"From the future?!"
As soon as the words left Minato's mouth, both Kushina and Naruto's faces froze in shock, their expressions mirroring each other so perfectly that Minato couldn't help but chuckle.
"If you need proof, just compare his face to us," he said, his voice warm with amusement.
Kushina and Naruto instinctively turned to face each other, their gazes locking. Although Naruto had inherited Minato's blond hair and blue eyes, his facial structure, contours, and expressions bore a striking resemblance to Kushina. For a moment, they shared a look of wonder, realizing they were connected in ways they hadn't fully comprehended.
"Are you really my mom and dad?" Naruto asked, his voice tentative. Minato's words were a lot to process, if he hadn't experienced it personally.
"Minato, what's going on?" Kushina turned to her husband, eyes searching his face for answers.
Minato met her gaze, his expression serious as he began to explain. "Do you remember our mission, the one involving that man named Anrokuzan who mysteriously appeared in Rōran three years ago?"
Kushina nodded slowly, listening intently as Minato continued. He had already shared much of the information Hiruzen had given him, but there was more to tell.
"I believe that Anrokuzan and this 'Mukade' that Naruto mentioned are the same person. It seems he, too, found a way to travel back to this time—likely using the power of the dragon veins. I suspect he changed his name to Anrokuzan after arriving here."
Kushina's eyes widened with a mixture of horror and disbelief. "Traveling back to the past…is something like that even possible?"
Minato cast a gentle, reassuring look at his wife, silently musing to himself, Yes, it's possible. The fact that I'm standing here now is proof enough. Kushina, you've given me a chance to fulfill the dreams I never thought I'd see.
He turned back to Naruto, asking, "When Mukade devoured the seal that Kushina and I placed on the dragon vein, did it cause a massive surge in power?"
Naruto blinked, surprised at his father's insight, then nodded. "Yeah, after he broke the seal, the dragon vein exploded with this intense energy. I got caught in it while chasing after him."
Minato nodded thoughtfully, piecing together the logic. The events that had brought Naruto and Mukade to this time felt uncannily similar to his own experiences. "The power of the dragon vein is immense," he explained. "It likely caused a brief, chaotic distortion in time and space, one strong enough to pull you and Mukade into this era."
His words hung in the air, but Naruto and Kushina exchanged bewildered glances, struggling to follow the theory. Still, having an answer, however complex, brought a measure of clarity to them. Finally understanding, Kushina moved closer to Naruto, her face softening as she extended a hand, gently placing it on his cheek.
Naruto froze, caught off guard by the tender touch. He was unsure how to react, feeling his back instinctively straighten as he met her gaze. He couldn't help the slight sheen of nervous sweat forming on his brow, and Minato noticed, smiling knowingly. Clearly, in the future, Kushina had a firm hand in disciplining Naruto, leaving an impression on the young man standing before them.
"Are you truly Minato's and my son?" Kushina asked quietly, her eyes filled with a maternal warmth Naruto had only imagined in dreams.
Naruto hesitated, then nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Mom."
A gentle glow of joy spread over Kushina's face, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sight of her grown-up son. Before coming to Rōran, she had often wondered what her future child would look like—if she'd ever get to see his face. Now, Naruto stood before her, fully grown, and it all felt surreal.
"What's your name?" she asked softly, as if savoring the moment.
"Naruto. Namikaze Naruto," he replied.
Minato stood back, watching his wife and son reconnect. The sight stirred a bittersweet ache in his chest. As he looked at them, memories of that fateful night with the Nine-Tails resurfaced—the night that had torn their family apart. He could still hear Kushina's last words ringing in his mind: "If I could live, I would dream of nothing more than seeing the three of us together as a family. There's no happiness in the world greater than that."
Your wish has come true, Kushina, Minato thought, tears pricking his deep blue eyes. Naruto has grown into an incredible young man. He's a remarkable ninja, and we're here to witness it.
Kushina and Naruto had quickly fallen into a lively conversation, their personalities so alike that it was as if they had always known each other. The questions poured out, one after another, each one making Naruto flush with embarrassment. She wanted to know everything about their future—how they got married, when Naruto was born, every detail she could think of.
Naruto found himself smiling at his mother's curiosity, ready to answer, but Minato quickly intervened. "Naruto, it might be better if you don't tell your mother all the details."
Kushina shot him a look, her lips curving into a slight pout. "Why not?"
Minato hesitated. He carried memories of a future that, in this timeline, hadn't yet come to pass. Over the years, he'd noticed something crucial: history was malleable. In Naruto's original timeline, he and Kushina had both died the night Naruto was born. But his actions here had rewritten that ending, allowing him to be here with Kushina and Naruto now.
Though this was the outcome he had longed for, Minato knew there were risks. If they learned too much about the future, they might inadvertently alter it in ways they couldn't predict. He couldn't allow that risk to endanger the precious future he'd glimpsed.
"Kushina, if we know too much, we might change the future. It's dangerous to meddle with things we don't fully understand," he explained, his tone firm.
Kushina, despite her fiery spirit, trusted Minato's judgment on matters of such importance. She nodded reluctantly, silencing her questions.
To Naruto, it was almost strange to see his mother agree so readily. His memories of her were filled with her fierce, uncompromising personality. Yet he also saw how deeply she respected his father, trusting his guidance implicitly. Naruto couldn't help but smile, recognizing the warmth and love in their bond.
Even as he looked at his parents, Naruto knew this wasn't because his father was weak or submissive. No, Minato is the legendary Fourth Hokage, known throughout the ninja world as the "Yellow Flash." His reputation as one of the strongest ninja in history was something Naruto took great pride in. Minato's name alone inspired awe, even fear, among the great nations.
That was part of Naruto's heritage—an aura he had to live up to. But while he respected his father's legacy, he was determined to forge his own path. As Namikaze Naruto, he would carry the Hokage name, but his way would be unique, true to his own ninja way. And he would protect Konoha and those he loved with every fiber of his being.
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