The Accusation

Under Amazura's leadership, Naruto finally reunited with his teammates. Konoha Village had arranged accommodations resembling a hotel for them, complete with hot springs and individual rooms—a welcome gesture.

During the Chūnin exams, Konoha Village covered all expenses for food and lodging. Their only obligation was to remain within the confines of the hotel and refrain from venturing elsewhere.

Naruto couldn't help but notice the potential targeting. Was this Tianzang's revenge? It seemed too lenient. He had half-expected poisoned food.

But with only three days until the Chūnin exams, confinement for three days was inconsequential. Naruto muttered to himself, resolute in facing whatever challenges lay ahead.

Dinner that night passed in silence. The Rain Shinobi seemed distrustful of each other, lacking camaraderie. Naruto had no intention of engaging with them, nor with his teammates, Hydrangea and Hibiscus.

While Sister Konan might be kind, Naruto harbored no romantic interest in her or any other girl for that matter. Well, except for Hyūga Hinata—she was a different story. She was the one he deemed his future wife, but unfortunately, she wasn't present upon his return.

As Naruto mulled over these thoughts to ease his tension, he retired to his room, explicitly instructing others not to disturb him. Yet, even as he lay on the tatami mat, he confided in Kurama.

"Keep watch," Naruto implored Kurama. "Alert me if there's any sign of malicious intent."

Kurama understood Naruto's intentions and agreed to remain vigilant.

Lying there, Naruto slowly closed his eyes. In the next moment, his consciousness entered the spiritual realm, where Kurama's seal resided.

He knew how to access Namikaze Minato and Kushina's chakra, thanks to the protective measures they had left behind.

Approaching Kurama's seal, Naruto found a large cage with a talisman paper above the gate.

Without hesitation, he reached out and tore off the talisman.

Instantly, a figure appeared beside Naruto with yellow hair similar to his own. Although he lacked the Hokage hat, he wore a Hokage cloak with "Fourth Generation" emblazoned on the back.

It was Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato.

Minato stood there, his expression complicated as he gazed at Naruto.

Naruto smiled at him, saying, "Nice to meet you, Father."

Minato managed a wry smile, unsure how to respond.

With a click, the door to Kurama's seal finally swung open.

Kurama roared, its fur bristling with hostility as it emerged from the cage.

Its eyes blazed with crimson fury as it addressed Minato, "Fourth Generation, I'll make you watch as I take your son's body."

"Naruto," Kurama continued, "I give you permission to unleash me. Let me out."

But Naruto intervened, "Hold on. We're having a family meeting first. As I've said before, keep watch outside. If anyone approaches, alert me immediately."

Kurama's body tensed, the violent anger dissipating instantly as if it were all just a fleeting illusion.

"Yelling, what a boring reaction," Kurama scoffed.

Naruto grinned and shook his head. "What? Do I need to rough you up?"

With Naruto's current power, he had surpassed even Kurama's prime, and he was only halfway there now.

Kurama grinned and vanished into thin air.

In Kurama's place, another figure materialized slowly.

She was a stunning beauty with luscious red hair, her eyes mirroring Naruto's in every way except color. It was Kushina, Naruto's mother in this world.

"Nice to meet you, Mom," Naruto began, ready to greet Kushina as he had Minato.

But before he could say anything, he was enveloped in a whirlwind of fragrance.

Kushina rushed forward, wrapping Naruto in a tight embrace, her voice choked with tears as she whispered in his ear.

"Thank you for everything you've been through, my dear," she murmured.

Naruto stiffened at first, then relaxed, returning his mother's embrace.

In that moment, mother and son found themselves enveloped in a larger, more encompassing embrace.

Despite Minato's 1.79.2-meter stature, Naruto, at 1.8 meters, now towered over his father.

But it was clear who held the reins of the family.

Closing his eyes, Naruto felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over him.

All his worries had been for naught. There were no misunderstandings, no blame, no awkwardness—only the filling of a void he hadn't realized was there.

It was a feeling of love and belonging that seemed to have existed within him all along, now finally realized.

Naruto didn't feel numb; he reveled in the warmth of his parents' embrace.

Then, a sharp pain shot through Naruto's head, jolting him back to reality. Opening his eyes, he was met with Kushina's stern gaze as she raised her right hand to thump him on the head.

"Naruto, do you have any idea what's wrong?" Kushina scolded, her long hair floating around her, forming eleven strange bifurcations.

Was she the Ten-Tails?

Naruto's expression darkened. How could she still not understand?

Before long, Kushina spoke again. "You knew the truth from the moment you were born, yet you never called me 'mother' until after my passing. Do you understand what's wrong with that?"

....

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