Exposure

However, the glorious days of Konoha had already passed, yet at the time, everyone—including their enemies—believed that Konoha would march toward prosperity and reach new heights under the leadership of the Fourth Hokage.

It was a pity, then, that the Nine-Tails Incident destroyed everything...

"If only you were still alive... how wonderful that would be."

Watching the scene of Konoha's ninjas uniting under the leadership of Minato, working with one heart and one mind to face the enemy, a flash of regret crossed the eyes of the Third Hokage.

If Minato were still alive, he could have retired in peace and enjoyed his twilight years, instead of being forced to remain in the position of Hokage like this—making mistake after mistake, becoming a nuisance, and continuing on until he might even tarnish his reputation in his final years.

Yes, that was correct; the Third Hokage still possessed enough self-awareness to know that he had done many things wrong.

Allowing Orochimaru to defect, the death of Hizashi Hyuga, the rumors surrounding Naruto Uzumaki, condoning Danzo's persecution of the village's ninjas, the genocide of the Uchiha...

The Third Hokage knew these things were wrong and had wanted to change them, but he never did; in fact, he even became an accomplice.

What was the reason?

He was old, his spirit and energy had declined, and his ability—or perhaps his courage—was simply insufficient.

"Sensei..."

Running all the way, Kakashi approached the battlefield. Hearing the ninjas shouting for the Fourth Hokage, he froze for a moment before quickening his pace, soon spotting a short figure glowing with golden light, directing the ninjas in battle.

"You are..."

Minato turned his head to look. Anbu uniform, silver hair, one eye, and that distinct, despondent aura.

"Kakashi, long time no see. You've grown taller," Minato said with a gentle smile.

"You really are... Sensei?!" Kakashi widened his eyes, looking at the child before him, seemingly unable to believe it.

However, the other person's mannerisms and tone were indeed very much like his teacher's. Could it really be him?

Kakashi hesitated.

"This child..."

"Naruto, my son. Kakashi, don't you recognize him?" Minato looked at Kakashi with deep meaning.

"I... I am very sorry."

Kakashi lowered his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Sensei. I failed to take good care of Naruto. I failed to live up to your expectations."

Ever since the Nine-Tails Incident, Kakashi had been drowning in pain, unable to pull himself out. He poured all his time into grueling Anbu missions, using them to numb his battered and bruised heart.

As for Naruto...

Subconsciously, Kakashi did not want to see him. It wasn't just that he didn't want to see him; he even went out of his way to avoid hearing any news about Naruto.

Because hearing news about Naruto made him think of his teacher and his teacher's wife.

The two of them had once been happy and loving, but now their souls had returned to the underworld.

And so, the pain would come.

After waiting for a long time, Kakashi did not receive the reprimand he had expected; instead, he only heard a sigh.

"Kakashi, the old me would have blamed you a little."

Minato patted Kakashi's...

He wanted to pat his shoulder, but due to the height difference, it turned into a pat on the waist.

Patting Kakashi's waist, Minato said, "But now that I see you like this, I feel that the one who truly needs to be taken care of is you... Kakashi, the dead cannot return to life. Do not keep dwelling on the past; you must seize the present. You need to pull yourself together. I believe that Rin and Obito would not want to see you stay this despondent forever. It is time for you to move on..."

"Move on?"

Kakashi was startled, then immediately shook his head with a bitter smile. Easier said than done.

Boom, boom, boom...

The five-minute rotation of attacks ended. The dust and smoke gradually dispersed, revealing a charred, massive crater where a mangled, shattered corpse lay.

"The Uchiha forbidden technique, Izanagi. It can turn unfavorable events that occurred within a certain period of time into reality. Father, be careful."

Inside the Sealing Space, Naruto used the reputation of the Rinnegan to recklessly leak information he shouldn't have known.

"Mm, I understand."

Minato nodded slightly, then reminded the Konoha ninjas, "Everyone, be careful. The enemy might still be alive."

Still alive?

How could that be?

The corpse was already torn to pieces.

Looking at the body in the charred crater, the Konoha ninjas were full of suspicion. Had the Fourth Hokage made a mistake?

Out of respect for the Fourth Hokage's prestige, no one voiced their doubts, and many even obediently raised their guard.

They believed that the judgment of the Fourth Hokage would not be wrong.

And Minato Namikaze did not betray their trust.

Before long, the corpse in the scorched pit vanished like a dream or a bubble, and the man in the black robe with the Spiral Mask appeared on a nearby rooftop.

"As expected of you, Yellow Flash."

The dark clouds parted, revealing the bright Moon.

Under the moonlight, Obito gazed at Minato with scarlet eyes and said indifferently, "You win tonight. I will come to challenge you another day, and I hope... you will still be around by then."

Having said that, Obito glanced at Kakashi and let out a cold snort, preparing to use Kamui to depart.

But a voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

"Stay here, Madara. I might not be around another day, so why don't you join me in the afterlife today!"

During the Nine-Tails Incident, Minato had left a Flying Thunder God mark on Obito's back, and he utilized it now, catching Obito completely off guard.

--Tailed Beast Rasengan!

A massive Rasengan infused with Tailed Beast Chakra slammed into Obito's back.

BOOM!

Blood splattered, a gaping hole was torn through his body, and he was sent flying, crashing from the rooftop down to the ground.

Knowing the enemy possessed immense vitality, Minato did not pause for a second. He used Flying Thunder God to pursue him instantly, smashing another sphere toward Obito's head.

DANGER!!!

Obito was still in a daze, unable to react, but under the pressure of death, his body forcibly shifted a few inches.

CLANG~!

The sphere grazed his face, knocking away the Spiral Mask and leaving a bloody gash on Obito's cheek.

"Obito?!!"

Minato stopped, staring with wide eyes at the "Madara" whose true face was now revealed.

"How could it be you?!"

That... silly, careless, helpful Obito, whose dream was to become Hokage.

Why had he turned into the Madara who orchestrated the Nine-Tails Incident, caused the deaths of him and Kushina, killed countless villagers, and even tried to murder his son?

"So I've been exposed... then there's no other way."

Obito had already turned intangible. He stood up, spread his arms, and his eyes were filled with madness.

"Why couldn't it be me, Minato Namikaze? The one who caused the death of you and your wife is none other than me, Obito Uchiha. The dead-last whom no one looked up to has caused the downfall of the famous Yellow Flash. No one could have imagined it, hahahahaha..."

Inside the Sealing Space, Naruto Uzumaki looked at his mother, who had remained silent ever since Obito revealed his true face, and asked cautiously, "Mom, what's wrong? Is it because of Obito Uchiha?"

"...Obito, he wasn't like this before."

Kushina said with complex emotions, "Like Kakashi, he was one of your father's students. Back then..."

She began to recount the days of the past—Obito was the student among Minato's three pupils who worried her the most, yet he was also the one she liked the most. She had always treated Obito like her own younger brother; she had grieved for a long time when Obito sacrificed himself, and when she was pregnant, she had hoped her child would possess the same character and qualities as Obito...