[Chapter Size: 2300 Words.]
Third Person POV
Mount Myōboku, 43.
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"Minato, will you come back?" Minato paused for a moment as he was about to say goodbye and leave, and his eyes returned to the man who had just asked the question, standing a few meters away from him.
"Not now," he said. "Sensei… I won't return to Konoha for a while." He simply spoke, while Jiraya was with him in one of his small meetings at Mount Myōboku, where they had been talking over the past few months.
More than seven months had already passed since Minato had married his 4 wives, and it still took some time before he finally made contact with Jiraya for the first time through the toad clan.
Jiraya was immediately curious to know how he was doing and where they were, while Minato wanted to know the state of the ninja world and also of Konoha after the war against the Uzumaki clan.
Obviously, all elemental relations had been turned upside down. Dead Kages and missing bijuu were just one of the problems that the 4 elemental nations that united against the Uzumaki clan faced. Losses in military strength from all nations, even low, mid, and high-level ninjas, were the greatest blow they felt. Losing 5 thousand ninjas was not worth a Kage or even a bijuu.
The most sought-after name in the Bingo Book belonged to Minato, and his companions came right after.
Minato was at the top with 500 million ryō!
Kushina had 300 million ryō.
Mikoto had 200 million ryō.
Tsuna had 200 million ryō.
Hanabi had 100 million ryō.
Everyone there was at the top, and considering that Asuma Sarutobi had a confirmed bounty of 35 million ryō in Naruto Shippuden (revealed when Kakuzu delivers his head), Minato had a very satisfying bounty, being almost 15 times higher.
And Minato had disappeared from the ninja world along with his wives, leaving a gap that no one could fill; the uncertainty and frustration were things enemy ninjas felt when they heard that name.
No one knew where they had been for the last eight months since the war had taken place.
His name still echoed throughout the ninja world. Rumors about his strength and also that of his companions were still whispered in meetings of elders, high command, and even in simple bars. Many of those who survived the attack often spoke openly about what they witnessed that day.
All villages and organizations sought information about Minato and his companions: where they were, what they were doing. The disappearance of the entire clan's island, never seen again since reports from some witnesses claimed it flew into the sky, caused even more unease, as there had been no sign of them since they ascended into the heavens.
Minato was surprised to learn that the village wanted him back and was willing to accept him, even after everything. Sarutobi no longer gave any political opinions alongside the former elders; they had been placed in ostracism after all their schemes along with Danzō.
Danzō had been labeled a criminal, the greatest of all time in Konoha after all his crimes against the village itself.
Now, with Sakumo still leading the village but never fully reassuming the role of Hokage, he led the village together with the other members of the council, all the clans that had allied with Minato against the village elders, and they reached unanimity in wanting Minato back in the village.
Tsunade and Jiraya also agreed with this without a second thought. Even though they did not officially participate in the council, they still had a voice. Not even the former kage opposed it.
Jiraya, every time he saw Minato, tried to convince him.
Minato was already far too powerful. He would even judge the village for going after him precisely because of his strength, but he knew that the village itself had decided they should help the Uzumaki clan, even if they had arrived late.
But Minato said he would not return, at least not now.
As he always told his sensei, he had been training over the past few months. He had mastered his draconic form, improved his two basic Haki, and finally begun to master the Conqueror's Haki. Minato was quite satisfied with his progress, and it wasn't just him.
All the girls had improved, each in their own strengths. And it was still not time to return to Konoha.
That was why, once again, he looked at his sensei and gave that same answer.
And Jiraya still wasn't finished. "They want to pass the hat to you, you know?"
Minato stopped again. As he was about to walk away, his eyes returned to Jiraya, with a surprised look. "They want me to take it on, even after everything?"
"It's exactly after everything that they want you to wear the hat. You know how it is, Sakumo is willing to pass it to you, that's why he never accepted being Hokage. The village recognizes your courage, Minato. Even though you became a deserter, everyone knows the reason and you triumphed. You never harmed the village, quite the opposite, you only fought for the right to save an ally when everyone else refused to see it."
"They feel ashamed, but they also recognize your courage. The courage that a true Hokage needs. That hat naturally belongs to you."
Minato was there being invited to become the Fourth Hokage. He stared at his sensei; there was a gleam of pride and hope in his eyes toward the blond.
They were on the side of Mount Myōboku where he used to train with Kushina and Mikoto, not at the center of the mountain.
"I want to become Hokage one day. I want to lead the village," Minato confessed. "But this is not the moment. Not yet. You know that. The villages are beginning to gather strength again, and a war could break out at any moment. They want retaliation for what happened, for Konoha not honoring its agreement… or so they suggest. Even if I was considered a rogue ninja, don't worry. When that moment comes, I will return. I want to protect the village, and I will do that, sensei." Minato spoke with conviction. Obviously, if a third great war broke out, he would return to Konoha.
"So you will return," Jiraya said, seeming very satisfied to hear that, breaking into a wide smile.
He hated knowing that Minato had left the village ever since he heard about it, even though he had begun to understand his reasons even before the Uzumaki clan war.
"Well, then we'll finally be able to calm down the new Daimyō of the Land of Fire. Did you know that the son of the one we rescued took over after his father died? But he still carries the same feelings as his father."
"How did he die?" Minato asked.
"A heart attack..."
"He had a heart attack."
"Tsk. That guy ate nothing but unhealthy food and was sedentary..." Minato grumbled.
But he couldn't help thinking, remembering the old and pompous Daimyō, who had wanted to make him his personal guard ever since he saved him and his family from foreign ninjas.
The Daimyō's family had a good image of Minato, and Jiraya always said that the Daimyō sent letters to Konoha demanding Minato's return, becoming furious and even going so far as to demand Hiruzen's head after hearing about certain plans of the former Hokage.
This proved that Minato had left a strong mark on the greatest financial power of the Land of Fire.
"His son now sends letters every week, asking for reports on where you are and requesting that you return. He even sends invitations, wanting to personally summon you to the Daimyō's headquarters, in the capital of the Land of Fire, to negotiate your return. They also heard about your performance in the battle of Uzushiogakure," Jiraya said.
Minato smiled. Well, that kid had been quite enthusiastic back then. He must have grown a lot since then. It had been more than two years since Minato last saw him, since the kage summit.
"Anyway, I'm going, sensei. My wife will give birth today to my first child. I can't be late," Minato said.
Jiraya couldn't help but feel his heart tighten. A child of his favorite disciple was about to be born, and he wouldn't be able to be there.
"Congratulations, Minato. I'm sure Lord Mazu Uchiha will be delighted to hear about this," Jiraya said, scratching the back of his head, a little embarrassed.
Mikoto's father and clan head, Minato knew he was about to retire. Fugaku would take over the clan. Minato still didn't quite know how to think about that. After all, he had stolen Fugaku's bride, and now the child who was originally supposed to be his would belong to Minato. Minato had messed up the entire known future with that, but he didn't care. He loved Mikoto and she felt the same, so whatever came next, they would deal with it together.
Now, he needed to focus on his girl and on his child.
"Speaking of that, when do you think Tsunade's grandchild will be born?" Jiraya asked, laughing. He already knew that Tsuna had been pregnant for many months.
"He will be born in about a month and a half. Everything points to that," Minato replied.
"I'll tell the others. She's going to be extremely irritated. She already couldn't attend your wedding, just imagine finding out that her grandchild was born while she was away. That's going to drive her crazy," Jiraya said, laughing.
"When all of this is over, we'll gather again. We won't need to hide anymore," Minato said.
"I know," Jiraya replied, opening a proud smile. "You've become the most powerful living ninja of the elemental nations, and you've grown even stronger."
He still remembered when he went to train with Minato and had taken a completely one-sided beating. Not to mention the ability the boy had now. Minato could simply release his aura and cover the entire Mount Myōboku with yellow lightning. The pressure was so immense that it made even veteran toads kneel. This was the result of Minato's intense training over the last 6 months focused solely on the Conqueror's Haki.
Not to mention his draconic form, which was at least eight times more powerful than Toad Sage Mode.
His student had become extraordinary from the moment he met him, and now had reached a level that might only be among legendary ninjas like Madara and Hashirama. For Jiraya, there was no doubt: Minato was the child of the prophecy. His thoughts occasionally drifted to Nagato, whom he hadn't seen in years. Even without a Rinnegan, Minato was one step ahead of any living ninja.
"You're leaving, sensei. We'll talk again next month. By then, I'll bring my son. You can bring Tsunade, and I'll bring my wives," Minato said.
In the next moment, Jiraya waved as he watched Minato disappear; he had gathered nature chakra in a single instant. Another evolution of his: entering Sage Mode even faster than anyone else had ever managed, even Naruto in Kurama Mode in the original.
Jiraya merely listened and sighed, as he asked to be returned to Konoha.
Minato, on the other hand, returned to the Uzumaki clan, and his eyes quickly turned toward their house. He disappeared in the next instant and appeared inside the residence, just as Mikoto was being taken to a room after her water broke.
"Minato, you're here," Kushina said, smiling. Right after that, she broke into a huge grin. "He's being born."
Minato had only left for a short period that morning to talk with Jiraya. He hadn't expected to arrive at the decisive moment. Even so, he quickly entered the room, where some Uzumaki women were helping Mikoto settle into bed.
He approached her, and Mikoto immediately fixed her eyes on him.
"He's coming, Minato. Our son," she said, her tone filled with tenderness and love.
Minato kissed her forehead and held her hand. "Yes. Our little boy is going to be born. And he'll come strong," he said, as he watched the other girls enter and surround Mikoto.
Kushina and Tsunade would easily take care of any injuries, while the midwives instructed Mikoto to push the baby little by little.
It took a few hours for the labor to truly progress. Mikoto was a strong woman, but even so, the childbirth proved to be a challenge. She faced it with determination, while the midwives kept telling her to maintain the rhythm and push, because the child needed to be born.
After some more time, the room was finally filled with the infant cry of a strong, energetic baby.
Minato took him as soon as the midwife handed him over after cleaning him with a cloth. He looked at the little boy, who had completely taken after Mikoto's appearance, but he knew, without any doubt, that there were some things of his in there as well.
The boy continued crying, and an overwhelming love took Minato's heart at that moment.
His son.
He approached Mikoto, who couldn't take her eyes off the child in the father's arms, with an almost wild instinct of protection. Minato placed the baby beside her, and Mikoto embraced him, as the crying began to calm down.
The boy quickly melted the hearts of Kushina, Tsunade, and Hinata, who were watching nearby.
"He's so tiny… Minato, look. He got your nose and your chin," Kushina said, laughing with joy as she leaned in to kiss the baby's forehead.
"Let's call him Itachi," Mikoto declared.
Minato nodded. In truth, he had already been thinking of calling him that, but Mikoto was faster, believing that name was fitting for their first child.
Minato watched in silence as Mikoto interacted with the baby. Itachi would be the first of many, but he also represented their future.
'Itachi Namikaze.' That name sounded perfect in Minato's mind.
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