Starting Over As Minato

As Orochimaru and his men disappeared into the night, Minato finally withdrew his overwhelming chakra, allowing the oppressive atmosphere to dissipate. His gaze shifted to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who lay on the ground, surrounded by Anbu.

Despite the old man's pitiful state, Minato made no move to help him up. His voice remained indifferent.

"The Third Hokage is old and has been gravely injured in his battle with Orochimaru. Take him to the hospital."

The Anbu holding Hiruzen flinched. Sweat trickled down their foreheads as they dared not meet Minato's gaze. The sheer pressure he had exerted earlier still lingered in their bones, leaving them unsettled.

They all knew—Hiruzen's injuries weren't just Orochimaru's doing. A significant portion of the damage had come from Minato's overwhelming chakra release.

Yet no one spoke of it.

This was no longer a battle between Konoha and an external threat. It was a struggle between Hokage—one old, one new. And they had no place in it.

"Understood, Hokage-sama." The Anbu bowed and swiftly carried Hiruzen away.

Watching them leave, Minato turned on his heel and made his way back to the Hokage Tower. His thoughts drifted momentarily to Naruto, but he didn't seek him out.

He would acknowledge the boy. He would fulfill his duty as a father. But Minato couldn't ignore the truth—this Naruto was not *his* Naruto, not the son he had raised with Kushina.

And frankly, Naruto's naïve idealism irritated him.

Still, obligations were obligations.

---

"Kakashi-sensei! Are you serious?!"

Naruto's voice trembled with disbelief. His wide blue eyes were locked onto Kakashi, who had just confirmed what Naruto had longed to hear his entire life.

"The Fourth Hokage… Minato Namikaze… is my father?"

Haruno Sakura stood frozen, her mouth slightly open. Naruto, the dead-last, the class clown, was the son of the Fourth Hokage?

Uchiha Sasuke's eyes narrowed. His expression remained unreadable, but his mind raced.

Minato Namikaze—the Yellow Flash, the legend of the Third Great Ninja War.

And Naruto… is his son?

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "If you don't believe me, we can go ask him together."

Naruto didn't hesitate. He turned and bolted toward the Hokage Tower.

"Naruto, wait—!" Kakashi called after him before sighing again and following. Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances before quickly trailing behind.

They soon arrived at the door of the Hokage's office. Kakashi knocked.

A calm voice responded from inside. "Come in."

---

As they stepped inside, Naruto's gaze immediately locked onto the man behind the Hokage's desk.

The golden hair. The sharp yet kind blue eyes. The iconic Hokage cloak.

Minato Namikaze.

His hands trembled. His breath hitched. He took a shaky step forward, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Fourth Hokage… are you my father?"

Minato blinked, surprised by the directness of the question. He glanced at Kakashi, whose posture screamed "I didn't tell him on purpose; don't kill me."

Leaning forward slightly, Minato rested his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers. His gaze softened.

"Do you want me to be your father?"

Naruto flinched at the question.

Of course he did. He had spent his entire life dreaming about his parents, yearning for a family, longing to be something more than the village's outcast. But a small part of him—wounded, uncertain—feared rejection.

What if the answer was no?

Minato saw the storm of emotions in Naruto's eyes. He rose from his chair, walked over, and gently placed a hand on Naruto's head.

Looking directly into those familiar blue eyes, he spoke.

"I am your father, Naruto."

Naruto's vision blurred. His body moved on its own as he threw himself into Minato's arms, his small frame shaking violently.

The tears he had held back for twelve long years came pouring out.

"Why… why did you leave me?" he sobbed. "Why did Mom leave too?!"

Minato felt a pang of guilt. This wasn't just the emotions of the body's previous owner. This was *his* regret as well.

Naruto clung to him, his cries growing more desperate. "Kakashi-sensei told me… you sealed the Nine-Tails inside me! Do you have any idea how I've lived all these years?!"

Twelve years of suffering. Twelve years of being shunned, hated, ridiculed.

"I ate expired bread! I drank spoiled milk! I lived alone, hated by everyone! WHY?! WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!"

Minato tightened his grip on his son. He didn't flinch. He didn't avoid Naruto's pain. He accepted it.

His voice was quiet, filled with remorse.

"Naruto… I'm sorry."

Naruto's sobs slowed.

Minato continued, his hand gently ruffling Naruto's messy blond hair.

"Mom and I… we should have stayed. We should have been selfish. But we weren't." His voice wavered slightly. "I sealed the Nine-Tails inside you because I believed in you. I believed you could master that power and become a hero, but… I never wanted you to suffer."

Naruto hiccupped. His grip on Minato's cloak tightened.

"But it did hurt. It hurt so much…"

Minato closed his eyes for a moment.

"I know." He pulled back slightly, tilting Naruto's face up to meet his gaze.

"But listen to me, Naruto. From now on, you are not alone. I am here."

Naruto sniffled, his tears slowly stopping.

Minato smiled. "You're my son, the son of the Fourth Hokage. No one will ever call you a monster again."

Naruto wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. A small, almost hesitant smile formed on his lips.

"I have a dad now," he whispered. "And my dad is the Fourth Hokage."

A new fire burned in his eyes.

Let's see who dares to call me a demon now.

---

(A/N: Advance Chapters Are Uploaded On My Patreon)