The Lonely Savior of the Shinobi World

Kumogakure

The Raikage's office

The Fourth Raikage Ay roared, "Damn Konoha! Damn the Uchiha!"

"That Shisui Uchiha in the future actually said he'd destroy the five great hidden villages by himself."

"Hmph! Arrogant brat."

"Fine! Very fine!"

The Fourth Raikage Ay clenched his fist and slammed it into the desk before him.

Still seething, he snarled, "Shisui Uchiha and Konoha's Kakashi, just you wait."

"And that brat Naruto Uzumaki—I won't let any of you off."

With that, Raikage A turned and stared resolutely out the window. "If your future selves want to destroy my Kumogakure..."

"Then Shisui Uchiha of Konoha, you'd better be ready for my wrath right now."

The Light Screen in the sky

reacted once more.

This time, the future broadcast was titled

"The Lonely Savior of the Shinobi World."

Background music: "Spring Mud."

Sad music played softly.

A young blond boy slowly appeared on the Light Screen in the sky.

He stood atop Hokage Rock, above the faces of Konoha's past Hokage.

The boy spread his arms, drew a deep breath, and shouted, "I'm Naruto Uzumaki! I'll become Hokage and earn everyone's recognition!"

Across the Shinobi World,

the opening of this future broadcast left everyone stunned—from the leaders of every village to ordinary people everywhere.

They all found themselves repeating the same words: "The lonely savior of the Shinobi World."

"That blond boy is named Naruto Uzumaki too?"

People across the Shinobi World kept asking, "Are the blond Naruto Uzumaki and the black-haired Naruto Uzumaki two different people?"

Konoha

The Hokage's Office

Minato Namikaze froze when he saw the blond boy named Naruto Uzumaki.

His mind raced with possibilities.

Why does that child feel so familiar to me?

Minato kept asking himself, Why does he have Kushina's Chakra?

The entire Hokage's Office fell silent.

Shikaku Nara, standing nearby, offered his analysis. "Could the blond Naruto Uzumaki be the savior of this Shinobi World?"

"And the black-haired Naruto Uzumaki its destroyer?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in astonishment. "Haven't you noticed?"

"That blond boy named Naruto Uzumaki is a Konoha Ninja, too."

Hiruzen turned to Minato in disbelief. "Doesn't the blond boy look just like Minato did as a child?"

"And he even has Kushina's Chakra."

Everyone took in what Hiruzen had said.

One by one, they looked at Minato.

Utatane Koharu studied Minato, then the blond boy, before finally saying, "Now that you mention it, they really do look alike."

Mitokado Homura added, "That child could very well be Minato and Kushina's son."

Fugaku Uchiha, standing nearby, wondered, Wasn't my second son the savior of the Shinobi World?

Could the savior of the Shinobi World be the Fourth Hokage's son?

Then something seemed to click for Fugaku. Whether or not my son Sasuke Uchiha becomes the savior of this Shinobi World...

He'll always be the second son I'm proudest of.

Shimura Danzō said coldly, "Hmph! If that child is Minato and Kushina's future son..."

"Then once he's born, Root will look after him."

The moment Danzō's words reached everyone's ears,

they hurriedly looked toward Minato. Gone was the man

whose warm smile always put others at ease.

Minato's expression had turned utterly cold.

His eyes burned with anger as he stared straight at Shimura Danzō.

None of them had ever seen Minato like this.

Cold sweat broke out on their foreheads...

At last, Hiruzen stepped forward and snapped, "Shut up, Danzō."

"If that child is Minato's future son,"

"then Minato and Kushina will raise and protect him. They don't need you volunteering."

In truth, Danzō had regretted his words the moment he spoke them.

The thought that the child was the future savior had carried him away.

If I get my hands on that child, I'll become Hokage for certain.

Then I'll train Naruto Uzumaki into my weapon of war.

I'll gain immense power and fame as well.

I might even be able to rule the entire Shinobi World...

Danzō had gotten so excited that he'd accidentally said what he was thinking aloud.

Hiruzen had given him a way out, but Danzō still said haughtily, "Everything I do is for Konoha."

Hiruzen shot back, "Don't forget, Danzō. Minato Namikaze is Hokage now."

Danzō rose and kicked the door of the Hokage's Office hard.

Bang!

"You'll regret this, Monkey," Danzō said angrily.

Then he stormed out of the Hokage's Office.

After Danzō left, the others apologized to Minato one by one.

Hiruzen spoke gently. "Don't take it to heart, Minato. Danzō, he..."

Minato cut him off. "I understand, Third. Whatever happens in the future,"

"I'll protect Konoha. And I'll protect my child, too."

Seeing that Minato was still the same man he had always been,

Hiruzen finally smiled and nodded in satisfaction.

At home, Kushina Uzumaki was resting.

When she saw the future broadcast in the sky, Kushina felt certain the blond boy was her little Naruto.

But she didn't dwell on why he was called Naruto Uzumaki

instead of Naruto Namikaze.

With a gentle smile, Kushina softly stroked her belly.

She was more than eight months pregnant.

Naruto shifted inside her, sending waves of pain through her belly.

Kushina stroked it gently and murmured, "Don't be in such a hurry, Naruto. Just over a month more."

"Then we'll finally meet..."

Meanwhile, Jiraiya stopped on his way to Konoha.

He stared at the Light Screen in shock. "How can that child look so much like Minato?"

"And he has Kushina's Chakra, too."

Understanding dawned on Jiraiya, and he exclaimed happily, "Haha! Naruto Uzumaki—he's Minato and Kushina's son!"

"So they really did use that name."

His eyes shone with anticipation. "I wonder if Naruto's been born yet."

"Haha! By the time I get back to Konoha, I'll be able to hold my darling grandson."

"Hahaha!"

But Jiraiya's laughter faded into a sigh. "Ah... I spent half my life searching for the Child of the Prophecy, only to find he was beside me all along."

Jiraiya recalled the opening words: The lonely savior of the Shinobi World? Not this time, Naruto. I won't let you be lonely.

The Light Screen in the sky

continued its broadcast.

Note: Sorry, everyone.

The typhoon brought rain these past two days, and the power went out several times a day.

I could only post one update a day~

Things are back to normal now, though.

Also, the new book will be available soon. Please leave it a rating.

Thank you.