In a quiet corner of the Konoha Village playground, on a neatly manicured lawn, Himawari was happily kicking a colorful shuttlecock into the air.
Not far away, Hinata stood watching her daughter, her lavender eyes filled with warmth and tenderness.
Outside the playground fence, a disguised Kushina pointed toward Hinata and Himawari and softly asked Minato beside her, "Minato… are those my daughter-in-law and granddaughter?"
Minato nodded slightly. "Yes."
Kushina's eyes brightened. "Naruto married such a beautiful girl. Are those the Byakugan? Is she from the Hyuga Clan?"
Minato smiled. "She's Hiashi's daughter."
"What? Then she's the Hyuga Clan's princess?" Kushina said in surprise, a mix of pride and joy in her tone. "Our Naruto really has some skills."
Minato chuckled. "Yes. He's now the Hokage."
"That's right, my Naruto is already the Hokage…" Kushina murmured.
She picked up a flyer nearby — it was an Ichiraku Ramen advertisement featuring the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, smiling as he held a bowl of ramen.
Kushina's eyes reddened slightly. Memories of the small, fragile baby she once held flashed before her eyes.
Her son had grown up — become the Hokage of Konoha, married the Hyuga Clan's princess, and had a family of his own.
"Minato… I really want to hold Naruto again. To tell him I'm sorry. That I regret not being there as he grew up… not being there at his wedding… not being there for anything…" Kushina's voice trembled, tears falling down her cheeks.
Minato gently placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Kushina, you will. One day, you'll have that chance."
He smiled softly. "But for now, since we're only in our Edo Tensei forms, it's best not to approach them. Just seeing them from afar is already enough."
He, too, carried the same longing — to meet his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren face-to-face once more.
Just then, two men walked past them on the street.
"Have you seen 'Minato's Story'?" one asked.
"Yeah," his friend replied. "Man, the Fourth Hokage was so young when he died… And the Seventh lost both parents right after being born. It's heartbreaking."
"I know, I wanted to watch it again, but I just couldn't bring myself to," the first said.
"Don't even get me started on Danzo," the other spat. "That bastard deserved to die! How could Konoha have someone like him?"
"Yeah! He didn't help the Fourth Hokage and even stopped others from helping. Same thing when Pain attacked the village. Total scum."
"Ugh, Danzo did so many awful things. You know where he's buried? I'd dig that grave up myself."
Kushina blinked. "Minato's Story? You… made a movie?"
Minato looked confused. "A movie?"
They followed the crowd and soon stood before a large movie theater.
"There is a movie! And we're the main characters!" Kushina gasped, staring at the poster.
The poster showed a blond young man holding a red-haired girl in a princess carry under the moonlight — Minato and Kushina's most romantic memory.
"Let's go, Minato! I want to see this!" she said, grabbing his hand with a smile.
Inside the theater, they quietly took seats in the last row. The place was packed.
"So many people… are they all here to see 'Minato's Story'?" Kushina whispered, her eyes full of wonder.
As the lights dimmed, the movie began — starting from the Ninja Academy days when Minato and Kushina first met.
"Is that the Fourth Hokage? He was so handsome even as a kid," someone in the crowd whispered.
Kushina giggled softly. "Little Minato is so cute."
"Really? I think you were cuter, Kushina," Minato said warmly. "Especially with that red hair of yours."
The film reached its climax — Kushina's kidnapping. Then came the iconic rescue: Minato flying through the air with Kushina in his arms under the moonlight.
"Wow! That's so cool!" a man shouted. "The Fourth Hokage really was a hero!"
The theater erupted in cheers.
Kushina watched the screen, her heart swelling with warmth. She turned to Minato, who was already looking at her, eyes full of love.
"Minato… you were so brave back then," she said softly.
He smiled and squeezed her hand. "It was something I had to do."
The movie moved through their lives — their love, the birth of Naruto, and finally, their tragic sacrifice.
When Danzo's actions appeared on-screen, the audience erupted in outrage again.
"That old bastard! He didn't even support the Hokage!" someone hissed. "Rot in hell, Danzo!"
As their death scene played, Kushina's eyes filled with tears. She gripped Minato's hand tightly, reliving that painful night.
"Don't be afraid, Kushina. I'm always here," Minato whispered.
The entire theater was silent — many viewers quietly crying as the film ended.
[Host: Boruto Uzumaki]
[Role Played: Minato Namikaze (Fourth Hokage)]
[Progression: 100%]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host Boruto Uzumaki, on completing the role-play. Reward: All abilities of Minato Namikaze (Fourth Hokage)!]
A surge of chakra flooded Boruto's body — Sage Mode mastery, Flying Thunder God Technique, advanced Ninjutsu, and Minato's battle instincts all awakened within him.
"Sage Mode mastered, Flying Thunder God learned… Heh, this is how you use the role-play system," Boruto muttered with excitement.
[Host: Boruto Uzumaki]
[Next Role: Uchiha Obito (Masked Man)]
[Progression: 0 / 5,000,000]
"Playing Obito next? What a coincidence. Guess fate's handing me exactly what I need."
Boruto smirked beneath his mask. "My shadow clone's already playing Tiger Mask Obito in Minato's Story. I won't even need to film anything — I just have to wait."
Three days later…
In a still body of water in the Land of Rain, Boruto — now wearing a fox mask — stood calmly beside Nagato.
"This is where I once controlled the Six Paths of Pain and fought Jiraiya-sensei," Nagato said quietly. "He sank to the bottom right here."
Boruto's eyes glowed beneath the mask, the Tenseigan awakening.
"So, this is the place?" he said with determination. "Then let's bring Jiraiya back."
...
Author's Note:
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