Chapter 12 - Minato's Gratitude

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"Uchiha Madara, still alive!"

Itachi's blood-red eyes gazed upon Minato, their expression filled with immense solemnity.

Itachi, to his death, never understood the true purpose of the masked man from Akatsuki.

But there was no doubt that he was one of the culprits behind the Uchiha clan's genocide.

To prevent a recurrence of tragedy, Itachi chose to expose these future events to Minato, even at the risk of revealing his own secrets.

But for his parents, his clan, and even for the future safety of the entire village and the Land of Fire, he had no choice.

"You've actually already opened the Sharingan!?"

Minato's face was filled with shock.

He witnessed yet another astonishing feat from Itachi.

Uchiha Shisui, who had recently joined the ANBU, had opened his Sharingan at the age of eight, which was astonishing enough.

And Itachi was only five years old; such a thing had never happened in Uchiha history.

Even Minato, a commoner by birth and hailed as a perfect ninjutsu genius, found it difficult to describe Itachi's talent.

But the point wasn't there, so Minato continued, "You mean you've seen Madara? How is that possible?"

As far as Minato knew, Itachi had never left Konoha since he was born.

If Uchiha Madara was indeed still alive and had infiltrated Konoha, why would he appear before Itachi?

"Could it be that all the information Itachi knows came from Madara?"

Minato pondered.

Even more puzzling was the question: if Madara truly had planned to attack Konoha during Kushina's labor, unleash the Nine-Tails, and attack Konoha, this plan would never be leaked, and he wouldn't have let Itachi, who knew all this, see him.

Even Minato was bewildered.

He stared at Itachi, waiting for his answer.

Itachi had already made preparations, telling Minato about these future events.

Without a reasonable explanation, it would only fuel his suspicions.

After meeting Minato today, he had come to understand the Fourth Hokage's character and had even more insight into his wisdom.

Faced with such a figure, any excuses would be superfluous.

He took a deep breath and said, "Hokage-sama, I will explain the source of my information."

"It's just that this explanation may be difficult for you to accept at first."

"Hehe."

Suddenly, Minato chuckled.

"I've heard and seen so many incredible things from you tonight. Tell me."

Itachi nodded, no longer hiding anything.

"The reason I know Madara will manipulate the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha is because I myself am from the future."

"I personally experienced the night the Nine-Tails attacked Konoha, and attended the funerals of you and Kushina-sama, who gave their lives to stop the Nine-Tails from destroying the village."

After hearing Itachi's explanation, Minato's face was shocked again, and his pupils shrank sharply.

"From the future?" he said in astonishment.

Although the world of ninja itself is full of magical abilities and special jutsu, the idea of traveling through time is still horrifying.

"I don't know if everything I've said before can prove the truth of the reasons I gave you."

"But there's one thing that might prove what I'm saying."

Itachi frowned.

If what he said wasn't his own experience, he wouldn't have believed it.

"Have you decided on a name for your unborn child?" Itachi asked.

Minato replied, "It was decided a while ago."

"Naruto, I think," Itachi said immediately.

Hearing this, Minato's heart trembled again, because he had only decided on the name Naruto with Kushina and Jiraiya a few days ago.

He raised his eyes to Itachi.

The latter's expression was serious, and Minato could not see any signs of lying.

Add to that the extraordinary acuity and thinking that Itachi had previously demonstrated, and the things he had explained.

"How did you manage to transcend time?" Minato asked, calming himself.

Itachi shook his head and said, "Even now, I still don't understand the principle. The only thing I know is that it has something to do with the dōjutsu of my eyes."

"Dōjutsu?"

Minato was stunned.

He was well aware of the Uchiha Sharingan's abilities.

Before its transformation, even a three-magatama Sharingan could only grant its possessor powerful insight and abilities like hypnotic eyes.

Only after the three-magatama Sharingan evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan could it possess the so-called dōjutsu.

"Could it be?"

Minato stared at Itachi.

"Before returning, I did activate the Mangekyō Sharingan," Itachi continued.

Although Minato knew about the so-called Mangekyō Sharingan and some information about it, he had never seen it in person.

The Uchiha clan and their eye techniques were indeed powerful and mysterious.

Based on his trust in Itachi, Minato had slowly come to terms with these things that might sound absurd to outsiders.

He frowned slightly and fell into thought.

This time, it was Itachi's turn to be slightly surprised, because Minato's reaction was completely different from what he had expected.

After thinking for a while, Minato looked at Itachi again and asked, "Have you told your parents about these things?"

"No," Itachi replied, shaking his head.

"Why did you choose to trust an outsider like me and not tell them about these things?" Minato asked back.

"I..."

Itachi seemed very hesitant at this time, with a look of confusion on his face.

Seeing Itachi's reaction, despite his previous quick-wittedness, Minato smiled faintly and said, "You don't have to answer this question. Don't feel embarrassed about it."

"I thank you anyway."

At this moment, Minato, the Hokage, actually bowed deeply to Itachi.

"Hokage-sama, you...!"

Itachi waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "I can't bear it."

"No," Minato shook his head.

"The information you've shared with me will not only save the village in the future, but also save Kushina, me, and Naruto's family."

"You took such a huge risk to share this secret with me. As Hokage, husband, and father, I must thank you."

He could see that Itachi was a man of great rationality and quick thinking.

He couldn't have been unaware of the risks involved in revealing this information to someone so high up in the village.

Minato smiled gently and said, "Thank you for telling me all this, and even more so, thank you for your trust in me."

His reaction made Itachi's eyes widen in surprise.

"Aren't you going to ask me more?"

Itachi had never met anyone like Minato before.

He'd expected that, given his situation and position, after learning his secret, he should have continued to inquire about future intelligence.

But then, to Itachi's surprise, Minato shrugged again and chuckled.

"It seems there's no need for that for now."

...

"I believe you will tell me when the time is right, if necessary."

"If it's too difficult to tell, why should I continue to ask?"

Minato smiled faintly, sensing Itachi's confusion.

In reality, there were more reasons than just those he had stated.

After some reflection, he had formed a vague theory.

If the future really was as Itachi had predicted, with Madara controlling the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha and himself and Kushina dying, the village, having just recovered from the Third Shinobi World War and suffering such a devastating blow, would have a foreseeable outcome.

The series of events that would ensue were likely the reason Itachi was reluctant to speak.

He knew the conditions for opening the Mangekyō Sharingan, so Itachi must have suffered a major setback as a result of these subsequent events.

This might have been the reason for his reluctance to confess to Mikoto and Fugaku.

(A/N: This is one of the book that put emphasis on positive aspects of all the characters.)

Minato simply wanted to protect the village and his loved ones.

Since Itachi had revealed the future, he needed to prepare in advance to prevent Madara's plot from succeeding.

The future beyond that would be changed by this, so dwelling on these things now was pointless.

Itachi likely confessed all this with this conviction in mind.

"Thank you for your understanding!"

Itachi bowed to Minato.

After today's meeting, he couldn't help but admire the man before him.

If the Fourth Hokage hadn't died during the Nine-Tails incident, perhaps everything would have been different.

Minato looked at Itachi, whose expression gradually eased, yet he could see an unusual heaviness in his eyes.

"Is it related to the future?"

Minato murmured inwardly.

While he couldn't foresee the future, it wasn't hard to imagine that with Itachi's talent and intelligence, and with the activation of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi's future power would undoubtedly be formidable.

Given Itachi's cautious nature, if Madara hadn't launched his plot so close, Itachi would likely have kept all this to himself, shouldering the burden alone.

And then, Minato suddenly remembered something else.

"Yesterday, Fugaku came to me and asked about your decision not to attend the Ninja Academy. Wasn't that your decision?"

Minato asked.

Today's conversation had left him with a deep admiration for Itachi.

But he also sensed something was wrong with Itachi.

Minato's wife was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, so he was much more perceptive than most.

During the Third Shinobi World War, during the battle against the Kumogakure, Minato had counseled the current Fourth Raikage about the problems of his younger brother, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer Bee.

While Itachi wasn't a Jinchūriki, considering his likely past, his thoughts were likely more complex than those of Kushina and Killer Bee.

"Yes," Itachi replied, slightly surprised by Minato's sudden mention of this.

With the answer, Minato didn't need to ask for a reason.

With Itachi's intellect, it wouldn't be difficult for him to come up with a reason that would convince Fugaku to agree.

Minato paused for a moment, then glanced at Itachi, his gaze flickering.

"Carrying all this alone must be hard, right?"

Itachi gazed into Minato's eyes, his heart trembling slightly.

These words touched upon the deepest depths of Itachi's heart.

As human beings, they possess emotions.

Itachi had once, in the darkness, carried everything on his shoulders until his death.

No one had ever asked Itachi such a question.

Deep down, he longed to be understood.

He gradually lowered his eyes, his voice heavy, "Like you, I too want to protect what I cherish. To achieve my goals, there must be a price to pay. It's unavoidable."

But Itachi's heart had long been incredibly resilient, and so he could once again shoulder everything.

"Yes," Minato replied noncommittally, then changed the subject: "But even though we're ninjas, there are things we can't do alone, right?"

Itachi nodded, unable to deny it.

He had once tried to shoulder everything, but the result hadn't been ideal.

"I absolutely believe in your personal abilities, but sometimes, everyone needs to share the pressure."

"No one can bear it all alone."

Minato extended his hand and patted Itachi on the shoulder.

"Just like I, as the Hokage, there are many things I can't do."

Minato smiled and said, "It is because of the trust and support of my companions that I can get to where I am today."

In the Third Shinobi World War, Minato was indeed the greatest hero, but without the people of Konoha, how could he, on his own, resist the coalition forces of the other four nations?

"Companion."

Itachi's expression shifted slightly, for from the beginning, it seemed Shisui was the only person he could truly call a companion.

Minato, sensing this, wanted to help Itachi relieve his stress.

"Just as you chose to share your secret with me, whether it was voluntarily or involuntarily, I can at least, for a while, do what you can't do yourself," he continued, smiling at Itachi.

"Similarly, if the village ever faces a crisis like this again, or even worse, I'll need your help and everyone else's."

"With your intelligence, you'll definitely understand what I'm trying to say, right?"

Itachi understood Minato's words. Mikoto had already said something similar.

It's just that Mikoto didn't know as much as Minato did now.

So, while she was concerned about Itachi's situation, she couldn't find a good way to convince him.

Minato's words plunged Itachi into deep thought.

But as time passed, Minato could see that the heavy expression on that childish face, illuminated by the moonlight, gradually faded.

But a person's personality and way of dealing with things are formed over many years, and no one can completely change them with just a few words.

Itachi slowly raised his eyes, looked at Minato, and said, "Hokage-sama, thank you for your reminder. I will think about this matter carefully when I return."

Minato nodded and smiled, "In that case, how about you go back to the Ninja School to study again?"

Itachi frowned and said, "That's not necessary."

"Don't be so quick to refuse me."

Minato smiled, "I know that the courses in the Ninja School are almost meaningless to you. You may think that going back to study is just a waste of time."

"But the only thing you lack can be perfected there!"

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(So, what does Itachi lack? 🤔)

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By the way, don't forget to throw power stones and leave a review to motivate me :)