A New Life~ 01/21/24 - 01/28/24
Updated ~ 06/16/24
"Is Kumo launching an invasion?"
"No, it's the Nine Tails!"
The night sky sparkled with platinum stars, and the moon cast a white-reddish tint, painting the surroundings in a subtle crimson hue. In the air, smoke curled gracefully, hinting at the aftermath of a fierce battle. As he descended, the village unfolded beneath him, transformed into an apocalyptic scene. Villagers, guided by somber urgency, moved towards the Hokage Monument. In the distance, some rushed bravely to confront the Kyuubi, their silhouettes determined against the chaos.
Hiruzen observed as chaos unfolded.
If he were a lesser man, terror might have consumed him. The village he once governed as Hokage was now under assault by a singular, towering beast—its height surpassing even the Hokage Tower at the heart of the village he had led (regretfully some may argue).
The creature swung its nine tails recklessly, a mesmerizing yet directionless display. The orange appendages stirred extreme winds, laying waste to the trees in their path. Although it had not yet reached the village gates, a looming sense of dread filled him.
The Nine Tails unleashed scorching heat with its breath, igniting forest fires that would leave the land scarred for years to come.
"Anbu!" Hiruzen bellowed. Four Anbu members swiftly emerged from their concealed positions, kneeling before him.
"Guide every civilian to safety. We can't afford to lose innocent lives. Make sure any available Chunin and Genin are directed towards the Hokage Monument as well as guiding any civilians lost in the destruction that the Kyuubi has laid waste."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen executed a series of hand seals at a pace imperceptible to normal eyes. Upon completing the sequence, he sliced a portion of his thumb, letting blood flow, and forcefully pressed his hand onto the ground, channeling chakra through his pathways and out of his palm.
In a puff of smoke, a six-foot monkey materialized.
"Hiruzen," Enma addressed.
"Enma, I need your staff form; the Nine Tails will be upon the village any minute now!" Hiruzen urgently conveyed, and Enma promptly transformed into Hiruzen's legendary bō staff. Hiruzen gripped the staff and ascended to the rooftops.
As Hiruzen vaulted from one rooftop to another, a myriad of thoughts raced through his mind. How had Minato failed? He was arguably the finest seal master in the village (excluding Kushina of course). Numerous safeguards were in place to prevent this catastrophe.
Something must have gone awry, but Minato making a mistake with a seal was inconceivable. Minato's proficiency in fuinjutsu surpassed his mastery in elemental ninjutsu.
This left the unsettling possibility that someone else had mishandled Kushina's seal. While he couldn't dismiss the chance of Minato making an error, Kushina's presence added another layer of doubt. If the release of the Nine Tails resulted from a botched seal, Kushina would have intervened. That left only one plausible explanation – someone had deliberately unsealed the Nine Tails from Kushina.
However, catching Minato off guard and discovering the secret location posed a challenge. Minato had only shared this information with his most trusted Anbu and, of course, his wife. Thoughts of his wife weighed heavily on Hiruzen's mind, adding to his concern. If someone had indeed unleashed the Nine Tails on the village, what about Biwako?
Having relinquished his hat to Minato, Biwako was the sole source of purpose in Hiruzen's life. The mere thought of her demise left him grappling with an uncertain future.
Hiruzen pushed these distressing thoughts aside, focusing on the 300-meter fox wreaking havoc in the village. Yet, the skill required to bypass Minato's stationed Anbu and a legendary fuinjutsu master raised questions.
All of these reflections rested on speculative assumptions. Perhaps Minato did, in fact, make a rare error with the seal, an unlikely scenario but still within the realm of possibility.
Hiruzen sprinted beyond the village gates, arriving in the proximity of the Nine Tails. Thankfully, the beast hadn't reached the gates yet, but the anticipation of the havoc Kyuubi could wreak upon Konoha filled him with dread.
Shinobi of various ranks encircled the Nine Tails, unleashing diverse jutsus with elements ranging from fire to lightning. However, their efforts proved futile as the attacks bounced off the Kyuubi's massive fur.
Hiruzen extended Enma to striking lengths, directing the staff to make contact with the Nine Tails' head. The impact sent the Kyuubi crashing into the dirt, resulting in a massive explosion that claimed the lives of ten nearby shinobi and injured another five. Fortunately, the rest managed to evade the devastation, leaving the fallen to be mourned and buried.
The Nine Tails roared with fury, its eyes ablaze with bloodlust and hatred. Weaker individuals trembled, finding it increasingly difficult to breathe in its vicinity, while those with stronger wills felt only a mild sense of claustrophobia. Hiruzen sensed a chill down his spine, a feeling he hadn't experienced since his genin days with Tobirama-sensei.
To support his fellow shinobi struggling with the oppressive bloodlust, Hiruzen released a comforting wave of chakra.
The Nine Tails rose with ferocity, unleashing flames toward Hiruzen. Swiftly retracting Enma and placing him on his back, Hiruzen formed the dog hand seal, summoning a typhoon of water to clash head-on with the scorching flames. The resulting clash left the ground licked by flames and torn grass but ultimately reached a stalemate.
The aftermath left a thick mist that obscured the view of every shinobi in the clearing. Those less agile were torn apart by perilous winds, shredding them to pieces. The ones farther away narrowly evaded the Kyuubi's tail swipes.
The winds scarred the landscape, leaving deep gashes along the ground, tearing apart Mother Earth and leaving visible landmarks that would require later reconstruction with earth release.
"Don't let up, we mustn't stop now. As soon as Minato appears, we will be able to seal the Nine Tails again!" Hiruzen shouted, seizing Enma once more and extending him, aiming to catch the beast off guard.
Hiruzen narrowly missed, but utilizing Enma's ability to expand, he forced the staff to grow to unprecedented proportions, knocking the Kyuubi down once more.
This time, Hiruzen peered into the beast's eyes when its head landed at eye level, and he was taken aback by the sight. Inside the Kyuubi's pupils, the slit marks were replaced by a three-tomoe Sharingan.
Hiruzen narrowly dodged the Nine Tails' paw, which swiped at his face, claiming a massive chunk of the ground in his stead.
Quickly forming the snake hand seal and infusing his chakra into the earth element, Hiruzen leaped back with a chakra-enhanced step, spewing a river of mud that completely covered and enveloped the Nine Tails. Kneading his chakra into the fire element, he unleashed white, intense flames in a seamless sequence lasting under two seconds. The mud ignited, creating a fiery blaze that sought to suffocate even the towering Kyuubi.
Now granted a moment for reprieve, Hiruzen contemplated the dire revelations and the many new challenges ahead. Keeping the secret of the Kyuubi being controlled by an Uchiha was paramount. Controlling the Nine Tails hinted at knowledge of the Sharingan's secrets, specifically the Mangekyō Sharingan. Fugaku was the only known candidate who had the Mangekyö unlocked which he knew of and knew of being alive, which loomed as a significant concern.
But Fugaku betraying the village was as improbable as Danzo forgetting his Hokage aspirations; Fugaku had consistently proven his loyalty to the village, demonstrating respect and allegiance to Konoha through blood, tears, and unwavering dedication. While not entirely dismissible, the notion of Fugaku betraying the village lingered at the bottom of the list.
This left non-Uchihas with the Sharingan and Uchihas in general who possessed the Sharingan.
Kakashi, known for his strength and Sharingan use, did not ascend to the heights Fugaku achieved. The deceased were out of contention, adhering to their title, dead.
Madara and Izuna Uchiha, as Tobirama-sensei had conveyed, unlocked their Mangekyō Sharingan. However, their demise precluded any possibility of their involvement, aging them to nearly 90 by now. While Edo Tensei was a potential loophole, the chances of someone knowing that technique and having a vendetta against the leaf village was none.
Hiruzen was jolted from his contemplation; the Nine Tails was rising again. His hopes, his fleeting dreams of the previous hit incapacitating it, were blatantly shattered, despite Hiruzen knowingly thinking that said dreams were just that, noting the fact that the Kyuubi was a hell of a lot more durable.
The Kyuubi roared once more, its anger palpable. Hiruzen sensed a monumental chakra buildup, dreading the inevitable—the Tailed Beast Ball.
Surveying his surroundings, Hiruzen found himself backed by almost a thousand shinobi, each exhibiting a varying degree of confidence but unified by the will of fire. Despite the uncertainty etched on their faces, they all shared the same objective—to sacrifice themselves for the village's protection. The unity moved Hiruzen, witnessing the resolve of nearly a thousand shinobi committed to achieving their goal, even if it meant their last act, even if it was Hiruzen's final endeavor in his aged and regretful life.
"Shinobi of Konoha!" Hiruzen's voice reverberated, reaching the numerous shinobi surrounding him. "Do not yield to fear! Stand with me, face the Tailed Beast Ball with your strongest jutsu! We cannot allow the Kyuubi to come any closer to our home, to our families!"
Little particles started to coalesce around the Nine Tails' lips, taking the form of a small ball.
"Get ready!"
The small ball began to swell, growing in size and ferocity.
"Stay put!"
The magnitude of chakra infused into creating this Tailed Beast Ball was unimaginable; Hiruzen would need to tap into his entire reserves to match this heightened chakra output.
"Stay. Put."
The Kyuubi's eyes gleamed with hatred before engulfing the ball, consuming the entire mass of chakra.
Silence. No sound registered for Hiruzen; the birds scattering from nearby trees and the animals fleeing the area due to the overwhelming chakra buildup went unnoticed.
Hiruzen watched in almost slow motion as the Nine Tails opened its mouth wide and discharged the ball.
"FIRE!" Hiruzen shouted, weaving through a sequence of hand seals before unleashing mud dragons that spewed multiple fireballs at the Tailed Beast Ball.
Hundreds of fire jutsus, hundreds of lightning jutsu, hundreds of every element imaginable hurled at the sphere of destruction, tearing up the earth in its path. The ball etched a long, jagged scar into the land, no earth jutsu known to man would be able to conceal it.
Dread filled Hiruzen as he contemplated the potential aftermath. If that bomb struck Konoha, it would spell doom for everyone in the village. His home would be erased from the map, and Konoha would become a mere memory.
Hiruzen couldn't escape the overwhelming sense of sorrow, not just for the village but for his own life. He recognized his failure as a Hokage, allowing numerous wrongs to slip by in his later years out of fear—fear of war, fear of death. His fears dictated his thoughts and every move, a pitiful realization that haunted him. Why had Tobirama-sensei chosen him? In his youth, he was a decisive Hokage, but corruption set in as notions of peace took hold.
Dreaming of peace wasn't inherently wrong, but his dreams had manipulated his actions, leaving him without the resolve to do what was necessary. He had let Danzo carry out his clandestine work, granting him free rein as long as the consequences didn't trace back to him. The bitter taste of this truth lingered, intensifying his disappointment in himself. The weight of knowing he couldn't save Konoha from certain doom, despite his strengths and expertise, left him feeling weak—a failure.
"Enma, if I fall in battle, I want you to reverse summon yourself—save yourself, Enma. Either Asuma, despite my failures, will need you. Or little Konohamaru who my daughter-in-law is expecting in the next nine months," Hiruzen uttered, receiving confirmation through a subtle chakra fluctuation in his staff.
Similar thoughts of impending doom consumed all the shinobi. They helplessly witnessed their attacks make no impact on the approaching force of destruction. Elemental jutsus bounced off the ball, leaving no noticeable dent or change to the Tailed Beast Ball's trajectory.
As the grim reality of their impending demise set in, a humanoid hand made of chakra intercepted the ball's path, halting it completely. The yellow chakra hand extended from a humanoid samurai, providing a glimmer of unexpected hope.
"The Susanoo…" Hiruzen whispered to himself in awe. Tales of it had only reached him through his sensei, who had faced two Mangekyō users firsthand.
The Susanoo's hand engulfed the chakra ball, enclosing it in its palm and squeezing, causing the Tailed Beast Ball to detonate harmlessly within its grasp.
Only smoke and a resounding pop escaped from the hand.
The colossal yellow samurai, the Susanoo, extended from the hand. Clad in what appeared to be metal plating, it featured a belt carrying two swords on its right side—an impressive katana in the larger sheath and a tachi in the smaller one.
The back plate showcased a massive golden fan adorned with the Uchiha insignia. Uchiha symbols adorned the Susanoo, leading up to a demon mask with a tied-up ponytail further north.
Hiruzen gazed upward, realizing that the Susanoo towered over the Nine Tails. Atop its face, Fugaku Uchiha, or Wicked Eye Fugaku, stood. Fugaku resided in the center of the Susanoo's forehead, a headband with a hidden compartment securing him inside.
"Hiruzen!" Fugaku's voice echoed from atop the Susanoo, almost overwhelming Hiruzen. Fugaku pressed on, "Where is Minato?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, Fugaku-san," Hiruzen replied, his gaze lingering on Fugaku's attire. The man adorned a Haori akin to Minato's, but with a significant distinction—the flames were black, and it read 'Shadow Kage' instead of just 'Hokage.' Fugaku took immense pride in his role as the Hokage's second-in-command. In many ways, he was Minato's Danzo.
The decision to retire both Danzo and himself was arguably the wisest move since his inauguration, opting for Fugaku over Danzo. Despite his own life's errors, one thing Hiruzen didn't regret was safeguarding Konoha with his life and being chosen over Danzo. Danzo, while genuinely devoted to Konoha, employed questionable tactics and had a twisted sense of loyalty. His methods were reprehensible, and his allegiance seemed more to Danzo's version of Konoha than the true village.
Fugaku crossed his arms, "I see. He must be doing something important then. The man would never leave his village unprotected while the Kyuubi lays siege," Fugaku assumed, and a layer of respect tainted his words, which attested to his relationship with the late Hokage.
Hiruzen concurred; Minato embodied unwavering loyalty, undoubtedly willing to sacrifice his life for the village—an honorable path for a Hokage to tread.
Fugaku gazed upon the ravaged field, where even the Nine-Tailed beast's tails had felled numerous trees.
'Where are you, Minato?'
~1~
"I thought you died? Kakashi saw your body collapse under all the rubble," Minato spoke, his tone carrying a spectrum of emotions from sadness to curiosity. His eyes scanned the clearing, intermittently disrupting his chakra flow to dispel any lingering suspicion of a genjutsu.
Before him stood a man who had once been his student—one of the two individuals he considered personal failures, three if he were to be honest. Kakashi wasn't a failure in his abilities, but Minato couldn't escape the guilt and depression that had consumed the young ninja. Anbu, Minato believed, would be the best path for Kakashi's growth, yet his mental struggles persisted. Kakashi slept fitfully, immersed in pain while taking on missions. Fortunately, Kushina's pregnancy had given him a purpose—guarding her in case of unforeseen danger.
"I can see you have many questions, sensei, but I'm afraid I have no time. You must die; no one can know of this," the man declared, his lone Mangekyō Sharingan spinning hypnotically, while the other three tomoe turned at a slightly slower pace, maintaining their mesmerizing quality.
"Tell me why. Why are you destroying Konoha? You once aspired to be the Hokage—the leader of this village."
"I know what a Hokage is, sensei. I don't need your lectures, and I sure as hell don't need you to remind me of the fool I used to be."
"You're different. This isn't the Obito I remember—the one who constantly tried to outshine Kakashi, the kid who was always late to meetings. The kid who admired Rin. What happened to you, Obito?"
Obito visibly grew ticked at the Rin comment, before conceding, "I died, Minato. You killed me—maybe not with your hands, but you failed Rin and I. Your speed wasn't enough, and it won't be enough to save this damn village.
You can't even halt a war that's dragged on for almost a decade! When will you people realize that war only brings pain and suffering? When will you truly see the havoc you're causing?"
Minato skillfully wove between a series of attacks—kicks, sweeps, and a right hook that transformed into a fireball. A single Flying Thunder God later, he avoided the fireball entirely, reappearing several meters away from the impact point.
"You don't think I know that, Obito? I lose sleep at night. Hell, Kakashi can't sleep at night because he thinks it's his fault. He couldn't save you, and he blames himself. He killed the one girl who was close to him and you. How do you think he feels?"
"He killed Rin-."
"Rin sacrificed herself to protect the village, Obito. She jumped into his Chidori. That's something you need to come to terms with. She died protecting the village from destruction. And this war-."
"Is all your fault, sensei! Where were you? Where were you when I died—when Rin died!?" Obito yelled, his Sharingan glaring menacingly at Minato. His eyes and body were now physically shaking and his blood just was thick in the air. His chakra surged, and roots emerged from the earth, attempting to ensnare Minato.
Minato engaged in a game of cat and mouse.
"That wasn't my fault, Obito. I used to blame myself every single night, but I've come to terms with the fact that it isn't my fault, and it isn't Kakashi's fault. I was battling an entire battalion of 1000 shinobi. I can't be in two places at once," Minato defended himself both in the conversation and in battle, willfully dodging and weaving through the trees that threatened to grab ahold and kill him. How Obito had gained Mokuton was beyond him. Obito simply shook his head
"All that speed, all that knowledge, yet not enough to simply have given your 'favorite student,' Kakashi, a Flying Thunder God mark or even a shadow clone. Pathetic. And to call yourself the fastest man alive, you aren't even fast enough to protect your wife!"
Minato seethed at Obito's words, recalling the moment when his student had taken Kushina away as hostage while he was removing explosive tags from baby Naruto. Minato succeeded in saving Naruto but at the cost of losing Kushina and the Nine Tails. Obito had orchestrated the Kyuubi's release just a kilometer away from the village.
Minato sent a kunai soaring through the air, aiming for Obito's head. However, it passed right through him, showcasing another frustrating ability. Obito could seemingly become intangible whenever he desired, making it difficult for Minato to land a hit. Yet, Minato discovered a weakness—Obito couldn't harm him while intangible. The challenge now was to bait Obito into becoming tangible without getting hurt.
"Is someone making you do this? And why call yourself Madara?" Minato asked suspiciously.
"That is none of your concern. And this destruction serves a greater cause, sensei. By annihilating the Leaf, I can ensure that one day there will be peace."
"That makes no sense, and you know it! By destroying something, you're creating peace? You're just a hypocrite at heart, and deep down, you know it, Obito," Minato retorted, triggering Obito's anger.
"I dream big, sensei. While you people only see as far as your village, I see more. I see the nations, I see the future. I don't just want a world where one village rules all; everyone can rule. Everyone can be their own person. How is that a terrible dream?"
"And by destroying Konoha, you think this will somehow achieve those dreams? You are delusional. What do you think will happen to the people after Konoha is destroyed? Happiness? Security? You know best what happens when you seek revenge. Humans don't just lay down and wait for something good to happen. Humans take, the greedy want, and the weak starve. If I must kill you to protect the village and save it from disaster, then I will. Konoha must stand strong above the rest. You must die."
Minato pulled out one of his special kunai and hurled it towards Obito. Before it could reach him, Minato flashed through one half handseal, causing the single kunai to multiply into hundreds, spreading around the field. Each kunai had Minato's special seal, creating a deadly trap that Obito knew could be fatal if he made one wrong move.
Obito, calculating and waiting for Minato's move, realized that he couldn't move without triggering the deadly array of kunai. His own Mangekyō ability was taxing, and he knew his chakra levels were comparable to Hiruzen's, but using it extensively was draining.
Holding the horse hand seal, Obito puffed up his cheeks and flared out his chest, expelling a large sea of flames toward Minato's position. The already scorched ground became further engulfed in white-hot flames tearing up the earth.
Minato calmly observed the approaching flames, disappearing in a yellow flash only a few meters away from his original position. Obito, predicting this with his Sharingan, closed the gap and unexpectedly demonstrated great strength, throwing Minato backward.
Minato, regaining his balance mid-air, landed on his feet. Acknowledging Obito's speed and strength, Minato knew he couldn't let this man leave with his life. The battle intensified, and the fate of Konoha hung in the balance.
Minato anticipated Obito's next move, swiftly ducking under the blitzed kick and delivering a powerful right hook to Obito's liver who was simply to slow to put his guard up and protect himself from Minato's superior speed. The sickening sound of impact reverberated, creating a momentary opening. Seizing the opportunity, Minato wielded tri-pronged kunais in both hands, slashing at Obito's face with incredible speed.
"So you finally decide to take me seriously, sensei?" Obito taunted, moving out of the way of the kunai's course.
"You're a threat to the village, despite the relationship that I thought we had. You're a threat and must be dealt with as such. I'm sure if I were in the same position and you were the leader of your own village, you would do the same. Don't act surprised," Minato responded, his focus unwavering.
"Stop talking already and fight me. I wanna know why they call you 'The Yellow Flash,'" Obito demanded.
Obito's healed wound indicated the potency of the Hashirama cells. His Sharingan closely tracked Minato's every movement, recognizing the wind chakra Minato infused into his kunais. The sharp and condensed chakra made the blades exceptionally lethal, and Obito realized the danger they posed.
While Obito's ability was formidable, it placed significant strain on his eye and chakra reserves. As a recent discovery, his Mangekyō ability still had much room for growth, but the current confrontation demanded immediate focus.
The strength disparity between his Mangekyō in the right eye and the normal three tomoe in his left eye became evident, consistently throwing him off while facing Minato. Tracking Minato's movements became challenging due to his increasing speed. Minato, dubbed the fastest shinobi alive, teleported to Obito's location, catching him off guard and nearly shredding him with kunai. Obito, utilizing his dematerializing ability, narrowly evaded the attack.
As Minato phased through him, Obito, anticipating the move, teleported a short distance away onto a nearby tree branch. Minato, unfazed, remained calm and collected, analyzing Obito's jutsu.
"Is this what Rin would have wanted?" Minato inquired, seeking to gauge Obito's reaction, knowing the man's old enduring obsession with Rin. Whatever plan Obito had likely stemmed from the events of a little more than half a decade ago.
"Shut up, Minato! You know nothing. I am only doing what is necessary for the sake of achieving peace one day," Obito declared matter-of-factly. This time, he took the initiative, launching a series of blows in an attempt to strike down Minato.
Whenever Minato attempted to attack Obito, the latter would become intangible. However, a noticeable change occurred; Obito started to appear sloppy with each evasion.
Minato persisted, "You're evading the question—clearly, you know she wouldn't approve. Why act in her name?" The words struck a nerve in Obito. His Sharingan darkened and took on a more intense crimson hue, sending a shiver down Minato's spine. Obito's glare intensified, making Minato feel the weight of his words.
Aware that he had touched a sensitive point, Minato felt a twinge of guilt. Trash-talking during a fight wasn't his usual style.
"No response? Quite disappointing," Minato remarked, further infuriating Obito and completely going against his own feelings of guilt. Obito's recklessness in combat increased, launching a punch that Minato sidestepped (rather easily), following up with a slash aimed at Obito's jugular. Just in time, Obito dematerialized, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.
Ducking under a jab, Obito attempted to sweep Minato's legs out from under him. Minato countered by teleporting away, leaving Obito's sweep to hit empty air. Reappearing, Minato slashed at Obito's stomach, managing to cut a small part before the kunai passed through him due to his intangibility.
"Your ability isn't automatic; you need to activate it," Minato deduced, met with silence as Obito seemed done with conversation. However, he noticed Obito winced, clenching his wounded stomach, which was left with a nasty looking gash.
Both combatants jumped back, creating significant distance, preparing for what could be their final confrontation.
Minato readied both tri-pronged kunai and hurled one hastily at Obito as he closed the gap. Obito narrowly dodged the kunai, letting it pass harmlessly by his head.
Several meters apart, Minato hurled the kunai towards Obito, who intended to let it pass through him to target his sensei. Just inches away from each other, Minato revealed a smile, leaving Obito in wide-eyed realization. Everything seemed to unfold in slow motion for Obito, accompanied by a profound sense of failure.
With a swift teleportation, Minato evaded, leaving Obito tracking him above. Flipping in mid-air, Minato wielded another tri-pronged kunai, aiming it directly at Obito's head.
The intense battle, lasting around twenty minutes, coupled with the strain of using the Mangekyō and controlling the Kyuubi, began taking its toll on Obito. Consequently, he struggled to process what would happen next.
A realization hit Obito – he had failed. Failed Rin, failed Zetsu, failed Madara. The shame of returning to Zetsu and Madara as a failure loomed, anticipating Madara's scolding and extended training in Mangekyō abilities.
A sigh failed to escape, but before he could, a kunai plunged five inches deep into his skull, ending his life instantly.
Minato touched down, tears welling up for his student's death. Despite the betrayal, the difficulty of the moment weighed on him. Killing the man he had trained and failed was a heavy burden. Minato acknowledged his numerous failures in his relatively short life.
He couldn't help but feel a tremoring sadness that threatened to escape in the form of a weep. A new found sense of ultimate failure basked over him. He had ultimately failed as a sensei, who knew that Obito would have grown so strong, not for taking the hat from him, but attempting to take his own life and destroy the very same village that had raised him and fed him.
Yet, amidst the failures, there was one person he wouldn't fail, or rather, he couldn't fail him. Naruto, his son. Determined, Minato vowed not to fail him, even if it meant giving his all and his very life. The threat of individuals like Obito, endangering Konoha and his family, extended beyond borders and affiliations.
Minato struggled with the thought of witnessing the destruction of his village or death of his son, realizing that Naruto needed to surpass him in strength. Perhaps, in doing so, Naruto could fulfill Obito's dream through different means, putting an end to all wars.
Pushing these contemplations aside, Minato refocused on the immediate reality. Placing his hand on the lifeless body of Obito Uchiha, he relinquished whatever control and contract he had made with the Kyuubi. With a sigh, he teleported away, leaving behind only the lifeless Uchiha and a yellow flash—the aftermath of a battle that held the weight of both betrayal and the determination to protect what mattered most.
~1~
"Is everyone alright?" Minato asked with concern, evidently lacing his voice. Before him lay Kushina and their newborn son, Naruto, alongside Kushina's childhood best friend, Mikoto, and her son who was only a couple months older than Naruto, Itachi.
Naruto, born just an hour ago, was already able to feel the effects of war and its impact on people—a sad but unavoidable reality for every shinobi. Minato wished his son wouldn't have to face it, but deep down, he knew it was wishful thinking. This was just the beginning, a preparation for a bigger storm.
"We're alright, love. Fortunately, our barrier seals protected us, and the Kyuubi hasn't breached the village. But, I should be asking you this, my love. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Kushina. You know I worry for you and our baby's health. It was just an hour ago when you were giving birth to our son."
"You just fought a man with a Mangekyō Sharingan; of course, I'm going to worry, ya know!" Kushina exclaimed, her tick surfacing as she often added "ya know" when excited or passionate.
Minato chuckled, "I will be fine; I managed to take him down. His identity must remain a secret. I can't tell you now, but after everything clears up, I will let you know when it's all settled."
Curious, Kushina asked, "I trust you, you know that. But what could be so serious that you can't just tell me now?"
"The man's identity is something that no one must know. Not only for the safety of the village but for the security of the Uchiha's position. Remember what it was like before I became Hokage, right?"
"Of course, ya know! I'm just surprised that someone from the Uchiha clan could have done this, against their own village," Kushina thought aloud, stirring Itachi, Mikoto, and Naruto.
"Why are you here anyway? I know for a fact you didn't just come here to see us; I know I'm beautiful and all, but the village is under attack," Kushina joked despite the dire circumstances.
Minato was about to answer, but Mikoto beat him to it, "He needs a sacrifice; he needs someone to become the Jinchuriki, you tomato."
Kushina looked surprised at her best friends suddenness, then furious at Mikoto, her childhood friend, before adopting a serious look.
"I know I might have had the Kyuubi ripped out from me, but please, Minato, take me," Kushina said, worryness dripping from her tone.
"Kushina… you know I can't. As your chakra levels are now, they wouldn't possibly be able to contain all of the Kyuubi. Right after giving birth, plus having the Nine Tails ripped out of your seal, not only would you die, but before doing so, you would be in excruciating pain, unimaginable pain. I would never willingly put you through that. You know there's only one way…"
"You can't!" Kushina stuttered out, adopting a look of betrayal, making Minato's insides churn. Minato was feared across all nations for his speed, mind, and vast knowledge in the use and applications of chakra, but his one weakness was Kushina.
Kushina would always be his weakness; she had struck his heart since day one. Her long, luscious hair, a unique color like his, had made him gush, and disgusted by other kids' acts of bullying.
Her violet eyes made him swoon, her slender build, and how her clothes clung tightly, expressing her curves—what he fell in love with. Minato had fallen in love at a young age and had never looked back since and probably never would.
But he couldn't allow his love for Kushina to jeopardize her life and the village. Rational thinking had to come first. "Kushina, this needs to be done; there is no other way. Trust me, if I could, I would have chosen anyone else to become the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. Both of us know the hardships of a Tailed Beast container—the mental and physical struggles. Our son, being a combination of you and me, is the only one I believe can overcome this challenge. There is no stronger combination."
"But-."
Instead of Minato interrupting her, Mikoto offered her input. "Kushi, you and I both know that this is the only way for the village to survive, and for your son not to grow up without a mother at the least. Let Minato do this; I am sure my husband and Minato can handle the beast. With Minato's sealing capabilities and Fugaku's Sharingan, no one will stand in the way of Konoha and her might."
Minato turned to Mikoto, "Thanks, Mikoto. If there is anyone who can reason with my thick-skulled wife, it is definitely you."
Mikoto giggled, "Yes, anytime Minato."
"Hey!" Kushina stuttered out, a tinge of red gracing both of her facial cheeks, and she seemed about ready to explode from embarrassment. "I'm right here, ya know!"
Minato chuckled at his wife's antics before his eyes fell upon his son. The boy, not even an hour old, would need to carry a burden the size of his very same village. He would have to not only hold back the Kyuubi to save the entire village but also understand that such a burden carried a responsibility for the boy. With the seal that Minato had in store, it meant that the boy's progress, no matter how much he didn't want to be a shinobi, would be explosive. The boy's chakra would be insane, far superior to even Kushina's, who housed the Nine Tails in just a four trigrams elemental seal. The boy would need to be shown the ways of a shinobi, and he would have to be trained at a young age if he wanted to keep up with his friends.
Minato was getting ahead of himself, however, and looked into Kushina's eyes.
"Will you allow me to do this now? You know I don't want to do this as much as you do, but what Hokage would I be if I were more willing to sacrifice another one's child, knowing damn well no other child would be able to hold back the Kyuubi? How would I be able to look at the family of the child or the child, knowing that I condemned them to a life of suffering, aware that they would be left alone? No family would be willing to sacrifice their child, so I must be willing. I must endure."
Kushina seemed to have lost the fighting spirit she had in herself; she looked exhausted. "Just… Minato, please. Come back alive, don't die. Naruto needs his father; it just wouldn't be the same without you. Don't leave me a single mother."
Minato just smiled a sad smile, "I will come back if it's the last thing I do, my love. Don't worry."
~1~
Minato teleported to the outskirts of the village, only a few hundred meters away from the Tailed Beast, which was being fended off by the efforts of both Hiruzen and Fugaku.
The Nine Tails was about to unleash a Tailed Beast Ball towards Fugaku once more when Minato flashed in front of the Tailed Beast and teleported himself, the Tailed Beast, and Fugaku outside of the village and away from any villagers.
It had consumed quite a bit of chakra from him, but nothing he couldn't manage.
"Minato, you finally made your appearance. What slowed you down for so long? And how did the Tailed Beast get released from Kushina?" Fugaku asked, his earlier tension easing in the presence of his old friend and Hokage. Fugaku dropped his perfect Susanoo, only retaining the ribcage at this point, standing next to Minato's right.
"A man calling himself Madara, who in reality was my old student, Obito, came, took my own son hostage, and threw him in the air with tags. I managed to get my son to safety; however, Kushina was taken in my absence, and then the beast was released."
"I see… it hasn't been that long, no? Since young Obito supposedly died. Truly sad that one of my own kin could have gone so far low as to attack the very same village that took him in. I despise someone like that; he has no right to be called an Uchiha.
But to have stalled you for so long and controlled the Nine Tails for such a duration, it could only mean that he has the Mangekyō Sharingan like Kakashi. Whether he obtained it through the same means as Kakashi or because of Kakashi is a mystery left unanswered. And to be vastly more skilled than even Kakashi with it is truly impressive. But it could only mean he too had a strong teacher and someone with secrets of the Mangekyō. Maybe the Madara persona holds some truth to it," Fugaku thought out loud, raising more questions for Minato. How had Obito survived death? Kakashi had even seen his dead body under all of the rubble.
"But, that is not what we should be worrying about right now. I see you have brought your son. Is it what I think it is?" Fugaku asked almost rhetorically, bringing Minato out of his own thoughts that still raged on.
"Yes, his Uzumaki blood is strong. It is almost as if he is attracted to the Bijuu's chakra. Although, there are possible side effects from being exposed to it for the entire nine months of Kushina's pregnancy. Kushina was able to use up to four tails of the Kyuubi's chakra afterall," Minato informed Fugaku.
"That is good; that could only mean that he will be a formidable warrior for the Leaf. And what of the Sannin?"
Minato brushed aside the blatant comment about his son being a weapon for the Leaf Village. Although Fugaku was a significant improvement over Danzo's hawkish approach, he remained grounded in reality and genuinely wished the best for Konoha. If Minato were in Fugaku's shoes, he'd likely share the same perspective.
"Currently, all three Sannin are away from the village. Tsunade remains stationed at the Suna front, Orochimaru is positioned at the Kumo front, and Jiraiya continues to gather information from his network of spies."
"It is quite unfortunate that such events have occurred during the Third War. But, it is what it is. Luckily, the Kyuubi wasn't able to get to the village gates, but we have still lost quite a bit of our forces."
"Nothing beyond our reach in a few years," Minato emphasized. Forces could always be rebuilt. Despite Konoha's unfortunate circumstances, she would remain the strongest among the five major nations.
"Not wrong," Fugaku conceded. "Anyways, it seems the Nine Tails has regained consciousness. Although, its anger doesn't seem to have receded; it has increased. I will control it with my Mangekyō, that way you will have an easier time sealing it inside your child."
Fugaku reached out, pointing at the now very much awake Kyuubi. It looked down on him, its eyes didn't reflect the sharingan anymore but a look of confusion and worry, however, Fugaku hadn't realized it. He flashed his Mangekyō at the Kyuubi and looked straight into its eyes. Kyuubi's eyes turned into Fugaku's Mangekyō.
"Sit," Fugaku commanded the Tailed Beast. The Nine Tails sat, its tails swinging hypnotically in the air, this time creating small wind currents that shook trees, almost uprooting them from the ground.
"Stay."
Minato couldn't help but marvel at the power of the Sharingan. Impressed at such feats, yet proud of his sworn brother. Fugaku and he had been close at a young age and had been sworn rivals, always competing to be better. In ways, they were both stronger than one another. Fugaku didn't need strategy; he could simply brute through things, whereas Minato's mind, though Fugaku's was sharp too, Minato's was definitely sharper. If Minato were to die, he would trust Fugaku, out of everyone, with his seat.
Minato took out his fuinjutsu kit and summoned the altar he would use to write the seal on his child. He made sure to place his son on the altar before inscribing the seal on Naruto's stomach; the eight trigrams seal.
After finishing the second four-symbol seal, he finally finished recreating the eight trigrams seal.
"Tell the Nine Tails to enter the seal," Minato commanded, and Fugaku listened. The Nine Tails' chakra started to seep into Naruto's seal, and only a couple of minutes later did the entirety of the Nine Tails enter Naruto.
"I will keep my control on the Nine Tails for a couple of days; then, after those days have passed, I will release my control. This is to make sure that the Nine Tails doesn't completely rebel against the seal before it can fully operate."
"I understand, Fugaku. Let's make sure order is restored back into the village. We are still in the midst of a war; none of this can get out, nobody gets in and no one gets out," Minato said, turning his attention to the chaotic state that the village had been left in. The cries of Naruto resounded in his ears, and for a second, he felt like a true idiot. He forgot about his son…
Fugaku looked at him as if he had two heads.
"Oh yeah!" Minato said, looking very sheepishly, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment and Fugaku saw his brother in all but blood, forgetting about his son. "I'll grab Naruto and bring him to Kushina. Don't tell anyone what happened today. I need time to think about what to do next," Minato finished before disappearing in a yellow flash, his son safely in his arms.
Fugaku shook his head at his 'brother's' stupidity. The man was smart in his own right, but damn did he have his dumb moments. He truly was blonde.
Fugaku dropped his Susanoo and fell to his knees weakly. The exhaustion had finally hit him, and it hit him hard. With each breath that hitched, he struggled with each inhale. His breath was shaky, his arms shaky. Everything was shaky, and it was a struggle even to blink.
Sweat ran down his forehead, and blood trickled from his eyes. Fugaku possessed immense powers that originated from his eyes, but there was one drawback to using them—they subjected him to an even more immense amount of pain that rivaled no other.
It began with a sensation akin to thousands of needles poking at his eyes. With each blink, more needle-like pain intensified, making it even worse when he tried to keep his eyes open for longer. The only sense of peace he felt was when Mikoto would soothe his eyes by healing them with her own chakra. He relied heavily on his wife, the woman who had borne his one and only child. She was his precious. Nothing could come between that.
The first stage, now numb, became a background to the second stage—a splitting migraine. The optic nerves traversed through his head, reaching the core where an even more intense pain manifested. It was like a cancer slowly eating away at his optic nerves, gradually making him blind while granting him immeasurable strength.
The sensations were even worse during the day; he was fortunate it was night. The sunrays, which had once brought him happy thoughts and something to look forward to, now became a source of dread as they pierced his ocular nerves, inducing a clawing feeling in his eyes, as if they were burning from the inside. Fugaku had to thank Kami that it wasn't morning yet.
If looking was painful, it was unbearable when he tried using his Sharingan afterward. The sensory overload that his Sharingan could compute in mere seconds added a layer of pain he wouldn't wish on any enemy.
The constant onslaught of pain made him seethe, and the patience for the pain to subside was something he barely kept capped off. He balled up his fists; the temptation to claw his eyes out sounded way too appealing, yet he kept it to himself and kept his hands low, suppressing that very urge.
Lastly, the exhaustion and loss of the sense of time, as well as the small period of time of blindness. What felt like hours were only mere minutes. What felt like decades was only three minutes. The constant pounding, combined with the overwhelming desire to scratch out his eyes, was almost too much if he weren't accustomed to experiencing this level of pain. The cost of his Mangekyo, in no records did anyone have such a high cost as him. For the price of never going blind forever, his Mangekyo ability allowed him to retain his vision but at the expense of a small eternity of pain and blindness.
Fugaku sighed; he needed sleep. Now.
~1~
Zetsu emerged from the ground, materializing in a once-lush grassy area now marred by the aftermath of a fierce battle. The terrain bore the scars of severe damage, with signs of conflict strewn in every direction. The grass lay scorched, and a multitude of kunai shared a distinctive feature – a recurring sealing array.
The once towering trees now lay flattened, their forms altered by the chaos. In a specific tree, a cavity remained, a testament to a recent occupant. The half-white, half-black monster shook his head, an expression of disappointment etched across his unique visage. The frown on his face was a captivating display, catching the glint of the night sky. Soon, this desolate scene would transform, erasing all traces of the recent turmoil.
In a matter of hours, every nation would receive notification of the events that unfolded in Konoha. The subsequent actions were left to their discretion. Zetsu possessed the ability to compel Obito to force their hand, but that wouldn't amuse him. The enigmatic entity harbored neither attachment nor animosity toward the village. Humans held no significance to him, and he found Obito's vendetta against the village rather entertaining.
In the midst of the battle-ravaged field lay the lifeless body of the familiar Uchiha, Obito. However, an anomaly caught Zetsu's attention. A subtle chakra signature lingered, one that Zetsu recognized as having not been there moments before. In a blink, a flash akin to teleportation altered the scene, replacing Obito's deceased form with a remarkably alive Obito Uchiha.
"Quite disappointing that you lost to Minato, although, nothing short of expected. You knew coming into this that you were no match for the Yellow Flash, so why engage him?" Zetsu asked curiously, although a part of him already sensed the answer – Obito's pettiness extended far deeper than he was willing to admit.
Obito appeared to ignore the inquiry, grunting as he rose from the ground and delivered a forceful kick to an already fallen tree, leaving an even more substantial dent.
"Humans are truly amusing; it's quite entertaining to witness your anger over something you should have anticipated-." Zetsu couldn't finish his words before he had to retreat into the ground, narrowly avoiding a barrage of metal objects that could have ended his life (unlikely so).
Slowly emerging from the ground, Zetsu cackled, "Truly amusing to watch you behave like a child who didn't get what he wanted. You, as well as I, knew your little plan wasn't going to work. If only you had exhibited a bit more patience, it wouldn't have gone south. But, no, you jumped the gun, presuming you knew everything about your Sharingan. Truly pathetic – what do you think Madara will say?" Zetsu posed rhetorically.
"I don't need this from you, Zetsu. You're the last person I need lecturing me for a mistake. That's why you're a scout."
Zetsu conceded, "True, but that doesn't alter the fact that you failed. Just imagine the earful you'll get from Madara-sama!" The white part of Zetsu erupted into maniacal giggles, while the black half maintained an indifferent gaze on the exhausted Obito, clearly unamused by its counterpart's musings.
Obito sighed, unable to shake the mental image of Madara's death stare that seemed to have persisted for almost the past decade.
Zetsu continued, "And on top of that, you lost another one of Madara-sama's Sharingan! Do I need to remind you of what happened after the Ame incident?"
Obito shuddered, "No. You absolutely do not need to remind me of what happened after Ame; that wasn't even my fault!" Obito started with a shake of his head, memories of embarrassment threatening to resurface once more.
"You'll have to go back into hiding once more, let the Akatsuki carry out your plans for a while. You know Minato won't reveal your identity to anyone, especially when he believes you're dead. He doesn't want the Uchiha to fall from grace again," Zetsu stated, and Obito had to concede to that. Despite appearances, the rift between the Uchiha and the village had roots dating back to Madara and Hashirama.
Ever since Madara's departure from the village, a lingering perception spread that the Uchiha mirrored the disgraced figure. In a way, it wasn't entirely inaccurate; each Uchiha possessed the potential to reach the strength and mindset of Madara, requiring only the right catalyst.
Madara's influence persisted within the village, sparking rumors that nearly pushed the Uchiha into a civil war until Fugaku intervened. Strength was paramount for the Uchiha, and little did they know, their clan head wielded formidable power, excelling in the Mangekyō Sharingan's Susanoo, and despite not unlocking the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan (EMS), he was somehow able to tap into the power of the Perfect Susanoo.
Fugaku and Minato inadvertently disrupted Madara's elaborate plans, unknowingly putting them in jeopardy. Now that Minato was aware of Obito's identity, it created a perilous situation. He held all the cards necessary to dismantle their defenses, and it was only a matter of time before he began questioning Obito's mentor. Only a select few possessed the Mangekyō, leaving four potential instructors: Kakashi, Fugaku, Izuna, and Madara.
Izuna fell to Tobirama's hands, and Madara claimed his Mangekyō. Revealing Obito's survival would deeply impact Kakashi, and Fugaku's high level of trust with the Hokage made him an unlikely suspect. This narrowed it down to one individual, presumed dead by Hashirama's hands, holding intricate Mangekyō knowledge unknown even to Fugaku.
The only non-Uchiha with Mangekyō insights was Tobirama, but his loyalty to the village and reluctance to aid the Uchiha made him an improbable ally.
Fugaku was well-versed in the knowledge of Izanagi, a technique affording any Uchiha three lives instead of one. This meant that if Minato returned without spotting his body, both he and Fugaku would discern Obito's survival. Obito could already sense an impending headache.
"Perhaps it's time to expand our ranks, and I have someone specific in mind. A visit to an old friend might be in order," Obito mused.
"Do you want me to convey this to Pain? And who's the individual you're considering?" inquired Zetsu.
"Yes, and the second-oldest living man, Kakuzu. Given his penchant for collecting bounties, he'll find a perfect fit in the Akatsuki," Obito explained.
"Will you be handling his recruitment?"
"It's necessary; Pain can't afford to reveal himself at this point. A figure of his stature can't operate discreetly. I'll handle the recruitment personally, but I'll assume the guise of Madara. To the rest of the world, I'll be Tobi. Acting foolishly won't earn me Kakazu's respect, but only his ire," Obito asserted.
"And what of your control of the Kyuubi? You know how Madara-sama is going to react once he learns you lost control of it!" Zetsu said in a sing-song voice with an irritating smile, causing Obito to snarl at the white half.
"The more you talk, the more I wanna kill your other half, Black Zetsu."
"Try living with him your entire life," Black Zetsu remarked. "Oh, shut up, Black Zetsu-chan! How would you ever manage without me?"
"Life would be better if Madara-sama hadn't created you," Black Zetsu retorted with a lot less dramatics than his counterpart expressed.
White Zetsu pouted playfully at Black Zetsu's words, clearly not caring for them.
"You wound me."
"Enough already!" Obito yelled, irritation clear on his face. Now was not the time for games. "Report to Madara-sama about what transpired tonight and don't leave out any details. Despite my failures to kill Sensei and destroy the Leaf, at least we know who the new Jinchuriki is. I will have a little chat and recruit Kakuzu into the Akatsuki."
Zetsu gave a mock salute before sinking into the ground, his signature and presence vanishing as if he had never been there.
Obito followed suit, his body morphing into a swirl-like vortex that gradually distorted his image until it was replaced by empty air, complete nothingness. It was as if neither Zetsu nor Obito had ever been in the clearing.
What remained was the battle-scarred land and toppled trees, leaving deep scars on the earth, rivaling the Valley of the End. The nearby lake reflected the moon's red hue, signaling the start of a new beginning. A new life.
~1~ A/N
I'm back! Mostly because my girlfriend won't stop pestering me about writing. She convinced me to take another go so I guess I am.
Anywhoo, this Naruto is going to be a realistic one because I honestly can't stand the goofball despite it being like nostalgic and all, I got really tired and annoyed by it. However, it's going to be rather realistic and progressive. Not going to have a sage of six paths Naruto at age six, but he's also going to be progressing with Itachi so you can assume how fast the progress will be.
Now to answer questions you may have~
TimeLine~ Six years prior to cannon, so six years before all of Konoha 12 are born.
Third Great Ninja War~ Yes, the Third Great Ninja war is happening, and will definitely change some things and add to the already growing threats.
Minato and Kushina~ Very much alive, and will be staying alive
Fugaku~ His Mangekyō was never explored so here's my twist on it, his ability is very simple, he can't go blind, but the side effects of using his Mangekyō abilities are temporary blindness and ocular pain. He is also like the Danzo for Minato, but not evil, just a lot more realistic and he respects Minato. That doesn't mean Danzo and Hiruzen won't play a part of the story, just not as involved.
Pairings~ No idea, please don't ask lol, however I don't mind suggestions, just nothing too young or too old. Like Konoha 12 is out of the question, but someone like Tsunade is also out of the question. Chances are there might not even be any, I'm not the biggest because I hate how stories deviate from like the main purpose.
Reviews~ Criticism is very much welcomed. If you're a grammar mustache man, be one, I love improving. Even if you hate it tell me what you hated, and I'll try and improve, but I'm not changing the story for you Timmy.
Updates~ ... we don't talk about it. Don't expect any updates any time soon. I work, I gym, I girlfriend, I grass, I fun outside, yay!
If I can think of anything else I'll make sure to add it here!