Minato’s Death (Please Subscribe, Please Read the Author’s Note)

"You being able to make this choice doesn’t surprise me at all, Minato-kun."

Hyuga Mirai flicked out several Chakra Threads, pinning Namikaze Minato’s limbs in place. It was both to treat him and slow his death, and to prevent him from using the Flying Thunder God.

The acupoints connected by his Chakra Threads all suppressed movement. If Namikaze Minato wanted to do anything now, he would first have to burst out with Chakra to break free from the threads before he could attack Hyuga Mirai.

But once Namikaze Minato broke free of the Chakra Threads, Hyuga Mirai would have more than enough time to react.

"You’re being too careful, Mirai-kun. I don’t even have the strength to make a move now."

Feeling his limbs restrained, Namikaze Minato gave a bitter smile. He really had harbored such thoughts just now, but after the Chakra Threads bound his limbs, his intention to attack Hyuga Mirai temporarily vanished.

Instead, a trace of gratitude toward Hyuga Mirai rose in his heart. Because of Mirai’s treatment, he could spend a little more time looking at Naruto and Kushina.

"The most perfect ‘Will of Fire.’ To protect the village, you can sacrifice yourselves. For people like you, I admire you and remain wary of you. The only bad thing is that your will is too strong. Sacrificing yourselves isn’t enough—you have to drag the people around you down with you."

Hyuga Mirai shook his head. If he were Uzumaki Naruto, he definitely would not understand or approve of parents like that. The debt of birth and the debt of upbringing—the latter did not exist, and as for the former, Hyuga Mirai believed that Namikaze Minato had completely repaid it the moment he sealed the Nine-Tails inside Uzumaki Naruto.

"Weren’t you once the same, Mirai-kun?"

"Are you an idiot? That was an act. You don’t really think I would exhaust my Chakra just because I saved a few people, do you? If I wanted to, even treating every wounded person across three battlefields wouldn’t leave me short on Chakra."

After speaking, Hyuga Mirai glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen outside the barrier. Although Uzumaki Ayaka’s renewed suppression of the Nine-Tails within her had caused the Adamantine Sealing Barrier to loosen somewhat, Sarutobi Hiruzen would still need quite some time to break it.

Unless he used a highly destructive ninjutsu. But then Sarutobi Hiruzen would have to worry about Namikaze Minato, his wife, and their child.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had already seen the Sealing Jutsu on Naruto’s stomach. Half of the Nine-Tails should have been sealed inside Minato’s child. In that case, Naruto was an extremely important Jinchuriki to Konoha and absolutely could not be harmed by his ninjutsu.

"Then… why exactly did you betray Konoha? Clearly… with your abilities, becoming the Fifth Hokage was practically certain…"

"You’re as naive as ever, Minato-kun."

Hyuga Mirai gave a soft laugh. "The Hyuga Branch Family is the best tool. That is common knowledge between the Main Family and the Hokage. If I wanted to become Hokage, I would first have to join forces with the Branch Family to overthrow the Main Family, then fight the Konoha Higher-ups and fight the Ninja Clans. Just thinking about that kind of life feels utterly bleak."

"As for why I rebelled, Minato-kun, you’ve lived in Konoha for too long. Your vision has been confined to this tiny place. The peace you hope for—do you mean peace everywhere in the world, or peace in Konoha alone?"

"Of course—"

"Don’t rush to answer. Listen to my question first. If Kumogakure planned to occupy Kawa River District, while Amegakure and Hoshigakure erupted into a war to the death, what would you choose?"

"…" Namikaze Minato said nothing after hearing that, but the answer was already written across his face.

If not for Kumogakure’s actions, he could have used his status as the Fourth Hokage to send an envoy to mediate between the two Ninja Villages. But more likely… he would think of how Konoha could benefit from it.

The thought suddenly startled Namikaze Minato. When had he begun thinking this way? He used to hate war and long for peace. Shouldn’t he have done everything possible to stop all conflict from happening?

"Minato-kun, with your ability and way of thinking, it’s impossible that you can’t see what the greatest obstacle to peace in the Ninja World is. But perhaps you felt that your abilities were insufficient, that you could not change everything, so you chose to ignore it and settled for protecting only your village’s peace."

Hyuga Mirai spoke slowly. But seeing that Kushina’s life was also about to run out, he flicked out another Chakra Thread and prolonged her life as well.

"But I’m different from you. I know the future of the Ninja World. I have the ability to change it. I don’t want to play along with the people of Konoha. I would rather change this world in my own way, according to my own ideas."

"Do you understand now, Minato-kun? From the beginning, Konoha and I were never on the same path. Going our separate ways was only a matter of time."

Minato’s expression stiffened slightly. "So that’s how it is…"

Lions did not dwell with swine. Hyuga Mirai had never thought highly of Konoha from the start.

Only now did Namikaze Minato truly understand why Hyuga Mirai had defected, and he more or less understood the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy as well.

"Urgh—!"

Uzumaki Ayaka suddenly let out a pained groan. A huge amount of violent, hate-filled Nine-Tails Chakra erupted from her body, making it seem as though she was suffering backlash from the Nine-Tails inside her.

The Nine-Tails Chakra covered Uzumaki Ayaka’s entire body, forcibly dispelling her Sage Mode. The Adamantine Sealing Barrier also showed signs of loosening, while the Adamantine Sealing Chains extending from underground seemed unable to support the barrier any longer, sagging toward the ground.

An opportunity!

Sarutobi Hiruzen outside the barrier reacted instantly. This might be his only chance to seize the Nine-Tails.

He instantly unleashed powerful Chakra. The Adamantine Staff in his hand narrowed, then he poured all his strength and a massive amount of Chakra into it, smashing it fiercely into the Adamantine Sealing Barrier.

Crack!

Uzumaki Ayaka’s Sage Mode had been dispelled, drastically reducing the Adamantine Sealing Barrier’s toughness. As soon as the barrier loosened, the Adamantine Staff shattered it in a single blow.

At the same time, Namikaze Minato erupted with the last of his Chakra. His expression was resolute, yet there was a trace of guilt in his eyes as he said, "Sorry, Mirai-kun. I am the village’s Fourth Hokage. I must protect the village’s safety."

Even as he spoke, Namikaze Minato tore apart the Chakra Threads and charged at Hyuga Mirai with a determined expression.

At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s Adamantine Staff shot toward Hyuga Mirai’s back at incredible speed.

Attacked from both sides, Namikaze Minato did not hesitate in the slightest.

Although Hyuga Mirai had just been treating him and Kushina, their positions were different. Namikaze Minato bore the duty of the Fourth Hokage and had to ensure Konoha’s safety.

"Minato-kun, since when did you start thinking that Uzumaki Ayaka, who has mastered Sage Mode, would be unable to deal with half of the Nine-Tails?"

Hyuga Mirai smiled faintly. When he opened his eyes again, his pupils had turned as blue as a starry sky. Then he continued.

"And why did you think I wouldn’t notice Sarutobi Hiruzen’s hand signals behind my back?"

Blue Eyes… The purple-winged, four-limbed giant serpent Great Toad Sage prophesied about… it was Hyuga Mirai.

The instant Namikaze Minato saw those blue eyes, his mind shook violently. He had never expected that the person Jiraiya had searched for so long was Hyuga Mirai.

Hyuga Mirai shifted his body to the side, then infused the Tenseigan’s ocular power into the Chakra Threads Minato had just broken free from, using them to restrain Minato for another instant.

When Namikaze Minato suddenly found that he could not move, he instantly thought of the Chakra Threads still not completely removed from his limbs. He had merely snapped the Chakra Threads, not fully escaped them.

The Chakra Threads could not restrain Namikaze Minato for long, but it was enough to let him pass by Hyuga Mirai.

Once their bodies had crossed, Hyuga Mirai turned around again and raised his hand.

Repulsive Force!

An immense force slammed into Namikaze Minato, blasting away his body before it could even stop moving.

"Minato! Not good, pull back, Enma!"

The direction Minato had charged in was exactly the direction the Adamantine Staff was thrusting. But Namikaze Minato was sent flying too quickly. Even though Enma saw Namikaze Minato rushing toward him, he had no time to react in that instant. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen had no time to react.

Splat!

The staff pierced through Namikaze Minato’s chest. An expression of disbelief appeared on his face as he spat out a massive mouthful of blood.

"Minato!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted in shock and fury. He quickly retracted the Adamantine Staff, then used the Body Flicker Technique to rush forward and catch Namikaze Minato’s still-standing body.

"Third Hokage…"

After using the Reaper Death Seal and then being pierced through the chest by a staff, Namikaze Minato was now at death’s door.

"Minato…"

Seeing this, Uzumaki Kushina sorrowfully closed her eyes. She knew Minato still had many things he had not said to Naruto, but why couldn’t he spend his final moments with Naruto?

Why did he have to stake everything on something impossible to achieve, all to protect Konoha?

What would happen to Naruto from now on?

Just as Uzumaki Kushina was overwhelmed by despair, a warm hand rested on her shoulder. Then she felt a stream of life-filled Chakra flow into her body, reigniting the flame of life that had been about to go out.

Kushina looked up and saw those blue eyes.

"How strange, Lady Kushina. There’s no hatred in the way you look at me. Are you hiding it deep in your heart?"

Hyuga Mirai smiled calmly and said to Kushina.

"You saw everything just now. You should feel resentment in your heart. Can you tell me who you resent? Me, the one who killed your husband? The Third Hokage? Or the masked Uchiha who attacked you tonight?"

"I don’t know." Uzumaki Kushina was about to die. All she wanted was to look at Naruto a little longer. In the face of death, resentment could not last forever.

"Then think about it carefully. Although Minato-kun attacked me just now, I’ve still decided to help you. But when you take care of Naruto in the future, I hope you will think carefully about whom you should resent, whom you should thank, and how you should live on."

"Get back!"

With an angry shout, Uzumaki Ayaka directly used the Adamantine Sealing Chains to pierce through the hearts of the two Anbu charging at her beside Sarutobi Hiruzen, then flung their corpses aside.

If not for Lord Mirai’s orders, did that old man really think he could break her Adamantine Sealing Barrier!?

It was only half of the Nine-Tails. Even without Sage Mode, it could not stir up any trouble.

After withdrawing the Nine-Tails Chakra, Uzumaki Ayaka came to Kushina’s side. Seeing her in such a state, with the flame of her life about to go out, Ayaka’s expression became complicated. She sighed in frustration at her weakness.

"Ayaka, I suddenly decided to save her once. Feed Lady Kushina some of your blood."

What!?

A hint of delight flashed through Uzumaki Ayaka’s eyes. She immediately replied, "Yes, I understand, Lord Mirai."

After receiving the order, Uzumaki Ayaka immediately held her arm to Kushina’s mouth and urged her, "Hurry and bite. I inherited Father’s ability. I can save your life."

Hyuga Mirai also sent Sage Chakra into Uzumaki Kushina’s body, then used a Sealing Technique to preserve the Sage Chakra within her.

"Lady Kushina, remember my words. If you figure it out, you can come seek revenge in the future, just like Minato-kun."

After saying that, Hyuga Mirai saw many people rushing toward them from afar, so he said to Uzumaki Ayaka.

"Let’s go. Konoha’s people are almost here."

Third update. There will be two more tonight! (The author is going to get a nucleic acid test and eat first.)

And regarding the matter of half of the Nine-Tails in the previous chapter, I took a one-hour nap this afternoon and woke up frightened by the comments.

First, I solemnly declare that I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely have no intention of following the original plot! Absolutely not.

In fact, I thought about those three choices for a long time. I felt that with Namikaze Minato’s personality, he would definitely choose the third option rather than the first or second. But I adjusted it slightly—Minato endured humiliation for the sake of the village.

Choosing the first option would mean pushing Naruto toward Konoha and drawing the Ninja World’s attention to the protagonist. Whether it was Konoha, the other Four Great Nations, or Akatsuki, they would all focus their attention on the protagonist.

Choosing the second option was also for the following plot. It was already hinted at earlier: in the parallel world, Naruto faced a split between the Ninja Villages and the Daimyo, with the Daimyo demanding that Konoha hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

And what the protagonist did was even more extreme than Hyuga Mirai in the parallel world. The Daimyo’s residence, the Civilians of the Land of Fire, and even Konoha’s Civilians would all demand that Konoha hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. That way, Naruto would learn the Will of Fire even more deeply in Konoha, and when he eventually turned dark and rebelled, it would be even more intense.

I’ve even thought up the scene where one hundred thousand Civilians gather in Konoha, begging the Hokage to hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I just don’t know how readers will react to it, or whether many readers will be unable to accept it.

But I absolutely never intended to follow the original plot. If I started following the original plot this early, I’d simply be making things difficult for myself.

I originally wanted to post a separate chapter to explain, but I figured readers would definitely urge me to get back to writing, so I wrote a chapter and explained it all at once.

I saw several fully subscribed readers with apprentice and disciple badges saying they were dropping the story. My heart hurts.