Mysterious Confidence

## Konoha - Five Years After the Nine-Tails Attack##

"Die, demon."

Naruto ran as fast as he could, his legs beginning to buckle.

Several Chunin quickly closed in on him, and fifteen Kunai hurtled toward him.

Just then, his vision suddenly sharpened. The incoming Kunai seemed to almost stop in midair, and he could even see where they were going to land. Naruto quickly caught one Kunai and began deflecting the others, but one still struck him in the shoulder.

He cried out in pain, but managed to vault over a fence and escape to safety. He pulled the Kunai from his shoulder and noticed that the wound had already begun to heal.

"Why is it healing so quickly?"

His vision changed, turning black and white, and then he suddenly passed out in the alley.

When Naruto woke up, he found himself in what seemed to be a sewer..

"Follow the sound of my voice," a strange voice said.

After walking for several minutes, Naruto came upon a massive iron gate.

"Hello, Naruto," the voice said.

Naruto studied the man closely. He was tall and blond, and wore a white cloak with "Fourth Hokage" written on it.

"I am Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage," he said, looking at the child before him.

"How is that possible? Aren't you dead? Am I dead too?" Naruto asked.

"No, you're not dead. I am. We're in your mindscape, a manifestation of your mind," Minato replied.

Naruto was stunned to hear this.

"Y-you're my father? How is that possible?" Naruto asked.

"Five years ago, when you were born, the Nine-Tails attacked the village. The Third Hokage ordered me to kill it, but that was impossible. The Nine-Tails is pure chakra and has no physical body, so it cannot die. I had no choice but to seal it inside a newborn. I'm sorry that newborn was you."

Suddenly, behind the iron gate of the empty cage, Naruto saw two glowing red eyes with black vertical pupils. The Nine-Tailed Fox—the strongest being in the world and the most powerful of the Nine Tailed Beasts—stood behind the gate.

At the sight of it, Naruto jumped back in fear. The monster that had attacked the village and caused so many deaths had suddenly appeared before him.

"Don't be afraid, little one," the Nine-Tails said.

"Naruto," Minato said. "This is the Nine-Tails. It isn't the demon everyone thinks it is. The attack five years ago wasn't its fault."

Minato began to explain what had happened five years ago—from the moment Naruto was born, to the mysterious man who controlled the Nine-Tails and made it attack the village, to how Minato had finally sealed it inside Naruto.

After hearing his father's words, Naruto was stunned.

Minato touched Naruto's stomach, passed the key to the seal on to him, and opened the cage.

"What are you doing?" Naruto asked anxiously.

"Naruto, I told you that the Nine-Tails wasn't at fault for the attack that night. It will help you as you grow up. I have only one request: when you're nearing the end of your life, make sure you release it. It shouldn't be trapped in a cage and used as a weapon," Minato said.

"Will you really be my friend?"

"Of course. I'll look after you and make you strong—strong enough to protect the people you care about," the Nine-Tails replied.

"Naruto, have you noticed that your vision is different?" Minato asked.

"Everything's black and white," Naruto replied.

"Naruto, do you know who Madara Uchiha is?" Minato asked.

"I know he was one of Konoha's founders, the leader of the Uchiha Clan, and one of the strongest shinobi in the world," Naruto said.

"Madara was actually my father," he said.

"My dad is Minato Namikaze, and my grandpa is Madara Uchiha. I'm definitely going to become Hokage too!" Naruto shouted, pumping his fist.

"You certainly will, Naruto," Minato said, ruffling his hair. "The Uchiha Clan has the Sharingan. You've already awakened its first stage. Look at the ground."

Naruto looked down at his reflection in the water. His eyes were blood red, each with a black Tomoe.

"The Sharingan evolves as it matures, with up to three Tomoe in each eye."

"Oh, I knew I was awesome," Naruto said happily.

"You mustn't go to the Uchiha Clan. They'll use it for their own gain. I want you to be a good person. Don't become arrogant and power-hungry like the Uchiha. Never rely too heavily on the Sharingan, all right?" Minato asked. Naruto nodded.

"Our clan's jutsu and weapons are in the Namikaze Clan's compound, protected by a bloodline seal. Only you can enter. Be careful not to let anyone find out."

Naruto nodded. Minato smiled, then gradually faded away.

Naruto woke up in the alley.

"You've gained my second ability. You can sense the people around you. You should tell the Hokage; he'll help you, but don't let him know I'm helping you just yet," the Nine-Tails said. Naruto nodded.

He stood up and started walking toward the Hokage Tower.

Naruto arrived at the Hokage's office.

"Old man," Naruto said.

"Hello, Naruto. What do you need?" the Hokage asked. Though the Hokage wasn't actually related to Naruto, he treated him affectionately, like his own grandson.

"I wanted to ask if you could tell me who my parents were."

"Naruto, I don't know. I only know they were heroes who died fighting the Nine-Tails," the Hokage replied.

"Old man, can you make the ANBU leave first? I just want to tell you something."

The Hokage looked surprised.

"How did you know?"

"I can sense them on the ceiling."

"All right," the Hokage said. He waved his hand, signaling the four ANBU to leave the room.

"Is that all right now?" he asked.

"Are you sure they've all left? I can still sense someone over there," Naruto said, pointing behind the bookcase.

At Naruto's words, the four ANBU hurried back and rushed the hidden spy, quickly subduing him.

Damn Danzo, always meddling, the Hokage thought.

"Naruto, your sensory ability really is impressive. You even found someone hiding," the Hokage said.

"Of course. I knew I was awesome," Naruto replied.

Naruto then walked over to the photos of the previous Hokage. He stopped in front of the Fourth Hokage's photo, turned to the Hokage, and asked,

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

The Hokage was startled.

"How did you know?"

"Now that I think about it, I look almost exactly like him. How did I never notice?" Naruto said, then began to explain everything that had just happened.

Minato really was a genius. Even after dying, he's still giving me a headache, the Hokage thought.

"What are you going to do? You know you can't tell anyone."

"I'll train until I'm as strong as my father, then I'll take your place," Naruto replied.

The old Hokage laughed:

"Haha, I believe you."