Inside the seal space, scarlet chakra surged like a tide.
The Nine-Tails lay lazily in its cage, its nine tails swaying casually, occasionally creating ripples of chakra.
Opposite it, Uchiha Madara stood with his arms crossed, coldly watching the golden figure that had suddenly appeared in the depths of the seal.
“Heh, how ironic.”
Madara’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
“Even my bastard father didn’t stuff me into a Tailed Beast cage. You, on the other hand, have your own son as a Jinchūriki?”
Minato was silent for a moment, a flicker of pain in his eyes.
“At that time… the situation was special,” he explained in a low voice.
“A masked man suddenly attacked Konoha and released the Nine-Tails.”
“I fought him, but I couldn’t get any useful information. For the future of the village, I could only…”
“Only sacrifice your own son?” Madara interrupted with a cold laugh.
“What a great Hokage.”
Minato didn’t retort, just lowered his head deeply.
“…I’m sorry.”
The Nine-Tails flicked its tail to the side and snorted.
“Enough, how long are you two going to argue? What’s the point of talking about this now?”
Madara glanced at it.
“What, you’re quite protective of him?”
The Nine-Tails bared its fangs.
“Stop talking nonsense! I just find you noisy!”
Minato looked at the Nine-Tails and suddenly smiled gently.
“Nine-Tails, thank you for taking care of Naruto all these years…”
The Nine-Tails was stunned, then bristled.
“Who, who took care of him! That kid is annoying all day long, I just couldn’t be bothered with him!”
Madara’s lips twitched imperceptibly at the Nine-Tails’ reaction.
This fox…
says it doesn’t care, but every time Naruto is in danger, it’s the one protecting him.
After the atmosphere in the seal space eased slightly.
Minato looked around, somewhat confused.
“During the time I was asleep… you two have been taking care of Naruto?”
Madara snorted coldly.
“Otherwise? Let this brat fend for himself?”
Minato was stunned, then solemnly bowed to Madara.
“Mr. Madara, thank you.”
Madara frowned.
“…What are you thanking me for?”
“His mother and I died when he was born, so I was always worried he would be lonely,” Minato’s voice was very soft, but carried sincere gratitude.
“I’m glad to know someone is by his side.”
Madara turned his head away, his tone still indifferent.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I was just bored.”
The Nine-Tails rolled its eyes beside him.
“Tsundere.”
Madara’s forehead twitched.
“Mangy fox, do you want to fight?”
Minato quickly intervened.
“Wait, both of you, if you keep fighting, Naruto won’t be able to handle it.”
Madara and the Nine-Tails paused simultaneously, remembering that the tremors just now had almost made Naruto in the outside world faint from pain, and only then did they reluctantly stop.
Minato breathed a sigh of relief, then seemed to recall something and looked at Madara.
“Oh, right, you said earlier… a masked man controlled the Nine-Tails with genjutsu?”
Madara nodded.
“Besides the Mangekyō Sharingan, I can’t think of any other way to forcibly control a Tailed Beast.”
Before him, others had tried to control Tailed Beasts with Sharingan, but unfortunately, with the power of three tomoe, they could at most make the Tailed Beasts dizzy.
That’s why, back then, he controlled the Nine-Tails and went to Konoha to fight Hashirama, shocking so many people.
Minato’s expression became solemn.
“His eyes were indeed Sharingan, he must be from the Uchiha clan. I questioned him at the time, but he said he had no name.”
Madara pondered for a moment and shook his head.
“There have been many people who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in history, but the ones still alive are probably only Shisui and the current clan head, Fugaku Uchiha.” Find the original chapter at g.com.
Minato looked up and asked, “I know Mr. Fugaku. His desire for peace is stronger than water. As for Shisui…”
Madara shook his head.
“I’ve interacted with Shisui. To prevent the Uchiha’s coup, he was willing to use his Kotoamatsukami. Someone like that wouldn’t do this.”
Shisui, this was the most unconventional Uchiha he had ever met.
Whom he suspected, Madara would never suspect Shisui of doing this.
However, after ruling out the only two current targets, Minato and Madara exchanged glances, realizing the seriousness of the situation simultaneously.
The conspiracy behind all this was probably more complex than they imagined.
After a brief silence, Madara suddenly spoke.
“Fourth Hokage, how much longer can your chakra last?”
Minato felt his own condition and gave a wry smile.
“Without replenishment, it will probably dissipate soon.”
The Nine-Tails snorted and suddenly flicked out a stream of red chakra, wrapping around Minato.
“Take it. Don’t die, or that kid will cry again.”
Minato looked at his gradually solidifying body in surprise.
“Nine-Tails, you…”
The Nine-Tails turned its head away.
“Stop talking nonsense, I’m just bothered.”
Madara smiled slightly at this scene.
“Heh, it seems a certain fox is softer than imagined.”
The Nine-Tails bristled.
“Shut up! Say one more word, and I’ll beat you too!”
Minato couldn’t help but smile.
“Thank you both.”
Madara crossed his arms, suddenly thinking of something, and looked at Minato.
“Speaking of which, since you were Hokage, you must be good at teaching people, right?”
Minato nodded.
“I suppose so. What’s wrong?”
Madara pointed at Naruto in the outside world, struggling with his theory homework.
“That kid’s academic performance is terrible. You teach him.”
Minato: “…Huh?”
The Nine-Tails added gleefully.
“That’s right. We’ll handle practical combat, and academics are yours.”
Minato looked at Naruto’s pained expression in the outside world, then at the two “fathers” shirking responsibility before him, and smiled helplessly.
“Alright, it seems I, as his father… need to make up for the lessons I missed.”
The next day, as the morning sun streamed through the window onto Naruto’s bedding.
He rolled over groggily, burying his face in the pillow.
“Wake up!”
“Let me sleep a little longer…”
“You can, but for every minute you sleep in, your training will increase by one set.”
“I’m getting up right now!”
As Madara’s voice fell, Naruto’s sleepiness vanished instantly, and he practically sprang out of bed.
He was afraid that if he was a second late, he’d be exhausted to death today.
“Hahaha!”
In the next second, the Nine-Tails’ laughter rang out.
Naruto rubbed his eyes and said helplessly, “Uncle Nine-Tails! Stop laughing.”
Just then, a third voice sounded, gentle and with a hint of trembling.
“Naruto…”
This voice made Naruto tremble all over.
For some reason, his eyes suddenly felt warm, and his heart pounded.
“Who… ”
His voice trembled involuntarily.
“Who’s calling me?”
In the seal space, Minato’s chakra body glowed faintly.
He looked at Naruto in the outside world, his lips trembling slightly.
“Hey, Fourth Hokage, are you going to cry?”
Minato ignored the Nine-Tails’ taunts and took a deep breath.
“Naruto, I am…”
“He’s your biological father,” Madara interrupted bluntly.
“The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.”
Naruto’s mind went blank.
He sat stunned on the bed, unconsciously clenching the bedsheet with his fingers.
“Bio… logical father?”
Minato’s voice was incredibly gentle.
“Yes, Naruto. I am your father.”
A tear escaped uncontrollably and slid down Naruto’s cheek.
He quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand, but more kept coming.
“You’re lying…” His voice was choked with sobs.
“Everyone said my parents died long ago…”
The Nine-Tails rolled over in its cage, deliberately sighing loudly.
“Ah—this is so troublesome. Fourth Hokage, your son is as annoying when he cries as you are.”
Minato gave a wry smile.
“Nine-Tails…”
“It’s the truth,” the Nine-Tails said, flicking its tail.
“This kid is so energetic when he’s grinning, but now he’s crying like a girl.”
Madara interjected coldly.
“Mangy fox, shut up.”
Naruto, hearing the three voices arguing in his mind, suddenly burst into laughter, tears still in his eyes.
“Hahaha… it really sounds like you guys are arguing in my head…”
Minato also chuckled, his chakra body glowing faintly.
“Naruto, I’m sorry I couldn’t be by your side all these years.”
“It’s, it’s okay!”
Naruto wiped his tears vigorously, revealing his signature bright smile.
“I have Dad now, and Uncle Nine-Tails, and…”
He paused, then asked uncertainly, “Can I call you… Dad?”
Minato’s chakra fluctuations suddenly intensified.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
What a humble request, so humble it was heartbreaking.
The Nine-Tails chuckled beside him.
“Hey, hey, Fourth Hokage, don’t tell me you’re actually crying? A Hokage crying like this is so embarrassing?”
Madara snorted coldly.
“At least better than a certain fox who purrs when you pat its head.”
“What did you say?!” The Nine-Tails’ fur bristled.
“Old Madara, do you want to fight?!”
Naruto, hearing the argument in his mind, burst into laughter.
Sunlight shone on his blond hair, casting a warm halo.
At this moment, he felt more clearly than ever—he was no longer alone.
“Hey, Dad…” he said softly.
“Can you teach me today’s theory class?”
Minato’s voice was gentle and firm.
“Of course, my child.”
The Nine-Tails muttered beside him.
“Here we go again with the academic hell…”
Madara commanded decisively.
“Morning training first, then studying.”
Naruto laughed heartily and jumped up.
“Yes! Three Dads!”
“I’m not your dad!” The Nine-Tails’ roar echoed through the seal space.
____________________
Update: “Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”