Naruto: Uchiha Youngjo's Konoha Spring

Chapter 309 All the Hokage Gather
"Touko... have you become the Fifth Generation?"

Minato Namikaze slowly opened his eyes. The fine dust from the Impure World Reincarnation had not yet completely settled around him. His eyes immediately caught sight of the divine robe embroidered with the words "Fifth Hokage" on Touko Uchiha's body. His handsome face was instantly filled with astonishment and disbelief.

In his memory, Uchiha Touko's strength was already enough during the Third Shinobi World War to suppress an entire major ninja village single-handedly, making him fully qualified to be Hokage. If he hadn't been born into the Uchiha clan and hadn't been so young and inexperienced at the time, Minato Namikaze would probably have had an extremely formidable competitor when he was vying for the position of Fourth Hokage.

"It's all thanks to the trust and support of everyone in the village." Uchiha Touko's response was calm and restrained, revealing little emotion, as if he were simply stating a fact.

However, upon hearing this, Minato Namikaze sighed inwardly.

Although he only held the position of Hokage for less than a year, he was no longer the simple ninja who only knew how to train and complete missions.

He had long been familiar with the undercurrents of high-level politics and the power struggles between various clans and factions. Uchiha Tokō made it sound easy, but his surname "Uchiha" destined him to have a difficult path to becoming Hokage, one that would inevitably be filled with bloodshed and turmoil that ordinary people could not imagine.

The thought of the cruelty of power shifts immediately tightened his heart as a father. His son, Naruto Uzumaki, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, had a special and sensitive identity, making him undoubtedly one of the most vulnerable pawns in the power struggles at the highest levels, with almost no chance of escaping this enormous vortex.

Overwhelmed by immense worry, he was caught off guard by his current identity as a reincarnated individual and faced with the unfathomable Fifth Hokage. He was at a loss for words to ask about his son's condition. The words caught in his throat, and a deep, unyielding sorrow settled between his brows.

Fortunately, at that moment, the Yin Nine-Tails residing deep within his soul instantly received memories from the Yang Nine-Tails in the distance and spoke in his mind in time: "Hey, Minato, don't worry, that brat is doing just fine now, probably even better than when you were here."

"Really? Kurama?" Minato Namikaze's spirits lifted, and he subconsciously asked himself. Having spent so many years together inside the Shinigami's belly, enduring endless loneliness together, he and his other half of Kurama had long since reconciled, even developing a rare understanding and trust. He believed Kurama wouldn't deceive him on something like this.

"Of course it's true." Yin Jiuwei snorted and continued to transmit the information. "In the memories I received, your silly son and my partner got along... well, quite well. Moreover, the Fifth Hokage in front of you is your son's teacher. It can be said that the reason that kid was able to live like a normal child in Konoha and was no longer rejected by everyone was largely due to the change that occurred after he met this guy."

As for the more complicated and convoluted matter of Naruto later slashing off his headband and running away as a "rogue ninja," the Nine-Tails pondered it for a while and felt that there was too much information to explain to Minato in a short time, which might only cause more trouble, so it was left unsaid for the time being.

Upon learning that his son was safe and well taken care of, Minato Namikaze finally relaxed, letting out a long sigh of relief. He looked up at Touko Uchiha, his handsome face revealing sincere and untroubled gratitude: "Touko, I see... Over the years, Naruto has been so well taken care of by you. Thank you so much!"

Uchiha Touko nodded slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable firmness: "This is my duty as Hokage. If even the descendants of heroes who shed blood for the village cannot be protected and treated well, then who in the future will be willing to stand up for Konoha and dedicate everything?"

He abruptly changed the subject, his expression turning serious: "Fourth Hokage, we can reminisce later. The situation is urgent now; please return to Konoha with me immediately."

"Has the village encountered an unimaginably powerful enemy?" Minato Namikaze immediately caught the urgency in his tone, and his expression also became serious. Unless faced with an extremely serious problem, there would be no need to use the forbidden technique of Impure World Reincarnation to summon the spirits of the previous generation.

“Yes,” Uchiha Touko nodded firmly, and said in a deep voice, “Those are invaders from beyond the heavens, who covet the foundation of this world, and avengers who have been resurrected from the spirits of the past and are filled with deep obsession. In order to fight against them and protect the future of the ninja world, I have to gather the power of the Hokage of the past. Fourth Hokage, your power is indispensable. The enemy is far stronger than the current village can handle. Otherwise, I would never have done such a forbidden thing and disturbed the rest of our ancestors.”

“I understand.” Minato Namikaze nodded solemnly without any hesitation. Protecting Konoha was a mission etched into his soul the moment he received the Hokage's hat, regardless of life or death. “Let’s go.”

……

The two moved with incredible speed, quickly and silently returning to Konoha. They didn't alert anyone, disappearing into the Hokage Building like two gentle breezes.

Uchiha Touko led Namikaze Minato down to the bottom of the Hokage Building, where they arrived at the door of a heavily guarded secret room filled with layers of sealing barriers.

Pushing open the heavy stone door, the scene inside the secret room came into view. In the center of the room was a long table, and beside the table, three familiar yet awe-inspiring figures were already waiting.

Although he had already guessed from Uchiha Touko's previous words, Minato Namikaze still couldn't help but show excitement and awe when he saw those three legendary figures in person. After all, they were Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage who founded Konoha; Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage who established countless systems and was known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu"; and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage who taught him and entrusted him with the Hokage position.

"Oh! You must be the Fourth Hokage!" Hashirama Senju was the first to notice them. He immediately turned around, his face beaming with his signature cheerful smile, and greeted them warmly, as if he were meeting a long-lost junior rather than a resurrected ghost.

Tobirama Senju also turned his head, his cold face revealing little expression. He simply nodded slightly to Minato Namikaze as a greeting, his gaze as sharp as ever, quickly assessing this young successor who was also skilled in the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Finally, it was Hiruzen Sarutobi. The old man looked at his chosen successor, who had died young, with the most complex expression. His lips trembled a few times, as if a thousand words were stuck in his chest, but in the end, it only turned into a sigh full of guilt and emotion, squeezing out a few words: "Minato... it's been a long time."

Minato Namikaze suppressed his excitement and respectfully bowed to the three predecessors in turn: "First Hokage, Second Hokage, Third Hokage."

Just as the Hokage were about to sit down and begin this life-or-death emergency meeting, Uchiha Touko's small communication device vibrated slightly. He took it out and glanced at it; it was a message from Uchiha Inaho, who was in charge of security—Hatake Kakashi had urgent business and was looking for him in the Hokage's office. Uchiha Touko thought for a moment and replied, "Tell him my current location and have him come directly over."

He intended to groom Kakashi as the future Sixth Hokage, so it was not unreasonable for him to participate in this top-level meeting ahead of time. Moreover, it was also an opportunity for him to reunite with his teacher whom he had not seen for many years.

Not long after, rhythmic knocking came from outside the secret room. After receiving permission, Kakashi entered, holding a document. He habitually went straight to Uchiha Touko and handed him the document.

"This is the report on the handling of the last batch of die-hard old nobles who obstructed the establishment of the Fire Country Federation. The few points of resistance have been cleared. This is the list and the subsequent resettlement plan. I personally supervised most of them." Kakashi's voice carried a hint of imperceptible fatigue, but the report was still clear and organized.

Uchiha Touko took the document and quickly glanced through it. When he saw a few names and their corresponding punishments, he couldn't help but frown slightly. He put down the document and looked at Kakashi:

“Kakashi, how many times have I told you? These specific tasks, especially those involving clearing out criminals, should be left to other members of the Anbu or elite members of the police force. Your focus should shift. I hope you can take over the position of Hokage in the future and become the Sixth Hokage of the Fire Federation. What you need to do now is to promote your old face in the village, among the various clans, and in front of the people, and build up your reputation and popularity, instead of continuing to immerse yourself in these tasks.”

Just as Kakashi was listening to this instruction, which he was already used to but never knew how to respond to, a gentle and familiar voice, yet as distant as a dream, rang out beside him, carrying a faint smile:
"Kakashi, it's been a long time."

Upon hearing the voice, Kakashi froze instantly! His languid posture straightened abruptly, and he turned his head almost mechanically, bit by bit, to look in the direction of the sound.

When he saw the figure wearing the Fourth Hokage's robes, with radiant blond hair and a warm smile, his only exposed black eyes widened instantly, filled with extreme shock and disbelief!

"Minato-sensei!?" His voice was dry and hoarse from shock. He had assumed only the First to the Third Hokage were present! Because he knew better than anyone that Minato-sensei had used the Reaper Death Seal to seal the Nine-Tails, sacrificing his own soul to be forever trapped in the stomach of a Shinigami! Theoretically, this couldn't be summoned back through the Impure World Reincarnation!
Seeing Kakashi's shocked expression, Uchiha Touko calmly explained, as if he were talking about something trivial: "I tried to study and break the formula of the Reaper Death Seal."

This explanation, though seemingly simple, contained a power powerful enough to shake the entire sealing jutsu system of the ninja world. Yet, coming from Uchiha Touko's mouth, it seemed so convincing—after all, in the current ninja world, no one could surpass him in the mastery of sealing jutsu.

Kakashi stared blankly at the smiling Minato, then at the calm Touko. For a moment, the immense shock left him frozen in place, a thousand thoughts surging through his mind, and he didn't know how to react.

"Kakashi, you've grown so much in the blink of an eye... You've changed so much, I almost didn't recognize you." Minato Namikaze smiled slightly, his gaze gentle, as if looking through time at the boy who used to always hide behind the mask. "It seems that you've finally slowly moved on from those things from back then."

Kakashi, facing his former mentor's gentle gaze, moved his lips slightly, as if wanting to say something but unsure where to begin. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "After all... you've been gone for so many years, teacher. People always change, don't they?"

“Yes,” Minato Namikaze repeated softly, as if talking to himself, or perhaps lamenting his fate, “People always change.”

He paused, then turned to look at Kakashi, his tone still gentle, but with a hint of barely perceptible expectation: "I heard that Naruto has been... being taken care of by you all these years, is that right?"

Kakashi's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Oh no... what if the teacher finds out that Naruto has become a rogue ninja...?

Although Naruto is currently staying in the village, in a penthouse suite at the Nakagawa Grand Hotel—ostensibly under house arrest, but in reality under tight protection.

Regardless of the reasons or his predicament, the fact that he crossed out his headband and betrayed Konoha is an indelible record. Even now, his name and the bounty on the Exchange Bureau's wanted list still appear.

“…Uh, yes.” Kakashi managed to maintain his composure and quickly decided to downplay the issue. “Naruto has been living in my house since he was eight years old.”

"I'm so sorry to have troubled you." Minato Namikaze smiled and shook his head, his tone filled with sincere apology and gratitude.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all..." Kakashi subconsciously raised his hand to wipe away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead and quickly replied, "It's all I should do."

"Alright, Kakashi, you can sit here too. As the future Sixth Hokage, you are also qualified to participate in this meeting," Uchiha Touko said at the right moment, easing Kakashi's embarrassment.

"Isn't that a bit much? The Sixth Hokage's plans are still far from being finalized. Doesn't it sound like you're making a decision on his behalf?" Kakashi seized the opportunity to change the subject.

“Since Touko has said so, then you may sit down,” Hashirama Senju said with a carefree laugh. “You are all good children with the Will of Fire. Since Touko has decided to let you succeed him as the Sixth Hokage of the village, there must be a reason for it. We, the departed souls, respect the decision of the living.”

(End of this chapter)