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This punch... ultimately did not fall.
Naruto's fist stopped at the last moment.
Minato just looked at Naruto calmly and asked, "Why didn't you strike?"
Naruto, crying, said, "Although you are my father, it's true. But right now, I am only ten years old. Twenty years ago, I hadn't even been born!"
"I can't blame you for sealing the Nine-Tails inside me. I can't blame you for making me suffer so much. I can't blame you for making me endure so many cold stares from the villagers."
"Because... this hasn't happened yet!", The more Naruto spoke, the more emotional he became, and his speech became faster and faster.
Minato just stood there gently and said, "Naruto, although for me, none of this has happened yet, perhaps if it were to happen again, facing the same situation, I would still make the same choice."
Naruto was stunned and couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
Minato thought for a moment and said, "Maybe it's because I love the village, and I love you and your mother."
"The village needed the power of the Nine-Tails, and at that time, only the Uzumaki Clan had the enormous life force to contain that power. And also, Naruto, I wanted you to master that power and become strong."
After a pause, Minato continued, "However, what I wanted even more was for you to grow up and meet your mother. Sorry, Naruto, perhaps this was my greatest selfish desire..."
For a moment, Naruto didn't know whether to be happy or sad, "But Father, I just wanted you both to be with me. I'd rather you not be heroes, I'd rather you not have sacrificed yourselves!"
Minato shook his head gently and said, "No, Naruto. Given the situation at that time, sacrifice was inevitable. I admit that I could have survived, but I couldn't just stand by and watch your mother leave alone. I believe that one day, you will understand my feelings."
Minato paused briefly before continuing, "Naruto, in fact, I don't wish for you to become a hero either. I just want you to grow up safely. But if a real crisis occurs, if the village is in danger, can you just stand by and watch?"
Naruto was stunned. He murmured, "I... I can't."
Minato smiled and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, "So, don't overthink it. Just do what you must. Your father will always support your decision!"
Naruto's tears flowed uncontrollably again, but this time, he laughed while crying, "Hahaha, my father is the Fourth Hokage. So, I'm really not a fox demon. I'm the son of a hero."
Obito, who had been quietly watching from the side, couldn't help but be amazed.
Naruto seems to have become smarter. He knows that he wasn't born yet twenty years ago.
'But Naruto also still seems a bit foolish. Doesn't he think about how, if he wasn't even born yet, how did Minato-sensei know so much?'
'What a... fool!'
After venting for a while, Naruto, with his naturally optimistic personality, quickly regained his lively self. He gave Minato a big hug and then curiously asked, "Father, who is my mother?"
Minato thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Naruto, allow me to keep that a secret for now, because I want her to tell you our story herself."
Naruto was stunned, as if he had suddenly thought of a possibility, "Could it be... that Mom isn't dead? We can still meet?"
Minato shook his head regretfully, "Unfortunately, your mother is indeed dead. But due to certain reasons, you will still have a chance to meet her."
Naruto was slightly disappointed, "Is that so?"
But he quickly adjusted himself, "If I can see her even once, I will already be satisfied. Thank you, Father, for telling me so much."
However, Naruto finally realized something belatedly, "Wait, Father, twenty years ago, I didn't even exist yet, right? How do you know so much about me?"
Minato glanced at Obito and explained, "Just think of it as me having seen the future. You've met the Great Toad Sage before, so you should understand prophecy."
Naruto suddenly understood, "I see, so Father also has the Great Toad Sage's ability."
Naruto's eyes became firm, and he clenched his fists unconsciously, "Soon, I'll go to Mount Myoboku to train too. I will definitely become stronger, avenge Jiraiya-sensei, protect the village, and protect my comrades!"
Minato smiled, "I never doubted that. After all, saying and doingâthat's your ninja way!"
Naruto was surprised, "I didn't expect you to know that too, Father! That's right, I will definitely do it."
Minato said, "Alright, Naruto. Finishing our mission is the most important thing right now. Our mission is to protect the Queen of Roran. We can't let anything go wrong because of this."
Naruto wiped away his tears and nodded heavily, "Alright! But I am also a Konoha ninja. This mission concerns me too, so I will go as well."
Minato thought for a moment, then finally smiled, "Then come along with us."
After saying this, the group started moving.
Soon, they arrived at a crowded square.
But saying it was "people" wasn't entirely correct, because all the people here were puppet constructs. They beat drums, cheered, and created an atmosphere of joy and celebration.
The purpose was to make Queen Sara of Roran believe that her people were living happily under her rule.
But in reality, most of the real Roran citizens, especially the young men, had already been captured by Anrokuzan and were working in underground factory 007, maintaining the operation of the Dragon Vein and creating all sorts of puppet armies for him.
Seeing these dancing and cheering humanoid puppets, everyone felt a deep sense of absurdity. Anrokuzan had truly woven an enormous lie for Queen Sara.
Obito shook his head, 'The lower-class people of the entire ninja world, aren't they just like this?'
'They, too, are like controlled puppets, with every move manipulated by those in higher positions.'
At this moment, all the puppets looked toward the high platform, raised their hands, and cheered as if welcoming the arrival of someone.
Everyone also looked up and saw two black dots emerging from the center of the enormous tower.
Since all present were ninjas, their chakra-enhanced vision allowed them to see farther than ordinary people, even without Dojutsu bloodlines. So, they could make out the rough features of the two figures, one male and one female.
The woman seemed unaware of anything unusual and happily waved to the "citizens" below.
Rin looked at her with sympathy, "She must be Queen Sara. I really feel sorry for her, being deceived like this by Anrokuzan."
Minato nodded, "That's why we're here. We must ensure her safety."
Just as he finished speaking, a sudden accident occurred.
The floor beneath Queen Sara suddenly cracked. She lost her balance and fell from the high tower.
This unexpected turn of events caught everyone off guard. Minato immediately made a decisive command.
"Rescue her!"
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