NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: The Disaster
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**October 10, Konoha Year 48.**
It was a peaceful night in the Hidden Leaf Village, but that peace was suddenly shattered by an unexpected disaster.
"Ah! Run away!"
"Damn it, we have to stop the Nine-Tails!"
"Why is the Nine-Tails attacking now of all times?!"
"Send someone to inform the Fourth and Third Hokage!"
"We need to hold the line until Lord Hokage arrives!"
"Evacuate the villagers immediately!"
The Nine-Tails had appeared without warning in the center of the village, unleashing its destructive power. Its massive size and unparalleled strength, far beyond that of even a Kage, made it impossible for ordinary ninja to confront.
Even a glancing blow or a weak attack from the beast could easily kill large numbers of Konoha shinobi. In just a few short moments, hundreds of ninja had already fallen.
"Everyone, fall back!"
The elderly Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived on the battlefield, wielding the Adamantine Staff—his summon, the Monkey King Enma in weapon form. With him were his closest comrades and the most elite forces of Konoha. Together, they managed to temporarily contain the Nine-Tails' rampage, preventing further casualties.
But it was clear that the power of the Nine-Tails was overwhelming. Even at his peak, Hiruzen would have struggled to face the beast head-on, and now, in his old age, he was barely holding on. Within minutes, Hiruzen was already under immense pressure, and the other ninja fighting alongside him, including Akimichi Tōza and the rest of the elders, had sustained injuries.
"Look out! It's the Tailed Beast Bomb—everyone, scatter!"
The Nine-Tails raised its head, and a massive, dark sphere of chakra began to form at its mouth. Hiruzen's expression turned grim. The Tailed Beast Bomb was the most powerful attack in a tailed beast's arsenal, and with the Nine-Tails being the strongest of them all, this single attack had the potential to obliterate most of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Hiruzen knew he had no way to stop it. Gritting his teeth, he prepared to enlarge the Adamantine Staff in an attempt to knock the Nine-Tails out of the village or at least disrupt its attack.
But before he could act, a golden flash streaked across the sky.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique—Guiding Thunder!"
In an instant, the Tailed Beast Bomb, which had been hurtling toward the village, was teleported to a distant wilderness, far from any inhabitants. Another flash, and the massive Nine-Tails was gone from the village center, taken away in the blink of an eye.
"...!?"
The sudden disappearance left Hiruzen and the other shinobi stunned. For a moment, they thought they might be under a genjutsu, but the reality quickly set in.
"It's the Fourth Hokage!"
"It's Minato!"
"Lord Fourth Hokage!"
The golden figure was none other than Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.
"Koharu, Homura, Tōza, I leave the village in your hands," Hiruzen said quickly to his close comrades. Without waiting for a response, he took several ANBU and rushed toward the outskirts of the village, where Minato had taken the Nine-Tails.
*How strong is the Nine-Tails...?* Hiruzen thought to himself as he sped through the village. He had known of its power, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely. He couldn't help but worry about Minato, who was still so young, going up against such a monstrous force on his own. And the Sharingan he had glimpsed in the Nine-Tails' eyes during the battle... This was no natural disaster. It was man-made. Someone was behind this attack, and Hiruzen's suspicions were quickly rising.
But by the time Hiruzen arrived on the scene, it was too late. The battle was over.
He saw the massive form of the Nine-Tails, completely restrained by golden chains, suddenly shrink and disappear, sealing itself into the body of a small child below.
"Minato! Kushina!"
As the barrier surrounding the area broke and dissolved, Hiruzen jumped forward to reach the scene. What he saw filled him with sorrow.
Minato and Kushina lay motionless on the ground, their bodies cold and lifeless. Despite any mistakes Hiruzen had made in his old age, he had always held a deep sense of justice in his heart. Minato had been the village's future, its young and brilliant Fourth Hokage. And now, here he was, dead before reaching his prime.
Hiruzen felt an immense sadness wash over him. He had watched Minato grow from a promising young ninja into the Hokage, and now, to see him die like this...
"Don't worry, Minato, Kushina... I will take care of your sons. I promise."
Hiruzen looked down at the two babies he gently picked up from where they lay next to their parents. One had blonde hair and blue eyes, while the other had red hair and gray eyes. The blonde-haired baby looked more like Kushina, while the red-haired one had a resemblance to Minato.
On the red-haired baby's smooth, white abdomen, a mysterious sealing formula was etched, radiating a strong power. Even without having witnessed the battle, Hiruzen could tell that the Nine-Tails had been sealed inside this child.
*Red hair... It seems you've inherited Kushina's lineage. No wonder Minato chose to seal the Nine-Tails within you,* Hiruzen thought. *From now on, you will be known as Uzumaki Menma. And you,* he looked at the blonde-haired baby, *will be called Namikaze Naruto.*
Holding the two infants, Hiruzen made up his mind. He would give these brothers different surnames, each carrying a legacy of their own.
*Menma, I hope you won't blame me when you grow up. This is the responsibility and burden you must bear. As Minato and Kushina's child, I believe you will understand it in time.*
With a heavy heart, Hiruzen signaled the ANBU to collect Minato and Kushina's bodies. He then turned and began the journey back to the village, the two babies in his arms.
What Hiruzen didn't know was that behind the seemingly innocent expression of the red-haired baby, an intense turmoil was raging within.
*What? Who am I? Who is he? Where am I?*
These questions repeated over and over in the baby's mind, a swirl of confusion and disbelief.
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