"The Uchiha clan has been exterminated," Shisui said with a heavy sigh, his voice echoing in the sealed space. His tone was filled with sorrow and regret. When he was alive, the Uchiha clan had already been in a precarious position. The tension between the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership had been simmering for years, and now it had reached its tragic conclusion.
Danzo, the apprentice of the Second Hokage, and the Third Hokage himself had always viewed the Uchiha with suspicion. Their policies and actions had systematically marginalized the clan, pushing them further into isolation. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had tried to bridge the gap. He had been close friends with Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha, and he had worked tirelessly to ease the strained relationship between the Uchiha and the village. But even his efforts hadn't been enough.
Minato knew the Uchiha were proud and stubborn, but he also knew they weren't inherently evil. In fact, they could be surprisingly kind and even a little naive at times. But Konoha's leadership, deeply influenced by the Second Hokage's mistrust, saw the Uchiha as a threat—a pack of wolves that could never truly be part of the village. And in the end, it was their own actions that had driven the Uchiha to rebellion.
"The Uchiha are gone, and the Hyuga are still standing. Konoha's great clans are dwindling," the Nine-Tails said with a mocking grin, its voice dripping with sarcasm. "If a few more clans are wiped out, Konoha won't be able to stop me."
Minato's eyes were heavy with exhaustion. He had tried so hard to prevent this outcome, and yet here they were. The loss of the Uchiha clan was a blow not just to Konoha, but to his own sense of purpose. "Fugaku and Mikoto are gone too," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Konoha truly couldn't tolerate the Uchiha."
"Stop dwelling on it," the Nine-Tails sneered, lounging lazily in a gaming chair that had somehow materialized in the sealed space. "You're dead, remember? Instead of moping about the Uchiha, why don't you focus on building a better relationship with Naruto? Right now, he doesn't see you as a father—just a tool."
Minato winced at the jab. "I've tried," he said defensively. "I've tried to give him the warmth of a family, but he doesn't seem to care. It's like he's completely indifferent to me. He doesn't hate me—he just doesn't care. And that's worse."
The Nine-Tails rolled its eyes. "You're overthinking it. Naruto's not as complicated as you make him out to be. He's focused on getting stronger, and he's doing a damn good job of it. He's got friends, ambitions, and a clear goal. He doesn't need your pity or your guilt."
Minato sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You don't understand. I just want him to know that I care about him. That I'm sorry for everything he's been through."
The Nine-Tails snorted. "You're the one who doesn't understand. Naruto's not some broken child who needs your approval. He's his own person, and he's doing just fine without you. In fact, he's doing better than you ever did."
Minato's shoulders slumped. "You're right. He is better than me. I just wish I could have been there for him."
The Nine-Tails leaned back in its chair, a smug grin on its face. "Finally, you're starting to get it. Naruto doesn't need your guilt or your apologies. He needs you to respect him and his choices. And if you can't do that, then you're better off staying out of his way."
Minato nodded slowly, though the weight of his regrets still pressed heavily on him. He had spent so much time trying to make up for his mistakes, but perhaps the best thing he could do for Naruto was to let him live his own life.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the sealed space, the Nine-Tails and Minato's dynamic was as chaotic as ever. The fox lounged in its gaming chair, tail swishing lazily as it played a game on a console that had mysteriously appeared. Minato, on the other hand, paced back and forth, his mind racing with thoughts of Naruto and the Uchiha.
"Kyuubi," Minato said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Tell me more about Naruto's past. What was he like growing up? What did he go through?"
The Nine-Tails paused its game, turning to glare at Minato. "Why should I tell you? You're just going to mope about it anyway."
"Please," Minato said, his voice earnest. "I just want to understand him better. I'll do anything—I'll even help you grind for that shiny Mewtwo again."
The Nine-Tails' eyes narrowed, and its tail flicked irritably. "Don't even mention that! Do you have any idea how much time I wasted because of you? Naming my shiny Mewtwo 'Chaos Escape Shining Chic Galewind Zero-Style Divine Beast'? Are you out of your mind?"
Minato scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I thought it was creative."
"Creative? It was a disaster!" the Nine-Tails roared, its voice shaking the sealed space. "I had to release it because of you! Do you know how rare a shiny Mewtwo is?!"
Minato winced. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to upset you."
The Nine-Tails huffed, crossing its arms. "You're lucky Naruto likes you, otherwise I'd have kicked you out of here a long time ago."
Minato sighed, sitting down on the floor of the sealed space. "I just want to make things right with him. I know I messed up, but I'm trying."
The Nine-Tails rolled its eyes. "You're trying too hard. Naruto doesn't need you to fix everything. He just needs you to be there when he needs you. And right now, he doesn't need you."
Minato nodded, though the words stung. "I understand. I just hope one day he'll forgive me."
The Nine-Tails smirked. "Maybe he will, maybe he won't. But until then, stay out of his way. And for the love of all that's holy, don't touch my computer again."
Minato chuckled despite himself. "Deal."
As the Nine-Tails returned to its game, Minato leaned back against the wall of the sealed space, his thoughts drifting to Naruto. He knew he had a long way to go to earn his son's trust, but he was determined to try. For now, that was enough.