Namikaze Minato's Helplessness
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was once hailed as the strongest among the Kage and earned the title of "The Professor" due to his mastery of all known jutsu in Konoha. Though his physical strength had declined with age, his skill remained formidable. Even in his later years, he engaged in a fierce battle against his former student, Orochimaru.
Despite Orochimaru's cunning and deadly techniques, Hiruzen managed to hold his own. He forced his opponent back multiple times, demonstrating why he was once considered the strongest Hokage. However, his old age had taken its toll, and his stamina was no longer what it used to be.
As the battle raged on, Orochimaru's lips curled into a sinister smile. He formed hand seals and slammed his hands onto the ground. Three coffins began to rise, marked with kanji inscriptions: "First Hokage," "Second Hokage," and an incomplete third one, which Hiruzen barely managed to stop with his own jutsu.
Under the grave gaze of the Third Hokage, the resurrected Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju emerged from the coffins, their lifeless eyes slowly locking onto him.
"This is the Edo Tensei… Orochimaru, you dare defile the souls of the dead?!" Hiruzen exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of rage and sorrow.
He had prepared himself to face Orochimaru, but now, against the First and Second Hokage, the battle had shifted dramatically. Even if they were not at their full strength due to the limitations of Edo Tensei, they were still powerful enough to turn the tide against him.
Orochimaru sneered. "Sensei, if you had been willing to embrace the necessary sacrifices, Konoha wouldn't have suffered such devastating losses during the Third Great Ninja War. But your outdated ideals have left the village weak."
Hiruzen bit his lip, summoning Enma, the Monkey King, who transformed into his adamantine staff. "Orochimaru, if you hadn't turned against your comrades, I would never have banished you from Konoha. Even now, you seek to destroy the very village that raised you."
Orochimaru didn't bother responding. He preferred actions over words. With a single motion, he ordered the resurrected Hokage to attack.
---
Meanwhile, Naruto Uzumaki sat in the stands of the Chunin Exam arena, his expression calm as chaos unfolded before him. The battle between the Third Hokage, Orochimaru, and the reanimated Kage was hidden behind the massive trees summoned by Hashirama's Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, making it nearly impossible to see what was happening inside.
Naruto, however, had other concerns. His Kagura Mind's Eye allowed him to sense the energy signatures within the arena, including the Konoha Anbu struggling against the One-Tailed Shukaku.
As he absentmindedly sipped his juice and popped a piece of popcorn into his mouth, his gaze shifted toward the battlefield.
The Konoha forces were clearly at a disadvantage. Unless someone like Kakashi Hatake or Might Guy intervened, their defeat was inevitable. Unfortunately, those two were still engaged in battles outside the village perimeter and couldn't arrive in time.
A Konoha ninja, responsible for evacuating the spectators, noticed Naruto and his companions still seated in the stands. His face showed hesitation as he approached them.
"Guests from Uzushiogakure," the ninja said carefully, "this place is too dangerous. Shouldn't you evacuate with the others?"
Naruto waved a hand dismissively. "You guys go ahead. I want to see how this unfolds. It's not every day that Suna and Orochimaru team up to attack Konoha."
The Konoha ninja's expression stiffened at Naruto's casual attitude. Just as he was about to argue, his eyes darted toward Naruto's companions—Karin and Haku, both of whom had been identified as Jonin-level fighters despite their young age.
Even so, their presence posed a potential threat. Could Uzushiogakure truly be neutral in this conflict? No one could guarantee they weren't secretly allied with Orochimaru or Suna.
In the end, the Konoha team leader decided to stay close, keeping a sharp eye on Naruto's every movement.
---
Elsewhere, Konoha's young generation—the Konoha 12—was engaged in battle against Suna's invading forces. Amid the chaos, their attention was drawn to Naruto's strangely composed demeanor. In contrast to the panic around them, he remained utterly unfazed.
While Naruto didn't mind the stares, his father, Namikaze Minato, felt utterly powerless. Watching from within the Shinigami's belly, where his soul had been sealed, he longed to step in and protect Konoha. Yet, he remained bound by fate, unable to intervene.
Kushina Uzumaki, standing beside him in the afterlife, also struggled with her emotions. While she trusted Naruto's judgment, she couldn't help but worry about Minato's frustration.
Just then, Naruto smirked and turned toward them. Though they were merely souls, his voice reached them.
"My Shadow Clone just uncovered something interesting," he said casually. "Wanna hear it?"
Minato and Kushina exchanged glances before nodding.
Naruto's grin widened. "The forces behind this attack on Konoha aren't just Suna and Orochimaru. There's another player in the shadows… The Fire Daimyo and a certain clan within Konoha itself."
Minato's eyes narrowed. "Which clan?"
Naruto didn't keep him waiting. "Not the Hyuga, not the Ino-Shika-Cho. The ones who secretly colluded with Orochimaru are none other than the Sarutobi clan."
Minato's breath hitched. "That's impossible…"
Naruto chuckled darkly. "Nothing's impossible. The Sarutobi clan doesn't see themselves as traitors. With the Third Hokage on their side and the Daimyo's backing, they believe they're just reclaiming the Hokage seat from Jiraiya's reformist rule. As far as they're concerned, Orochimaru and Suna are mere tools to achieve their goal."
Minato fell silent, absorbing the implications. If this was true, then the battle in Konoha wasn't just an invasion—it was a civil war between the old and new factions of the village.
If Minato were still alive, he could have acted as a mediator. But now, as nothing more than a soul watching from the beyond, all he could do was sigh in frustration.
"I see…" he murmured. "So this is what Konoha has become."
Naruto merely smiled, as if he had foreseen this outcome long ago.
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