After reviving Namikaze Minato through Edo Tensei, even with half of the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, Senju Haruto didn't linger long at the ruins of the Uzumaki clan.
Though there were still seven days before his next sign-in, he had more than enough pressing matters to deal with.
Helping Naruto was only one of them. He also had to resolve the problems concerning Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke… and beyond that—bring about the unification of the shinobi world.
Naturally, Minato had no complaints. The moment he laid eyes on Haruto, he could sense the unfathomable depth of his chakra.
Among all the shinobi Minato had ever encountered, not a single one could compare. Not Killer Bee, the so-called perfect Jinchūriki. Not even Uchiha Madara.
The difference between them and Haruto was like heaven and earth.
And considering Haruto had broken through the Shinigami's seal just to bring him back, Minato was certain there was no malicious intent. Besides, everything Haruto was doing was clearly for Naruto's sake.
What Minato didn't expect, however, was that just as he was about to use the Body Flicker to rush back to the village, Haruto suddenly appeared behind him.
A strong, steady hand pressed down on his shoulder, stopping his movement entirely.
Minato's eyes widened in disbelief.
Speed was always his strongest pride. Back during the Third Shinobi World War, his legend as the "Yellow Flash" had spread across every battlefield. His swiftness was such that daimyo and kage alike had decreed: if a mission team encountered him, they were to retreat immediately rather than throw their lives away.
That alone was proof of Minato's unmatched ability and speed.
Yet now… someone had simply appeared behind him and stopped him mid-flicker.
He hadn't hesitated for even a moment—his Body Flicker had triggered the instant the thought crossed his mind. And still, Haruto had pinned him effortlessly.
Not only pinned him—Minato hadn't even sensed his chakra or presence beforehand.
That was the truly terrifying part.
If this had been the battlefield, and if Haruto had been an enemy instead of another Hokage, Minato would already be dead—killed by a strike too fast to even perceive.
A terrifying man indeed.
"There's no need to rush there on foot, Fourth Hokage," Haruto said calmly, withdrawing his hand to signal him to stand down.
Then Haruto performed a technique Minato couldn't even begin to comprehend.
A magic portal.
This time, he linked the portal directly to Konoha's hospital.
During the last great battle, both Haruto and Jiraiya had arrived late. By the time they returned to the village, Uchiha Madara had already clashed with Konoha's shinobi and crushed them with overwhelming might.
Sasuke, having awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan for the first time and burned through far too much chakra, had been sent to the hospital to recover.
Naruto, though Haruto had extended his life with some of the Nine-Tails' chakra, was still in a dire state and had been placed under observation.
Itachi, too, was in the hospital—though Sasuke, still unable to forgive his brother, had chosen to isolate himself in a separate ward.
"For now, the priority is to take care of Naruto," Haruto thought, setting his order of tasks as he stepped through the portal straight into Naruto's room. Orochimaru followed quickly behind.
Naruto and Sakura, however, immediately went on edge.
Neither could understand why Orochimaru, of all people, had suddenly appeared here.
Just as Naruto was about to demand an explanation, a third figure stepped through the portal—and froze him where he stood.
Naruto's eyes widened, his face overtaken by shock and disbelief.
"Dad…?"
Not even in his dreams had he imagined he'd get the chance to see his father again.
Beside him, Sakura blinked in confusion. "Dad? Whose dad—?"
"It's been a long time, Naruto," Minato said with a gentle smile, his gaze sweeping over his son as his heart silently thanked Haruto and Orochimaru for making this reunion possible.
"This… what's going on?" Sakura's eyes darted back and forth between Naruto and Minato.
From what she was seeing, not only did they know each other—they were father and son.
And yet… Sakura wasn't ignorant. She had studied hard since childhood, and she instantly recognized the man's face.
It was the same face carved into the Hokage Rock.
The Fourth Hokage.
But the Fourth Hokage had died long ago!
So how could he possibly be standing here, alive?
And more importantly—
"The Fourth Hokage… is your father?" Sakura's voice trembled.
She never would have guessed that Naruto's father was none other than the hero who saved the village during the Nine-Tails' attack—the man who had given his life that night.
Naruto… was the son of a hero.
Sakura's jaw dropped, her mind blank, not even knowing what expression to wear.
Minato, however, simply offered her a warm smile and a polite greeting.
Naruto, overcome with joy and emotion, couldn't hold back his tears.
"Let's leave the explanations for later," Haruto finally spoke, breaking the silence. "For now, the priority is to resolve the issue of the Nine-Tails."
As long as Orochimaru avoided meddling with Edo Tensei, and as long as Minato didn't willingly pass on to the Pure Land, he could remain here as long as they needed.
There would be plenty of time for father and son to catch up.
Better to deal with the urgent matters first.
With a flick of his fingers, Haruto instantly shifted everyone present into the Mirror Dimension.
"Let's begin," Haruto said firmly.
"Here?" Minato instinctively frowned, glancing around at the hospital room. Releasing the Nine-Tails here, even in an empty ward, would cause immense destruction. It would be safer to move somewhere deserted first.
"No need to worry," Haruto replied calmly. "This isn't the real world. It's a reflection—a world mirroring reality, but without anyone else inside."
To make them understand, Haruto raised his hands, pressed his fingers together, then spread them apart.
The ceiling, the floor, the walls, even the furniture of the hospital ward all split apart with surgical precision, sliding away like paper being cut.
In moments, the entire hospital peeled back and vanished.
By the time Minato and the others realized what was happening, they were standing on open ground.
And all around them—Konoha stood utterly empty.
Like a ghost town.
"What… what happened? Where did everyone go?" Sakura swallowed hard, her throat dry.
Minato and Orochimaru could only stare, shaken to their cores once again by Haruto's unfathomable power.
Because by their understanding, this shouldn't even be possible.
This was beyond ninjutsu. Beyond comprehension.
"This is… the power of a god," Orochimaru whispered in awe.