Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 214: Side Story Uchiha Sasuke 4
---The Legend Return---
The return of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina caused a major stir among the Five Great Nations. The thing was so important and shocking that all five Kage made time to visit Konoha in person.
Their diplomatic relations had improved to such a degree that even this sudden power imbalance led to a calm, constructive discussion. They held a roundtable meeting to understand how the two legends had returned to life.
Although Naruto was still the current Hokage, he temporarily passed on the title to his father, Namikaze Minato. After all, with Uzumaki Boruto having gone missing for four years, Naruto felt he hadn't spent enough time with his family. Giving his father the position gave him a chance to spend more time with his family.
Minato, true to his nickname as the Yellow Flash, was incredibly efficient—even in paperwork. His desk remained spotless, free from the towering stacks of documents that often plagued Naruto during his time in office. Minato handled his duties quickly and precisely. Meanwhile, Naruto remained the symbolic Hokage—a figurehead while his father took charge of administration.
When the Kage summit took place, Naruto briefed the other Kage about the threat of the Ten Tails and explained how Setsuna possessed the ability to pull living individuals from the Astral Dimension if they had not fully died.
Setsuna himself did not attend the meeting. He left the diplomatic duties to Naruto and instead used the time to investigate the current state of the Hyuga Clan.
Unlike in the original timeline, this version of Hiashi Hyuga had chosen to bend the old rules. The branch members were no longer oppressed. They were granted freedom though they still had a seal, and the elders no longer had the authority to punish or torture them using the birdcage seal.
Few years ago he was so frustrated with the elders, Hiashi personally sealed their foreheads with the birdcage mark. Even their descendants were forced to inherit the cursed seal.
Only those without a seal on their foreheads could activate the birdcage seal. If someone who also had the seal attempted to activate it, they would suffer the same pain themselves.
The elders had retained the knowledge of how to activate the seal thus activating the pain on the seal but they no longer have the power to do so. Because once they activated it on the branch members, the seal on their forehead would to activated, the caster feel the same pain than the receiver, but the effect would be longer.
Following this, the Hyuga elders stopped their tyrannical behavior because they are forced to stop, what is the point torturing themselves just to see the other person groaned on the floor in pain. With all this change Hiashi, now more powerful and resolute, he changed the Hyuga Clan from inside and outside.
As a patriarch and the only person except Hanabi who could seal the cursed mark on someone's forehead, they can do so with just a glance—making escape impossible.
When Setsuna met with Hiashi and Hanabi, he offered them a better solution: a new seal. This seal would still protect the Byakugan eyes from being stolen but would not reduce the user's power or cause any pain.
Hiashi and Hanabi both agreed. After learning of the elders' past misdeeds when he planted the seal on their forehead. Hiashi decided that only branch members would be given the new seal. The elders would not benefit from it, let them have hideous mark on their forehead.
Satisfied with the outcome, Setsuna left them in good spirits. The Hyuga Clan in this timeline was far healthier and more united than in the previous one.
The new seal didn't have the ugly mark on their forehead, the mark location can be changed to the hair position.
---Dangerous Person---
Tsunade, having heard about Namikaze Minato return, decided to return to Konoha. Even Orochimaru expressed interest in attending the upcoming meeting.
When Setsuna received the report that the Five Kage wanted to meet him in the next meeting, he began to plan ahead.
That night, he made a decision. He brought Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama into the Astral Space. While searching, he also found Jiraiya, but then paused. If Jiraiya returned, he might want to marry Tsunade.
So, silently during the night, Setsuna brought Tsunade into the Astral Space first. He altered her body to appear young again, not just her appearance, but also her internal biology. She was now like a woman in her twenties. Tsunade was completely shocked and confused by the sudden change. Her body no longer ached with the pain of old age but because she had used transformation jutsu for a long time, she didn't notice it.
She wasn't the only one. Mei Terumi also received the same special treatment from Setsuna. The girl wanted to marry for a long time but because of his duty as a Kage she need to let her wish to get married, go away.
This Astral Space wasn't just a holding area. It could heal illnesses, restore youth, and even allow for the sharing of kekkei genkai. One thing for sure, even with astral space, the people would still die, there is not a single human being can cheat death, everyone will eventually pass away.
When Jiraiya was finally brought in, he too had his body restored to his twenties.
Meanwhile, for Hashirama, his body was modified and Setsuna included Uchiha Madara cell, he was now capable of awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan and even the Rinegan.
As for Madara, he had lost his Rinegan after the Fourth Great Ninja War when the Nine Tails was extracted from him. He had also lost access to the Wood Style kekkei genkai.
Many would consider keeping Madara alive dangerous—but Setsuna didn't care. He was confident in his own strength, even against a Rinegan-wielding Madara.
The next morning, the highly anticipated meeting began. All Five Kage attended, as did several important figures including Sasuke, Tsunade, Orochimaru and the two elderly council members: Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
Setsuna, upon seeing those two, felt a wave of annoyance. He wondered why Konoha still allowed them to hold power, despite the fact that they had played a role in the village decline.
But this wasn't his timeline. If Sasuke didn't seem to care, neither would he.
Fifteen minutes into the meeting...
"Can you bring back a few people?" the new Tsuchikage asked.
"I can," replied Setsuna, "but give me a reason. Later or several years later, they may pass away . Why should I bring them back?"
"Who do you want to return? A friend? A relative? A former leader?" he pressed further.
The Tsuchikage fell silent. Before he could answer, Setsuna continued.
"I don't bring people back simply because they're important to someone. Most of the deceased have already perished completely in the Astral Dimension. Only a few remain alive in that state. I will only bring back those who can help us against the Ten Tails."
His words silenced the room.
"That's why I've chosen to bring these three back," said Setsuna.
Once again, the room lit up with a radiant glow. A new figure appeared.
It was Jiraiya.
Tsunade, Naruto, and Minato gasped in disbelief.
When Jiraiya opened his eyes and looked around the room, he was equally stunned.
"...Is this the afterlife?" Jiraiya asked, utterly confused.
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