Honesty

"How do you know all of this? Even if that Otsutsuki Koshiki is truly the uncle of the Sage of Six Paths as you claim, it is impossible for him to know the affairs of this world. All of this must be something you knew from the very beginning, right?" The three of them, still immersed in the joy of their reunion, snapped back to reality at the Nine-Tails' question.

Minato also asked, "That's right, Naruto. How are you so clear about all of this?" Seeing the confusion in their eyes, Naruto did not hide anything and told them everything he knew.

The three were utterly shocked by Naruto's answer. "To think that this world is merely an anime from your previous life, Naruto. No wonder you know it so clearly," Minato remarked with a sigh.

Hearing Minato's lament, the Nine-Tails replied with disdain, "Even if we are just from an anime you watched in your past life, we truly exist. What is there to sigh about?"

At this, Naruto added, "That's right, Dad. Once you enter this world, you become a person of this world, and everything changes. Because the easiest thing to change in this world is people; human thought cannot be swayed by anything."

Minato regained his composure and said, "Thank you for your concern. I'm not overthinking it; I'm just a bit overwhelmed. This is all so incredible."

"As long as our family is reunited, nothing else matters," Kushina said, taking Minato and Naruto's hands. Minato and Naruto nodded warmly.

"What do you plan to do next, Naruto?" Minato asked.

Naruto looked at his parents and said, "Ever since you died, I have been preparing to bring you back. So, the first step is to resurrect you, Mom and Dad."

Minato and Kushina frowned at Naruto's words. Minato said, "Naruto, your mother and I are already dead. I really hope you don't try to bring us back."

"That's right, Naruto. As long as you are living well, your father and I have no regrets," Kushina added, trying to persuade him.

Naruto knew they held the long-standing belief that the dead should not be disturbed, as it was considered a desecration and a taboo.

It was something society would not accept; even the rebellious Sasuke had said that the resurrected Madara Uchiha was a relic of a past era that had no place in this world.

Naruto knew that convincing his parents would not be easy, but he had a trump card—one that targeted his soft-hearted mother and gentle father.

"Mom, Dad, you don't want to be resurrected because you believe you are dead and shouldn't appear in the world of the living, and that society believes the dead should stay dead, right?" Naruto asked earnestly.

"Isn't that the case?" Kushina asked, puzzled.

"What exactly are you trying to say, Naruto?" Minato asked.

At this point, the Nine-Tails, who had been watching from the side, interjected, "You two, stop talking for a moment and let Naruto finish. I believe he won't let you down."

Naruto said very seriously, "Mom, Dad, I only mean that your resurrection will not make me a desecrator of the dead in the eyes of the world, and you will be truly alive. Don't you remember? I just told you that the Rinnegan can bring the dead back to life. With the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, one can truly resurrect someone, unlike the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, which merely traps a soul within a corpse."

"But didn't you say the price for that technique is the caster's life? If it means trading your life for ours, we would rather stay dead," Kushina said nervously.

Naruto said to her gently, "Mom, you don't need to worry. There is still the forbidden technique, Izanami. As long as I set up Izanami before casting the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, I can resurrect you without paying any price. As for the cost of Izanami, it will be nullified because I possess the Sage Body; my eyes will not go blind."

Kushina still looked doubtful. "Really? Don't lie to your mother."

After hearing Naruto's plan, Minato comforted her, "Kushina, you don't need to worry. Naruto's method is sound."

"Shut up! It's all because of your uselessness that my Naruto suffered so much!" Kushina snapped at Minato.

Minato was instantly embarrassed, but Naruto came to his rescue. "Mom, it's really okay. Your son has the potential to surpass the Sage of Six Paths, so you don't need to worry at all. Besides, even if I couldn't do it, I could control someone else to perform the technique. Don't you want to see my and Hinata's children, Boruto and Himawari?"

Naruto finally played his trump card. Sure enough, Kushina began to waver, but she quickly made her decision. Compared to her cute grandchildren, a little risk to her son was nothing.

Kushina changed her tune immediately. "Then be careful, Naruto. If it really works, then do as you wish."

Minato and Naruto felt a bit awkward. Naruto hadn't expected his trump card to be so effective—perhaps a little too effective. He even felt a twinge of jealousy toward his future children with Hinata.

As for Minato, he realized he was at the bottom of the family hierarchy. Compared to his son, he was nothing; compared to his future grandchildren, he was merely mud on the ground.

Minato sighed softly and looked at Naruto. "Naruto, since your mother has agreed, I won't say anything more. I want to teach you the training methods for the Flying Thunder God and the Rasengan. That way, your chances of survival will be much higher; basically, if you want to leave, no one will be able to stop you. Also, if anyone asks, just tell them Jiraiya taught you. I already gave him instructions when Gamatora left earlier."

Naruto was stunned that Minato had already prepared so much for him in such a short time, and he was moved to the point of speechlessness.

Minato smiled at him. "You are the child of Kushina and me. No matter how much parents do for their children, it is never enough. You just need to accept it."

"Your father is right, Naruto. I also plan to teach you the sealing techniques of our Uzumaki Clan, so you won't have to practice those other ones. You have awakened your bloodline, and your chakra flow has already formed the Adamantine Sealing Chains, so when you use sealing techniques, your internal chakra can flow automatically, allowing you to use them without hand signs," Kushina said, hugging Naruto tenderly.

Minato walked over and hugged Naruto as well. "Although the time is short, I am very happy to see you, Mom. Don't push yourself too hard, and don't put too much pressure on yourself, okay? I only hope you live a good life. And thank you, Minato, for letting me see Naruto again," Kushina said, looking at Naruto with tears of happiness.

"Naruto, I am also very happy to see you and your mother again. It is wonderful to see you living well and not consumed by hatred despite being a Jinchuriki. My child is truly the best," Minato said happily.

"I am also very happy to be your child. Thank you, Mom and Dad," Naruto said, feeling blessed.

Warm light radiated from Minato and Kushina, merging into Naruto's body before they vanished. Naruto's mind was now filled with numerous sealing techniques, as well as Minato's Flying Thunder God and Rasengan.

Naruto looked at the Nine-Tails and said, "I am truly lucky to be their child. They really loved me."

"I saw it. In my long life, I have seen many parents who, for the sake of profit, disregard their own children—some even going so far as to kill them. But you were lucky to meet good parents who would do anything for you," the Nine-Tails remarked with emotion.

It was happy for Naruto, and happy that its judgment had been correct. With a person like this, it's no wonder my other half acknowledged him, it thought.

In the days that followed, Naruto returned to his normal routine: going to school, and training with Sasuke after classes. As for Hinata, she rarely trained with him because she had to practice her clan's secret techniques, but she prepared a bento for him every day, which made Naruto happy for a long time.

On the outskirts of Konoha, in a forest, Orochimaru brought Kabuto Yakushi to a clearing. "Let's do it here. No one will notice, and I can properly observe this test subject."

After speaking, he took out a sealing scroll and summoned the corpse sealed within. He performed a few hand signs and said, "Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!" The corpse suddenly came to life.

Orochimaru tossed the resurrected child into the woods and said, "This technique still needs a lot of improvement before it can be used. It's not ready yet."

Just as he was about to leave with Kabuto, Orochimaru suddenly threw a Kunai into the bushes and shouted, "Who's there? Come out!"

A child wearing a black cloak and an Asura mask slowly walked out to face Orochimaru.

He toyed with the Kunai Orochimaru had just thrown and said, "Lord Orochimaru, why such a temper? I was just watching you perform the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu from the sidelines."

Kabuto Yakushi did not answer Orochimaru's question directly, instead immediately shifting into a stance, preparing to seize the child. But before he could move, he was stopped by Orochimaru.

Orochimaru looked at the child before him, finding himself unable to get a read on the boy. After stopping Kabuto's recklessness, he sneered, "Do you have some business here?"

"Nothing much, just an interest in soul summoning. I'd like to make a trade with you, Lord Orochimaru: if you teach me the method for summoning souls, I can provide you with a piece of intelligence. An intelligence you will certainly find interesting," the masked child said indifferently.

Orochimaru gave a cold laugh. "I don't know what this intelligence of yours is, but that depends on whether you have the qualifications to trade with me."

As soon as he finished speaking, his hands moved in a blur of seals. "Earth Style: Earth Dragon Flame Bullet," he unleashed a combination ninjutsu toward the masked child.

The child simply extended one hand to block the technique; the moment the scorching flames touched the child's palm, they were sucked in and vanished without a trace.

Orochimaru was slightly surprised, then unleashed a Water Dragon Bullet Technique. This time, the water bullet was not absorbed; instead, the flame bullet that had been absorbed earlier was released from the child's palm, colliding with and canceling out the water dragon.

Orochimaru sneered, "It seems you do have the qualifications to trade with me."