"Kiyosuke, I'm sorry to trouble you in the future. I'm entrusting Naruto to you," Minato said, holding his wife, and looking at Kiyosuke.
"I will. I swear on my life," Kiyosuke said solemnly as he gently picked up the child and placed him in Kushina's arms.
"Than..."
Before she could finish, the Reaper behind Minato swung its scythe, took Minato's soul, and swallowed it, sealing it together with the other half of the Nine - Tails inside its body.
Feeling that her husband behind her had lost his life, Kushina held Naruto sorrowfully, gently kissed his small, soft face, and said, "I'm entrusting this child to you, Kiyosuke! I'm sorry!"
"It's okay. Leave it to me."
"Minato! Kushina!"
As the Nine - Tails was sealed, the barrier disappeared. Hiruzen Sarutobi rushed in with others. Kushina held on with her last breath and said, "Third Hokage, Naruto. Minato entrusted this child to Kiyosuke. I'm sorry to cause you trouble."
"I understand. Don't talk for now... Kushina."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent. Kushina, holding the child, left this world.
Kiyosuke picked up Naruto and said, "Third Hokage, the Fourth Hokage has passed away. You need to take charge of the overall situation."
"I know."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Kiyosuke a deep look and had people collect Minato and Kushina's bodies. At this time, Kiyosuke said, "Third Hokage, I hope Minato - sensei and the others can be buried properly. Cremation is also fine, but... I don't want to see their bodies in the intelligence department of Konoha."
If the cells of the First Hokage could be studied, not to mention Minato and Kushina's. Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't do it, Danzo surely would.
"Minato and Kushina are heroes of the village. You can rest assured about that."
"The First Hokage was also a hero."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stiffened and didn't answer. As a result, Kiyosuke collected Minato and Kushina's bodies and put them into a scroll.
"What are you doing?"
"I'll give them to Jiraiya - sensei and let him handle the burial properly."
"You don't trust me?"
"I don't trust Danzo." Kiyosuke left with Naruto in his arms. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kiyosuke's back, sighed, and said to the people around him, "Let's go. There are many things to deal with tonight."
Kiyosuke returned to Konoha with Naruto and found Fugaku Uchiha. He asked, "Where is Lady Mikoto?"
"Mr. Kiyosuke, what do you want from me?" Mikoto Uchiha, wearing the uniform of the Uchiha Security Force, appeared. It was a chaotic night, and she came out to help.
Seeing the child, she hesitated for a moment and asked, "Whose child is this..."
"He's the child of Minato - sensei and Sister Kushina, Naruto. They sacrificed themselves. I want to ask you to take care of him for a while. I really can't handle taking care of such a young child, and I have a lot of things to do later," Kiyosuke said.
After thinking it over, among the people in the village, Mikoto, who had just given birth to Sasuke, was the most suitable person to take care of Naruto.
Let the reincarnations of Indra and Asura grow up together and cultivate their relationship from childhood.
"Kushina..." Hearing the news of her friend's death, Mikoto sadly took Naruto and said, "I'll take care of him. Naruto? Poor child. What about the village..."
"I'll handle it. Captain Fugaku, the Uchiha clan will have a tough time in the following days. Be prepared. I'll help," Kiyosuke said.
Fugaku Uchiha was silent for a moment and then asked, "Are you going to succeed the Fifth Hokage?"
The death of the Fourth Hokage was a very significant event for Konoha. However, a country can't be without a leader for a day, and Konoha can't be without a Hokage. With Kiyosuke's battle achievements and the fact that he saved Konoha, becoming the Hokage seemed almost certain.
Kiyosuke shook his head. "No, becoming the Hokage is not what I want. Just keep the Uchiha clan in order, and I'll help you."
Becoming the Hokage would restrict his freedom, and he didn't want that.
The position of Hokage came with a great deal of responsibility, and he wasn't ready to shoulder it yet.
It would be best if the Uchiha clan didn't cause trouble now, as he had plenty to do.
"I understand."
Although he didn't understand why Kiyosuke didn't want to become the Hokage, Fugaku Uchiha nodded. The Uchiha clan was in a difficult position in Konoha, walking on thin ice. Now they could only pin their hopes on Kiyosuke. Originally, Minato had given them hope, and the Uchiha clan's situation had improved a bit. But who knew the Nine - Tails would go on a rampage and Minato would die in battle, making the Uchiha clan's situation even more difficult.
Especially the order tonight that the Uchiha clan was not allowed to approach the Nine - Tails.
It was obvious that the Uchiha clan was being excluded.
Now, perhaps only Kiyosuke could change this situation.
"I'll trouble you with Naruto these few days. Minato - sensei entrusted him to me, but I really don't have the ability to take care of him right now. Please," Kiyosuke said.
To be honest, taking care of a newborn child was really beyond his ability. It was even more difficult than going to the battlefield.
And Mikoto, having given birth to two children, was experienced. Moreover, Sasuke had just been born and was still breastfeeding, which was just right.
"It's nothing," Mikoto said softly.
Fugaku Uchiha looked at Naruto, lost in thought. Finally, he sighed and said, "We'll take good care of him."
Kiyosuke nodded and left. He found Kakashi and said, "Minato - sensei sacrificed himself to seal the Nine - Tails."
Kakashi's pupils constricted, and he grabbed Kiyosuke's collar, shouting, "You were there, weren't you? Why did Minato - sensei die?!"
You were the strongest among us!
"I'm sorry. I didn't have the ability to seal the Nine - Tails," Kiyosuke said. "I've left Minato - sensei's child with the wife of the Uchiha clan leader. I hope you can protect him. There will be a lot of things to deal with next."
"I understand." Kakashi let go of his hand. "Sorry for losing my temper at you."
"It's okay. Let's go. There will be many things happening tomorrow."
With a sigh, the two left.
The next day, the places in Konoha that were damaged had been cleared away by the ninjas, and Konoha began its reconstruction plan.
In the Konoha Cemetery, a memorial service was held for Minato, Kushina, and those who died in the Nine - Tails chaos.
In the afternoon, the clan leaders of the major ninja clans in the village gathered to discuss future matters.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo Shimura sat in the front seats. Homura Mitokado slowly said, "Although we repelled the Nine - Tails, the price we paid was too high."
Koharu Utatane said, "We don't have time to be immersed in grief. We need to find a suitable successor as soon as possible to fill the vacancy of the Hokage."
Fugaku Uchiha glanced at Kiyosuke, who was closing his eyes and resting, and remained silent.
The current head of the Nara clan, Shikaku Nara, said, "In that case, Lord Kiyosuke is the most suitable. After all, he once had the qualification to compete for the Fourth Hokage."
For a moment, many eyes were focused on Kiyosuke.