The Third Hokage's Instructions

"You must live well with your brother. Although I'm not very good at being a mother, you must study hard and master ninjutsu. However, everyone has things they aren't good at; even if your studies don't go smoothly, there's no need to be discouraged. You must respect the instructors and seniors at the academy. And there is one more important matter: the Three Prohibitions of ninjutsu..."

"First, you must not borrow money recklessly; remember to save your mission earnings properly. You must wait until you are twenty to drink alcohol; drinking too much is bad for your health, so you must know when to stop. Then there are the women of the Three Prohibitions. Mother is a woman, so I don't quite understand this rule, but in short, there are only men and women in this world. You will eventually become interested in women, so I just worry about you getting entangled with strange ones. You must find an outstanding woman like your mother." At this, Kushina and Minato both smiled.

"Also, regarding the Three Prohibitions, you must be careful. You must watch out for Master Jiraiya. As for other things... your brother Yin Xiang will teach you. Naruto... from now on, whether it is heartache or pain, you will encounter many things... you must maintain your own pace... and keep your dreams in your heart, then turn those dreams into reality. You must have... confidence in yourself."

As Kushina spoke, tears fell. "I still have so much... so much more I want to tell you... I wanted to live with you... I love you..."

"I'm sorry, Minato... I'm the only one who kept going on and on..."

"No, it's alright." Minato shook his head. "Naruto... what your father wants to say is the same as what your nagging mother said..." After Minato finished speaking, he closed his eyes and used the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style for the final time.

The other half of the Nine-Tails entered Naruto's body, and the bodies of Minato and his wife fell to the ground.

The barrier was lifted, allowing the Third Hokage and the others to enter. The Third Hokage was the first to pick up the unconscious Yin Xiang from the ground, while other ninjas rushed toward Minato, Kushina, and Naruto.

"Father... Mother..." Yin Xiang, who had fainted, had already come to regard Minato and Kushina as his own parents.

Three days later...

"Yin Xiang, you must also keep Naruto's situation a secret," the Third Hokage said to Yin Xiang, who was sitting on the sofa in front of him. Yin Xiang kept his head lowered, staring at the floor, his eyes red and swollen from crying for who knows how long.

"Father and Mother did so much for the village, yet you want me to hide the fact that Naruto is their biological son. As their child, is it really right for you to ask me to do this?" Yin Xiang didn't even look at the Third Hokage, just kept his head bowed as he spoke.

"To maintain the balance of the Tailed Beasts and prevent war between the villages, it is necessary to announce Naruto's status as the Nine-Tails jinchuriki. With your intelligence, you should be able to understand this." The Third Hokage no longer treated Yin Xiang like a mere child.

"It is precisely because I understand that I know even better: now that everyone in the village knows Naruto is the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, and after the Nine-Tails' attack on the village, all the hatred the villagers feel for the Nine-Tails will be vented onto Naruto. From childhood, Naruto will be ostracized by the people of the village."

"Why can't you just tell them the truth!" Yin Xiang raised his head and shouted at the Third Hokage.

"You must listen carefully, Yin Xiang." The Third Hokage took a deep drag of his pipe and looked at Yin Xiang.

"You heard it too: Naruto is the legendary Child of Prophecy. If the village announces his identity and lets him grow up in a greenhouse, he will never be able to shoulder heavy responsibilities. What I am doing is also to temper him."

"Does heaven prepare a man for a great mission by first frustrating his spirit and exhausting his muscles and bones?" Yin Xiang asked, beginning to understand.

"Oh?" The Third Hokage was taken aback. "That is well put. Since you understand, you must cooperate. You are never to see Naruto."

"Impossible!" Yin Xiang had never expected the Third Hokage to make such a demand; he could never agree to it.

"Unless it is an absolute last resort, you are not to see him."

"No. Not only will I not avoid Naruto, but I will also attend the Ninja Academy with him, in the same class." Yin Xiang's small body jumped off the sofa, looking at the Third Hokage without a hint of fear.

"Then I will have no choice but to lock you away." Danzo's voice came from behind Yin Xiang, and the door behind him opened. Indeed, it was Danzo who walked in.

"..." Yin Xiang looked back; this man looked incredibly threatening.

As Danzo spoke, he reached out to grab Yin Xiang.

"Wait." The Third Hokage spoke up. Danzo's hand stopped in mid-air, and the two men stared at each other.

"I understand. I won't see him." Yin Xiang realized what was happening and spoke immediately.

"Hmph." Seeing this, Danzo had nothing more to say and turned to leave.

"Why did you suddenly compromise?" The Third Hokage looked at Yin Xiang with a smile.

"Lord Danzo surely knows about the Insoro Clan and wants to capture me to control me, to make me use my foresight for him. You also want to control me, to make me use it for you—oh, for Konoha—so that Konoha can take precautions. Rather than falling into Lord Danzo's hands, it is better to compromise with you."

The Third Hokage couldn't even finish his smoke, staring blankly at the child before him. He was truly this intelligent.

"I didn't expect you to be so clever," the Third Hokage said to Yin Xiang.

"How do you plan to arrange things for me now?" Yin Xiang asked.

"Go back. Go home. When the time comes, I will make arrangements."

"And Naruto?"

"The Konoha Orphanage."

"...I understand." After saying this, Yin Xiang turned and left.

Could this child... already be capable of foresight? The Third Hokage thought to himself as he watched Yin Xiang's retreating figure. He had never even met Danzo before; how could he have known who he was?

Yin Xiang, having left the Hokage's office, did not go straight home but instead went to the graves of Minato and Kushina, kneeling before them.

"Father, Mother, I'm sorry." Yin Xiang wiped the tombstone with his hand. "I cannot see Naruto, and I cannot take good care of him for you. We will meet again in the future, and when that time comes, I will surely apologize to you in person."

"Yin Xiang, it's time to go back." Kakashi's voice sounded behind Yin Xiang, and a hand rested on his small shoulder.

"Big Brother Kakashi." Yin Xiang turned around and saw Kakashi wearing his mask. "Wearing a mask and a face covering, isn't your face stuffy?"

Kakashi didn't speak, only reached up and took off his mask.

"Big Brother Kakashi!" Yin Xiang ran over and hugged Kakashi, though he could only reach his thighs. "What should I do, Big Brother Kakashi? I've become an orphan again."

"I will take care of you from now on." Kakashi's hand rested on Yin Xiang's head. Even though Kakashi was still very young himself, he volunteered to look after Yin Xiang.