Starting Over As Minato

Kushina's voice trembled with raw emotion as she clutched Naruto tightly.

"I sealed the Nine-Tails for Konoha," she choked out. "Minato and I died protecting this village. I even followed his advice, sealing the beast inside our newborn son—to leave Konoha with a hidden strength."

Her grip on Naruto tightened. "And yet… what happened?"

Her breath hitched as anger and sorrow clouded her face.

"Not only was my son never recognized as the child of a hero… he was shunned, called a demon fox by the very people we gave our lives to protect."

A lump formed in Naruto's throat as he felt his mother's warmth. It was unfamiliar, yet comforting.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," she whispered. "I never wanted this for you. But… my chakra is almost gone. Soon, I'll disappear."

Naruto stiffened. "Disappear?" He pulled back, staring at her with wide, confused eyes. "No way! Dad was supposed to disappear too, but he didn't. He was resurrected!"

Kushina's expression shifted to shock. "What…?"

Minato stepped forward, his voice calm. "Kushina… it's true."

The moment she saw him—his golden hair, his kind blue eyes—she couldn't hold back anymore. She threw herself into his arms.

Minato held her close, his grip firm yet gentle, as if afraid she'd vanish. "It's really you…" he murmured.

After a moment, Kushina looked up, her eyes shimmering. "Minato, you take care of Naruto, okay? And make sure that old man Sarutobi gets what's coming to him." Her expression darkened.

Minato chuckled softly, but there was an understanding in his gaze.

Kushina knew the truth. The masked man may have been the one to attack that night, but Konoha's higher-ups weren't innocent.

The Third Hokage had taken back power the moment they were gone. Danzo had his own private army—the Root organization, loyal only to him.

And the Uchiha? Had they truly just sat back and done nothing? Were they confined? Manipulated?

She had so many questions, but one thing was clear: their deaths hadn't been an accident.

But none of that mattered right now.

Her son had suffered enough.

"Minato, I want to make things right for Naruto," she said firmly.

Naruto smiled. "It's okay, Mom. Dad's already back. And he's the Hokage again!"

Kushina blinked. "Wait, what?"

Minato laughed and began explaining how he had returned—though, of course, he left out certain details.

When he finished, Kushina still looked skeptical. "You're really alive?"

Minato grinned. "Of course."

A trace of sadness flickered in Kushina's eyes. "But my chakra is fading… I won't be able to stay."

Minato's expression didn't change. "Who said that's a problem?"

Kushina tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Minato's gaze shifted to the Nine-Tails, his lips curling into a smirk.

Kushina followed his line of sight.

The moment their eyes locked onto him, the great fox shuddered.

"You two… What the hell are you planning!?"

Minato and Kushina stepped forward in unison, their movements eerily synchronized.

The Nine-Tails' massive body tensed.

"You bastards…!"

Naruto, standing beside Kushina, watched in awe. His father, his mother… even the Nine-Tails was scared of them?

Minato turned slightly. "Naruto, take your mother and step back."

Naruto hesitated, but a firm nudge from Kushina sent him moving.

"Wait, do you need help?" she asked.

Naruto grinned. "Dad's really strong! That big fox doesn't stand a chance."

Kushina wanted to argue, but before she could, Minato's chakra flared.

A golden wave of energy wrapped around her and Naruto, pushing them a safe distance away.

Kushina's breath hitched. "That… that level of chakra control…"

She had always known Minato was strong, but this… this was beyond what she had ever imagined.

Had he always been capable of this?

The chains binding the Nine-Tails vanished as Kushina was moved further back.

The Nine-Tails immediately roared, slamming a massive claw toward Minato.

Minato vanished in a flicker.

The fox snarled and, without hesitation, fired a tailed beast bomb—straight toward Naruto.

"Naruto!" Kushina screamed.

Minato reappeared in an instant.

With a single Rasengan, he shattered the attack.

Naruto's eyes sparkled. "That was so cool!"

The Nine-Tails, however, wasn't done.

Opening its mouth wide, it began gathering an enormous amount of chakra.

Kushina's heart pounded. "Minato—!"

But Minato didn't move.

Instead, he extended a hand.

"Bakudō #81: Dankū."

A transparent barrier shot up between him and the Nine-Tails. The tailed beast bomb slammed into it with deafening force—yet the barrier held strong.

Naruto's jaw dropped. "No way…!"

Kushina's breath caught. "That wasn't a normal jutsu…"

Minato turned back, flashing them a smile. "Of course it was."

The Nine-Tails growled. "Damn you, Fourth Hokage!"

Minato exhaled, his expression turning serious. "Nine-Tails… if that's all you've got, then this ends now."

The Nine-Tails bristled. "You arrogant—!"

Minato raised his hand.

"Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi."

Dark energy surged around the Nine-Tails. A massive black coffin formed, enclosing the beast within.

The Nine-Tails let out a final, enraged roar before—

**CRACK!**

The coffin shattered.

The Nine-Tails collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.

It was over.

Naruto's eyes practically sparkled. "That was amazing!"

Kushina, however, was still staring at Minato in disbelief.

"Minato… what have you *become*?"

He simply smiled. "Something better."

With that, he turned toward the weakened Nine-Tails and placed a hand on its head.

Golden chains shot forward, binding the beast once more. Then, with a slight motion of his hand, a red chakra was drawn out and sent toward Kushina.

Her fading body solidified.

Kushina gasped, looking down at herself. "I…"

Minato smirked. "Welcome back, Kushina."

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