The classroom buzzed with quiet murmurs as Iruka continued his lecture. Some students paid close attention, diligently taking notes, while others stared off into space, lost in their own thoughts.
Suddenly, an eerie sensation swept through the air—a fleeting but powerful presence that made everyone's heart skip a beat.
It was gone in an instant, so quick that most of the students brushed it off as a figment of their imagination and returned to listening to Iruka.
Most, but not all.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. His body tensed.
That presence… it was Nine Tails!
His sharp gaze darted toward Naruto, who was still fast asleep on his desk, his face resting peacefully on Hinata's shoulder.
Naruto looked completely unaware of what had just happened. There was no visible trace of the red chakra cloak, no sudden outbursts of energy.
But Sasuke knew better.
Having fought alongside and against Naruto countless times in the past life, he recognized Nine Tails' chakra immediately. There was no mistaking it.
Why did Nine Tails' power suddenly fluctuate?
Sasuke clenched his fists, countless theories racing through his mind. Could it be that Naruto was gaining better control over the fox's power? Or had something gone wrong with the seal?
No… Sasuke shook his head. If something had gone wrong, there would have been an explosion of chakra—not just a fleeting moment.
He continued watching Naruto carefully, but everything seemed normal.
A minute later, Naruto stirred. He let out a small groan, rubbed his eyes, and stretched his arms lazily.
"Naruto-kun, you're awake," Hinata said softly, blushing slightly as she realized he had been sleeping on her shoulder the entire time.
Naruto gave her a big grin. "Thanks, Hinata! That was the best nap ever!" He jumped to his feet, stretching once more. "I feel so refreshed now!"
But something was different.
Sasuke could feel it.
Naruto wasn't just refreshed. There was a new energy radiating from him, something sharp and alive—like a wild beast that had just been unchained.
The seal was broken.
Nine Tails' chakra was no longer contained like before.
Naruto caught Sasuke's gaze and smirked, as if to say: You better not run after class, because I'm challenging you today.
Sasuke sighed. "You idiot…"
But in the back of his mind, he was still unsettled.
Was it really possible that Naruto had already formed a bond with Nine Tails this early? It seemed way too soon.
Just as he was about to speak, Iruka's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Alright, everyone, listen up." Iruka clapped his hands to regain the students' attention. "Your graduation exams are the day after tomorrow. There will be no more classes until then, so use this time to review your Ninjutsu at home."
"Yes, Iruka-sensei!"
The moment he dismissed them, the classroom erupted into chaos.
Students rushed toward the door, eager to leave. Cheers and laughter filled the air as they ran toward their families, leaving behind only a few stragglers.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata were among the last to leave.
At the front gate, they saw Hinata's father, Hyuga Hiashi, waiting for her. Not far away, Sakura's parents stood waving her over.
"See you guys later!" Sakura said cheerfully, before running off. Hinata gave Naruto a small, shy nod before following her father home.
Sasuke glanced around. Parents were greeting their children, their faces full of warmth and love.
He sighed.
Not everyone has that privilege.
His eyes darkened slightly as a bitter thought crossed his mind.
"Danzō…" he muttered under his breath. "You'd better enjoy your remaining days."
The seeds of revenge had already been planted deep in his heart.
"Come on, Sasuke!" Naruto nudged him. "Let's go to the training ground. I wanna test my new power against you!"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "New power?"
Naruto puffed out his chest. "Yeah! You'll see soon enough!"
Sasuke hesitated. Was Naruto actually planning to use Nine Tails' chakra? If so, things could get dangerous fast.
But before he could respond, a calm yet powerful voice called out from behind them.
"Naruto."
Naruto blinked. "Huh?"
The familiarity of the voice sent a jolt through his body. He turned around—
And his breath caught in his throat.
Standing before him, looking as real as the day he died, was Namikaze Minato.
Naruto's heart pounded. His hands trembled. His mouth opened and closed, struggling to find the right words.
"D-Dad…?"
Minato's eyes widened in surprise.
He turned to Obito and Kakashi, who stood beside him. "Wait… Naruto knows who I am?"
Obito scratched his head, looking just as confused. "That doesn't make sense. The Naruto in this timeline shouldn't have any idea."
Kakashi, as usual, said nothing. His visible eye just blinked in silent astonishment.
Obito then made an educated guess. "Maybe Shinomiya Uzumaki told him?"
Minato nodded. "That would explain it."
But before they could dwell on it further, a figure suddenly stepped forward.
With wild red hair and a warm, motherly presence, she approached Naruto with a curious expression.
"Hmm…" she murmured, inspecting him closely.
Blond hair. Blue eyes.
Her own child.
Her lips curved into a smile.
"You look just like your father."
Naruto gulped. "Huh? Big sis, who are you?"
Before he could react, the woman pulled him into a tight hug.
Naruto's face turned bright red.
"What's going on?! Who are you?!"
Kushina grinned. "I'm your mom, silly!"
Naruto's brain short-circuited.
His mother? Alive?
Meanwhile, Sasuke was also having his own mental breakdown.
He stared at Minato, then at Obito.
And he immediately recognized something that made his blood run cold.
Obito's Sharingan… It's the same as the one that destroyed my clan.
He froze.
Was it possible? Could this man be—?
Obito suddenly turned and grinned at him.
Sasuke felt an intense chill crawl up his spine.
How does he know me?!
---
Inside the Sealed Space
Kurama was having a crisis of his own.
Its massive eyes bulged as it stared through the seal.
"Fourth Hokage… Uzumaki Kushina…?!"
It couldn't believe it.
Minato and Kushina… both alive?!
What the hell is going on?!
Kurama's mind raced, trying to process the situation.
But that wasn't the worst part.
As it focused on Kushina, it realized something even more terrifying.
There's another Nine Tails inside her!
The complete Nine Tails.
Not just the half that resided within Naruto.
Kurama's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"What… in the world…"
Nothing made sense anymore.
How did they survive? How is this possible?
Everything it knew about the past—about the night it attacked Konoha—was completely shattered.
And that was when it truly dawned on Kurama.
This wasn't the same timeline anymore.
Something had changed.
And for the first time in a long time, Kurama felt fear.
---
Back Outside
Naruto, still trapped in Kushina's bear hug, flailed his arms. "H-Hey, I can't breathe!"
She giggled. "Oops, sorry!" She finally let go, ruffling his hair affectionately.
Naruto rubbed the back of his head, looking at her and Minato in complete disbelief.
"I don't get it… You guys died, right?"
Minato smiled. "It's a long story, Naruto."
Naruto crossed his arms. "Then you'd better start talking!"
Minato chuckled. "I will."
And with that, the pieces of this new reality slowly began to fall into place.
To be continued…
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