The Fourth Hokage's Admirable Magnanimity

Naruto Uzumaki finally learned that he was a child with a father and mother.

He finally learned the identities of his biological parents.

So his father had been the Fourth Hokage, a hero who sacrificed himself to protect Konoha!

And his mother had been the second Jinchuriki, Konoha's last safeguard standing firm in the Ninja World!

And the reason he looked like a fox was because he had inherited his mother's duty—the price paid to protect Konoha!

Then why had the people of Konoha treated him this way?

Naruto Uzumaki's mind was a complete mess. After hearing his mother's utterly shocking declarations, the little fool became a firm believer in her words.

Mother and son swiftly formed their own little circle, shutting Minato Namikaze out to the side.

Shazo extended his right hand in a handshake gesture.

Though Minato Namikaze did not know the custom of shaking hands, he keenly copied Shazo's movement and extended his own right hand.

The two spectral hands clasped together. Shazo gave them two firm shakes, then said, "I've heard much about you, Fourth Hokage. I'm Shazo, a Genin of Konoha."

Minato Namikaze sincerely thanked him. "I know of you. Thank you so, so much. Thank you for taking care of Naruto."

Shazo was somewhat surprised. "Oh? Fourth Hokage, do you know about Naruto's circumstances?"

Minato Namikaze smiled. "I created Naruto's seal, so I can barely use his senses to see and hear some things."

A questioning look appeared in Shazo's eyes as he bluntly asked, "Then what are your thoughts on Naruto's future?"

Minato Namikaze's gaze dimmed. After a brief hesitation, he said, "Naruto's future should be decided by Naruto himself."

The Fourth Hokage ultimately did not say it outright. He was disappointed, and he was furious, but his euphemistic words clearly conveyed his meaning.

Shazo smiled faintly and did not press Minato Namikaze further.

What the Fourth Hokage and his wife saw now was Naruto being hated, excluded, bullied, watched, and even deprived of his inheritance rights.

Naruto Uzumaki had even nearly lost his life.

Jiraiya had left the village of his own accord. Kakashi Hatake had been consumed by grief and ignored everything. Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha had shut their eyes and played blind. And the Third Hokage...

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the most detestable of them all. He had trained Naruto like a dog, all to spend a little time in exchange for Naruto Uzumaki's absolute closeness and trust.

If Minato Namikaze could be resurrected, no one knew what he would do, but he certainly would not let the Sarutobi Clan off easily.

If Kushina Uzumaki were resurrected, she would blow up the Hokage Building without hesitation, cut ties with Mikoto Uchiha, strip Kakashi Hatake of his status as a disciple, and no longer acknowledge Jiraiya as an elder.

She was simply that decisive a woman.

Unfortunately, neither of them could be resurrected.

So Minato Namikaze could only express his dissatisfaction and anger through euphemisms, while Kushina Uzumaki only dared to use adult words to teach Naruto a few techniques, hoping he could live more freely and not feel so stifled.

That was only because Shazo was here now.

If Shazo had not appeared, then when Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki saw Naruto again eight years later, they would only have words of praise and encouragement for him.

After all, by then the Third Hokage would be dead. Kakashi Hatake and Jiraiya would successively take Naruto Uzumaki as their student, offering some measure of compensation, and Naruto's circumstances would have improved considerably.

But more importantly, Naruto Uzumaki would have been completely brainwashed into a people-pleaser. Not only would he be deeply embroiled in Konoha's center of power, he would also stand at the heart of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Facing the situation where their son would die if he did not advance, whether it was the projected Minato Namikaze or the reanimated Minato Namikaze, both could only swallow their burning rage.

They would even have to face their child with smiles, encouraging Naruto to keep working hard and hoping he could live a better life.

Just imagining it made clear how stifled the Fourth Hokage must have felt. No wonder that after being reanimated, he had not even spared the Third Hokage a glance throughout the entire time.

And the Third Hokage had lowered his head and admitted defeat, acknowledging himself as the lowest-ranked of the four Hokage, with none of the swagger of the "strongest Hokage in history."

Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze had limited time within the seal. They were merely the Fourth Hokage's memories and emotions entrusted to chakra, not souls or consciousnesses at all.

Even if Shazo wanted to help them extend their time, he had no way to begin with beings as program-like as them.

Although everyone knew that this reunion meant an eternal farewell, and that it would be far too cruel a blow to Naruto Uzumaki, they could only accept it helplessly.

In the end, Naruto Uzumaki forced back his sorrow and saw his parents off with a smile. There was warmth and sunshine in that smile, warm enough to touch hearts, just like his father.

Kushina Uzumaki, on the other hand, could not hold it together. In the final moment, she broke down sobbing, tearfully embracing her son as she turned into specks of starlight.

Minato Namikaze pressed one hand on Naruto's head, greedily and reluctantly stroking his son's hair. He faced them both with the brightest, most radiant smile.

He gave Shazo a deep bow. "Please take good care of Naruto."

Shazo nodded without hesitation. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him. I won't let that old pervert Jiraiya trick him."

"Fourth Hokage, don't despair. You'll still have another chance to see Naruto in the future."

Minato Namikaze froze, then could not help shaking his head. "I am..."

Shazo raised a hand to stop him and continued, "I know. You're in the Death God's stomach right now, but before long, I'll become a Death God too. Colleagues can always work something out."

"After all, the Nine-Tails can't remain split between yin and yang forever."

Minato Namikaze's pupils contracted slightly, but he soon relaxed. The dead certainly could not compete with the living.

Then he laughed heartily. "You really do know a lot."

Unable to contain his admiration, Shazo addressed him respectfully. "Lord Fourth Hokage, you truly are magnanimous."

At long last, specks of light began to emerge from Minato Namikaze's body.

He crouched down until he was level with Naruto Uzumaki.

With the most earnest tone, Minato said, "Naruto, remember this: your mother and I love you."

"This life you have now was never what we intended. I'm sorry. Your father misjudged someone and did not make thorough enough arrangements."

Naruto Uzumaki nodded. "Dad, I don't blame you."

"As long as you and Mom loved me, that's enough."

"Big Brother Shazo takes care of me. I have Sister Izumi, and my classmates... In the future, I'll have good friends too. You and Mom can rest easy."

Minato Namikaze's body faded away, but he still left Naruto Uzumaki with a final smile and a faint, ethereal "Thank you."

Shazo shook his head repeatedly. His admiration for the Fourth Hokage deepened a little further, while his dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage surged enormously.

Only after Minato Namikaze's final motes of light had vanished did Naruto Uzumaki finally let his emotions go.

Tears streamed down his face as he wailed, "I don't have a mom anymore! I don't have a dad anymore!"

When Kushina Uzumaki vanished, the Adamantine Sealing Chains around the Nine-Tails disappeared as well. Yet it remained remarkably understanding, quietly staying in the corner without interrupting the final farewell.

Only when Naruto began to sob loudly did the Nine-Tails give an arrogant snort. "Hmph. What an annoying kid."

Shazo glanced at the Nine-Tails, frightening it so badly that its entire body trembled.

Then Shazo's words soothed it again. "From now on, I'll be counting on you to take good care of Naruto."

The Nine-Tails swallowed, forced itself to calm down, and lay back down. In a low voice, it agreed, "Fine. I'll do my best."

Satisfied, Shazo left.