"You! Naruto Uzumaki, do you know that your actions have violated Konoha's laws? I can order you executed at any time!" Shimura Danzō pointed at Naruto, his eyes bloodshot. He looked like a demon straight out of hell.
"Danzō, your usual tricks might work on others, but they won't work on me. Sorry, you're still not quite good enough." Minato Namikaze sneered.
His gaze swept over everyone present. The Root shinobi gritted their teeth, but didn't dare move. Minato's actions just now had shown them how vast the gap between them really was!
"You dare look down on me!" Shimura Danzō formed hand seals. "Wind Style: Pressure Damage!" Naruto's taunt had made him lose face.
He had already cast aside all dignity and attacked the little brat!
"Bring it!" Minato sneered. He thrust out his right hand, and a Rasengan formed in an instant. He hurled it at Danzō, breaking through his Pressure Damage.
But he wasn't done. He drove the Rasengan straight toward Danzō's withered, aged face! Danzō's expression changed. A Rasengan! He knew that technique!
It was an A-rank jutsu created by the former Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Of those who knew it, the only one still alive was Jiraiya, one of the Three Sannin!
Could Naruto Uzumaki have already become Jiraiya's student?
Impossible!
With nowhere to dodge, Danzō was about to use Izanagi when a voice rang out. "Enma! Tie him up!" The voice made Danzō breathe a sigh of relief, and he stopped the jutsu he'd been about to use.
A staff came from afar, sweeping around Danzō and rushing toward Naruto to interrupt his movement!
Minato, however, seized the moment and threw a Flying Raijin Kunai straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen!
"Thunder God Strike!" Minato's voice rang out, making Hiruzen falter for a moment!
In the next instant, Minato appeared before him, the Rasengan still in his hand.
He spun in midair, then slammed the Rasengan into the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen!
Boom!
Hiruzen was knocked to the ground by the blow, letting out a miserable cry. "Aagh!!!"
Minato's expression remained impassive. After striking Hiruzen, he leaped away to a short distance.
The Anbu and Root shinobi were stunned. They hadn't expected Naruto to seriously injure Lord Hokage!
Danzō, the leader of Root, was practically beaming as he took command. "All Konoha shinobi! Move now! Capture the demon fox, Naruto Uzumaki!"
Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raidō, and Tatami Iwashi appeared beside Naruto, forming a triangle to protect him.
"You're the Fourth Hokage, aren't you?" Shiranui Genma asked softly, a twig between his teeth.
"Honestly, I never expected you to be the first ones to recognize me." Minato wore a warm smile.
Namiashi Raidō and Tatami Iwashi's eyes lit up. Then they cried out, "Yondaime-sama! Yondaime!"
Their voices rang out, making every shinobi present hear what they'd said.
The news spread at once.
"Naruto Uzumaki is possessed by Lord Fourth!"
"No wonder that Flying Thunder God Technique felt so familiar!"
"Look at Naruto Uzumaki! Doesn't he look a lot like Yondaime-sama?"
The Anbu shinobi stopped. They stared at Naruto with complicated expressions. They'd sensed that familiar chakra from the very beginning.
But everyone knew the dead couldn't come back to life. The Fourth Hokage and his wife had died in the Nine-Tails Incident, and their bodies had been buried in Konoha Cemetery.
That was an undeniable fact. Yet now, the Fourth Hokage had possessed the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
Kakashi heard the commotion and hurried down, then knelt before Naruto. "Sensei!"
"Kakashi, you came after all. You know I didn't want you involved in this." Minato's voice rang out, and its calmness made Kakashi's body tremble.
"A teacher is always a teacher. How could a student let his teacher fall into danger?" Kakashi lowered his head.
Minato shook his head, then looked at Shimura Danzō. "Elder Danzō, I see that after all these years, you're still as calculating as ever."
"You—you're Minato Namikaze! No! Minato Namikaze is long dead! You're the Nine-Tails! You're the demon fox!" Danzō knew perfectly well that it was Minato Namikaze.
But he couldn't admit it. Minato's reputation was simply too great. By every measure, the Fourth Hokage was deeply loved by the people of the village.
If Minato's identity were confirmed, it would spell trouble for him!
The Root shinobi gritted their teeth and charged again. But this time, another shinobi appeared: Uchiha Fugaku!
With a stern expression, he stepped in front of Naruto. Sensing that familiar chakra, he snorted, turned toward the Anbu shinobi, and formed the seals 巳-辰-卯-寅. "Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Fugaku's gaze was resolute as he breathed out a fire dragon, then sent it crashing toward the ground.
A chorus of groans rang out.
The Root shinobi were knocked down in an instant by the Great Dragon Fire Technique! Fugaku had controlled its force perfectly: it left them dazed without hurting their brains!
He'd only knocked the Root shinobi down, without damaging their internal organs.
"I'm not too late, am I, Minato?" Fugaku didn't turn around, but Minato laughed when he heard his voice. "Fugaku, all those years of experience have made you even stronger!"
Just as the two were about to catch up, Shimura Danzō cut in. "Uchiha! What are you doing so close to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki? Are you trying to start another Nine-Tails Incident?"
Minato frowned. Why did that old man have to say things so unpleasantly? Just as he was about to retort, the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, got to his feet.
He looked at Naruto, the body Minato had possessed, tears welling in his eyes. "Minato, is that you? You're back?" He'd heard their conversation just now.
He knew that Naruto wasn't Naruto at that moment. He was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!
Minato heard the old man's voice and gave him a long look.
Hiruzen froze. What kind of look was that?
Anger, coldness, contempt, madness, disappointment—and finally, indifference.
"Third, Minato Namikaze was never the Fourth Hokage. He was just an ordinary shinobi who happened to be a little stronger than the rest." Naruto spoke.
Hiruzen suddenly closed his eyes. "Minato, I'm sorry!"
"Too late." Minato's voice came from within Naruto, carrying a hint of sorrow.
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