"Kiyosuke, I'm sorry to trouble you in the future. I'll leave Naruto in your care."
Minato held his wife close as he spoke to Kiyosuke.
"I swear on my life, I will."
Kiyosuke solemnly took the baby and gently placed him in Kushina's arms.
"Thank…"
Before she could finish, the Shinigami behind them swung his blade, severing Minato's soul and consuming it—sealing it along with the other half of the Nine-Tails.
Feeling the life vanish from her husband behind her, Kushina grieved as she held Naruto tightly. She gently kissed his tiny, soft face and whispered:
"I'm entrusting this child to you, Kiyosuke… I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Leave it to me."
"Minato! Kushina!"
With the Nine-Tails now sealed, the barrier collapsed. Hiruzen Sarutobi and his men rushed in.
Kushina, barely hanging on, said:
"Third… Naruto… Minato entrusted him to Kiyosuke. I'm sorry for the trouble."
"I understand. Just hang in there—Kushina…"
Hiruzen fell silent as Kushina, cradling her baby, quietly passed away.
Kiyosuke picked Naruto up.
"Third, the Fourth is gone. We need you to take charge."
"I understand."
Hiruzen gave Kiyosuke a long, solemn look, then ordered others to recover Minato and Kushina's bodies. But Kiyosuke said:
"Hiruzen-sama, I want Minato-san and Kushina-san to be given a proper burial—or cremated if needed—but I don't want to see them end up in Konoha's intelligence division."
Even the First Hokage's cells had been used for research. Let alone Minato and Kushina. Even if Hiruzen didn't act, Danzō definitely would.
"Minato and Kushina are heroes of the village. You don't have to worry about that."
"So was the First Hokage."
Hiruzen's body stiffened. He had no response. In the end, Kiyosuke sealed Minato and Kushina's bodies into a scroll.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm giving them to Jiraiya-sama. He'll bury them properly."
"You don't trust me?"
"I don't trust Danzō."
Cradling Naruto, Kiyosuke turned and left. Hiruzen stared at his back, let out a sigh, and said to those nearby:
"Let's go. There's much to deal with tonight."
...
Kiyosuke returned to Konoha with Naruto and sought out Fugaku Uchiha.
"Where is Lady Mikoto?"
"Kiyosuke-san, is there something you need from me?"
Uchiha Mikoto, wearing the uniform of the Uchiha Police Force, approached. With everything so chaotic tonight, she had come out to help.
Seeing the child in his arms, she hesitated.
"This child is…?"
"He's Minato-san and Kushina-san's son—Naruto. They're both gone. I want to ask you to take care of him for a while. I really can't manage a baby right now, and I have a lot to deal with."
He had thought it through. Right now, the only one in the village who could care for Naruto was Mikoto, who had just given birth to Sasuke.
Let the reincarnations of Indra and Asura grow up together, bond from an early age.
"Kushina…"
Hearing of her friend's death, Mikoto sorrowfully took Naruto into her arms.
"I'll look after him. Naruto, huh… poor child. What about the village?"
"I'll handle that."
Kiyosuke turned to Fugaku.
"Captain Fugaku, things aren't going to be easy for the Uchiha in the days ahead. Be ready. I'll do what I can to help."
Fugaku paused, then asked:
"Are you going to take up the role of the Fifth Hokage?"
With the Fourth dead, this was a major blow to Konoha. But a nation cannot be leaderless. Konoha needed a Hokage. With Kiyosuke's military accomplishments—and the fact that he had saved the village—his ascension seemed inevitable.
Kiyosuke shook his head.
"No. Becoming Hokage isn't something I want. Just keep the Uchiha stable. I'll support you."
If he became Hokage, he would lose his freedom. He wasn't interested in that.
Being Hokage meant taking on a heavy responsibility—a burden he didn't want.
Right now, keeping the Uchiha calm was the most important thing. He had other matters to attend to.
"I understand."
Fugaku didn't understand why Kiyosuke refused the Hokage title, but he nodded. The Uchiha had always struggled in Konoha, walking a dangerous line. All they could do now was place their hopes on Kiyosuke.
Minato had once given them hope. Things had improved slightly. But after the Nine-Tails' rampage and Minato's death, things were only getting worse.
Especially with that order tonight forbidding the Uchiha from approaching the Nine-Tails.
It was a clear act of exclusion.
Now, perhaps only Kiyosuke could turn things around.
"Please look after Naruto for the next few days. Minato-san entrusted him to me, but I really can't take care of a newborn right now. I'm counting on you."
Honestly, taking care of a newborn was harder than going to war.
Mikoto had two children, knew what she was doing, and Sasuke wasn't even weaned yet. It was perfect timing.
"It's no trouble at all," Mikoto said softly.
Fugaku looked down at Naruto, deep in thought, then sighed.
"We'll take good care of him."
Kiyosuke nodded and left, going to find Kakashi.
...
"Minato-san died sealing the Nine-Tails."
Kakashi's pupils shrank. He grabbed Kiyosuke by the collar.
"You were there! Why did Minato-san have to die?!"
You're the strongest among us!
"I'm sorry. I didn't have the power to seal the Nine-Tails."
He continued:
"Minato-san's child is with Lady Mikoto now. I hope you'll protect him. We've got a lot to deal with in the coming days."
"…I understand."
Kakashi let go.
"Sorry… for snapping at you."
"It's fine. Let's go. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
With a sigh, the two of them departed.
...
The next day, the damaged parts of Konoha had already been cleared by the ninja, and reconstruction began.
At the Konoha Cemetery, a memorial service was held for Minato, Kushina, and all who perished in the Nine-Tails' attack.
That afternoon, clan leaders from all the major shinobi clans gathered to discuss the village's future.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzō Shimura sat at the head of the room.
Homura spoke first:
"Though we drove back the Nine-Tails, the cost was far too great."
Koharu added:
"We don't have time to mourn. We need to quickly find a suitable successor to fill the Hokage position."
Fugaku glanced at Kiyosuke, who sat with his eyes closed, saying nothing.
Nara Shikaku, head of the Nara Clan, said:
"In that case, Kiyosuke-sama is the best choice. He was once a contender for the Fourth Hokage title."
At his words, all eyes turned toward Kiyosuke.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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