"Naruto, are you really planning to do this?"
Inside the seal space, the Fourth Hokage looked at Naruto with concern.
"Why don't you think it over again?"
"Give it a rest, Eternal Companion."
Before Naruto could reply, Kurama cut in impatiently.
"You've known this brat long enough. Do you really think he's the type to listen to advice?"
Naruto didn't say anything, but his silence seemed to confirm what Kurama said.
The Fourth couldn't help but speak again:
"Once you're discovered, it could be considered defection..."
"Hehehe, Eternal Companion," Kurama interrupted again, baring his white fangs in a very human-like grin as he mocked the Fourth,
"With Naruto's strength now, do you really think he cares about being labeled a missing-nin?"
"Or are you implying that anyone in Konoha right now could stop him?"
Faced with Kurama's sharp words, the Fourth fell silent.
After all this time together, he knew exactly how powerful Naruto had become.
Even more frightening—Naruto's strength was growing daily, visibly improving every few days. As Kurama said, there was likely no one in Konoha who could match Naruto now—or perhaps even in the entire shinobi world.
The Third? No chance.
Danzo? Not even close.
The village's elder advisors? Not worth mentioning.
And this wasn't even accounting for Kurama's power inside him.
If Naruto truly wanted to destroy the village, likely no one would survive.
His destructive potential far surpassed that of a rampaging Nine-Tails.
"Don't say it like that, Kurama." Naruto spoke up, fastening a tight-fitting black outfit as he placed a spiral-patterned mask over his face—one identical to Tobi's. His golden hair was hidden beneath a deep hood.
"I still care about being marked a missing-nin—at least, for now."
"If getting caught is the issue... then I just won't get caught."
"Say, Fourth... you'll help me, right?"
"...Mm."
The Fourth was momentarily stunned but nodded after a brief pause.
He couldn't say no to Naruto.
---
Naruto was planning to leave the village.
And no—he wasn't going to file a formal request with the Hokage.
Instead, he would rely on the Flying Thunder God technique.
Truthfully, this had been in the works for a long time. He just hadn't acted on it until now.
Letting a jinchūriki out of the village isn't something done casually. It's not as simple as flashing a smile or begging the Hokage.
Even if Naruto charmed the seemingly "kind" Danzo, there's no way either the Third or Danzo would approve.
The bureaucracy was intense.
Where, when, and why a jinchūriki left the village had to be scrutinized.
Why?
Because from a Kage's perspective, if your strategic weapon vanishes and goes wandering across the countryside—you freak out.
It could even be treated as defection.
Imagine if another nation's jinchūriki wandered into your territory. Wouldn't you see it as provocation?
Nukes don't walk into other people's houses for tea.
That's why jinchūriki control was always top priority.
Of course, not all villages were successful.
Sometimes a jinchūriki died outside, or a tailed beast escaped.
If that happened, well... tough luck.
If Naruto were just going to Uzushio like usual, it'd be fine.
But this time, his destination wasn't Uzushio—it was Kusagakure (the Hidden Grass Village).
So as Naruto said: As long as he wasn't caught, it didn't count.
Just like cheating on a test—if you're not caught, it didn't happen.
---
"True Shadow Clone!"
With a cross-hand seal, a puff of smoke appeared, and a second Naruto appeared beside him.
> "Kurama."
Naruto called out internally.
Inside the seal space, Kurama nodded.
Immediately, the clone was enveloped in a red, fiery chakra cloak. Three tails extended behind it—but soon the cloak faded away entirely.
But it didn't actually disappear. That chakra had been sealed into the clone.
This clone held three tails worth of chakra—easily over 200 units. It wouldn't vanish for a long while, definitely not before Naruto returned. As long as it didn't suffer a fatal injury, even the Byakugan wouldn't see through it.
"Fourth, I'll leave this to you."
Naruto spoke to the clone.
Yes—this clone's consciousness was Minato Namikaze himself.
This wasn't like before, where the Fourth acted like a puppet. This time, Minato's soul directly possessed the clone.
Naruto might've had no talent for elemental jutsu, but in Transformation Jutsu and Shadow Clone techniques, his talent was absurd—just below his taijutsu and his ki control.
He even developed the "Sexy Jutsu" and "Reverse Harem Jutsu," which could deceive even elite sensory ninja.
Even Tobi had once been fooled by it—proof of how broken it was.
But Naruto had gone further.
This True Shadow Clone was a hybrid of chakra and ki, mixed at a specific ratio. It could withstand more damage than regular clones, and it wouldn't vanish until its chakra was spent—no matter how far it traveled from the original.
Better yet—it could create its own regular Shadow Clones.
With enough chakra (and Naruto had a lot), this ability was nearly unlimited.
Most importantly:
True Shadow Clones could house other consciousnesses.
Kurama.
The Fourth Hokage.
So when Naruto asked for help, what he really meant was:
"Help me cover for my absence."
> "Send me out."
The Fourth nodded.
A golden flash—Flying Thunder God activated.
In an instant, the real masked Naruto and the True Clone vanished from the scene.
When the golden light faded, only the clone—now Minato—remained.
---
Standing by the window, Minato opened his eyes.
He could feel the lingering malice in the air—the hateful glances that occasionally landed on him.
After a long pause, his gaze settled on the distant Hokage Rock.
His eyes locked onto one face in particular.
He stared for a long time.
In those clear blue eyes, once so gentle and bright, a hint of menace briefly flickered.
It vanished quickly, as if it had never existed.
So many years had passed—yet Konoha was still the same Konoha.
And yet, viewed from this new perspective... it all felt unfamiliar.
Like meeting the village for the first time.
The softness in Minato's gaze faded, replaced by sharp focus.
Like a long-dormant blade... finally being drawn from its sheath.
> Some things... must be protected in my own way.
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