Chapter 33


    As Neji moved through the battlefield of the Uchihapound, collecting Sharingan eyes, the situation on the outskirts involving the Nine-Tails was escting. Fugaku, perhaps weakened and unable to restrain the Nine-Tails any longer, or maybe deliberately loosening his control in a desperate bid to crush Hiruzen quickly, allowed the beast to go on a rampage.


    The Nine-Tails'' attacks became increasingly ferocious and indiscriminate. Their fur nearly covered their entire body, and the pressure on Hiruzen, facing the almost fully transformed Nine-Tails alone, was immense.


    "Boom—"


    The Tailed Beast Ball exploded, its thunderous roar echoing across thend.


    Hiruzen turned to see an entire mountainside leveled by the immense power.


    His face darkened. The entire vige would have been obliterated if such an attack had been unleashed on Konoha.


    "Fugaku, that bastard…"


    He had lost count of how many times he had cursed that name today. Despite thoroughly preparing for the Uchiha rebellion, everything had fallen apart since Naruto was captured. No one had anticipated that Fugaku would be audacious enough to make such a bold move.


    His ambitions were grand.His methods were audacious.


    If Fugaku had shown this level of resolve earlier, why had he waited until now to stage a coup?


    Why had he been forced down this path?


    There was no time to ponder these questions now.


    The Nine-Tails was gathering another Tailed Beast Ball, its terrifying power sending shivers down Hiruzen''s spine.


    Hiruzen had already driven away all the Konoha shinobi, now facing the nearlyplete Nine-Tails alone in the outskirts.


    At worst, they could perish together, he thought.


    Taking a deep breath, focusing his spirit, Hiruzen prepared to evade and simultaneously shouted at the Nine-Tails:


    "Naruto, are you still in there? Wake up!"


    "Nine-Tails, I know you''re regaining consciousness! Do you really want to be controlled by the Uchiha?"


    He shouted until his voice nearly gave out, but the only response from the Nine-Tails was an intensified hatred in its eyes whenever it heard the name "Uchiha."


    The Tailed Beast Ball rolled forward like an unstoppable war machine, ttening everything in its path.


    Hiruzen''s figure continued to flicker as he dodged.


    This time, however, the Nine-Tails had learned. The Tailed Beast Ball exploded not far from where it was released!


    Though Hiruzen wasn’t at the st''s epicenter, the shockwaves, like wind des, were unavoidable.


    The surrounding trees were practically sliced in half.


    "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"


    The st wave tore apart the earth wall, and Hiruzen was sent flying!


    His staff plunged into the ground, helping him stabilize himself as he coughed up blood.


    His condition was dire; his physical strength and chakra reserves were nearing their limits.


    Watching the Nine-Tails gather another Tailed Beast Ball, Hiruzen smiled.


    The Nine-Tails had learned how to use the Tailed Beast Ball to inflict real harm on him. The next one would be much harder to avoid!


    …So, this is it?


    Is Fugaku ousting me, the Hokage?


    Sighing, Hiruzen knew it was time.


    He couldn’t push any further.


    "Sarutobi!" sensing his resolve, Enma couldn’t help but speak up.


    "Enough," Hiruzen shook his head firmly, "We can''t drag this out any longer. This is the only option."


    He might lose the chance to use the Reaper Death Seal if there is further dy.


    Gazing at the Nine-Tails, perhaps lost in memories or simply feeling the approach of death, Hiruzen reflected:


    "Honestly… I should have died during thest Nine-Tails attack."


    "It should have been me using the Reaper Death Seal back then."


    "Minato had just be Hokage, so young, with such a bright future ahead."


    "If I had taken his ce, perhaps this disaster today wouldn’t have happened…"


    Minato had a student from the Uchiha n, though Obito had died early in a mission. Still, the guilt-stricken Minato maintained much better rtions with the Uchiha than Hiruzen ever could.


    Hiruzen felt that if he had been the one to use the Reaper Death Seal back then, the Uchiha might not have taken such a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble today. Even if there were discontent, they would have tried tomunicate with Minato rather than immediately opting for rebellion.


    Now, despite Hiruzen’s attempts to y the role of a mediator, he had received no attempts atmunication or negotiation from the Uchiha.


    The Uchiha had lost all faith in him, seeing him as the orchestrator behind their suppression. Consequently, he became one of the primary targets in their coup.


    "I''m sorry, Naruto, Minato…" Hiruzen whispered.


    In the distance, the Nine-Tails were nearly finished preparing another Tailed Beast Ball. Hiruzen began forming hand seals.


    Snake—


    Boar—


    Ram—


    Rabbit—


    Dog—


    Rat—


    Bird—


    As he reached the eighth seal, it felt like ethereal hands covered his own, stopping him from finishing.


    A voice, like a whisper on the wind, echoed:


    "Third Hokage…"


    Hiruzen knew this voice well. Looking up in confusion, he saw the Nine-Tails had stopped its attack. Fully covered in fur, it was now theplete Nine-Tails. By now, the beast should havepletely devoured Naruto''s consciousness. But why?


    The Nine-Tails ignored Hiruzen, rampaging through the surrounding mountains.


    The entire mountain range was destroyed, and countless trees were uprooted. Dust filled the air, and thest traces of the Sharingan reflection in the Nine-Tails’ eyes vanished, leaving only pure malice and hatred.


    "Uchiha…"


    "Minato…"


    The Nine-Tails growled.


    These were the two names the Nine-Tails loathed most.


    Hearing them now, Hiruzen finally understood the source of that familiar voice.


    Minato Namikaze.


    But why…


    Confused, Hiruzen, urged by Enma, released the final two seals of the Reaper Death Seal. He watched the Nine-Tails from afar.


    Sure enough, momentster, with an unwilling roar, the Nine-Tails rapidly shrank until it was a child again.


    Hiruzen, overjoyed, rushed over, confirming that Naruto''s seal was intact.


    "Naruto?"


    Naruto, waking up, looked at Hiruzen, confused:


    "Old man Third?"


    "Was that a dream?"


    "I saw a man with blond hair, like the Fourth on the Hokage Rock. He said he was my dad, and I cried in his arms…"


    Suddenly alert, Naruto grabbed Hiruzen''s hand, asking:


    "Old man, was it true?"


    "Is the Fourth really my dad?"


    Hiruzen didn’t bother with titles. His feelings wereplex as he looked at Naruto’s expectant gaze, the guilt of not using the Reaper Death Seal for Minato deepening.


    He nodded, "Yes, your father is the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze."


    Naruto was stunned, then tears began to fall, no matter how much he tried to stop them.


    After a while, calming down, Naruto said:


    "He also told me to tell you, ‘It''s okay, I will always respect you, Third Hokage.''"


    Hiruzen froze, recalling that voice and the hand stopping his seal. His emotions were tumultuous.


    He sighed deeply.


    "Naruto…"


    Hiruzen wanted to say more, but an Anbu appeared, reporting:


    "Hokage-sama… the Hyuga… the Hyuga n is in trouble!"