"Keep the identity of the Jinchuriki an S-rank village secret. Anyone who leaks it will be considered a rogue ninja," the Third Hokage said gravely after Jiraiya left.
As he spoke, he released the imposing presence of a Kage Level shinobi.
"Yes."
Kakashi, Guy, and the two Anbu all bowed their heads and answered respectfully.
"Good."
The Third Hokage nodded faintly. Then he turned to the Anbu behind him and said, "Spread the word: the Fourth Hokage gave his life protecting the village, dying alongside the enemy. He is to be honored as a hero of Konoha."
"Yes," one of the Anbu replied, then turned and left.
Thud!
Kakashi sealed Minato's body inside a scroll and tucked it away.
The Third Hokage saw this but said nothing.
Then he bent down and picked Naruto up from the ground.
His bright blue eyes and dazzling blond hair... "Minato, this child looks so much like you!"
Then the group set off for the village.
On the way, they handed Naruto to Kakashi and asked him to take the child to Tsunade so she could examine him.
The matter concerned a Jinchuriki, so the Third Hokage dared not be careless.
As for the unconscious Naraku, Guy was asked to bring him along as well. The Third Hokage himself returned to the Hokage Office.
Though exhausted, he still had to handle the aftermath and calm the villagers.
Just as in the original story, after Minato's death, the Third Hokage returned to the position of Hokage.
The next day,
"Ugh..."
Naraku groaned in pain on the hospital bed, then slowly opened his eyes.
"You're awake," said a pretty, gentle-faced girl in a nurse's uniform.
"Who are you?" Naraku sat up. After a night of recovery, he only had a headache and felt a little weak.
Suddenly, he remembered something and hurriedly lifted his shirt. Seeing his smooth, unmarked stomach, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Creak!
The door opened. A silver-haired man wearing a black mask, with his Forehead Protector covering his left eye, stepped inside. It was Kakashi.
"Naraku, you're awake." A flicker of relief crossed Kakashi's tired eyes, but sadness quickly returned.
"How are my sister and the others?" Naraku asked urgently.
He headed for the door. After waking, he had realized he was in a hospital. As for the girl beside him, she was probably Shizune as a child.
Kakashi didn't stop him and walked out with him.
Watching the small figure before her, Shizune felt a pang of sympathy. Because of Tsunade, she knew some of what had happened.
"Your sister-in-law lost too much strength and fell unconscious. Lady Tsunade is treating her now," Kakashi said gravely.
"And the teacher... he fell in battle."
Naraku shuddered at the news, and Kakashi reached out to steady him.
So I still failed, Naraku thought.
But you succeeded, Minato. Keeping his emotions under control, Naraku followed Kakashi to Kushina's room.
Naraku was saddened by Minato's death, too, but an idea had taken shape in his mind.
People can be brought back to life here, can't they?
Outside Kushina's room, Naraku spotted a familiar figure.
It was Jiraiya.
He looked dejected, his expression filled with sorrow.
Thud!
Just then, the door opened. Tsunade stepped out, her brow furrowed.
"How is Kushina?" Jiraiya asked.
Jiraiya cared deeply about Kushina, especially after Minato's final request to him.
Minato's last few words had been silent, but as one of the Sannin, Jiraiya understood basic lip-reading.
Naraku and Kakashi also looked at Tsunade anxiously.
But her response disappointed them. She shook her head slightly. "My Medical Ninjutsu can't help her."
"What happened?" Naraku's expression changed. Tsunade's medical skills were the best in the Shinobi World. If even she was helpless...
Could my sister...
Jiraiya patted his shoulder, signaling him to calm down.
Tsunade glanced at Naraku, then continued, "My Medical Ninjutsu didn't help because all of Kushina's wounds healed on their own."
Only then did Naraku understand. Kushina was still alive, which meant the Tailed Beast had been sealed inside her again. Otherwise, she would have died already; she couldn't have survived this long.
Now that the Tailed Beast had been sealed inside her, the Nine-Tails' restorative power, combined with the Uzumaki Clan's special constitution, made healing her wounds no great difficulty.
"Then why is she still unconscious?" Jiraiya asked gravely.
"Her mind has been injured."
"Giving birth and then having a Tailed Beast extracted from her... although it has now been resealed..." Tsunade paused, then continued.
"The successive traumas severely damaged her mind. Even though her body has recovered, she won't be able to wake up for a while."
"But there's no need to worry too much. The examination just now showed that her mind is slowly recovering. It may simply take some time."
Naraku breathed a sigh of relief. Though she couldn't wake up yet, it was far better than death.
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," Naraku said, bowing slightly.
"You, boy—you don't have to be so polite with me," Tsunade said with a wry smile.
"Kushina is practically my little sister, after all."
Kushina had come to Konoha when she was very young. Back then, she had stayed with Mito Uzumaki, Tsunade's grandmother, so the two of them had known each other well.
"Shizune, stay here and look after Kushina for now," Tsunade said to Shizune, who had just arrived.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Tsunade then left the hospital. Though she had planned to leave the village, she decided to stay for Kushina.
Jiraiya also stayed in the village for the time being.
Three days later,
The morning sunlight streamed through the window and fell across Naraku's face. He opened his bleary eyes.
Then he got up, dressed in black.
He first went to the room next door to check on Kushina. When he saw that she still hadn't woken up, disappointment crossed his face.
To make it easier to visit Kushina, Naraku had moved into the hospital. It had all the necessary facilities, so living there was convenient. With his status as the Fourth Hokage's younger brother, getting a private room in the hospital was no trouble at all.
After Shizune finished examining Kushina, he left the hospital.
On the street, people walked in groups, all dressed in black and carrying white flowers for the memorial.
"Naraku." Just outside the hospital, Kakashi stood waiting for him, dressed in black as well.
The two of them then headed to the funeral. Today was the funeral of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.