest.
In the Forest of Death
Naruto carried Hinata through the forest toward the Hyūga clan's headquarters.
Hinata, exhausted from stress, had fallen into a deep sleep in his arms.
Naruto looked down at the sleeping girl and smiled—but only briefly.
Why would the Cloud Village target Hinata at the Hyūga clan's own headquarters? It made no sense. Naruto would sooner believe they could assassinate Hiruzen than successfully bypass Byakugan vigilance. Such an idea was absurd.
Fortunately, the outcome so far had been favorable. The reasoning behind the Cloud Village's actions would only become clear after confronting them.
Kurama's voice came sharply: "Hey! Naruto, don't forget your promise."
Naruto nodded. "Of course I won't forget it. But not now. I'm not certain I can survive if we separate from each other yet."
Kurama's voice rose in anger: "You lied to me?!"
Naruto shook his head, speaking with firm certainty: "Kurama, I'm not lying. I value my life and need to find a way to separate us without dying."
Kurama fell silent. It seemed to trust Naruto's words, and Naruto didn't impose a stronger seal on the Tailed Beast—this was a matter of mutual trust.
Naruto arrived at the Hyūga clan's residence. He was spotted holding Hinata before he even reached the main building.
"Who are you?! Why are you holding our eldest lady?! Explain!"
Three to five Hyūga members quickly surrounded him.
Naruto clicked his tongue, smiling wryly: "Haha, I see. We were still a few hundred meters away before you noticed us."
"Then tell me—why was Hinata kidnapped by the Cloud Village?"
The Hyūga members glanced at each other in confusion. Naruto's expression turned cold. "Let's go inside. I want to see Hiashi."
The clan members hesitated, sensing the weight of his presence. They dared not argue.
After all, Naruto had just saved Hinata. He was now a benefactor of the Hyūga clan.
One Hyūga member softened his tone: "This… Uzumaki Naruto, come with us."
Soon, Naruto entered the residence and met Hiashi. The elder's expression froze when he saw Naruto holding his daughter.
The Hyūga had a strict tradition of marrying within the clan.
Seeing Hinata in Naruto's arms, Hiashi was immediately suspicious.
Hinata, waking at that moment, saw her father's terrifying expression. She broke free and stepped aside obediently.
Naruto asked Hiashi: "Didn't you notice Hinata was kidnapped?"
Hiashi frowned. "Hinata… weren't you resting in your room?"
Hinata began recounting her experience…
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