Starting Over As Minato

Naruto frowned at Gamabunta's words and shouted, "What are you talking about? This is my dad! How could he be a ghost?" Then, turning to Minato, he asked, "Dad, why are you here? I saw you were in danger, so I rushed over."

Hearing his son's concern, Minato felt a warmth in his heart. Meanwhile, Gamabunta, still in disbelief, finally realized that the man before him was truly Minato and not some apparition. Minato found the whole situation amusing—a giant toad afraid of ghosts? Who would believe that?

With a smile, he nodded to reassure Gamabunta. The toad let out a relieved sigh before asking, "Minato, didn't you die during the Nine-Tails attack thirteen years ago? How are you here now?"

Minato hesitated. He couldn't exactly tell them the truth—that he was a time traveler with a system. That secret was something he had to keep, no matter what. So instead, he chose to weave a half-truth, explaining that Orochimaru had resurrected him, and the Third Hokage had been gravely injured in the process.

Naruto quickly added, "I can testify to that, Boss Toad! I was there when it happened, and so was Kakashi-sensei. He can confirm it too!"

Gamabunta eyed Minato carefully. There was no mistaking it—this was indeed Konoha's Yellow Flash. No one else in the world possessed such incredible speed. Having fought alongside Minato many times before, he knew better than to doubt him now. Even so, he found the whole situation difficult to process.

Minato, seeing the toad lost in thought, shook his head and said, "You should focus on dealing with the enemy in front of you first."

Turning his attention to the battlefield, Minato's gaze locked onto Shukaku. A moment ago, he had used the Flying Thunder God technique to redirect Shukaku's Wind Release: Air Bullet, preventing it from harming Naruto and Gamabunta.

Atop Shukaku's massive form, a small figure could be seen—Gaara, completely unconscious, his mind lost in the depths of his slumber. That meant Shukaku was now in full control of the body.

"Who dares interfere with my fight?!" Shukaku bellowed in rage.

The massive beast turned toward the source of the disturbance, his enormous yellow eyes narrowing at the man standing atop Gamabunta. There was something eerily familiar about him, but Shukaku couldn't quite place it. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the nagging feeling.

Minato, observing Shukaku's reaction, chuckled. "Still can't remember? Let me help you."

He raised his right hand, gathering wind-natured chakra. A spiraling sphere of energy formed—a Wind Release: Rasengan.

Shukaku's eyes widened in shock. "That technique...! No way! You—you're Konoha's Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze! How are you still alive?!"

Realization dawned on the tailed beast, and for the first time in ages, fear flickered in its massive eyes.

"Oh? You finally remember me?" Minato said with a smirk.

Naruto, watching from the side, burst into laughter. "Ha! Looks like the raccoon's scared! Of course he is! This is the Fourth Hokage we're talking about!"

Minato teased, "Come on, don't look so nervous. I'm not going to eat you."

Shukaku, still reeling from the revelation, muttered, "Aren't you supposed to be dead? Are you a human... or a ghost?"

Minato sighed. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" Then, his voice turned serious. "It's time to end this."

Nearby, Kakashi called out to Kurenai, Asuma, and the other Konoha shinobi. "Fall back! Minato-san is handling this."

Naruto saw this and quickly released his summoning jutsu. As Gamabunta vanished in a puff of smoke, Naruto spotted Rukia waving at him. Remembering that she had arrived with his father, he ran over to her without hesitation.

Rukia began forming a barrier, her body glowing with a light green aura. The energy spread outward, creating a protective shield around them. Naruto, ever curious, reached out and poked it. When nothing happened, he balled his fist and punched it.

A ripple spread through the barrier, and Naruto yelped, shaking his sore hand. Rukia, watching in disbelief, sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Is this really Minato's son? He doesn't seem very bright... Who just punches a ghost barrier?"

She extended a hand toward Naruto, a faint smile on her lips. "Come on, knucklehead. Let's watch from here."