After learning that the Uchiha Clan still had potential allies and that Itachi was trustworthy, Hiruzen Sarutobi left Naruto's mindscape in high spirits.
Danzo? Please. I could wipe him out with a flick of my fingers.
Insignificant. Not even worth mentioning.
After he was gone, Minato turned to Kushina, puzzled. "Kushina, you were pushing him so hard back there. What if the Third snapped and lashed out? You know we're just chakra remnants—we wouldn't be able to stop him."
"If he did turn hostile, Naruto's life in Konoha could become a nightmare."
"Relax. I've got it handled," Kushina said, ruffling Naruto's hair with a bright smile. "Didn't I tell you earlier?"
"I already passed down the Uzumaki sealing techniques—and the jutsu you taught me—to Mikoto and Itachi."
"Even if I went to war with the Third, Mikoto and Itachi would look after Naruto for me."
"To be honest, I was just testing Hiruzen—to see if he still had a conscience. To see if there was any shred of humanity left in him."
"If he agreed to those harsh demands, it meant he was still human. And if a fight breaks out in the future, I wouldn't mind sparing his miserable life."
"But if he had tried to haggle, refused, or decided to kill us chakra remnants to remove the threat…"
"Then tonight wouldn't just be Danzo's end—it'd be Hiruzen's death anniversary too."
"I'm Kushina Uzumaki. I mean what I say."
"…Too bad he agreed to everything. I didn't expect that." She sighed.
Minato: "…"
No way… my Kushina can't be this clever.
"Did Itachi teach you all that?" Minato asked, suspicious.
"Huh? How did you know?" Kushina's eyes widened.
Minato: "…"
Of course I knew. We've been together forever. I know how you think. You know my strengths, I know your limits. I've seen your IQ. You think I can't tell?
Jokes aside, Minato quickly shifted to more pressing matters. He looked at her seriously. "Since Itachi can contact you, you need to tell him to get ready quickly."
"You know me—I've got Flying Thunder God. I'm lightning fast."
"And even in this reanimated state, there's no one in Konoha who can stop me."
"I'm not bragging. I can clearly feel it—my current strength is about ninety percent of my peak."
"Which means, on my own, I could take out the Sarutobi Clan, the Uchiha Clan, even all of Konoha."
"…Seriously?" Kushina was stunned. Is my man really that strong?
"That's just a conservative estimate," Minato said with a wry smile. "If my reanimated body really can output ninety percent of my original power, that includes full Nine-Tails Mode and Sage Mode."
"Wait, what? Nine-Tails Mode? Sage Mode? How does that work? Didn't you die right after sealing the Nine-Tails? When did you even learn that stuff? And weren't you the one who said you only knew a little Sage Mode?" Kushina stared at him, confused.
"That was me being humble," Minato chuckled. "I said I knew 'a little'—but I meant a lot. A billion little."
"I just didn't use it much because gathering nature chakra took too long, and I couldn't maintain the mode for long."
"Besides… none of my enemies ever deserved it."
"Usually, Flying Thunder God plus Rasengan was enough to wrap things up."
Kushina: "…"
Men really do lie through their teeth.
You said you didn't know Sage Mode?!
"And what's this about Nine-Tails Mode? You sealed it—you died! How are you and Kurama buddy-buddy now?" she shot back, clearly unhappy.
"Kushina, don't you remember?" Minato said with a raised brow. "After using the Reaper Death Seal, my soul was trapped in the Shinigami's stomach with the target."
"Since I had nothing else to do in there, I spent my days training, thinking about you and Naruto… and beating the crap out of Kurama."
"Eventually, he got used to it. We started talking. That's how I learned his name—Kurama."
"And later… I picked up Nine-Tails Mode."
Kushina: "…"
"Kushina? Why are you quiet?"
"…I need some space."
"Space? Is that some girl named Shizune?"
"GET OUT."
—
The door opened. Hiruzen walked out, followed by Yamato and Naruto.
"Yamato, to avoid tipping them off, take Naruto back to class. Stick by his side for the rest of the day," Hiruzen instructed.
"Yes, sir." Yamato bowed and accepted the mission.
"Kakashi, return to HQ immediately. Assemble ANBU at the Hokage Tower. Prepare to surround Root—on my orders."
Standing outside, Kakashi froze for a moment—then his eyes lit up. The Hokage's finally making his move against Danzo!
Happiness came so suddenly, Kakashi almost couldn't contain it.
But he recovered quickly.
"Yes, sir!" he dropped to one knee, barely suppressing his joy. With a puff of smoke, he vanished—teleporting straight toward the ANBU base.
Finally… I can avenge my father. And my teacher.
Danzo… today is the day you die!
—
"Itachi, come with me." Once the others had dispersed, Hiruzen walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Yes, sir." Uchiha Itachi followed silently.
"Kushina was close friends with your mother Mikoto, wasn't she? And your father and Minato were good friends too?" Hiruzen asked casually, as if making small talk.
"Mm. My mother spoke highly of Lady Kushina. I assume they were very close," Itachi said neutrally. "As for Lord Fourth, my father always told me to look up to him."
"He hoped I'd grow up to be as great a ninja as him."
"To be like Minato, huh? You mean become Hokage?" Hiruzen turned to face Itachi, eyes sharp. "Minato and Kushina were your teachers, weren't they?"
"That—" A flicker of panic flashed in Itachi's eyes.
"No need to be nervous. They already told me everything," Hiruzen said calmly.
"They… told you everything?" Itachi hesitated, feigning confusion. "You mean, before the Nine-Tails attack?"
"No," Hiruzen replied. "I mean just now."
"…Just now?" Itachi froze.
Hiruzen, unaware of the deception, continued, "When Minato used the Reaper Death Seal, he sealed part of his and Kushina's chakra into Naruto. Their goal was for Naruto to one day master the Nine-Tails through their guidance."
"Last night, someone attacked Naruto, trying to release the beast and destroy Konoha."
"Fortunately, Minato and Kushina intervened at the last moment."
"They saved the village."
"That's also how Naruto learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu."
"I see… so that's why Naruto already knew Shadow Clone. It was Lord Fourth's doing." Itachi nodded in realization.
"Yes. And not just that—I've also learned the truth about the Nine-Tails attack," Hiruzen said gravely.
"Who was it?" Itachi asked, masking his expression.
"Shimura Danzo."
"What? Lord Danzo?" Itachi's face contorted in shock. "So the rumors were true? His right eye is a Sharingan—and his right arm was created from Hashirama cells?!"
"It's true," Hiruzen confirmed, sighing. "Not only that—he and Orochimaru just used Edo Tensei to revive Minato, intending to release the Nine-Tails from his body and attack the village."
"Konoha stands on the brink of collapse."
"Now, Itachi—tell me: are you with me and Konoha? Or will you stand aside and watch?"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin