Chapter 237

Though Minato words were pragmatic, a hint of lingering discontent echoed within Minato.

Undoubtedly, if he were aware of the hardships Naruto endured as a child in the village, his disquiet would intensify.

The Fourth Hokage, a scion of Konoha's revered hero, unjustly branded as a monster.

Even if the villagers were ignorant of the truth, the injustice was undeniable.

"Dad..."

Naruto muttered, his emotions reaching a boiling point.

Suddenly, he threw a punch, directed straight at Minato's stomach.

"Why? Why did you seal the Nine Tails within me? It brought me nothing but suffering. I was shunned by everyone in the village, never allowed to make connections with anyone."

"That's why I endeavored to earn their acknowledgment. Through rigorous training, I sought strength. Later, with the guidance of Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei, I honed myself, achieving a sense of fulfillment. But, in doing so, I got the attention of Akatsuki..."

Naruto poured out his heart, recounting the myriad grievances he'd borne over the years.

Sixteen years of solitary existence.

Naruto, perpetually optimistic, had buried all negativity within him.

Until this moment, when it erupted like a long-suppressed volcano.

He cried, the accumulated burdens, weariness, and confusion overwhelming him.

"I understand it hasn't been easy for you."

Minato, laden with guilt, spoke sincerely.

Regret gripped him, yet he found solace in his choices.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. I regret that, as your father, you've had to endure such painful memories. Even if I apologize now, I fear it won't suffice."

"Never mind, Dad. Being the Fourth Hokage's son, that strength to endure comes within me."

Naruto's chest heaved with a prolonged sigh of relief, the weight of the moment lifting from his shoulders.

Gradually, the tumultuous emotions in his heart subsided, returning to a semblance of normalcy. Naruto, not one to point fingers or dwell on the past, possessed an extraordinary strength of spirit—a trait that set him apart and proved to be his greatest asset.

His father, Minato, observed this with satisfaction, a gratified smile playing on his lips.

"I sealed half of Nine Tails' Chakra within you, Naruto. I believed you could use this power; after all, you're my son," Minato declared, a decision that widened Naruto's eyes in astonishment.

Recognition had been a scarce commodity in Naruto's life, but in recent years, he felt a shift. Yet, he hadn't anticipated the depth of his father's appreciation.

"There's a specific reason for this choice. Sixteen years ago, during Nine Tails' atack on the village, I discovered something remarkable," Minato disclosed, his tone laced with intrigue.

"What was it?" Naruto inquired, eager to delve into the untold mysteries of his past.

"At that time, a shadowy figure manipulated Nine Tails, a formidable ninja with extraordinary power. Without a unique ability, one couldn't contend with him. I feared he might target the village again and this happened right now."

Minato's face tightened as he recounted the harrowing events.

"The village would nearly be annihilated. Were it not for Carnes, who handled Pain, the Hidden Leaf would have been destroyed."

"I've witnessed everything within you, even Jiraiya-sensei's demise," Minato added, a solemn acknowledgment of the challenges Naruto had confronted.

Curiosity sparked within Naruto, and he couldn't contain himself any longer. "Then dad, do you know about Carnes-san? Why is he so powerful?"

Minato, upon hearing the question, furrowed his brow and shook his head.

"I don't know him personally. He claims to be Jiraiya's friend, and although I've never met him, his familiarity with Konoha, especially you, are uncanny. Jiraiya even confided in him, suggesting an unusual bond between them."

"As for his strength, I have my suspicions, but now isn't the time to share them. Carnes is undoubtedly a formidable ninja," Minato explained with a sense of caution.

"Formidable, you say... Is he stronger than you, Dad?" Naruto couldn't help but seek a comparison.

Minato's response was emphatic, "Not only is he stronger than me, but he's the most powerful ninja I've ever encountered. Perhaps only Konoha's First Hokage can rival him."

The revelation left Naruto stunned. His perception of Tailed Beasts as pinnacle entities had been shattered by the acknowledgment that Carnes surpassed even his father in strength.

"Don't worry about that, Naruto. If he's willing to save Konoha, he's not an enemy. His capabilities far exceed yours, making direct contact unnecessary," Minato reassured, a fatherly concern underlying his advice.

Indeed, as he scrutinized Naruto previously, Carnes' formidable strength had left him astounded. Were the claims of the ninjas from those villages accurate? Was Carnes truly Penn's father, the surviving master of the first generation of the ninja world?

Yet, Naruto, unfazed by the weighty matter, inquired, "So, the one who unleashed the Nine Tails on the village before was Pain?"

Namikaze Minato shook his head, correcting, "No, not him."

"Then who was it?" Naruto pressed.

"It was another member of the Akatsuki, a man concealed behind a mask. He saw through my intentions completely at that time; he is no ordinary person. Pain, I fear, was merely a pawn in his hands," Minato explained.

"But Pain has a deep-seated hatred for Konoha. He claimed his village suffered the same fate before," Naruto countered.

"That's precisely why he was exploited," Minato clarified.

"Exploited... Can someone as powerful as Pain be manipulated? And why does this masked enigma harbor such an obsession with Konoha?" Naruto grappled with the perplexity.

"The Akatsuki harbors numerous formidable ninjas; dealing with them is a daunting task for Konoha. Can't we seek assistance from Carnes-san?" Naruto proposed.

Minato shook his head solemnly, "It's futile. Someone as powerful as Carnes won't be swayed by Konoha's interests. That's precisely why Pain felt emboldened to strike again."

Minato emphasized the crux of the issue, "Konoha cannot control a force as mighty as Carnes, and that, in turn, is why Pain continues to pose a threat."

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