IMPORTANT MESSAGE: FOR THE CONCEPT ARTISTS WHO KEEPS FLOODING MY INBOX WITH MESSAGES ABOUT AVAILING YOUR SERVICES, PLEASE PLEASE STOOOOPPP IT, I KNOW YOU DON'T ACTUALLY READ MY STORIES. IT'S AN INSULT TO SAY THAT YOU READ IT WHEN YOU REALLY DON'T. I CANNOT AFFORD A SINGLE ARTWORK. I AM STILL A STUDENT. I KEEP SAYING THIS AND I AM SO TIRED REPLYING TO MORE THAN 10 MESSAGES A DAY. PLEASE STOP.
A/N: WOW, ANOTHER UPDATE!? 😱 LOL 😂 I hope you enjoy this chapter too. Keep the reviews coming! 😁
Before anything else, I would like to thank my awesome beta, kurogana, who helped me with this chapter! Thank you sooo muuuch, this chapter would've been a mess if it weren't for your help!
The Future in Our Hands
Chapter 8: Team Minato
The forest whipped past in a blur of green and gold as Team Minato raced through the trees. The rhythmic sound of feet striking branches echoed between the trunks—sharp thuds and quick scrapes as they kicked off bark and launched into the air, one after another in perfect rustled in their wake, stirred by their speed, and the scent of damp moss and wind-blown pine clung to the air. The late afternoon sun filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on their swift-moving forms.
"Wait, Kakashi!" Obito suddenly called out, frowning. "How are we going to explain the Sharingan still in your left eye?"
"Ah!" Rin exclaimed, nearly tripping mid-landing. "The Nanadaime regrew Obito's eye! I was going to say you returned Kakashi's—but how do we explain why Kakashi still has it?!"
Minato raised a hand to calm the growing panic. "We'll discuss that once we return to Konoha. For now, Kakashi—keep your eye hidden. Don't use the Sharingan unless absolutely necessary. Rin, wrap Obito's right eye."
Kakashi groaned. "Why does Naruto have to show off his regenerating power by regrowing Obito's eye—and not fix mine?!"
Rin chuckled before she moved to wrap Obito's right eye with fresh bandage before they continued on in their the familiar gates of the Hidden Leaf came into view, Team Minato slowed their pace.
"Konoha's main gate is in sight," Minato said, voice steady. "Let me handle the talking."
The moment they touched down before the gate, Minato stepped forward.
"Team Minato, returning from a rescue mission."
The two Chūnin on duty gave a crisp salute, but one of them squinted at the cloaked figure in the back.
"Could your other companion remove the cloak for identification?" he asked, hand inching toward his kunai pouch.
Minato turned slightly and gave a nod. Obito stepped forward and pulled his hood back without hesitation.
The guards' eyes went wide.
"W-Wait… is that—Uchiha Obito?!"
They exchanged a panicked glance, posture stiffening—but Minato's calm, deliberate nod was enough. Without further questions, they were waved through.
They made their way directly toward the Hokage's Tower, drawing stares from every shinobi and villager they passed. Gasps and whispers followed in their wake. Some villagers froze mid-step. A few shinobi even dropped what they were holding.
Obito smirked, thoroughly enjoying the attention as he walked tall.
Kakashi—who had somehow procured an orange book along the way—reached out without looking up and gave the back of Obito's head a firm smack.
"Stop being so proud about this, Obito-chan," he sing-songed.
"Bah! Party pooper," Obito grumbled, rubbing his head and sticking his tongue out in retaliation.
Rin covered her mouth, giggling quietly at their antics.
Minato let out a contented sigh, wiping an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. Seeing his team like this again… it felt surreal. Their ridiculous antics had once been a headache—now, they were a gift.
'Ahh… I missed this,' he thought, tuning out the chaos around them as they ascended the steps of the Hokage Tower.
When they entered the office, they found the Sandaime Hokage buried in paperwork, mission reports piled high on his desk. He looked up, pipe in hand.
"Team Minato, reporting back from a rescue mission, Hokage-sama," Minato announced.
"Ahh, Team Minato, welcome ba—" The Hokage stopped mid-sentence. His pipe nearly slipped from his lips as his eyes landed on the figure behind Rin.
"Obito-kun…?"
Obito stepped forward and gave a sharp salute. "H-Hokage-sama, Uchiha Obito, reporting back from captivity!"
The Sandaime stared for a long moment before quickly collecting himself. His gaze sharpened.
"…It appears you've been through quite an ordeal."
His eyes moved from Obito to Rin and Kakashi, noting the signs of injuries that had been healed by a medic, and their worn-out appearance.
"Well then—Team Minato. Let's hear your report."
"Yes, Hokage-sama. We'll begin with Kakashi's account," Minato said, nodding to his student.
Kakashi stepped forward. "After returning from my assigned mission, I found out Rin had been sent on another assignment with a different team. When her squad returned without her… I decided to go after her and bring her back."
Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Which, I expect you know, is against protocol."
Kakashi nodded, guilt etched on his face. "Yes, Hokage-sama. That was a lapse in judgment, and I apologize. But… I assumed Rin's squad leader would've already reported the incident. I believed backup would be dispatched immediately."
The implication was clear—and damning. They hadn't received any backup. The Hokage's frown deepened. Though he didn't comment further, only motioned for Kakashi to go on.
"I summoned Pakkun to track her scent. The trail led to a cave near the Valley of the End. Inside were multiple Mist shinobi and masked individuals. I remained hidden while searching for her." Kakashi's voice lowered. "Then… Pakkun picked up another scent. He said it was familiar. He ran ahead, and I followed. I was about to question him when…" He took a breath. "I found Obito in a holding cell. He was unconscious, shackled, and… covered in blood. It looked like they'd been experimenting on him."
The Sandaime's expression darkened.
"I freed him, and tried to wake him. When he regained consciousness, I explained what I could. Together, we searched for Rin. We found her in another chamber, restrained but alive. We managed to free her too… but both Obito and Rin were in no condition to fight or flee quickly."
Kakashi reached into his pouch and lifted a kunai.
"That's when I remembered the hiraishin marker Minato-sensei left me. I threw it. And… he came."
Minato gave a short nod. "I gave my Hiraishin Kunai as a gift to Kakashi when he was promoted to Jounin, Hokage-sama."
The Hokage sat back in his chair, eyes heavy with thought as he looked at Obito again—this time, not as a ghost from the past, but a young shinobi returned from the dead.
Obito stiffened under the weight of the Hokage's stare.
"Obito-kun… can you tell us your side of the story?"
Obito nodded slowly and stepped forward. His voice was steady, but there was a raw edge to it.
"It started… during the Kannabi Bridge mission," he began. "When the rocks caved in on me, I accepted it. I was ready to die—as long as Kakashi and Rin made it out alive. That was enough for me." He paused, his jaw tightening. "I lost consciousness from the pain. I was sure… I wouldn't wake up again." His hands clenched at his sides. "But I did."
The room fell still.
"When I came to… everything felt strange. My whole right side was wrapped in something, and I couldn't move—could barely even breathe. I kept drifting in and out of consciousness. I remember… blurry shapes—white figures moving around me. I was hooked to things I didn't understand. Tubes. Machines."
His voice dropped lower, almost to a whisper.
"It took a whole month before I was fully conscious. That's when I realized… my entire right side had been replaced. It wasn't flesh anymore. It was some kind of white, plant-like substance. Cold, and very unnatural."
Obito looked down at his hand for a moment, pulling up the dark sleeve of his cloak to show the Hokage his new skin. The Sandaime narrowed his eyes as he scanned the new skin, widening a little in recognition.
"I didn't know what those people wanted from me, but it was clear they needed me alive. They monitored me constantly. Took blood samples. Fluids. Always talking about the Sharingan and my Uchiha lineage." He looked back up, expression solemn. "Then… another month passed. That's when the Mist shinobi came. They didn't hide who they were—forehead protectors on full display. They questioned me. Demanded to know about my Sharingan and its abilities."
The silence in the room was almost suffocating, but Obito continued his narration.
"When I refused… they got brutal. They tried everything to make me talk. Beatings. Isolation. Even… genjutsu. But I didn't say anything. Not about my clan. And especially not about my Sharingan." He glanced at the Hokage. "I still don't know why they were so obsessed with the Sharingan and the Uchiha, but… I strongly suggest that the clan be informed and increase their security. They failed to get the secrets from me, but they'll surely try again."
The Sandaime looked deeply disturbed. His fingers fumbled with his pipe, but he didn't bring it to his lips.
Obito drew in a breath and straightened his posture. "I didn't know how long I'd been there. I thought I'd die in that place. But then… I heard a voice I recognized. It was Kakashi and Pakkun." He turned to his teammate and gave a small nod. "If he hadn't come when he did… I wouldn't be standing here."
The silence lingered as Team Minato watched the Hokage, waiting. Finally, the Sandaime leaned back, his face unreadable.
"…Thank you for your honesty, Obito-kun." He looked over to Minato, Rin, and Kakashi—his expression grave. "This information… changes a great deal."
The Hokage's gaze turned to Rin, who had been quiet the entire time, standing between her teammates with her hands clasped tightly in front of her.
"Rin-chan," Hiruzen said gently. "I'd like to hear your side of what happened as well."
Rin nodded once. She took a small breath, then stepped forward. "After being assigned to a temporary squad, we were ambushed by a group of Mist shinobi en route to our mission site. The attack was sudden… and well-coordinated. My teammates were either killed or managed to escape. I tried to hold them off, but I was eventually overwhelmed and taken prisoner."
Her voice wavered slightly, but she held her composure. "To be honest, Hokage-sama… I don't know what they did to me. I was unconscious for most of it. But the moment they took me, I knew—whatever their plan was, it wasn't something I'd survive. Maybe it's better that I don't remember everything."
She looked down, then lifted her eyes again, her voice softer. "The next time I woke up… it was to the voices of my teammates." Her gaze moved to Kakashi, then Obito. "I thought I was dreaming when I heard Kakashi's voice. And Obito's…" She paused, voice cracking slightly. "…I thought it was a hallucination. But they were really there. They came for me." Rin turned back to the Hokage. "I don't know how much longer I could've lasted. But if they hadn't come when they did… I wouldn't be here now."
Another silence followed her words. The Hokage exhaled slowly, eyes briefly closing as he placed his pipe down beside a worn stack of reports.
Then he looked at Minato. "And your final account, Minato?"
Minato stepped forward with a solemn nod. "The battles at the frontline had dwindled considerably, so when I felt the tug from Kakashi's Hiraishin kunai… I didn't hesitate. I quickly gave brief instructions to my fellow Leaf shinobi before teleporting to Kakashi's location."
His tone was steady, but there was a flicker of emotion behind his words. "When I arrived, the situation was dire—hostile Mist shinobi, and others I couldn't identify. I neutralized the threat, secured the area, and extracted my team." He glanced at Rin and Obito briefly before continuing. "Rin administered emergency first aid to stabilize herself and Obito. We hid for two days, allowing them time to recover enough to travel. Once they could move safely, I led them back to the village." Minato stepped back into line with his team. "My priority was getting them home alive. Now that they're safe, I plan to return to the frontlines."
The Hokage sat back slowly, taking in the sight of all four—weathered but standing.
"…You've done well," Hiruzen said at last. "All of you. This matter requires further investigation. I'll call on the council and the clan heads soon. But for now…" He paused, voice softening just a little. "…Go rest. You've earned it. The war is effectively over."
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, eyes heavy with exhaustion but glinting with something close to relief. "I've just received a ceasefire missive from Iwagakure. Kumo and Kiri followed not long after. From what our intel suggests… they've all lost their bijuu."
Team Minato stood straight, briefly exchanging knowing glances. "There's no longer any need for you on the front lines, Minato. However, I do need to discuss something with you later in the evening." Hiruzen continued. "Rest, and return home. All of you. You've done more than enough."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," they answered in unison.
Team Minato turned and left the office, the doors shutting softly behind them.
The doors closed behind Team Minato, and for the first time in days, the air felt like home. The sun warmed their backs. Peace settled—but only for a heartbeat.
"Obito? OBITO?!"
The four turned just as a blur of red hair and chakra-laced fury barreled through the crowd.
"Kushina?" Minato blinked.
She sprinted straight to them, wide-eyed and breathless. "Tell me I'm not hearing things! The whole village is buzzing about Obito being alive and I—!"
Her voice cut off when she got a good look at him. Obito raised a hesitant hand. "Heya, Kushina-neesan."
She didn't hesitate. She grabbed him in a fierce hug. "You absolute moron," she whispered, voice thick. "We thought you were dead! You had the whole village mourning—I mourned you!"
Obito chuckled softly, hugging her back. "Yeah. Sorry about that."
Kushina pulled away to look at him again, a hand squeezing his cheek—and then turned to the others with a warm smile.
But that's when she noticed Kakashi. He had gone completely pale, his eye wide behind the mask. He stood stiff and silent, frozen mid-step.
Kushina frowned, confused. "Kakashi? What's wrong?"
He didn't answer. Just kept staring at her like he was seeing a ghost.
"Kakashi?" she asked again, slower this time.
Before she could take a step toward him, Minato moved—calm but fast.
"Let's not do this out in the open," he said quickly. "Kushina—come with us. Now. Everyone, to my apartment. We need to talk. Privately."
Kushina blinked. "Wait—what?"
Minato didn't explain. He just started walking with urgency in his stride, and after a moment of tense hesitation, the others followed.
They entered Minato's apartment in a rush, and before the door even closed behind them, Minato's hand was already drawing seals.
"Minato?" Kushina asked, suddenly on edge.
A series of sharp chakra pulses echoed through the air—Minato's fūinjutsu flaring to life. Seals slid into place along the walls, windows, even the floor—a silencing seal, a privacy barrier, chakra filters.
Kushina's eyes went wide. "What the hell is going on?!"
Minato turned to face them, face serious now. "I'm sorry for the suddenness," he said. "But what we're about to talk about can't leave this room."
Kushina stared at him, the weight of his words finally catching up. "This is about more than just Obito, isn't it?" she asked, voice low.
Minato nodded once, then looked at Kakashi, who still hadn't spoken.
Obito glanced between them all, tension rising in his chest again.
And in the heavy silence that followed, one thing was clear: Whatever came next—it was going to change everything.
Kushina sat motionless after Minato's narration of what truly transpired to their team and the revelation of the time travellers, tears streaking silently down her cheeks.
Her voice trembled as the weight of it all finally settled on her shoulders. "I died…" she whispered, almost to herself. "I died before I could even hold him. Watch him grow. Teach him things… scold him… love him…" Her hand clenched in her lap. "All those years… he was alone."
Minato didn't speak. He just stayed beside her, his own eyes shadowed.
"He grew up without us. Without me." Her voice cracked. "And they… they hated him, didn't they? Because of the K-Kyuubi…"
No one answered. They didn't have to.
Her breath caught again. She covered her face with both hands, shoulders trembling. "He bore all of that alone. Our baby—our little boy. And I wasn't there…"
Rin moved quietly to her other side, placing a hand on her back. Kakashi lowered his head. Obito looked away.
Kushina took a deep, shaky breath, wiping her face with trembling fingers. "And even after all that… he still came back to save us." Her voice broke into a half-laugh, half-sob. "…What kind of incredible son were we blessed with, Minato?"
Minato finally spoke, his voice low but proud. "The best one."
Kushina nodded, pressing a hand to her heart. "Then I'll live… from now on, I'll live with everything I've got. So he never has to carry that pain again." She looked up at Minato, eyes still glassy but burning with resolve. "I want to meet him," she said softly. "Our son. I want to look him in the eyes… and tell him how proud I am. How much I love him."
Minato smiled softly, squeezing her hand. "You're not just going to meet our son," he said. "You're also going to meet our grandchildren."
Kushina blinked. Then blinked again. "G-Grand—what?!" Her face went red, eyes wide with a mix of shock and rapidly rising emotion. "You mean—I—I missed that much?! I didn't even get to see him grow up and now he—he has kids?! I'm a grandma?!"
She clutched her head, pacing a little in panicked circles, then froze—face lighting up with a grin through her tears. "I'm a grandma," she whispered, breath catching in her throat. "I get to meet them? Really?"
Minato chuckled, eyes warm. "Really."
And in that moment, Kushina laughed—a choked, joyful sound—half-weeping, half overjoyed, trembling with disbelief and hope, because both she and Minato were orphans who had long since lost their loved ones, and now, all of a sudden, they had a family.
Back in the cave where Naruto and his fellow time travelers had temporarily taken shelter, half of the female members were out in a nearby town, gathering food and supplies. The children huddled in a corner, lost in quiet conversation. The rest of the group moved about in silence, each occupied with their own tasks—and Naruto, as always, had no shortage of important things to do.
Dim torchlight danced across the ancient stone walls, casting shifting shadows over Orochimaru's serpentine features. The air was damp and cool, every breath tinged with the metallic tang of minerals and old earth.
Naruto knelt before him, a brush in hand, chakra thrumming softly through the bristles. He dipped it into a jar of ink laced with powdered silver and a trace of his own fox chakra. This wasn't ordinary sealing—it was a careful blend of deception, precision, and power.
Naruto's eyes narrowed as he studied the cursed seal etched grotesquely onto Orochimaru's tongue. It shimmered faintly in the flickering light—a cruel relic Danzo had carved into flesh. It was a leash disguised as a precaution, designed to clamp shut the moment forbidden truths neared Orochimaru's lips.
But not anymore. Naruto's hand moved in smooth, practiced strokes. Each brush of the ink layered new meaning over the old curse. Spiraling kanji wrapped around the seal, weaving through its malignant patterns with a logic Naruto had spent months refining. A counter-seal. One that wouldn't erase the curse—but would override its bite.
Danzo would still sense it. Still think his leash held tight. But Orochimaru would be free to speak.
Each sigil glowed faintly gold before melting into flesh. Naruto pressed his fingers to the final character, and his chakra surged forward—binding it all in place. He exhaled, leaning back.
"That's it," he said quietly. "It's still there to anyone checking—but it won't stop you from speaking anymore."
He watched as Orochimaru closed his mouth with slow, deliberate satisfaction. The sannin flexed his jaw and flicked his tongue like a snake testing the air. Then—
"Shimura Danzo ordered me to experiment on infants to manifest Hashirama-sama's Mokuton."
Naruto's posture tensed instinctively, half-expecting the seal to flare and silence him. But nothing happened. Orochimaru's throat didn't seize, no pain struck his eyes.
Instead, the man smiled.
"Marvelous," he whispered. "A perfectly camouflaged deception. I have longed to speak of that man's atrocities all my life. Thank you, Nanadaime-sama."
Naruto scowled slightly and waved him off. 'It's nothing. And stop calling me Nanadaime—I'm not the Seventh Hokage in this timeline.'
Orochimaru chuckled, a rasping sound that echoed faintly against the stone walls. "Even so, I doubt any of us here will stop treating you as such. You've grown into a fascinating man, Naruto-kun."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Oh please, don't make this weird."
"Too late," came the smooth reply, along with a smirk.
Standing, Naruto brushed his palms clean and reached for the sealing tools. The work was done for now. "Once Danzo's dealt with, I'll remove that disgusting seal for good. But for now, this should fool him."
Silence settled again—broken only by the soft, rhythmic drip of water somewhere deep in the cave.
Naruto began packing up the tools when Orochimaru's voice floated behind him.
"Naruto-kun…"
He paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Yeah?"
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, golden eyes gleaming in the torchlight. His voice was smooth—just above a whisper.
"May I… request something of you?"
Naruto raised a brow, unsure whether to feel curious or concerned.
"That depends. What is it that you need?"
To be Continued…
Review Section:
Gouravsilentreader: Hello, thanks for the compliment, I'm glad you liked it 😁
Fias Xin: Understood, I'm not really offended, I am just wondering Hahaha. I am happy that you like the story so far, and about your question, hmm... I wonder 😁 We will know in the future!
Capell: Thank you! I am glad too. And the bijuus are missing though, it was all inside Naruto now
END