The Nine-Tails Scramble (3)

After sharing memories, Minato Namikaze's face turned livid. He looked at Naruto, curled up in the corner with bloodshot eyes, and felt as though a massive boulder had crashed down on his heart.

Then his expression darkened. "Kurama, lend me some of your power. I'm asking you—please." With that, Minato lowered his head.

Kurama grew interested. "Oh? You're going to take action yourself? Using your son's body? Against the village?"

"Not against the village, but against Root," Minato said coldly.

"Fine. I want to see just how strong you, the Yellow Flash, really are." Kurama was always looking for a bit of fun. Since escape was out of the question, he might as well find a way to make things entertaining!

He drew a mass of red chakra from his body. It floated slowly toward Minato, then sank into him.

Minato's form became completely solid, and even the robes behind him began to flutter in the wind.

He walked over to Naruto and said, "Naruto, I'm sorry. Once this is over, I'll tell you everything. You're not a demon fox. You're the son of a hero."

With that, Minato took control of his son's body. In an instant, he successfully possessed him.

In the real world

The whisker marks vanished from Naruto's face, revealing smooth, handsome features. His hair had even grown quite a bit, making him look more like Minato. Hearing the voice outside call, "Chidori!"

The corners of his mouth lifted. Kakashi? That boy must have grown up, too. Then he closed his eyes and sensed the number of people nearby.

When he opened them again, he let out a cold laugh. "You old dog, Danzo. I respected you as an elder and put up with so much of what you did. But you actually sent a hundred Root shinobi to take my son away? Well done!"

Minato kicked the door open. Uchiha Itachi and Hatake Kakashi were both startled. Their pupils shrank. How did Naruto get out?!

Kakashi frowned. Something about Naruto's appearance and the aura coming from him seemed off.

"Kakashi, long time no see. You've grown quite a bit," Minato said calmly.

At the sound of that voice, Kakashi was struck as if by lightning. "Sensei!"

Minato smiled and nodded, then looked at Itachi. "You must be Fugaku's son. Your features are just like your father's, though your face resembles your mother's. Not bad—you're a handsome young man."

"Are you the Fourth Hokage?" Itachi asked in confusion. Hadn't Minato Namikaze died in the Nine-Tails Incident? How could he possess Naruto now?

"It's a long story. And there are two other little ones. Have you hidden long enough? If you're done hiding, come out and help me protect Naruto's home." Minato smiled.

Uchiha Izuna and Uchiha Shisui exchanged a glance, then appeared beside Minato from the corner.

"The Uchiha Clan has produced so many talents in this generation. Three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan." Minato smiled.

But Izuna and the others were startled and took defensive stances.

"You don't need to be so tense. Kurama told me what the Third, Danzo, and the other higher-ups have done. I know I entrusted my son to the wrong people, and I'm disappointed. As for the three of you and the Uchiha Clan, I support you."

"Kakashi, you're my student. Your mistress took good care of you when she was alive. How have you looked after Naruto all these years?" Minato's tone was complicated.

"Sensei, I..." Kakashi's face was deathly pale. He hesitated, unable to continue.

"I know you have your reasons, and your own way of thinking. I understand. But now, may I ask you—not as a father, but as your teacher—to protect Naruto for a while? I won't be able to maintain this state for long."

Minato bowed to Kakashi. Kakashi felt as if something were stuck in his throat. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed to his teacher. "I'm sorry, Sensei. I was wrong."

Minato sighed and helped him up, then looked at the three Uchiha. "Do you have any kunai?"

Kakashi guessed what he meant. He took a large number of Flying Thunder God Kunai from his ninja tool pouch and handed them to Minato.

"I didn't expect you to have kept so many of my keepsakes, you little brat!" Minato shook his head, then took them.

"Now, let me show you the strength of the Yellow Flash." Minato smiled faintly.

The next moment, he spotted a Root shinobi charging at him and tossed a Flying Thunder God Kunai.

The Root shinobi twisted in midair to dodge it, a mocking look in his eyes. "You brat, you can't even throw a kunai straight. What a useless—! I suggest you surrender at once, or else—"

Before he could finish, Minato vanished from where he stood. The Root shinobi froze, then felt a sudden force pressing into his back.

"Rasengan." A small Rasengan appeared in Minato's hand, and he slammed the man down from a height of three stories, grinding him into the ground.

Suddenly, there was a sharp cracking sound!

The Root shinobi was paralyzed, with urine and feces streaming out of him.

With a single move, Minato had broken the spine of a Root jonin! Everyone present drew a sharp breath. This little guy wasn't even a ninja, yet he could do that!

A monster! An absolute monster!

Danzo's lips curled upward. "Naruto Uzumaki, do you know that harming the village's shinobi is tantamount to treason? Your actions have already led you astray!"

"Still, I pity you for growing up without a father or mother, with no one to raise you. It's only natural that you'd make mistakes. If you're willing to follow me and join my Root, I won't hold you responsible. In fact, I'll put you to good use."

"Don't make a mistake you'll regret!" Danzo was confident of victory. Naruto was surrounded on all sides. Sure, the little brat had a few tricks—but even if he could handle one or two, could he really take on a hundred?

"Heh." Minato smiled faintly, then tossed out a large number of kunai engraved with the words Sword of Shinobi Love.

Everyone froze. They looked strangely familiar!

The next moment, Naruto vanished. A streak of golden light flashed again and again, and with each flash, one or two people screamed.

Danzo's expression changed as he recognized the scene. "The Yellow Flash! Flying Thunder God! Naruto, how dare you secretly learn a jutsu from the Sealing Scroll!"

"Stop! Stop at once! These are the very foundation of Konoha, the strength of Konoha! Are you really going to attack your fellow villagers? Are you going to wipe them all out?" Danzo watched in anguish as more than thirty men lay fallen.

Minato stopped and looked at him calmly. "Bring Sarutobi Hiruzen to see me! Otherwise, I'll kill every shinobi here who took part!"