Chapter 26 Minato Meets Naruto

**In the Sealed Space**

Naruto didn't have to put much effort into coaxing Kurama. After all, the Nine-Tails was just a fox that had been imprisoned for decades, its hatred festering. What it longed for most was to see the pain on the face of the one who had sealed it.

Standing beneath the massive gate, chakra swirled around Naruto. The water beneath his feet spun in circles, rising slowly and wrapping around his body like a living current. Supported by the swirling water, he floated up toward the seal inscribed on the gate.

Naruto raised his hand, placing two fingers on the edge of the seal, ready to tear it off without hesitation.

As his fingers brushed the surface, the quiet space was suddenly bathed in warm, golden light. The glow spread gently, forming into a human figure—a man with blond hair, blue eyes, and a handsome face. He wore a Hokage cloak over a green flak jacket, his presence calm yet commanding.

Naruto's hand was firmly caught in a warm grasp.

When the golden light faded, Naruto stared at the figure before him, his expression unreadable. The man's cloak billowed lightly, the words **"Fourth Hokage"** emblazoned on it as clear as day.

"Minato Namikaze," Naruto muttered, his voice steady.

Minato smiled gently as he pulled Naruto back to solid ground, his gaze filled with pride and relief.

"Naruto… you've grown." His voice was soft, tinged with emotion.

Minato's mind flooded with memories. The last time he had seen Naruto, he had been a crying infant in his arms. He had often imagined this moment—his son standing tall, perhaps an accomplished shinobi or even a hero of Konoha.

But this Naruto…

He wasn't the joyful boy Minato had envisioned. His eyes were sharp, his presence commanding, and something about his demeanor felt distant.

With an awkward smile, Minato reached out, intending to ruffle his son's hair. But Naruto stepped back, evading the gesture without a word.

Minato's hand hovered in the air for a moment before he withdrew it. "Naruto… maybe the Third Hokage never told you, but I—"

"Enough with the small talk, Fourth Hokage." Naruto's cold tone cut him off.

Minato froze, the smile slipping from his face.

"I didn't undo the seal to listen to your lectures," Naruto continued.

Minato's heart sank. He wasn't sure how to bridge the gap between them, and guilt gnawed at him. Was Naruto's rebellious nature his fault? Had the village misunderstood him because of the Nine-Tails?

Yet Minato took solace in one thing: Naruto was strong. He stood tall, his expression unyielding, and his chakra pulsed with power. At the very least, his son had been well-fed and raised into a capable ninja.

"Listen, Naruto," Minato began gently, "the Nine-Tails is dangerous. Its words are often laced with manipulation. If you want to master its chakra, it's best to have Jiraiya or someone experienced guide you."

A mocking laugh rumbled from behind Naruto, drawing both their attention.

"Hahaha… oh, Fourth Hokage," Kurama's deep voice boomed, "you think this is my doing?"

Minato's gaze shifted to the Nine-Tails, his jaw tightening.

"Kurama! I should have known you were behind this!"

But Kurama wasn't fazed. Its fangs gleamed in a wicked grin as it sneered, "Don't blame me. If it weren't for my chakra, your precious son wouldn't have survived the hell Konoha put him through."

"That's impossible!" Minato snapped instinctively, but he turned to Naruto, searching for reassurance.

Naruto didn't respond. His calm, indifferent gaze pierced Minato, sending a chill down his spine.

Naruto spoke at last, his tone firm. "Fourth Hokage, I have no interest in Konoha. The only reason I'm here is to master more of Kurama's chakra and claim the Flying Thunder God Technique and Uzumaki sealing arts from you."

Minato was taken aback, his mind racing. "You… you've already mastered Kurama's chakra?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Naruto's lips curled into a faint smirk. "You misunderstand. Kurama and I are not enemies—we're partners."

The declaration left Minato speechless. He turned to Kurama, whose sharp grin only deepened, its eyes brimming with mockery.

How could this be?

Minato had always believed that understanding the Nine-Tails was impossible. The fox was a force of destruction, a creature of malice. Yet Naruto stood at its side with the ease of an equal, his presence commanding Kurama's respect.

Minato took a deep breath, pushing his shock aside. "Naruto… I can teach you the Flying Thunder God and the Uzumaki sealing techniques, but I'm only a fragment of chakra. I won't be able to teach you everything."

"That's not an issue," Naruto replied simply, turning to Kurama. "You ready?"

"Tch… brat," Kurama muttered, rolling its eyes. Despite its annoyance, the Nine-Tails extended a strand of its chakra, feeding it into Minato's form.

Minato blinked in surprise as he felt his chakra stabilize, its quality improving significantly. "This… this is Kurama's power?"

Naruto nodded. "Enough stalling. Teach me what I need to know."

Minato hesitated, looking at Naruto with a mixture of guilt and awe. "Naruto… before that, can you tell me about your life? What's happened to you?"