Leaving the Village and Minato Namikaze

Since Kurama had always been inside Naruto Uzumaki, he was intimately familiar with the properties of Naruto Uzumaki's chakra. He succeeded in the conversion quickly and began attempting to transmit it to a shadow clone. As expected, the shadow clone, now converted into Kurama's chakra, accepted it entirely. This meant that as long as Kurama kept transmitting chakra to this clone, it would not dissipate. (As mentioned previously, this was a shadow clone created by Naruto Uzumaki using spiritual energy, so it would not vanish even if injured.)

"Kurama, do you sense any distance limitations?" Seeing that the plan was entirely feasible, Naruto Uzumaki asked another pressing concern.

"None at all. As long as he exists, I can transmit chakra to him regardless of the distance," Kurama replied.

"Heh, as I thought. Time to prepare to leave the village."

Naruto Uzumaki then spoke to one of the Anbu ninjas under his control. The ninja replied with a "Yes" and vanished in an instant.

Not long after, the ninja returned with a man slung over his shoulder and handed Naruto Uzumaki a stack of documents containing all the information on this individual. This was the task Naruto Uzumaki had assigned him during this period.

He had sought out someone who frequently left the village and lived alone, thoroughly investigated and recorded all their details, brought them back, and locked them in a cave behind Konoha, guarded by another Anbu ninja. Once he returned from outside the village after finishing his business, he would simply erase the man's memory.

Although Kurama had become much stronger and could kill Hiruzen Sarutobi if released, that was not what Naruto Uzumaki wanted.

The next day, sensing that the Third Hokage had finished spying on him with his crystal ball, Naruto Uzumaki began his move. He created a shadow clone and had Kurama continuously transmit chakra to it. Meanwhile, using the Transformation Technique, he took on the appearance of the man he had captured the previous night. After suppressing all his presence to ensure no spiritual energy leaked out, Naruto Uzumaki headed toward the gates of Konoha.

After registering his information at the gate, Naruto Uzumaki successfully left the village. (Why not leave from elsewhere? Because Konoha was shrouded in a massive sensory barrier; leaving from anywhere else would have been detected immediately. This was the main reason Naruto Uzumaki had gone through all that trouble.)

Once outside the village, Naruto Uzumaki activated the God Moon Mind's Eye. After walking for a long time and confirming that no one was nearby and that he was well outside the range of Konoha, he dispelled the Transformation Technique and found a valley containing a cave.

Sensing that the cave was empty, Naruto Uzumaki lit a torch and walked inside. He sat cross-legged, sank his consciousness, and soon arrived in his mental space.

"Kurama, I'm starting now." After saying this, Naruto Uzumaki walked to the iron gate. The water beneath his feet carried him to where the seal was affixed. Naruto Uzumaki raised his hand and tore off half of the seal, and the Nine-Tails began to erupt with chakra converted from spiritual energy.

Suddenly, a large hand grabbed Naruto Uzumaki's. Turning his head, Naruto Uzumaki saw his father, Minato Namikaze.

Minato Namikaze wore a gentle smile as he looked at Naruto Uzumaki. "Naruto, you mustn't tear off the seal."

Naruto Uzumaki stopped his movements but remained silent. While he didn't hate him, it would be a lie to say he held no resentment.

Seeing that Naruto Uzumaki wouldn't speak, Minato Namikaze led him to the small island. It was only then that he noticed the surroundings were different from when he had set the seal; if he recalled correctly, he had designed this space to look like a sewer.

Though surprised, he didn't dwell on it, instead looking at Naruto Uzumaki and asking gently, "Naruto, do you know who I am?"

Suppressing the urge to punch him, Naruto Uzumaki replied coldly, "I know. The Fourth Hokage, it's written on your back."

Hearing Naruto Uzumaki's icy tone, the Fourth was momentarily stunned. He had imagined many scenarios—Naruto Uzumaki crying in his arms, or Naruto Uzumaki punching him the moment they met.

"Besides being the Fourth Hokage, I am also your father," Minato Namikaze continued, still not grasping the situation.

Naruto Uzumaki replied with the same "stay away" expression, "I know that too."

Naruto Uzumaki's attitude left Minato Namikaze completely bewildered, standing there not knowing what to say.

At this moment, Kurama, who had been silent, spoke up. "Fourth, take a look at these."

As he spoke, several orbs of light drifted toward Minato Namikaze. Inside them were scenes of Naruto Uzumaki being bullied, ostracized, and monitored.

Minato Namikaze watched the scenes in the orbs one by one: Naruto Uzumaki being abused in the hospital, scalding hot milk powder, needles hidden in sleeves to prick him, rice mixed with sand, living in a cramped room eating expired milk and bread, the cold glares of adults on the street, their vicious words, and the stones thrown at him from time to time. He saw how the Third Hokage only provided a thousand ryo for living expenses each time, and so much more...

With every orb he finished, Minato Namikaze's body trembled. By the end, tears were streaming down his face uncontrollably.

After watching all the orbs, Minato Namikaze turned and hugged Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto Uzumaki did not struggle, allowing Minato Namikaze to hold him. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Naruto. My first thought was to have you live in Konoha as a hero. I truly never imagined it would end up like this!"

At this point, Naruto Uzumaki waved his hand, and more orbs appeared. "Take a look at these as well."

Hearing this, Minato Namikaze released Naruto Uzumaki but still reached out to hold his hand, then began to watch the orbs. These were the memories carried over from the fusion with that remnant soul. Naruto Uzumaki had preserved all the scenes involving the high-ranking officials of Konoha, and these were what Minato Namikaze was seeing now.

As he finished all the orbs, Minato Namikaze basically understood everything.

His and Kushina Uzumaki's inheritance had been embezzled by the high-ranking officials of Konoha. For the sake of their own power and to better control Naruto Uzumaki, they had hidden his identity. To ensure Naruto Uzumaki never learned the truth, they had sent people to monitor him constantly, inciting the villagers to hate and isolate him. Whenever he was bullied, Hiruzen Sarutobi would always appear to play the good guy, comforting Naruto Uzumaki while simultaneously instilling his own ideologies.

At this moment, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but recall the happiness he and Kushina Uzumaki shared when she was first pregnant, and the reluctance they felt when they were both dying, pierced by the Nine-Tails' claws just after Naruto Uzumaki was born. He had thought that even if they died, Naruto Uzumaki would live well under everyone's protection...

Minato Namikaze slumped to the ground, thinking of Naruto Uzumaki's cold attitude, and kept repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." His originally sky-blue right eye was now blood-red. After seeing those orbs, beyond feeling sorry for Naruto Uzumaki, his previous convictions had completely collapsed.

Seeing Minato Namikaze in this state, Naruto Uzumaki sighed softly, stepped forward, and hugged him. "Father, I don't hate you. I just resent how naive you were."

Hearing that he wasn't hated, Minato Namikaze looked up and asked with a trembling voice, "Really?"

"Really," Naruto Uzumaki's tone softened.

Hearing Naruto Uzumaki's affirmation, Minato Namikaze said regretfully, "It's a pity that I am now just a consciousness attached to chakra. I will dissipate before long and won't be able to do anything for you."

Hearing Minato Namikaze say this, Naruto Uzumaki laughed. "Who says you'll dissipate soon? Kurama, it's your turn."

Kurama, who had been watching the father-son duo with great interest, turned serious upon hearing Naruto Uzumaki. He sensed the properties of Minato Namikaze's chakra, then separated a large mass of spiritual energy and converted it into chakra. A chakra conduit extended from that mass and connected to Minato Namikaze.

"Father, this way you won't dissipate. I want you to exist forever, until I truly resurrect you and Mother."

Hearing Naruto Uzumaki speak of resurrecting him and Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze asked in surprise, "Resurrect? But Kushina Uzumaki and I have been dead for so long."

"It's too troublesome to explain. Father, let's bump fists." The fist bump was to let Minato Namikaze know his upcoming plans in more detail and faster. Of course, Naruto Uzumaki hid the things he couldn't let Minato Namikaze know; Minato Namikaze only saw what Naruto Uzumaki wanted him to see.

After a long while, their fists separated. Minato Namikaze frowned deeply. "Your plans are fine, but some parts are too dangerous."

"That's why I hope Father can teach me the Flying Thunder God technique. Only by mastering it can I avoid some unnecessary trouble," Naruto Uzumaki replied.

Hearing that Naruto Uzumaki wanted to learn the Flying Thunder God, Minato Namikaze agreed without hesitation. "That's no problem. Even if you hadn't asked, I intended to teach it to you. However, your mother's chakra is also within the seal, though it's hidden quite deep. Let me guide her out now."

After speaking, Minato Namikaze performed hand seals, and soon, Kushina Uzumaki's figure appeared in the sealing space. "Eh? Not bad, Naruto. Is this a tug-of-war with the Nine-Tails, ya know?"

When sealing the Nine-Tails, Minato Namikaze had set the manifestations of his and Kushina Uzumaki's chakra to appear at specific times to better assist Naruto Uzumaki.

His own appearance was for when Naruto Uzumaki opened the seal without the key, while Kushina Uzumaki's was for when Naruto Uzumaki had to contend with the Nine-Tails for power.

"Not at all, Mother. Kurama and I are friends now, no tug-of-war needed," Naruto Uzumaki responded to Kushina Uzumaki's strange verbal tic.

It was only then that Kushina Uzumaki noticed Naruto Uzumaki, though he was not as she had imagined; she had expected him to be all grown up, a handsome young man.

"Hey, Naruto, who is Kurama?"

No sooner had the words left Kushina Uzumaki's lips than the Nine-Tails behind the iron gate let out a cold snort, prompting her to turn and snap, "Stinky Nine-Tails, don't interrupt us."

Knowing her personality well, the Nine-Tails did not take offense, simply lying back down on the ground and ignoring her.

Naruto Uzumaki then explained, "Mom, the Nine-Tails is Kurama. Kurama is his name, and we're friends now."

Hearing this, Kushina Uzumaki asked in disbelief, "Friends? How did that happen?"

Naruto Uzumaki did not offer further explanation, instead handing her the glowing orbs that Kurama had just shown to Minato Namikaze.

As Kushina Uzumaki viewed the orbs, her reaction mirrored that of Minato Namikaze, with one difference: as she finished each one, her hair began to float, and eight chains erupted from her back.

When the final orb faded, a weeping Kushina Uzumaki pulled Naruto Uzumaki into a tight embrace, sobbing silently.

"Mom, don't cry. I don't blame you," Naruto Uzumaki comforted her.

Hearing his words, Kushina Uzumaki looked up and finally spotted Minato Namikaze. Without a word, her Adamantine Sealing Chains lashed out, binding him tightly and dragging him forward so she could land a fierce punch.

Seeing her strike, Naruto Uzumaki quickly stepped in to mediate. Kushina Uzumaki stopped pummeling Minato Namikaze at his urging, though she gave a cold snort and released him without another glance.

Minato Namikaze dared not say a word, standing to the side with an awkward, sheepish grin.

Naruto Uzumaki repeated what he had told Minato Namikaze to Kushina Uzumaki. Upon hearing everything, she agreed to stay and help Naruto Uzumaki, offering to teach him the unique sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan.

Kurama then manifested a sphere of chakra for Kushina Uzumaki to connect with, and just like that, the couple remained within Naruto Uzumaki.