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Naruto: The Hidden Protector

章 1: Minato can we keep her

In Konoha (Konohagakure or The Village hidden in the leaves) it was like your everyday morning. Ninjas were jumping from one rooftop to another. The civilians were doing their usual activities of doing business, Gossiping about some ninja, or criticizing the nearby Uchiha police.

But when no one was expecting it, in the middle of the village a space rift appeared. From it came a masked man who observed the nearby villagers coldly. And without any delay, he did a series of hand signs.

With a huge cloud of smoke that managed to capture almost everyone's attention, the masked man appeared standing on top of a nine-tail fox.

It took everyone a few seconds to register what happened and when they did they screamed,

" Help the Kyuubi has escaped the seal! Inform the Hokage immediately"

And with a roar from now controlled Kurama the nine tails disaster started.

" Minato, is this truly for the best? " asked an exhausted red-haired lady. She was barely able to keep her conscience while simultaneously using her Adamantine Sealing Chains to retrain the Kyuubi. Her name is Kushina Uzumaki, the last known living member of the famous Uzumaki clan and 2nd Jinchūriki of the nine tails, the strongest of all the tailed beasts. She is also the wife of the fourth Hokage although that knowledge is not widespread amongst the villagers for some reason.

Beside her stood a tall, fair-skinned man. He has blue eyes and spiky, blond hair. Hailed as the Konoha's Yellow Flash, this is the present Fourth Hokage of Konoha Minato Namikaze.

" Yes Kushina, the village cannot lose its tail beast and Naruto will need all the help he can get. Minato said as he did a series of hand signs.

" But Minato won't the village discriminate against him just like they did to me. I don't want him to go through that experience just for some power. " Said Kushina, still not convinced of her husband's plan.

Minato gave her a reassuring smile and said softly, " Kushina I understand your concern but I'm doing this for his own good. When I held him I felt my son is very special and no this isn't me doting on my son, I felt that he was the person Jiraiya sensei was seeking. The one who will bring peace to this chaotic world.

I believe in my son Kushina so this is why I'm doing this. This is my responsibility as a father, to let my child reach his full potential and achieve his goal. "

Looking at his eyes Kushina sighed and finally agreed. Although what Minato was doing can be considered selfish, she knew that he only wanted the best for our son.

"Please don't make me regret it Minato." to her remark he just smiled and said confidently,

"Don't worry I'm sure the village would accept him after all he is our son "

When his words fell he did a series of hand seals. After a dozen or so hand seals later she shouted "Forbidden jutsu of Reaper Death Seal."

A translucent person, a gaunt specter with a demonic visage who has a much larger body than an average human, possessing long, hairy, white hair, from which two red horns protrude, as well as purple-hued skin began to appear behind Minato. This person is draped in a large white kimono and carries a set of prayer beads. And to top it all off he has a tanto on his neck.

When the figure appeared the kyuubi which was trying to break free from the chains felt a chill up his spine. He hurriedly looked around and found Minato summoning the shinigami. And before it could do anything the shinigami with a swift movement swung the blade he had in his mouth and split the kyuubi in half.

While he was doing so the seals that were placed on the ground began to shine. And still while restraining the shinigami from pulling his soul immediately, Minato activated the formation " Eight Trigrams Sealing Style ".

Half of the now split nine-tail chakra began to flow towards him while the other half began to flow towards the altar where a baby is placed. Since he is quite near the nine tails the transfer was done almost immediately. And at this crucial moment when all seemed to go according to plan, the nine tails in a semi-conscious state suddenly realized something.

He was about to be sealed again. And what's more to an infant. How could he, the strongest and arrogant of all the tailed beasts, bear such humiliation? In a last act of struggle, he used the opportunity where the adamantine chains were loosened to attack the infant baby.

"I will not be sealed again "With a mighty roar he swung his claws to kill the baby before the sealing was completed

"Noooo" shouted both Minato and Kushina as they both used their bodies to shield their child from the attack.

Like a paper, their bodies were pierced by the nine-tailed claw. Fortunately for them, they managed to save their child by killing the momentum.

The nine tails roared in anger as his last attempt at freedom was stopped by these damnable humans. It hatefully glared at them as its body was sucked into the seal. After it was fully sealed the couple both sighed in relief. They managed to protect their child.

As adrenaline that was there vanished making them weak again. Minato coughed up some blood and said weakly, "I'm sorry Kushina, it looks like I won't be able to hold on much longer. Pour in some chakra to the seal so we can observe Naruto's growth and help him when he needs it the most and since we won't be able to meet him for quite a while ...." he didn't have to finish it as Kushina understood what he wanted to say.

She looked at her son sadly and said lovingly, "Naruto..

Don't be picky.. Eat lots and grow strong..

Make sure that you bathe every day and stay warm..

Also.. Don't stay up late.. You need lots of sleep..

And make friends.. You don't need a lot of friends..

Just a few.. Ones you can really, really trust..

I wasn't very good at it, but keep up with your studies and practice your ninjutsu hard..

Remember that everyone has strengths and weaknesses..

So don't get too depressed if you can't do something well..

Respect your teachers and upperclassmen at the Academy..

Oh, and this is important.. It's about the Three Prohibitions for a shinobi..

Be extra careful about lending and borrowing money..

Put your mission wages into your savings account..

No alcohol until you're twenty.. Too much can ruin your health, so drink in moderation..

Another Prohibition is women..

I'm a woman, so I don't know too much about this but..

All you need to remember is that this world is made up of men and women..

So it's only natural to take an interest in girls..

But just don't get hooked on bad women.. Find someone just like me..

Speaking of the Three Prohibitions, be wary of Jiraiya Sensei, you know..

Naruto, from now on, you're going to face lots of pain and hardship..

Be true to yourself.. Have a dream and have the confidence to make that dream come true..

There's so much.. Oh, so much more that I want to pass on to you.. I wish I could stay with you longer..

I love you"

She turned back to face Minato and said weakly, "I'm sorry it looks like I took most of your time as well "

Minato shook his head and said, "Don't worry about it Kushina it's all right "

He then turned to look at his son for the last time and said, " I love you, my son, you and your mother are what's most precious to me " With his words he finally stopped resisting making the shinigami pull his soul immediately.

During the pull, he thought regretfully 'I wish i could spend more time with my family '

{ don't worry your wish shall be granted } a melodious voice said as he felt the pulling of his soul stop for a moment.

Slowly opening his eyes he saw that he was brought into a black and white world. As he looked around he realised that what he was seeing was the present situation. He also saw his dead body slowly falling down Kushina's back. He tried to talk with the people but strangely enough, they couldn't hear him or see him.

Just as he was about to be vexed he again heard that voice," Calm down Minato, the dead can't interact with the living. " Turning around he saw a girl no older than 10 walking towards him.

"Who are you?" he asked with caution. Although he didn't know what was happening he didn't dare let his guard down.

The girl chuckled at his behavior and said a bit of sarcasm "Why are you so weary you are already dead so it's not like I could kill you again. "

At her words, Minato felt a bit awkward. True since he is already dead there isn't anything she could do to harm him. He scratched his face awkwardly and asked, "Eh sorry but who are you and is this the belly of the shinigami "

The girl shook her head and said, "No this is what you could call the pure land. More specifically, this is my domain in the pure land. And as for who am I, well let's wait a bit for that. It would be a hassle to introduce myself twice after all. "

While Minato was puzzled he soon got his answer as Kushina began to appear near him. She too looked at her surroundings with confusion but when she saw Minato she threw herself at him. Minato too, with practice ease hugged her and began to console her.

The girl, although felt touched, decided to stop their union. She couldn't keep their souls for a long time in her domain after all. She coughed twice to announce her presence.

Kushina, hearing someone else's voice, turned around to see a girl with long black hair with silver strands wearing what looked like a kimono which made her too cute. As if something was awakened inside of her, she broke free from Minato's embrace and hugged the poor little girl.

"Kyaaa how cute, what is your name sweety, do you want to come with Aunty Kushina, Minato can we keep her "

Minato smiled wryly at his wife's behavior. It seems like having Naruto might have awakened Kushina's motherly instincts.

While girl who was now fighting a life and death battle to breathe thought internally,' damn it if I knew this would happen I would have come in my adult form '