Minato didn't speak, but at that moment, he wanted to shut those two old advisers up even more than Kakashi did.
He didn't need anyone to tell him to guess that Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki being exposed too early absolutely had something to do with those two advisers and Danzō Shimura stirring things up behind the scenes. There was no way he'd believe otherwise.
The Third Hokage gave an amiable laugh to brush them off. "You don't need to be familiar with every member of my ANBU, do you? Alright, I know about the Hokage Rock. I'll arrange for it to be handled immediately."
Since the mission scroll required the graffiti to remain for a full day, the simplest method was to use genjutsu—or, under the excuse of repairs and reinforcement, temporarily cover the four faces.
Koharu Utatane tapped her cane against the floor, scolding the Third Hokage for being too soft. "At a time like this, we should use it as a reason to deal with that Nine-Tails—"
"Ahem!" The Third Hokage coughed sharply, fixing a stern gaze on the two. "The S-rank prohibition I issued back then didn't grant either of you any exemptions. So don't mention the Nine-Tails again."
"But this is different! The Allied Nations' Chūnin Exams are right around the corner! The people from Sunagakure and Kusagakure have already arrived! Do you want Konoha to be a laughingstock?! And look at what he's done! He actually… he actually drew… on Tobirama-sensei and Lord First's faces..." Poop.
Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "Alright, I'll talk to him. Besides, Tobirama-sensei and the First Hokage loved children. They wouldn't be truly angry over a bit of mischief. As for myself… and Minato…"
After being Hokage for so many years, the Third's acting was practically at a veteran's level.
At the mention of Minato Namikaze, the two advisers naturally connected the dots—Naruto's real parentage, and the sacrifice his father had made in sealing the Nine-Tails for Konoha.
Sighing, the advisers left, reminding the Hokage to have Hokage Rock dealt with as soon as possible.
By the time Minato Namikaze and Kakashi walked out of the Hokage's office, a massive black cloth already covered the entire Hokage Rock.
The official explanation: structural repairs…
...
The next night—
Everyone who remembered the A-rank mission reward had already dressed and packed their ninja tools, preparing for a journey into a parallel world.
Meanwhile, the mission scroll's holder, Naruto Uzumaki, had completely forgotten.
So when the time shift activated, he brought no ninja tools, wore simple pajamas, a ridiculous nightcap… and in his arms, he held something none of them wanted to acknowledge.
"This thing… don't tell me it's..."
"Kakashi / Stupid Kakashi / Kakashi-sensei?!"
Staring at the rough, beanbag-like toy Naruto was hugging, Adult Kakashi was speechless.
"I'm saying, Naruto—"
He hadn't even finished his slow-paced sentence before Young Kakashi stormed over, scolding Naruto furiously in embarrassment.
Still half-asleep, Naruto sat on the ground rubbing his eyes, looking around in confusion.
"Where even is this, dattebayo? Wasn't I sleeping at home?"
Kakashi sighed when he saw how Naruto was dressed. "Just treat this as an emergency mission. Wake up already, Naruto!"
"Looks like the A-rank mission bonus traveled through time with us," Minato said.
He glanced at the Hokage Rock under the night sky. His memory of it stopped at the Third Hokage's face, but now his own portrait had been added to the lineup.
"I wonder what year it is in Konoha now."
The streets of Konoha were filled with residents lingering around yakiniku shops and izakaya after a long day's work.
"This layout matches Konoha before the Nine-Tails' Rampage," Adult Kakashi said. "Because the Nine-Tails caused massive destruction, the entire village was rebuilt afterward."
Still, under the full moon, a growing sense of unease clung to him that he just couldn't shake…
Watching the barefoot blond boy standing on a tree branch, Minato said to the now slightly clearer-headed Naruto, "My home is nearby. I'll go get you a set of the clothes I wore as a kid and a ninja tool pouch."
Kakashi said, "What if this era's Minato-sensei and Kushina-san happen to be home? How are we supposed to explain this?"
Minato chuckled. "Let's hope I'm working overtime at the Hokage's office?"
Because if the Minato of this world walked into his own apartment and found someone identical to him standing beside his girlfriend… he definitely wouldn't let it slide quietly.
Fortunately, when Minato arrived, not only was this world's Minato gone, but Kushina wasn't home either.
He grabbed a set of clothes, shoes, and the ninja tool pouch he had used when he was young.
Walking out the door, Minato looked up at the full moon hanging in the night sky. Something in his chest whispered that something big was coming.
He hurried back to regroup with Kakashi's team—and his own.
After handing the clothes to Naruto, he told Kakashi, Naruto's jōnin instructor, that neither his counterpart nor Kushina were home.
"I don't know why, but I feel uneasy. I don't think the mission scroll would put us in a time where nothing happens. I need to go see the Third Hokage!!"
On his way home earlier, Minato had noticed many small changes inside the house.
Soft corner guards added to the table.
A small bed placed beside the one he shared with Kushina.
And while looking for clothes… newborn outfits.
Adult Kakashi, too, realized what was wrong not long after Minato left.
After the Nine-Tails incident, Minato-sensei's home had been destroyed. With both of them gone afterward, Konoha never rebuilt it.
Meanwhile, Naruto pointed at a poster outside a village shop. "Today's October tenth, dattebayo."
"!!"
October tenth—The Fox!