The night sky was painted with an eerie orange glow as the Kyuubi roared, its massive tails crashing against the earth and reducing buildings to rubble. Screams of terror echoed through the village as shinobi desperately tried to contain the monstrous beast. Amidst the chaos, one man stood firm—Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage, the man who bore the weight of the entire village on his shoulders.

He was a blur of yellow as he weaved through the battlefield, teleporting between his Hiraishin-marked kunai, dodging the Kyuubi's deadly swipes while scanning the battlefield for his real enemy. The masked man who had started this nightmare.

Minato's jaw clenched. The attack wasn't natural. The Kyuubi's movements were too precise, too controlled—this was the work of an external force. And he had a feeling he knew exactly who was responsible.

Flashback – The Man Behind the Mask

A few hours earlier, the air had been thick with tension in a secluded cave outside the village. Kushina, exhausted from childbirth, lay weakly on a stone platform, her red hair damp with sweat. Beside her, the cries of a newborn baby filled the air—Naruto, their son.

Minato had barely a moment to feel joy before everything turned to chaos. The midwife—a trusted village medic—was suddenly killed, and in her place stood a figure shrouded in a dark cloak, an orange mask covering his face with a single eye hole.

Minato's instincts flared. He lunged for Naruto, but he was too late. The masked man had already taken the baby, holding him in one arm while pressing a kunai to his tiny throat.

"Step away, Fourth Hokage," the man's voice was calm, almost amused. "One move, and your son dies before he's even had his first day of life."

Minato froze, rage and fear warring within him. He had fought wars, killed enemies, and faced impossible odds before, but never had he felt this level of helplessness.

"What do you want?" Minato asked, keeping his voice steady.

The masked man tilted his head. "To destroy Konoha."

Minato's mind raced, and then it clicked. There was only one man in history with the power, knowledge, and motive to do this. His breath hitched slightly.

"Are you… Uchiha Madara?"

The masked man was silent for a moment before chuckling. "Does it matter?"

Minato's eyes narrowed. If this truly was Madara, then Konoha was in even greater danger than he had thought. But he couldn't dwell on that now—Naruto was in danger, and Kushina was barely clinging to life.

The moment the masked man threw Naruto into the air, Minato moved. Hiraishin Level 2.

In the blink of an eye, he teleported, snatching Naruto mid-air and warping away to a safe house he had prepared in case of emergencies. Within a second, he was back, kunai already flashing toward the masked man's heart. But it was an illusion—his kunai passed through as if the man were made of mist.

The masked man smirked behind his mask. "Too slow."

But Minato was already adapting. He threw a Hiraishin-marked kunai past the masked man, who instinctively dodged—exactly as Minato wanted. He teleported behind him in an instant, Rasengan forming in his palm, and slammed it into the man's back.

The masked man was sent flying, crashing through a tree. He recovered quickly, but Minato had gained an advantage.

"You're not invincible," Minato said coldly.

The masked man said nothing, but for the first time, Minato felt a shift in the battle. A sliver of uncertainty.

Then he vanished.

Minato didn't hesitate—he teleported back to Kushina. He barely had time to react before his worst fear came true.

The Kyuubi was gone.

Back to the Present – Sealing the Beast

Minato took a steadying breath. He had successfully severed the masked man's control over the Kyuubi, but the village was already in ruins. Now, he had one final duty left.

As he teleported to his wife's location, Kushina was struggling to stay conscious. Her red hair was matted with sweat, her breathing shallow. The seal that had once held the Kyuubi was broken, leaving her dangerously weak. Yet, even in this state, she glared at the masked man who had orchestrated this disaster.

Minato knew there was only one way to end this. He had to reseal the Kyuubi—this time into his son.

Kushina coughed, blood trickling from the corner of her lips. "Minato… don't. We can't put that burden on him."

Minato's jaw clenched. He had already made his decision. "I don't have a choice, Kushina. If I don't, the village—Naruto—will have no future."

She weakly grabbed his wrist. "Then… we make sure he survives. We make sure he has everything he needs."

Minato's eyes softened. He had already been thinking the same thing. Even before this night, he had suspected that Konoha would not treat Naruto kindly. A child bearing the power of the beast that had just slaughtered so many would never be welcomed with open arms. No, the village was too steeped in its hatred, its fear.

And so, he had devised a plan.

His fingers traced over his son's tiny forehead, his blue eyes soft yet determined. "I will give him everything I can. If I can't be there for him… I will make sure he has the tools to survive."

With that, he began inscribing the first seal on Naruto's stomach. It was a variation of the Eight Trigrams Seal, designed not only to contain the Kyuubi but also to allow a steady flow of its chakra to merge with Naruto's own. Unlike past jinchuuriki, who struggled to control their beasts, Naruto's body would grow accustomed to the Kyuubi's chakra from infancy. By the time he was a shinobi, the power would be his to wield.

Kushina smiled weakly. "That's… smart. What else?"

Minato closed his eyes. He didn't have much time. The masked man could return at any moment, and the Kyuubi was still rampaging outside the barrier he had set up.

"I have more seals prepared."

He swiftly inscribed the second seal, just below the first. This one would take half of Naruto's chakra every day and store it, only to return it to him while he slept, forcing his chakra reserves to grow beyond what any normal shinobi could hope for. If Naruto survived the academy, his chakra levels would be comparable to a bijuu's by the time he turned twelve.

Kushina chuckled despite the pain. "You're turning him into a monster."

Minato smirked. "A monster Konoha will regret mistreating."

Next, he worked on the third seal, a gravity and restriction seal that would subtly increase Naruto's physical resistance. It would automatically adjust as he grew, making every movement he made a form of training. Only when he learned of the seal would he be able to release it, at which point his speed and strength would skyrocket.

Kushina watched in awe. Even in his final moments, Minato was thinking five, ten, even twenty steps ahead.

"Minato… he's going to be unstoppable."

Minato simply nodded, moving on to the fourth seal. This one was perhaps the most complicated. It would take the Kyuubi's corrosive demonic chakra and convert it into pure life force energy. Should Naruto ever be gravely injured, the seal would activate, healing him beyond the capabilities of normal medical ninjutsu. This was his way of ensuring Naruto's survival, no matter what the village threw at him.

But there was more.

Minato turned to Gamabunta, who had arrived moments ago after being summoned.

"Boss, I need your help."

The giant toad grunted, eyeing the destruction around them. "Minato… you sure about this?"

Minato nodded. "I need Naruto to inherit the Toad Summoning Contract. But more than that—I need Gamakichi to look after him. I need you to allow Naruto to summon Gamakichi whenever he needs him, without chakra cost for the first three years."

Gamabunta exhaled through his nose. "Fine, but only because it's you."

Minato quickly drew the fifth seal, one that would allow Naruto to summon Gamakichi at will.

Minato's hands trembled slightly, but his determination never wavered. This next seal—this one was personal.

He placed his fingers over Naruto's tiny stomach, channeling the last remnants of his chakra. This wasn't just about power. This wasn't just about survival.

This was about making sure Naruto would never be alone.

The intricate markings of the Soul Anchor Seal began to spread, glowing faintly as Minato poured his will into it. This was unlike any other fuinjutsu—it wasn't designed to store chakra or enhance his body. This was something far more profound.

A safeguard. A final lesson. A way to stand beside his son, even in death.

Kushina's weak fingers curled around his wrist, her touch barely noticeable. "Minato… what is this one?"

Minato looked down at her, his expression both sorrowful and resolute. "A part of us," he whispered. "If he ever loses control… if the Kyuubi's hatred pushes him past his limit,Iwill appear when he reaches the eighth tail. I will stop him."

Kushina's breath hitched, her already fragile body trembling. Minato leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. "And when the time comes for him to face the Kyuubi, to take control of its power… you will be there."

Kushina's eyes widened, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "You… you want him to master it?"

Minato smiled, a shadow of his usual confidence. "He'll have to. The masked man—whoever he is—he won't stop. Naruto will need every advantage he can get." He exhaled, gaze softening as he traced his fingers over Naruto's tiny, whiskered cheeks. "And no one knows the Kyuubi better than you."

Kushina let out a weak, watery laugh. "I wanted to be there for him… to teach him."

"You will be," Minato promised. "When he needs you most, you'll be there to guide him… to show him how to defeat the Kyuubi's will. He won't just be a jinchuuriki—he'll be its master."

Kushina's lips trembled, but she nodded. If this was the only way she could stay with Naruto, even for just a moment… it was enough.

Minato's fingers moved in their final sequence, and the Soul Anchor Seal solidified, glowing faintly before vanishing into the network of seals on Naruto's stomach.

He took one last breath, gazing down at his son.

"Now… he'll never be alone."

And finally, the last one. A storage seal. This one, Minato filled with all his knowledge—jutsu, techniques, battle strategies, even letters explaining everything. He knew he wouldn't be around to teach Naruto, but he could leave behind something that could.

With the final seal in place, Minato lifted his son, kissing his forehead one last time. "This is my gift to you, Naruto. Grow strong. Survive."

The Sacrifice

With the preparations complete, Minato teleported himself and the Kyuubi to the sealing altar, where Sarutobi and the remaining shinobi had gathered.

Hiruzen's old eyes widened. "Minato! Are you—"

"There's no time," Minato interrupted. "I have to do this."

The Shinigami loomed behind him, its ghastly form reaching forward as Minato performed the final hand seals. The Kyuubi roared in defiance, thrashing against the chains that bound it.

Kushina, despite her failing strength, crawled toward her husband and son, placing her hand on Naruto's tiny body. "I love you, Naruto…"

Minato smiled at her one last time before finishing the seal.

The Shinigami's hand pierced through him, and in that moment, the Kyuubi's massive form was ripped apart—the Yin chakra was sealed away into Minato himself, while the Yang was funneled into Naruto.

A gust of wind shook the clearing. The Kyuubi let out one final roar before it vanished into the markings on Naruto's stomach.

Minato collapsed beside his wife. His vision blurred, his breathing shallow. He could hear Hiruzen shouting orders, but it was distant, unimportant.

He turned his head, barely managing to focus on his son's sleeping face. "Hiruzen… make sure… he's seen as a hero."

Hiruzen's throat tightened. He wanted to promise, but deep down, he knew it wouldn't be so simple.

Minato's body went still. Beside him, Kushina let out her last breath.

Naruto cried.

Hiruzen scooped the baby into his arms, staring at the tiny boy who had just inherited the future of the village.

"I will protect him," he murmured. But even as he said it, a shadow of doubt loomed over his heart.

The Aftermath – The council chamber

Two days had passed since the night of the Kyuubi's attack, yet the wounds it had left—both on the village and in the hearts of its people—were still raw. The Hokage Tower was unusually silent as the council gathered, a heavy tension hanging in the air.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, now once again the Sandaime Hokage, sat at the head of the chamber. Beside him, in a crib, lay a golden-haired infant—Naruto Uzumaki, the boy who had just inherited the burden of Konoha's survival.

He could already feel the storm brewing before anyone spoke.

One of the newer civilian council members, a gaunt-faced woman with sunken eyes, slammed her hands on the table. "Thatthingkilled my husband! My son! And you expect us to let it live?"

A fat merchant, his face red with anger, spat on the ground. "We should execute it before it grows into a threat!"

A ripple of murmurs spread through the civilian side of the chamber, their voices seething with fear and hatred.

From the shinobi side, however, came nothing but cold stares of disgust.

Tsume Inuzuka scoffed, baring her fangs. "You're all damn fools. It's ababy—not the fox."

Shikaku Nara, looking more awake than usual, exhaled through his nose. His sharp eyes flicked toward Hiruzen, waiting.

Hiruzen did not disappoint.

"SILENCE."

The entire chamber froze. The pressure in the air shifted, heavy and suffocating. It was like a physical force pressing against their throats, making it difficult to breathe.

Hiruzen rarely let his killing intent show—but today,he was not feeling merciful.

The Sandaime's voice was cold as steel. "Naruto Uzumaki is the son of the Fourth Hokage. Thechild of the man who gave his life to save this you ever compare him to the Kyuubi again, I will consider ittreason."

The civilians paled, shrinking into their seats. Even the more hardened members of the shinobi council shifted slightly.

Danzo, his lone visible eye unreadable, spoke next. "Hiruzen, sentimentality is a weakness. This boy carriesgreat power—it would be a mistake to let him grow me to take him under Root. I will shape him into the perfect weapon for the village."

Hiruzen turned to face him, his gaze unreadable. "Absolutely not. Naruto is a child,not a weapon.I will not allow him to be turned into something devoid of emotion."

Danzo's lips pressed into a thin line, but he said nothing more.

Then, another voice spoke.

"I offer to take Naruto under the protection of the Uchiha Clan."

Every head in the room turned towardFugaku Uchiha.

Hiruzen's eyes immediately sharpened.

Fugaku, calm and composed as ever, met the Hokage's gaze evenly. "Minato was my comrade. He trusted me enough to be one of the first to hear of Kushina's pregnancy. The Uchiha Clan will ensure his son is raised as he deserves—protected, trained, and given the respect befitting the Yondaime's legacy."

The words were noble, reasonable even. But Hiruzen wasn't a fool.

In Fugaku's eyes,he saw it.

That subtle glint. The samegreedy flickerthat came when a man saw a chance to tip the balance of power.

Naruto was the jinchuuriki of the strongest bijuu. His father was the greatest Hokage the village had ever seen. If raised within the Uchiha Clan, Naruto would inevitably become their greatest asset—one thatFugaku could use to solidify the clan's influence.

Shikaku Nara, ever the strategist, saw it too.

The head of the Nara Clan sighed, rubbing his temples. "Troublesome… Hokage-sama, if Naruto must be placed somewhere, the Nara Clan is also willing to raise him. Minato was my friend—he'd trust me to care for his son."

The words were spoken lazily, as was Shikaku's nature, but there wasno deception in his Fugaku, there was no underlying ambition, no hunger for power—just a man looking out for the child of his closest friend.

Hiruzen's heart ached there was anyone he could trust, it was Shikaku.

But hecould not allow it.

The Sandaime took a slow breath before addressing the entire chamber. "No single clan will raise Naruto."

Fugaku's eyes narrowed slightly. Shikaku didn't look surprised, merely tilting his head.

Hiruzen continued, his tone firm. "If Naruto is raised within any one clan, the balance of power in the village will shift. The Hyuga will protest. The Uchiha will rise. The other clans will demand equal footing. And the civilians—" he shot a glance at them, unimpressed—"will make matters worse."

The room was silent.

Hiruzen finally leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable. "Naruto will be raised in the orphanage. He will live as a normal child. He will be given a chance to make his own path."

Shikaku exhaled quietly, running a hand through his hair. HeknewHiruzen wasn't wrong. The politics in the village were too unstable—placing Naruto with any clan would have started an internal war.

But that didn't mean he had to like it.

Hiruzen glanced at him, the silent message clear.I trust you, but I cannot give you this.

Shikaku nodded .

Fugaku, however, was less pleased. "Hiruzen—"

"The decision is final."

For a long moment, Fugaku held his gaze. Then, without another word, he inclined his head and sat back down.

Hiruzen surveyed the chamber, his gaze hard. "There will be anS-Rank one is to speak of the Kyuubi. No one is to reveal Naruto's heritage. Anyone who does—" his voice darkened, "—will be executed."

The council chamber remained silent.

Hiruzen rose from his seat, taking Naruto into his arms. The child stirred slightly, but remained asleep, unaware of the chaos surrounding his fate.

As he looked down at the boy, Hiruzen made a silent vow.

Minato, Kushina… I swear, I will protect your son.

But deep in his heart, he knew.

No matter what he did, Naruto's path would not be easy.