The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

He was, after all, a father.

She is a husband.

He has to be responsible for his wife and his children.

More importantly, he had already sacrificed himself for the village, fulfilling his duties as Hokage. He and his wife died together in battle, and he even used his own child as a vessel to seal the Tailed Beast. At least in this respect, Minato had done right by Konoha and his identity as Hokage.

However, Watergate will be more tolerant.

Kushina couldn't do that.

"Third Hokage, there's no need for this. My wife and I cannot accept your apology. In any case, all of this is in the past, and there's no point in bringing it up now. I understand why Lady Tsunade summoned us, but please let me state this first: we have given everything for Konoha. We are already dead, and we do not wish to be involved in anything in this world. We will not do anything to any person or village. We simply want to see our child one last time, and then return to where we belong. On this point, I hope Lady Tsunade, the previous Hokage, the two advisors, and Jiraiya-sensei can understand."

Kushina stepped forward, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and the others with an expression devoid of warmth, and spoke in a flat tone.

Especially when the last person's name was mentioned, his gaze seemed to drift over at the same time, as if it were unintentional yet deliberate.

Jiraiya lowered his head in utter shame.

In this situation, failing to take care of the two brothers and even causing them to kill each other is truly appalling.

The person who felt the most guilty and who wronged the Minato couple the most was Jiraiya.

It's important to know that Minato and Jiraiya had a truly father-son-like master-disciple relationship. Even Naruto's name was taken from the protagonist of Jiraiya's novel. Menma and Naruto were both like Jiraiya's 'grandsons'. However, due to the so-called prophecy of Mount Myōboku and some arrangements made by Hiruzen Sarutobi, they were separated.

Jiraiya simply let things take their course and didn't interfere with Menma's life.

Menma endured immense malice and rejection for a full twelve years, losing all the glory and peace that should have belonged to him.

I haven't felt any warmth from family.

It can be said that Jiraiya was the last person in the entire Hidden Leaf Village who should have done this.

Therefore, at this moment, Jiraiya truly didn't dare to look Kushina in the eye for even a second.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 502 Each Person's Stance

A deep anger lurking beneath calm words.

This was a strong emotion that everyone present could hear.

Kushina had already given a lot of face to her seniors, especially to her husband. Before she died in battle, as the Hokage's wife, she had to consider things from the perspective of the village and weigh them against the greater good of the village. Even after death, she should still do so, but that should be based on the premise that the village had not wronged her or her children.

But what about now?

After learning more about the matter from Menma, Minato, or rather Kushina, genuinely had a moment when she wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with the Third Hokage and her teacher, Jiraiya.

That's the child I carried for ten months and gave birth to.

It is a child to whom I have always felt a deep sense of guilt.

Kushina was already heartbroken and in great pain because she was unable to raise the children, give them a complete childhood, or give them complete love.

Now we are even more concerned about children being abused and siblings killing each other.

If Kushina could still calmly endure it, she would be unworthy of her former title of 'Red Hot Chili Pepper'.

Why did Kushina not react at all in the original work?

That's because Naruto himself doesn't think it's a big deal, so why should Kushina bring it up?

These are two completely different things.

A completely different story.

"Kushina..."

Minato sighed inwardly, but his expression hardened. He stepped forward, grasped his wife's right hand tightly, and looked earnestly at Tobirama, Hashirama, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, and the others, saying, "I truly beg you, First Hokage, Second Hokage, Third Hokage, and Jiraiya-sensei, to forgive our little bit of selfishness. Ultimately, we, as husband and wife, have wronged Naruto and Menma. Please rest assured, elders, that we, husband and wife, will not get involved in any issues concerning the village. After all, I was once the Fourth Hokage, and I will try my best to persuade Menma. As for the rest, we are powerless to do anything about it. Please understand."

Minato's words were much softer, leaving a way out for everyone, but the meaning he wanted to express was almost the same.

He has already fulfilled his duties as Hokage.

He died to protect the village and the people.

He is the 'former fourth generation'.

Now he is simply a father and husband.

Looking at the resolute Minato couple...

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth, but in the end, only the guilt and bitterness on his face became even more pronounced, and he didn't know what to say.

Jiraiya was completely speechless.

They are, after all, people who care about their reputation. It's all so obvious, how could they possibly deny it?

You can't exactly yell at the Minato couple and force them to lay a hand on your child, can you?

They can say they won't get involved in anything.

That's already considered very kind.

What more do you want from them?

"Fourth Generation Couple, you don't need to do this. It's the village that has wronged you and your children. You haven't wronged the village in any way. It's all that monkey's fault. I apologize to you on behalf of the village."

In an extremely heavy silence.

The First Hokage, who had been laughing and joking nonsensically before, now showed an extremely solemn expression. He spoke in a very serious and solemn tone, and immediately knelt down, almost prostrating himself, to apologize to Minato and his wife.

Hashirama genuinely felt from the bottom of his heart that Konoha had let the couple down, as they had both died fighting for the village.

The children who stayed behind would still suffer the same treatment.

Wrong is wrong.

Hashirama never wavered on this point.

"First Lord, please don't do this."

Minato and Kushina were both shocked to see the First Hokage bowing to them in apology. This was the First Hokage of the village, the renowned God of Shinobi. Even Kushina, with her strong personality, felt that such behavior was excessive.

The couple rushed forward and immediately helped Hashirama Senju up.

Both Minato and Kushina, despite never having met before and only having met him in this one moment, still held considerable respect and affection for the First Hokage. He was indeed a person worthy of respect.

Especially for Kushina, when she first came to Konoha, the person who loved and cared for her the most was Mito Uzumaki. She was practically like a grandmother to Kushina, representing the softest part of Kushina's heart.

Hashirama was Mito's husband.

He could also be considered Kushina's grandfather, and Kushina would never show any disrespect to this senior.

Not to mention.

The one who apologized to the couple was the Third Hokage, and some other people in the village. What does that have to do with the First Hokage?

"No, as the Hokage of the village, I also have a responsibility. Minato, Kushina, I understand your grievances, and your actions are correct. Rest assured, this is what I approve of, in the name of the First Hokage. However, I cannot say that I will sit idly by and watch that kid Menma destroy Konoha. Of course, before the worst-case scenario comes, I will try my best to persuade that kid. This is my promise, Fourth Hokage and his wife."

Hashirama looked at Minato and Kushina with a serious expression, first shaking his head, then nodding emphatically.

When advisors Homura Mito and Koharu Utatane heard Minato and Kushina speak, their expressions immediately turned anxious. Although they trusted their First and Second Hokage greatly, it was still uncertain whether the Impure World Reincarnation technique could unleash the full power of the two masters at their peak. In this situation, Minato and Kushina's identities became crucial trump cards.

The two still refused to believe that Menma could possibly kill Konoha, especially with his parents, Minato and Kushina, intervening to dissuade him!

At worst, we can just discuss merging the villages again, as long as it's based on Konoha and they still use the name Konoha. We can also have Menma Uzumaki give up the title of Tenkage and become the Sixth Hokage.

They can accept it completely.

As the child of the fourth generation.

Menma is a true successor to the Hokage lineage, so his previous mistakes are completely acceptable.

Every kid has to rebel a little, right?

Jiraiya and Tsunade have been away from the village for many years and do not wear the Konoha headband. Do people say they have betrayed the village?

Sarutobi Asuma even joined the ranks of the Guardian Ninja when he was young.

So these are all minor issues.

As long as Konoha's principles remain and its interests can be guaranteed, then any problem is just a minor one!

It's the kind that can be ignored.

Even if Menma killed so many Konoha ninjas, it didn't matter; the overall interests of Konoha were paramount.

Regardless of what others think.

At least that's what Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both agreed with, but now Minato and Kushina's attitudes have at least directly shattered that possibility. What's next is either the East Wind prevails over the West Wind, or the West Wind blows the East Wind away.

The two were about to say something immediately.

But Hashirama's direct statement left the two speechless, especially when they met Tobirama's cold, all-seeing gaze. Both of them felt a chill run down their spines and couldn't utter a word.

They should just kneel down obediently. Before their Hokage mentor speaks, neither of them has any right or qualification to comment on anything.

Just follow the instructions of the big shots.

"Yes, what Anika said is exactly what I wanted to say. You two have already sacrificed for the village, so you have fulfilled all your responsibilities and obligations. You are worthy of the title of Hokage couple and have not let the village down. It is I, your foolish disciple, who has let you down. As for Menma, his situation is also caused by the monkey's foolish behavior. Logically speaking, his behavior is reasonable, but it is just a difference in perspective. Anika and I cannot sit idly by and watch Menma really destroy Konoha. So, I ask that you two, Fourth Hokage and his wife, can understand. But I also promise, in the name of the Second Hokage, that as long as there is any possibility, we will try our best to avoid the worst situation. Even if that is the final result, Anika and I will try our best to leave some room for maneuver."

After the pillar finished speaking.

Tobirama stepped forward, looking at Minato and Kushina with an extremely serious expression.

Tobirama may appear bloodthirsty and ruthless, but that's his attitude towards external enemies.

Tobirama's attitude towards his own people, especially his comrades who had dedicated everything to the village, was completely different.

Regarding the Minato couple and Menma Uzumaki, they did not wrong the village in any way; on the contrary, the village wronged them. Moreover, he was Hiruzen Sarutobi's master, so the responsibility should be borne by them.

However, this matter is not simply a matter of right and wrong. If Menma were not here to destroy Konoha, but to deal with problems within the village, or even to simply instigate a rebellion to seize power and purge people like Mitokado Homura, Tobirama would have simply stood by and watched.

No, they might even have assisted in the operation.

If these traitors can't manage the village, then let someone who can manage it take over.

Tobirama has always been a pragmatist.

It truly embodies the principle that everything exists for the benefit of Konoha Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression at that moment was incredibly interesting. If it were anyone else saying these words, Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely teach that person what the dignity of the Hokage was, but facing his mentor...

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't utter a single word.