Chunin: "The Nine-Tails has been sealed. Everyone, evacuate the safe zone!"
Chunin: "Evacuate!"
Yagami: "Mom, I'm so relieved you weren't part of the medic team on this mission."
Isami could understand—losing her mother at a young age had been incredibly tough for her.
Isami: "Now, go look for your father."
Yagami: "Yes."
In a flash, Yagami disappeared, his movements a blur as he activated the Body Flicker Technique. Shisui joined him moments later, his Sharingan glinting in the dim light of the damaged village.
Shisui: "We'll cover more ground if we split up. Check the southern perimeter. I'll take the north."
Yagami: "Got it."
He raced across the rooftops, scanning the wreckage and calling out for his father. The village was eerily quiet except for the faint sounds of weeping and distant shouts of rescue teams.
Yagami (muttering): "He has to be here. He has to..."
The silence pressed against his chest like a vice as the hours dragged on. His breathing became shallow as dread crept into his thoughts. What if... no, I can't think like that.
Finally, near the outskirts of the village, Yagami stumbled upon the grim task force identifying the fallen. The sight of the Uzumaki clan's distinctive red hair among the lifeless bodies made him freeze.
His knees buckled as the truth struck him like a kunai.
Yagami (whispering): "No... no, it can't be..."
A nearby medic-nin approached him cautiously, sympathy etched across his face.
Medic-nin: "Kaito Uzumaki, fought bravely. He gave his life to protect Kushina-sama and the Hokage's son. He was a hero."
The words felt distant, muffled under the crushing weight of grief. Tears streamed down Yagami's face as he clenched his fists.
Yagami : "He... he died saving them?"
Medic-nin (nodding): "Alongside the Fourth Hokage. Their sacrifice ensured the Nine-Tails was sealed. Without them..."
Yagami couldn't hear the rest. His world had shattered, leaving him with a storm of grief and anger.
The air stirred softly as Shisui landed beside him. His usual composure faltered as his eyes shifted to Kaito's still form.
Shisui (quietly): "Yagami..."
Yagami turned to him, his tear-streaked face a mix of sorrow and disbelief.
Yagami: "My father... he's gone."
Shisui knelt beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. For a moment, words escaped him. Kaito wasn't just Yagami's father—he had been like a father to Shisui, too.
Shisui (softly): "I... I know. Kaito-ojisan..." He swallowed hard, his voice heavy with emotion. "He meant everything to us."
Yagami's fists trembled as he stared at his father's lifeless body. When Isami received the news, she broke into uncontrollable tears.
At the funeral, Kushina, holding Naruto she cried for her cousin and beloved husband.
Kushina approached Isami. "I'm so sorry, Isami. I never..."
Isami, her eyes red and dry from days of crying, replied in a hollow voice, "There's nothing you could've done, Kushina. It was his fate. My son told him not to go, but he went anyway. It's fate."
Kushina glanced at Yagami and Isami, then gently placed her hand on Yagami's head, rubbing it softly.
Yagami: "We are sorry for the loss of Lord Minato, too."
Kushina was taken aback; she never expected such words from a four-year-old boy.
@ Hokage Council room,
The council room was dimly lit, its atmosphere heavy with grief and tension. At the head of the table sat the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, his expression unreadable as he gazed at the others gathered. To his right stood Nara Shikaku, the ever-calculating Jonin commander, his arms crossed as he listened intently. The four elders—Homura, Koharu, Danzo, and Jiraiya—were seated in a semi-circle around the room.
Kushina Uzumaki stood near the center, her face pale but resolute as she held her infant son, Naruto, close to her chest. Her red hair framed her face like a battle flag, a silent testament to her strength even in mourning.
Hiruzen: "Kushina, please recount what happened during the attack. We need every detail."
Kushina took a deep breath, steadying herself. Her voice wavered but never faltered.
Kushina: "The Nine-Tails was released by a man in a mask—a man with a Sharingan. He attacked during Naruto's birth, forcing the seal to weaken. He used... Wood Style. Something no Uchiha should be able to do."
Gasps rippled through the room, but Danzo leaned forward, his voice cold and measured.
Danzo: "Wood Style and Sharingan... That combination only confirms one thing. He must have transplanted both the Sharingan and the First Hokage's cells. It explains his abilities."
Koharu: "If such a person exists, we're dealing with a rogue shinobi of unprecedented power."
Shikaku's brow furrowed, his sharp mind already piecing together the implications.
Shikaku: "A Sharingan user with access to Wood Style would have abilities that border on invincibility. To control the Nine-Tails, even briefly, would require incredible skill and power."
Kushina nodded, her voice steadier now.
Kushina: "Minato and I fought him together. But it was Kaito who made the real difference." Her voice cracked slightly at his name, but she continued. "He arrived just in time, his chakra chains binding the Nine-Tails and giving Minato the chance to act. Kaito's seal drained his chakra so Minato could target the masked man with a Rasengan. That attack forced the man to retreat."
Jiraiya, seated on the far side of the room, had been silent until now. His voice, unusually somber, broke through.
Jiraiya: "Kaito's sacrifice ensured we could contain the Nine-Tails. Without him, Kushina wouldn't have survived, and they wouldn't have been able to split the beast's chakra."
The room fell silent as the weight of those words hung in the air. Hiruzen finally spoke, his voice low and grave.
Hiruzen: "And the sealing?"
Kushina looked down at Naruto, a bittersweet smile on her face.
Kushina: "Minato sealed half of the Nine-Tails' chakra inside Naruto. The other half... he entrusted to me. It was the only way to keep the village safe."
Danzo's eyes narrowed, his tone calculated.
Danzo: "The boy is now a jinchūriki. He'll be a target for enemies both inside and outside the village. Are we prepared for the consequences of this decision?"
Kushina's head snapped up, her eyes blazing.
Kushina (fiercely): "Naruto is not just a jinchūriki. He's my son—and Minato's. He will grow up strong, just like his father."
Jiraiya smirked faintly, a glimmer of his usual self returning.
Jiraiya: "With parents like these, I doubt anyone will stand in his way for long."
Shikaku interjected, his tone calm but thoughtful.
Shikaku: "The masked man is the real concern. If he survived, he'll strike again. We need to strengthen our defenses and uncover his identity before he does."
Homura, ever pragmatic, nodded.
Homura: "Agreed. And we must ensure Naruto's safety at all costs. The Nine-Tails cannot fall into enemy hands."
Hiruzen rose to his feet, his presence commanding the attention of the room.
Hiruzen: "Let it be known that Kaito Uzumaki's sacrifice will not be forgotten. His actions saved this village. As for the masked man, we will find him—and we will stop him. For now, our priority is protecting Naruto and rebuilding what we've lost."
Kushina clutched Naruto tightly, her resolve unshaken despite the grief weighing on her. The room, though filled with tension and uncertainty, shared one collective understanding: the battle was far from over.