Temari: "Did you notice?"
Kankurō: "There aren't many things that can make Black-Frame Naruto lose composure like that."
Nara Shikamaru: "Looks like it's exactly what we think."
Danzō Shimura: "Sigh… poor Naruto. Damn you, Hiruzen! Hiruzen—any last words?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Danzō, I—"
Beep—
Sarutobi Hiruzen has been muted for one hour.
Yamanaka Ino: "As expected of Black-Frame Naruto. He figured out his background with just one glance."
Mei Terumī: "Not that simple, little Ino. You're underestimating him."
Ōnoki: "That's right. That child… his worldview has likely been overturned."
Mabui: "I feel like it's being destroyed and rebuilt—destroyed and rebuilt—over and over again!"
Uzumaki Kushina: "My poor child… sob—do whatever you want. Mom will always support you!"
Namikaze Minato: Dad will always stand behind you too.
Orochimaru: "It's too soon. Black-Frame Naruto won't reach the state Mabui described."
Orochimaru: "At least, not before he has time to catch his breath."
Fourth Raikage: "Mm. I agree more with Orochimaru."
Kurotsuchi: "Eh… figuring it out at a glance isn't that strange, is it?"
Kurotsuchi: "Even if I hadn't watched earlier, I could tell."
Kurotsuchi: "No wonder that rotten Third banned it—this would be obvious to anyone—uh, wait—no, your Konoha villagers are stupid, blind, deaf, foolish, and malicious…"
Kurotsuchi cursed Konoha without repeating herself once.
Konoha's side was furious—but she kept listing evidence.
They were left speechless.
["This is bad!"]
[The kids stopped at the same time.]
["What are you doing?!"]
["Run already!"]
[Tenten urged them urgently.]
["You go ahead."]
[Ino placed all the money they'd picked up back into Tenten's arms.]
[The others quickly did the same.]
[Tenten froze, not understanding.]
["Naruto-kun hasn't come out yet. We're going back," Hinata said—without stuttering.]
["What?!" Tenten exclaimed.]
[Just then—]
[A figure slowly appeared.]
["Naruto!"]
["Naruto-kun~!"]
[The kids lit up—]
[But when they saw Naruto's strained smile, their brows furrowed.]
[It was too obvious.]
[Even Tenten noticed.]
[She stepped forward. "Little handsome, what's wrong?"]
["My dad didn't give you trouble, did he?!"]
["Wait—I'm going back right now to make him apologize!"]
["How dare he?!"]
["Worst case, I'll empty his secret stash and give it all to Mom!"]
[Naruto stopped Tenten and shook his head.]
["It's not that, Tenten-nee. Your father didn't give me trouble."]
["He even let me take the most important thing."]
["The photo?" Tenten asked.]
[Naruto nodded.]
["By the way, your father asked me to pass you a message."]
["I don't want to hear it!" Tenten rolled her eyes and started counting money happily.]
["Spend it all. Just don't tell your mom," Naruto said.]
["Oh! If it's not enough, I'll come find you—this secret, I'll eat—uh…" Tenten froze mid-sentence.]
[Why did that reply just come out naturally?]
[Whatever.]
[Tenten's big eyes curved like crescents.]
["Yours—and yours…"]
[She stuffed a bill into everyone's hand.]
["Nice!"]
["At least I won't have to watch the shop for two months—hahaha!"]
["I'm treating you all to tea and snacks~!"]
[She patted her bulging pocket proudly.]
[She felt zero guilt about discovering her dad's secret stash and looting it—in fact, she felt proud.]
That scene made all the old fathers' eyes go red.
This "little cotton jacket"—
This isn't leaking wind anymore.
It's a flood.
["But before that—little handsome, can you take out the Fourth Hokage's photo and let us see?"]
[Tenten froze.]
[Why did it flip around? Now she was asking him for the photo.]
[Naruto tugged his lips into a smile.]
[Seeing the kids' eager yet confused looks—]
[He sighed.]
[Then slowly took the photo from his chest.]
[They crowded around him.]
[Holding their breath.]
[Finally—the Fourth Hokage's photo appeared before them.]
[Golden hair. Blue eyes. The green flak jacket unique to Konoha jōnin, blue leggings—]
[A handsome… full-sized Naruto?!]
["Huh?"]
["Naruto-kun… are you sure this is the Fourth Hokage?"]
["Naruto-kun… Naruto-kun… Naruto-kun's brother?"]
["Oh my god~! Little handsome becomes big handsome?!"]
["Naruto, this… this isn't a mistake, right?"]
["..."]
[The kids were dumbfounded.]
[They could tell at a glance how closely Minato and Naruto were related.]
[Let alone Naruto himself.]
Yamanaka Ino: "Honestly—he is really handsome!"
Sakura Haruno: "Yeah! Such a bright smile—no wonder Black-Frame Naruto is so good-looking too~!"
Hyūga Hinata: "And… and… Aunt Kushina must be very beautiful too…"
Uzumaki Kushina: "Mm~ Hinata is such a good girl~ come here, Auntie will hug you~"
Elsewhere, Anko Mitarashi and Yugao Uzuki teased Kurenai.
Minato's looks were unquestionable—
Paired with his gentle temperament, the damage was even higher.
["Naruto… this can't be real, right?"]
[Faced with their questions—]
[Naruto fell silent for a moment.]
[Then he put the photo away and smiled.]
["Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't."]
["Or maybe the Fourth Hokage and I are from the same clan."]
["Just with different surnames."]
["I'm Uzumaki. He's Namikaze."]
["Right?"]
[That familiar smile appeared again.]
[Only then did they relax.]
["Mm-hm! Naruto's right—something like that… how could it be possible?" Ino nodded quickly.]
["True. Still, little handsome—you really do look like you were carved from the same mold as the Fourth Hokage," Tenten agreed.]
[Compared to believing Naruto was the Fourth Hokage's brother—or son—Tenten preferred Naruto's explanation.]
[The girls thought the same. Chōji accepted it too.]
[But Shikamaru did not.]
[He immediately understood why the Hyūga and Uchiha had refused to give Naruto nearly ten years of historical records.]
[So that was the reason.]
[Huu—]
[Shikamaru's heart shook violently.]
[Looking at the 'normal-again' Naruto, he felt a pang of pity.]
[On the way to drink tea, with Tenten leading, he asked quietly:]
["Naruto… are you really okay?"]
["I'm fine." Naruto replied instantly, still smiling.]
["But—"]
[The four girls ahead slowed down at the same time, ears twitching.]
[Before Shikamaru could finish, Naruto smiled and said:]
["Even if it's true—so what?"]
["The dead are gone. And besides… I don't know him at all."]
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/senpaistudios1