[Looking at the outcome, the Nine-Tails' rampage brought devastating losses to Konoha: the youngest Hokage died, a fully matured Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was reduced to an infant, the seeds of the Uchiha clan's annihilation were sown, countless shinobis and civilians perished, and the retired Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was forced to return to power.]
[Some even say that Namikaze Minato never actually needed to die in the Nine-Tails incident, and that his choice to die was purely driven by a "love-brain" mentality, committing a double suicide with Uzumaki Kushina. So essentially, Minato's death was due to a lack of information.]
[Before the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Shinobi World's understanding of a Jinchuriki was always that extracting a Tailed Beast would invariably kill the host. It wasn't until Uzumaki Naruto that this understanding was shatteredāturns out, a Tailed Beast can be returned to its host's body, and the Jinchuriki won't die.]
[But Minato and Kushina didn't know that at the time. And the only one who mentioned this possibility was the Nine-Tails itself. But given the relationship between the Nine-Tails and Konoha back then, it would have been merciful if Kurama hadn't simply razed the village outright. Thus, Minato could only consider either choosing a new Jinchuriki or letting the Nine-Tails die together with Kushina.]
[Unfortunately, as Hokage, Minato also had to consider Konoha's strategic position. After the devastation caused by the Nine-Tails, if Konoha lost a strategic deterrent like the Nine-Tails altogether, the other four Hidden Villages would likely be knocking on their doorstep the very next day. Therefore, he could only consider selecting a new Jinchuriki.]
[In the middle of the night, Konoha had no way to find a suitable candidate. Consequently, the infant Narutoāwho had inherited the Uzumaki clan's immense Chakraābecame the only option by necessity. Of course, there was also Minato's belief in Jiraiya's prophecyāhe thought that by giving his son a "protagonist's name," he might become the Child of Prophecyā¦ though in hindsight, that part turned out to be correct.]
[So, Namikaze Minato's death actually had no direct relation to committing suicide for love.]
As the Sky Screen's narration continued, the scenes of the Nine-Tails' rampage played on.
The battlefield in Konoha remained in a stalemate.
Hiruzen had summoned the Monkey King Enma, who transformed into an indestructible staff. With tremendous force, Hiruzen forcibly drove the Nine-Tails outside the village.
However, repelling the beast was one thingāsuppressing it was another. Facing the strongest Tailed Beast in the Shinobi World, Konoha's forces were helpless. Their only option was sealing it.
Just then, a golden streak of light flashed across the edge of the battlefieldāMinato had finally returned.
He glanced at the Nine-Tails, which had been driven outside the village but was still roaring relentlessly. His hands moved in a blur, forming seals at incredible speed.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Gamabunta descended with a boom, temporarily suppressing the rampaging Nine-Tails with his massive body.
Seizing this opportunity, Minato used the Flying Raijin to relocate the battlefield to a more open terrain, and with him, he also brought Kushina and the infant Naruto in her arms.
By now, Minato's face was pale as paper. After successive intense battles, his Chakra was nearly exhausted.
Adamantine Sealing Chains!
Knowing her time was running out, Kushina used the last of her strength to perform the secret Jutsu of the Uzumaki clan. Golden chains extended from her body and bound the Nine-Tails tightly.
A baby's cry suddenly rang out, and Kushina weakly turned her head toward the awakened Naruto, her eyes filled with guilt and reluctance.
"I'm sorryā¦ I woke you up, Naruto."
Her gaze then shifted to Minato, her voice now so faint it was almost inaudible.
"I'm going to draw the Nine Tails to death with me. This isā¦ as far as I can help you. Thank youā¦ for everything you've done for me."
As if sensing his mother's departure, tears streamed down baby Naruto's cheeks.
Even the eternally calm and decisive Minato's eyes had reddened, tears falling silently.
"If I were allowed just one regretā¦" Kushina's voice grew softer and softer, "ā¦it's that I won't be able to see Naruto grow up."
---
[Konoha, Year 60. On the streets of Konoha Village]
The images on the Sky Screen plunged all of Konoha into deathly silence.
Thenāan explosion of noise erupted!
"Na-Naruto?"
A middle-aged villager pointed at the screen, his voice trembling: "Naruto? You mean thatā¦ Naruto?"
"Naruto is the Fourth Hokage's child?!"
"How is that possible!"
"He is clearly the Demon Fox!!"
Voices of doubt, exclamations of shock, and cries of disbelief rose one after another.
These were the very people who had looked at Naruto with hatred, who had called him the "Demon Fox" and told their children to stay away from him. Now they were all stunned.
The Demon Fox they spoke ofāturned out to be the Fourth Hokage's son. The son of a hero!
They could hardly believe it. Among the crowd, some lowered their heads, some turned and walked away, others opened their mouths but found themselves unable to speak.
Admit they were wrong? That was certainly impossible right now.
---
Meanwhile, at the training ground in Konoha.
The tears on Naruto's face had long since dried, but his eyes remained red, his chest heaving violently.
"What kind of selfish parents do that!"
"What right did they have to make decisions like that for their child! What right did they have to just leave me alone!"
Soon, a sob escaped him, and Naruto could no longer continue.
Just then, Sasuke walked over to him. "Naruto."
Naruto turned to look at him, his eyes filled with both anger and grievance, "Sasuke, tell me! What kind of parents are they! What right did they have!"
Sasuke's expression was complicated. Then he said: "Because they loved you."
"Your father and motherā¦ left this world in order to protect you."
"Unlike mine."
Naruto's anger deflated like a pricked balloon. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out.
He just stubbornly lifted his chin, refusing to let the tears fall.
Kakashi stood to the side, watching this. He let out a soft sigh, then walked over and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Narutoā¦ Minato-sensei wasn't being selfish. You heard it yourselfā¦"
"Back then, Konoha had just been attacked by the Nine-Tails. Countless people had died. If Konoha lost the Nine-Tails on top of that, the other four Villages would have invaded the very next day."
"As Hokage, he had to think about the whole village. And as a fatherā¦ he chose to believe in Jiraiya-sama's prophecy. He believed you could become the Child of Prophecy. That you could protect yourself and protect Konoha."
Naruto looked at him: "Soā¦ I'm not the demon fox?"
Kakashi shook his head, "No. You are the child of the Fourth Hokage of Konoha. You are the son of a hero."
Naruto lowered his head and fell silent for a long while.
Then he looked up, his eyes shimmering with a complex mix of emotions. "Thenā¦ I'm going to become a Hokage even greater than him!"
Kakashi was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Mm, I'm sure you will."
Behind them, Jiraiya was leaning against a tree, looking as though he had been struck by lightning.
"The Child of Prophecyā¦ so the Child of Prophecy was in Konoha all alongā¦"
All these years he had been wandering outside, searching everywhere for the Child of Prophecy, yet he had never imagined that the Child of Prophecy would be the child of his student.
All this time, aside from occasionally returning to the village to check in, he had never truly spent time with the boy.
"So Minato believed in meā¦ and that's why he named the boy Narutoā¦?"
Jiraiya's voice was hoarse, his eyes red. In a daze, the child before him seemed to overlap with the image of Minato from his memory.
*****
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