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"Naruto! Don't do anything rash. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things. If you forcefully defy it, you'll suffer punishment from the heavens. I don't need to be brought back to life. I only hope you can live happily..."

"It's fine. I have the Rinnegan. This is easy."

Seeing that Minato still wanted to object, Naruto said, "If Dad doesn't want to come back, I won't force you. I'll just bring Mom back on her own. Then... Mom's still so young and beautiful. What do you think might happen, Dad?"

You're actually trying to find yourself a stepfather?!

Minato's eyes widened. For the first time, he felt the urge to beat his son senseless.

Kushina had already made her move. She punched Naruto on the head and snapped, "What do you take me for? I would never betray Minato..."

Still not satisfied, she punched Naruto a few more times, then turned to Minato. "If you were willing to die with me, then I can die with you too. If Naruto only brings me back, I won't go on living alone."

Naruto hurried to explain, "I was just joking. I'll definitely bring both of you back. No one comes first or second. I promise our family will all be together again."

This time, Minato didn't refuse. He held Kushina and Naruto tightly without saying a word.

Before long, Minato's body turned into specks of light and entered Naruto.

"This is... Dad's training memories."

Shadow Clone, Rasengan, Shuriken Shadow Clone, Four-Symbols Sealing, Eight Trigrams Sealing Style... and the Flying Thunder God Technique Naruto wanted most.

......

The Konoha F4 were discussing how to handle last night's events in the Hokage Building.

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and sighed. "I never expected the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident to be Obito Uchiha. But he was only fourteen at the time, wasn't he?"

A boy of only fourteen had nearly brought Konoha to its knees, costing the village a Hokage and its Jinchuriki. It was hard to believe.

"Hmph. The Uchiha... The Uchiha are capable of even poisoning their own teacher. Teacher Tobirama was right to warn us. It's a good thing we wiped them out."

Utatane Koharu could barely hide her relief. The other three didn't disagree. Danzo even wanted to applaud loudly.

I'm the one who inherited Teacher Tobirama's will—Shimura Danzo. So I should be Hokage, too.

Isn't that right, Hiruzen?

"I remember Hiruzen was the one who had the Fourth Hokage take Obito Uchiha on as a student. If he hadn't, the Fourth Hokage probably wouldn't have been killed by Obito."

Looking at the Third Hokage, Danzo said with deep sorrow, "So, when you get right down to it... the Fourth Hokage was killed because of you! Hiruzen, you bear the greatest responsibility..."

The two advisors, Mito and Koharu, were speechless. You could blame him for that, too? Were you so desperate to become Hokage that you'd lost your mind?

Hiruzen smoked in silence for a moment before saying, "I admit I bear some responsibility. I misjudged Obito and placed my hopes for reconciliation between the village and the Uchiha on him. But I didn't expect his heart to be so twisted..."

Hearing the Third Hokage admit his mistake, Danzo seized the opportunity and intensified his accusations, painting Hiruzen as a terrible criminal who had to resign to atone to the entire village.

But the two advisors had heard enough.

"That's enough, Danzo. No matter what you say, we won't support you becoming Hokage... Now, let's discuss the real issues."

The first issue was how to deal with Obito Uchiha.

Strip him of the title of Sharingan Hero, erase his name from the Memorial Stone, issue an S-rank missing-nin warrant, and send a dedicated pursuit squad to search for him...

The second issue was how to deal with Naruto.

Danzo, who had been sitting with a gloomy expression and saying nothing, finally spoke.

"Given Obito Uchiha's designs on the Jinchuriki, the current security measures are no longer enough to protect him. We need to take stronger action... I suggest the Jinchuriki be withdrawn from the Academy and placed under Root's direct control. I'll personally provide him with specialized training..."

In short, it was the same old tune.

"Hiruzen, I think Danzo's idea is quite good. Why not do what he says?"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both voiced their agreement.

"No need. I'll have Anbu increase the protection around Naruto. You don't need to worry about it."

As expected, the Third Hokage refused again.

The two advisors frowned, but said nothing.

Danzo shouted, unwilling to give up, "Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"

"Danzo, I'm the Hokage!"

The familiar exchange played out once more, and the Third Hokage didn't take it to heart at all.

Afterward, the four discussed a few other matters. Then the Third Hokage suddenly said, "I'm planning to reveal Naruto's parentage."

The other three were taken aback, then objected in unison.

Mitokado Homura said, "The Jinchuriki's reputation in the village is terrible. If you reveal his parentage, it could damage the Fourth Hokage's reputation."

Utatane Koharu said, "Now isn't the right time. It would be better to wait until the Jinchuriki graduates and becomes a ninja, earns great merit, and improves people's impression of him before making the announcement."

That... did make some sense.

The Third Hokage hesitated.

Danzo, who knew the Third Hokage best, said, "Hiruzen, if you reveal the Jinchuriki's parentage now, what do you think the villagers will make of you?"

They certainly wouldn't praise him. People would wonder... What had he been doing all this time? Why reveal it only now?

What a sinister hypocrite!

If people also remembered Naruto's miserable treatment in the village, the Third Hokage's image would suffer even more, and Konoha's reputation would take a hit along with it.

Wait, this announcement actually sounds like a good thing for me!

Danzo realized what was going on and said solemnly, "I agree with Hiruzen. This matter shouldn't be delayed. We can't let the hero's son keep suffering..."

Danzo, what's gotten into you? Did you take the wrong medicine?

The two advisors looked confused, but soon understood. They gave the Third Hokage a meaningful look.

Since Danzo agrees, I'm sure you know what to do.

The Third Hokage remained silent for a long while, then let out a long sigh.

"Let's wait a little longer. We'll announce it when the time is right."

Minato, don't blame me. I'm doing this for Konoha.

—Land of Rain—

Itachi returned to Akatsuki's base alone. His teammate, Biwa Juzo, had fallen in battle in his homeland, Kirigakure.

According to Itachi's report, their squad had run into the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and his team of missing-nin pursuers while carrying out a mission in Kirigakure.

The two of them had just killed an important figure from Kirigakure, and Biwa Juzo was himself one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen who had defected from the village.

There was no avoiding it. The two sides had clashed like flint and tinder, and the fight had broken out at once.

Itachi and Biwa Juzo were strong, but the Mist Ninja had the numbers, and Yagura was powerful.