Seeing Naruto's puzzled expression, Namikaze Kirito smiled gently before speaking.
"The one inside your body was once an accomplice. Years ago, when Konoha was invaded by a masked man, he manipulated that being and used it to wreak havoc on the village.
"After that, the Hokage of that era—the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato—made a decision to protect Konoha. He transferred the creature inside you outside the village to prevent further destruction.
"A fierce battle followed. The masked man was driven back, and the Fourth Hokage, together with his wife Uzumaki Kushina, fought against... the one inside you.
"In the end, the Fourth Hokage sealed half of that being into your body, so that the village would retain its deterrent power.
"Although that fox is violent by nature, without its presence, Konoha would be far more vulnerable to invasion."
Kirito's gaze softened.
"The one who sealed the fox inside you is your father and my father as well. His name is Namikaze Minato.
"And the one who protected you until her strength was exhausted… is our mother—Uzumaki Kushina."
The surroundings fell silent as Namikaze Kirito spoke.
Although none of them had personally witnessed the battle between the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails, everyone knew how terrifying it must have been.
After all, that was the strongest of the tailed beasts.
The destruction it caused was immeasurable.
That night had been one of blood and sacrifice. Many powerful shinobi lost their lives. Under the announcement made by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the world was told that the Fourth Hokage and his wife had died in battle together.
Now, after Kirito's explanation, people began to look at Uzumaki Naruto more closely.
Wasn't he practically a mirror image of the Fourth Hokage?
Aside from the whisker-like marks on his cheeks, his features were almost identical to Minato's childhood appearance.
And Minato's wife had been an Uzumaki.
So the origin of the name Uzumaki Naruto…
At that realization, many of the civilians listening felt their hearts twist painfully.
Namikaze Minato had always held an extremely high reputation among ordinary people.
"What… what have we been doing all these years?! We discriminated against Naruto—he's the Fourth Hokage's child!"
"Lord Minato and Lady Kushina gave their lives to protect us… and we treated their son like this?!"
"It was those damned rumors! The ones who spread lies about Naruto being the demon fox!"
"Even at the very end, the Fourth Hokage was still thinking about the village, and we—"
"And the Third Hokage?! He knew the truth, yet he still allowed this to happen?!"
Confession, regret, and curses erupted all at once, echoing through the air.
Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke looked at Naruto with complicated expressions. Neither of them had ever imagined that their teammate was the son of the Fourth Hokage.
Several of the other rookie ninja quietly moved closer to Naruto as well.
As for Uzumaki Naruto himself, his emotions were in complete turmoil.
Today, he finally learned the truth about his life.
He wasn't an orphan.
He wasn't a demon fox.
He was the son of the Fourth Hokage.
He had a father… a mother… and even an older brother.
"Then why… why didn't you come to see me…"
Naruto muttered, his head lowered.
"These people forcibly separated us when you were only three," Kirito replied calmly, his eyes never leaving Sarutobi Hiruzen. "If it weren't for Jiraiya-sensei, I might not even be standing here today."
"Kirito… isn't there some kind of misunderstanding here?"
With his reputation rapidly crumbling, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke hurriedly.
With so many eyes watching, force was no longer an option. All he could do was try to smooth things over.
"Misunderstanding?"
Kirito suddenly covered his face and laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha—!"
The laughter rang out before abruptly stopping.
A powerful presence surged from his body, causing everyone watching to hold their breath.
"If there's a misunderstanding about someone else's child," Kirito said coldly, "why don't you explain it to their parents—personally?"
At that moment, two shinobi standing behind Orochimaru stepped forward.
Konoha's forces immediately tensed, unsure of what was about to happen.
But no clash followed.
Instead, the two removed their cloaks and veils, revealing their true appearances.
Every eye on the viewing platform locked onto them.
Especially the man with blond hair and a warm, familiar smile.
"F-F-Fourth… Fourth Hokage?!"
"I'm not seeing things, am I?! That's Lord Minato—and Lady Kushina?!"
"Lord Minato!!"
Even the younger shinobi who had never seen him in person recognized him instantly.
The Hokage Monument carved into the mountain made it impossible to mistake that face.
"Naruto!"
The moment her identity was revealed, Uzumaki Kushina could no longer hold back.
She rushed forward and pulled Naruto into her arms.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry!"
Naruto's mind went completely blank.
A woman with a familiar warmth clung to him, repeating her apologies through tears. Even in his confusion, he understood who she was.
"Y-You… are you my mom?"
"Yes! It's me! I'm your mother!"
Kushina nodded frantically, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I wasn't there for you… I let you suffer all these years."
Deep within Naruto's body, the Nine-Tails was equally shaken.
"Namikaze Minato… Uzumaki Kushina… they're alive?!"
Appearances could be deceiving, but chakra never lied.
And the Nine-Tails could clearly sense the presence of its other half within Minato.
"Lord Fourth Hokage," Uchiha Fugaku spoke up at the right moment, "the Uchiha clan has protected the civilians as ordered. What are our next instructions?"
"Fugaku," Minato replied gently, "thank you for your efforts."
He then stepped forward, stopping in front of Naruto.
"You've grown well, my son… our family is finally reunited."
Naruto could no longer hold back.
He wrapped his arms around his parents and cried openly, as if pouring out every grievance and loneliness he had endured over the years.
"This is impossible… it has to be fake—an imposter!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted in disbelief.
But Hyuga Hiashi calmly stepped forward.
"I have confirmed it with the Byakugan," he said. "That is indeed Lord Fourth Hokage. There is no disguise."
With Hiashi's confirmation, the Konoha shinobi erupted with excitement.
This was the Yellow Flash.
The hero who had always lived in their hearts.
So much had happened in a single day and now, they were standing face to face with their legend.
How could they not be emotional?
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