"There's no need to apologize," Kushina said. "Plans can't keep up with changes, and the world is full of uncertainties. Though Naruto's had a rough life, he still has Sasuke as a peer and goal, plus Mikoto and Itachi helping him from the shadows."
"I believe that under their guidance, Naruto will definitely become an exceptional shinobi."
"After all, he's the son of me—the Red-Hot Habanero—and you, the Yellow Flash!"
"Exactly!" Minato nodded in agreement.
"By the way, Minato, I've handed over the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques and the Flying Thunder God to Itachi, and took him on as a disciple. The purpose is to help with Naruto's future growth—and to relieve pressure on the Uchiha clan," said Kushina.
"Took him on as a disciple?" Minato was surprised. "Back when Obito was presumed dead, Fugaku gave up his bid for the Hokage title and supported me instead. His goal was to raise Itachi as a successor. He even extended an olive branch, hoping I would take Itachi as a disciple and have him join my personal Anbu in the future, paving the way for Itachi to become the Fifth Hokage."
"But back then, I was swamped with duties, and you were pregnant, so it got delayed."
"Never thought that in the end, Itachi would still become our student. I guess it's fate," Minato said with emotion.
"Wait, you mentioned easing the pressure on the Uchiha clan? What's that about?" Minato asked, puzzled.
"After the Nine-Tails incident, the Uchiha wanted to join the battle, but they were stopped by Danzo's Root."
"Afterward, Hiruzen and the others suspected the Uchiha were behind the Nine-Tails attack. With the major clans putting on pressure and Danzo—the real mastermind—shifting the blame, he used the opportunity to exile the Uchiha from the village."
"You know the Uchiha—proud and strong-willed. They couldn't accept that kind of humiliation and started planning a coup to reclaim justice."
"But it's never that simple. Danzo had planned everything from the start. His goal was to seize the Sharingan and take back control of the Konoha Military Police Force."
"He was just waiting for the Uchiha to walk into his trap. Then he'd wipe them out in one go with help from Orochimaru and claim their Sharingan," Kushina explained.
"I see," Minato said. "When I became Hokage, I held the title but not the real power. The Anbu was still under Hiruzen's control. So I planned to bring the Uchiha-controlled Police Force under my wing to slowly weaken Danzo's Root. I didn't expect it would sow the seeds of disaster between me and the Uchiha."
"Danzo's plot during the Nine-Tails incident was a two-birds-one-stone move! Whether to kill us and preserve his power, or to frame the Uchiha."
"The moment he summoned the Nine-Tails with the Sharingan, whether I lived or died no longer mattered. As the Fourth Hokage, I was doomed to take the fall. And with the Nine-Tails under Sharingan control, the Uchiha were destined to be ostracized."
"Even though I was still Hokage then, I couldn't stop them," Minato sighed. "Danzo truly was a crafty old fox—he had everything planned. And we knew nothing about him—not even that he had a Mangekyō Sharingan and an arm filled with Hashirama cells. We lost, and we can't even complain."
"Alright, enough about that. We're already dead, so there's no point dwelling on it," Kushina said. "I believe Itachi can resolve the Uchiha situation perfectly. What matters now is how we use our limited time to train Naruto. I don't want my child to fall behind anyone else."
"Right. We may be dead, but Naruto's still alive. He's our hope," Minato said, reignited with determination. "With our training, and the guidance of Itachi and Mikoto, I'm sure Naruto will become Hokage—just like me!"
As they spoke, the two walked toward another room. When they opened the door, they found a heavy, oppressive aura filling the space. A child was squatting alone in the corner, hugging his knees with his head buried—utterly lonely, desolate, pitiful, weak, and helpless.
Seeing this, both Kushina and Minato felt a pang in their hearts. This was their child—Naruto Uzumaki.
—
After leaving Root's base disguised as Orochimaru, Itachi Uchiha headed straight for the Konoha Memorial Stone for a bit of "archaeology."
The Memorial Stone was home to countless heroes.
For instance, the creator of the secret Konoha taijutsu technique "Thousand Years of Death," and the wielder of a chakra short sword who slashed through Sand ninja for three days and nights without blinking—Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake.
Or Might Guy's father, Might Duy, who nearly kicked the plot to its finale and single-handedly turned the Seven Ninja Swordsmen into the Three.
If he could excavate either of them, this trip would be worth it.
He searched the entire graveyard but didn't find Sakumo's tombstone. Orochimaru's face darkened. He eventually found Might Duy's grave, but it was just a cenotaph. After rummaging around, he couldn't even find a strand of hair or a drop of blood.
After thinking it over, Orochimaru vaguely recalled that opening all Eight Gates burned Guy's body to a crisp. Without Naruto's Yin-Yang Release, Guy would've turned to ash.
Might Duy wasn't as lucky. After using the Eight Gates, there likely wasn't even a trace left.
As for Sakumo, who died by suicide, he probably wasn't buried in the hero cemetery at all but interred somewhere in the Hatake clan's land.
"Damn it, what a waste of time."
Orochimaru grumbled and turned to leave, his face dark. Then his eyes landed on a tombstone—Rin Nohara!
"Damn! How could I almost forget this major figure?" Orochimaru slapped his forehead. She was the one who caused Obito to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan! Her death was the catalyst for Obito's fall into darkness!
Orochimaru quickly began excavating. Soon, Rin Nohara's corpse appeared before him.
He plucked a few strands of hair and some dried blood, then respectfully reburied the body.
Just as he was about to leave, he noticed something strange about a nearby tree.
(Itachi disguised as Orochimaru): "..."
Wasn't that White Zetsu? That thing was everywhere! Clearly it was spying for Obito.
Perfect. No need to look for a death-row inmate.
Orochimaru pulled out the Reanimation Jutsu scroll, placed Rin's hair on it, and clapped his hands together: "Summoning: Reanimation Jutsu!"
Black symbols twisted around the tree. The ground lit up with the kanji for "Reanimation."
"Aaahhh!!"—a scream echoed out.
From within the tree emerged a White Zetsu, its body rapidly covered in dust until it transformed into the living image of Rin Nohara.
"L-Lord Orochimaru?" Rin opened her eyes and gasped in shock. Hadn't she already died, impaled by Kakashi? How was she alive again? Could it be that Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, had brought her back?
"Kukuku, don't worry. Big brother will take good care of you," Orochimaru's sinister voice whispered.
Rin lost consciousness immediately. A coffin rose from the ground, sealing her inside before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
From the shadows in the distance, a nearby White Zetsu watching this scene shivered. He quickly used the Mayfly Technique to flee. Now he finally understood why his comrades had been vanishing without a trace recently—it was Orochimaru's doing! He had to report this to Obito and Black Zetsu immediately.