Ch-18:The fourth hokage returns?

Naruto observed Sasuke's eyes as they shifted into the Sharingan. Though Sasuke's illusion abilities were still developing, Naruto knew not to underestimate Uchiha's signature power. He wasn't yet in sync with Kurama, the Nine-Tails sealed within him, so his immunity to genjutsu wasn't particularly strong. The last thing Naruto wanted was to fall prey to Sasuke's genjutsu and become the laughingstock of experienced time-travelers who might observe.

Sasuke smirked, attempting to taunt Naruto. "Even though you're stronger, you're still cautious in the face of Uchiha power, huh?"

Naruto ignored the jab, maintaining his focus, which unnerved Sasuke. Sasuke was confident in his Sharingan's abilities—renowned throughout the ninja world for their genjutsu prowess. Yet, Naruto was avoiding direct eye contact, a tactic most wouldn't know at this stage. How did Naruto know this? Could he have studied Uchiha specifically to avoid defeat?

Regardless, Sasuke was sure of one thing: in the past few months, he'd trained rigorously, even adopting Naruto's unconventional methods. However, before Sasuke could process his strategy, Naruto vanished from sight.

"What?! Where'd he go?" Sasuke's eyes darted around, searching for Naruto's whereabouts. Just as he was about to move, he felt a cold presence behind him.

Naruto's voice came from behind him. "You've lost."

Startled, Sasuke whipped around, eyes wide. "When did you—?"

Naruto sighed. "You were only fighting my clone."

Over the past few months, when Naruto wasn't engaged in a mission, he honed basic ninja skills like the Clone Technique and Body Replacement Technique. This time, he used his clone to distract Sasuke while sneaking behind him, completely out of the Uchiha's field of vision.

Sasuke's face reddened with frustration. "You... you tricked me?"

Naruto looked at him with calm determination. "Being a ninja isn't about fighting fair. It's about winning."

After his last mission, Naruto's understanding of the ninja way had deepened. With a final glance at Sasuke, Naruto pocketed his kunai and walked off, leaving his rival to brood.

---

That evening, Naruto prepared a simple meal for himself. "Even if I didn't do much today, I earned this," he said as he picked up his chopsticks. But before he could take a bite, a system notification interrupted his peace.

[Ding! New Mission: Rescue Hyuga Hinata, who has been kidnapped. Time limit: 12 hours. Reward: Simulation opportunity +1.]

Naruto froze. His chopsticks fell to the table, and his expression darkened. "What the hell? Hinata's been kidnapped?"

He quickly tried to recall if this had ever happened in the original series. Nothing came to mind. But since the system had issued the mission, Naruto trusted that it was true. Changing out of his pajamas, Naruto bolted out of his house, his mind racing. He climbed to the rooftop of a nearby building and scanned the village streets below. Only a few lights illuminated the dark night, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

Naruto was faced with a dilemma: he had no sensory ninjutsu, so finding Hinata would be a challenge. He considered his options:

1. He could guess the kidnappers' escape route and try to track them down himself, but this came with a high risk of failure, and Hinata's safety wasn't something he wanted to gamble on.

2. He could notify the village and have Anbu mobilized for the rescue. While this was a safer option, it wasn't the most time-efficient.

3. He could ask Kurama, the Nine-Tails, for help. Kurama's perception abilities were incredibly strong and could pinpoint Hinata's exact location.

The third option was Naruto's best bet. He didn't know the Shadow Clone technique yet, which meant he couldn't simultaneously pursue the second option, so he decided to go straight to Kurama.

Naruto sat cross-legged on the roof, closing his eyes to focus. His consciousness entered the sealed space where Kurama resided. The giant fox, sensing Naruto's presence, cracked one eye open but pretended to be disinterested.

Naruto didn't waste any time. "Kurama, someone important to me has been kidnapped. I need your help to find her."

Kurama let out a low growl. "And why should I help you, brat?"

Naruto met Kurama's gaze without hesitation. "Because I'll give you your freedom. But right now, I need your help."

Kurama's interest was piqued. Naruto seemed genuinely distressed, and he wasn't joking about his offer. After a moment, Kurama smirked. "Fine. But to sense her from here, I need you to lift some of the seal."

Naruto glanced at the paper seal in the center of the iron door—a reinforcement placed by his father, the Fourth Hokage. Without hesitation, Naruto stepped forward and ripped it off.

The moment he did, a surge of chakra filled the space, and the spirit of Namikaze Minato appeared before him. Kurama's grin widened. "Heh. Looks like you're serious about this."

Minato, realizing the situation, quickly assessed the situation. "Naruto, are you trying to save a friend? Let me help."

Naruto had never met his father in person, but he knew who Minato was. He nodded, accepting the offer. Kurama, now fully free to sense the outside world, concentrated for a moment. "She's in the Forest of Death. Quite far from the village."

Minato turned to Naruto. "I know where that is. Let's go."

In the blink of an eye, Minato's chakra engulfed Naruto, and they vanished from the rooftop in a flash of golden light.

Not far away, a member of the Anbu watching Naruto stood frozen in shock. "Did... Did the Fourth Hokage just resurrect himself?"

---

Minato's chakra had formed a protective shell around Naruto as they sped through Konoha. It was surreal for Naruto, moving alongside the man who had sacrificed his life to protect him and the village. "You've grown, Naruto," Minato said, smiling as they flew across the rooftops.

"Thanks, Dad," Naruto replied, his voice filled with warmth and urgency. "But right now, Hinata needs me."

When they reached the Forest of Death, Minato halted, allowing Naruto to drop lightly to the ground. The night was still, but Naruto could sense danger lurking in the shadows. "I'll stay back for now," Minato said, stepping aside. "You can handle the rest."

Naruto nodded, his expression fierce. "I'll make sure she's safe."

With newfound resolve and his father's guidance, Naruto charged into the forest, ready to face whatever threats awaited him.

---

Word quickly spread across Konoha about the golden light seen streaking toward the Forest of Death, and rumors began to circulate about the sudden reappearance of the Fourth Hokage. But for Naruto, there was only one focus: saving Hinata.

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