END OF ARC 1


[Minato Namikaze] [A week after Mito's death]

I lay on my bed and just felt numb... Granny's funeral was held yesterday. Many people came there but less than 10 of them knew granny personally. God, only 5 of them know the real reason for granny's death...

Had this happened a year ago, I would have stopped functioning, and would have started having panic attacks by now. But the last year has been good for me. Some issues, I didn't even know I had, were solved by Granny. The last year has been the best year of my life and now it's over. It's bloody over,damnit!

My tears have already dried. Granny died a week ago and I have accepted that fact but it doesn't mean that I can't grieve...

Hiruzen- sorry, Sandaime sama- was there to grieve as well. He didn't shed any tears but I knew that out of everyone present, he was the one grieving the most. Granny talked a lot about him... He was like a son to her and I saw the reason why, yesterday.

Others offered prayers during the funeral, but he knelt and bowed to the ground during the time she was being cremated.

Tsunade was there as well, but I didn't see a speck of grief on her face. Whether it was due to having witnessed the deaths of most of her family or due to not having much of a relationship with granny, it doesn't matter. I have decided that I... dislike Tsunade Senju.

As I continue to replay yesterday's events in my mind, again and again, I remember the letter handed to me by Lord Third. It must have been an important one if the Hokage himself delivered it to me on such a solemn occasion.

I sit up blearily, only realising now that I have not left the bed for the last 24 hours. My joints are in some pain and my movements are sluggish.

After some time spent in basic exercise, I am ready to read the letter... I get the letter from the drawer and open it.

"Dear Minato,

If you are reading this letter then I must be dead. I have already told you about the tailed beasts and Jinchuriki so I presume you know what happened. The thing is that... Kushina doesn't have anyone to care for her now. I know that I wasn't the best grandparent to Kushina but there was a reason for that. Kushina was brought to Konoha for the sole reason of being the Jinchuriki of Nine Tails, therefore my death was preordained.

Kushina has abandonment issues. Of course, those have almost been solved due to your group of friends being Kushina's haven for the last two years. If Kushina became too attached to me, then she would have been devastated at my demise. As of now, she would be quite sad over my death but not exactly...devastated.

I am telling you this so that you don't blame her for my demise in any manner- directly or indirectly. She is a child and she was groomed to be given the heavy responsibility of being a Jinchuriki. She is not to be blamed. Do you understand? I hope you do...

Also, remember...remember that you are my protége. Remember that you are my grandson, the grandson of the wife of Hashirama 'The God of Shinobi' Senju and the previous princess of Uzushio. Remember that you carry not only Uzushio's legacy but also the will of fire in you.

So, stop moping around brat and show everyone Konoha whose grandson you are. Show them the strength of my protege!

Wipe your tears, kid because I will always be watching after you..."

I feel my eyes water again but I won't cry. The time for moping is over.

I wipe the tears forming in my eyes and smile. Thanks, granny you always knew how to cheer me up. And you are right, of course, you are right! I need to stop moping and get my ass in gear. After all, I have to uphold the legacy of the most badass woman in the history of the Elemental Nations. I can't be anything less than a SS rank for that, can I?

The will of fire... I will live by it. After all, this was your last wish, wasn't it... granny?


A/N: A very short chapter but I think extending this one will make it lose its appeal. The last message from granny Mito ends up being quite a bit motivational. Why was Tsunade stone-faced? It is a combination of the reasons listed by Minato. Minato gets his ass back in gear. The next few chapters will focus on the Shinobi council as the Second Ninja War starts in 1 and a half years so we have to get some information regarding the outside world, don't we? The next arc will be focused on Minato's training with Jiraiya and Orochimaru and his interpersonal relationships.

Hope you all enjoy the chapter. If you spot any bullshit plot holes, inform me and I will patch them up. Also If you want to contribute to the story or just chat normally, here's the discord link: discord. gg /72vandfbmG

Goodbye and stay tuned for the next chapter.