[Hiruzen Sarutobi]: At my age, I had no strength left to stop the Nine Tails...
[Narration]: The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, summoned Gamabunta to interrupt the Nine Tails' attack. He then used Flying Thunder God to teleport himself, the Nine Tails, Kushina, and baby Naruto outside the village.
This critical decision reflected Minato's immense resolve. By involving Kushina and Naruto, he clearly intended to rely on Kushina's Uzumaki chains to restrain the Nine Tails and then seal it into Naruto.
[Narration]: Kushina used the Uzumaki clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind the Nine Tails. Before Minato began the sealing, Kushina said: "I only have one last wish... I wish I could see Naruto when he's all grown up."
[Minato]: "Then I'll seal the last of your chakra into Naruto. That way, you'll be able to meet him—if only briefly—someday, inside his mind."
[Narration]: Chakra... what an incredible power. It even carries the soul.
However, because the Nine Tails' chakra was too massive, Minato had no choice but to split it. One half—the yin chakra—he sealed inside himself using the Reaper Death Seal, sacrificing his life in the process.
The other half—the yang chakra—he sealed into Naruto using the Eight Trigrams Seal.
Kushina worried about Naruto's future.
[Minato]: "I believe... Naruto is the Child of Prophecy that Jiraiya-sensei spoke of."
"The masked man we saw today will bring chaos to the world. The one destined to stop him... is this child."
"The child Jiraiya-sensei named will be a Jinchūriki who opens the path to the future."
"I don't know why... but I believe it with all my heart."
[Narration]: After sealing half the Nine Tails using the Reaper Death Seal, the Nine Tails panicked, realizing it was about to be sealed again. It attacked—aiming to kill Naruto.
Kushina and Minato used their bodies to block the Nine Tails' claw.
Their first day as a family of three... ended in tragedy.
[Minato]: "Kushina... is there anything else you want to say to Naruto?"
[Kushina]: "There's so much I want to tell him. I want to live with him. I love you... I'm sorry I kept going on and on."
[Minato]: "It's okay. Naruto, what I wanted to say... is the same as your naggy mother."
"Eight Trigrams Seal!"
[Scene ends]
A long silence filled the chat.
At the Chūnin Exams arena, Naruto and Hinata had already broken into tears.
Chapter 102: "To Our Hero"Group Chat
[All Konoha Shinobi @ Minato Namikaze]: Salute to our hero!
[All Konoha Citizens @ Minato Namikaze]: Salute to our hero!
[Naruto Uzumaki @ Minato]: Dad, I heard everything you wanted to say to me!
[Kushina Uzumaki @ Naruto]: What about what your mom said?! Didn't you hear that too?!
[Naruto]: Mom! I heard it all. I want to live with you too. I love you, Mom!
[Minato @ Naruto]: Naruto, things are different now. You can talk to me and your mom anytime. Whatever happens, we'll face it together.
[Naruto]: Yeah! I'm so happy right now!
[Hinata Hyuga]: Naruto-kun… I'm so glad. You can finally be happy now.
[Jiraiya @ Minato]: Minato… I failed you. As your teacher, I wasn't there when it mattered most... I carry that guilt.
[Jiraiya]: You even named your son after the protagonist in my book… that only makes me feel more ashamed.
[Minato @ Jiraiya]: Sensei! Don't say that. If anything, Naruto's strength comes from you! He learned so much because of you.
[Madara Uchiha @ Jiraiya]: I'll say this: you do have something to be proud of.
Naruto had every reason to fall into darkness, but he didn't. That means one thing: Naruto is strong-willed beyond belief. Honestly, even I, Madara Uchiha, acknowledge him as the strongest when it comes to willpower.
[Tobirama Senju @ Hiruzen Sarutobi]: Damn monkey! If Naruto hadn't been so determined, you would've ruined Konoha's future!
[Hiruzen Sarutobi]: Sensei… you're right. I failed Naruto. But I swear, from now on—I'll do everything I can to make it up to him!
[Tobirama]: You'd better be sincere.
[Hiruzen]: I swear I am! Naruto is the one person I cannot let down.
[Narration]: In his heart, Hiruzen truly meant it.
After all, when everyone else blamed him, Naruto alone stood up and chose to believe in him. He could disappoint anyone else—but if he betrayed Naruto, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.
Naruto, for his part, was overjoyed.
And Sasuke... stood quietly, watching in envy.
He too had once longed to grow up with his family—to live as a family.
More than anyone... there was one person he wanted to grow up with.
That person he both loved and hated—
Uchiha Itachi.
Meanwhile – Akatsuki Hideout, Amegakure
Itachi's heart ached with longing.
He wanted to message Sasuke...
Tell him he always loved him.
That everything he had done—he did for him.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
It wasn't time.
Suddenly…
[Kaguya Ōtsutsuki @ Hagoromo]: My son… I also want to live with you. I've always loved you. Now be a good boy and release me, won't you?
[Hagoromo – Sage of Six Paths]: Mother... if you truly love me, please stay sealed in the moon's core. Don't come out again. Please?
[Kaguya]: Ungrateful child! Do you think I need your permission to escape? Just wait—I'll deal with you myself when I return!
[Hagoromo]: Mother, haven't you seen the future? Even if you escape, you'll just get sealed again. Give it up.
[Kaguya]: Hmph! Just wait!
The Scroll Glows Again
The golden scroll hovering in the air trembled—bursting into radiant light.
A beam of gold shot into the sky—then arced down into the Reaper Death Seal.
Inside the belly of the Shinigami, Minato Namikaze was bathed in gold.
When the light faded, he held a strange, spherical fruit in his hand.
Group Chat
[Kushina]: Honey, what is that thing? It's so ugly!
[Minato]: That's my reward from the rankings—the Tremor-Tremor Fruit (Gura Gura no Mi). Once I eat it, I'll gain its power.
[Kushina]: What?! That weird-looking thing is edible?
[Minato]: Of course! Want to try it instead?
[Kushina]: No way! You eat it! Just protect me, okay?
[Minato]: I will.
Minato nodded and swallowed the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
Within moments, he understood everything about its power and usage.
[Kushina]: So… how is it?
[Minato]: It's incredible! Truly an overwhelming force. If I had this power back then, we wouldn't have needed to die. We could've stopped the Nine Tails together. In the end... I just wasn't strong enough.
[Kushina]: No! You did everything you could. I just can't believe the one who hurt us... was Obito. I always liked that kid. Sigh…
As the group continued their banter and reflections...
The scroll trembled again.
A fresh golden glow lit up the sky.
Everyone immediately fell silent and looked up.
They knew what was coming—
A new ranking was about to be revealed.
Golden Ninja World Rankings – Five Kage Overall Power List
Rank #3: Second Hokage – Tobirama Senju
Titles: Grandmaster of Ninjutsu, Forbidden Jutsu Expert, Water Style Master, Elite Sensor-Type Shinobi. His understanding of jutsu is unparalleled.
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