232. Search
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"Well, actually, I'm from twenty years in the future," Naruto began, spreading his hands to show he meant no harm. "I was passing through the desert in the Land of Wind when I got caught in a massive surge of chakra… and somehow ended up here."
He continued before they could interrupt, "As for the Rasengan, you taught me that in the future."
Naruto then pulled out the Flying Thunder God Kunai Minato had given him. "And this is the mark you sensed. You gave it to me."
Minato, Choza, and Shibi exchanged glances, lowering their guard slightly.
"I see," Choza said, nodding in understanding. Shibi gave a small nod as well, though his face remained mostly hidden.
Naruto blinked in disbelief. "Wait, you believe that? Seriously?" He couldn't comprehend their reasoning. By his standards, the explanation sounded even more far-fetched than his earlier claims.
Minato offered a small smile. "We have reason to believe you. Our current mission… involves someone from the future."
Naruto pointed at himself. "Me?"
Minato shook his head. "Not you. We're searching for a man named Mukade, He used the power of the Dragon Veins to travel to this time. To be precise, he arrived six years ago."
Naruto frowned. "And I just showed up now because of the chakra surge?"
"That's likely," Minato replied. "Mukade's use of the Dragon Vein's power must have affected the timeline, causing you to get caught in the displacement."
Naruto processed this for a moment before grinning. "So, if I deal with Mukade and stop him, I can go back to my time, right? Since this ties into your mission, how about we team up?"
Minato hesitated. "It's a dangerous mission."
Naruto gave him a confident smirk, holding his thumb and index finger slightly apart. "Don't worry, I'm just a little stronger than you. Just a little."
Minato chuckled. "Confident, aren't you?"
"Of course! I've got chakra reserves that you can sense from miles away. Plus, I've learned tons of ninjutsu from you, my brother, and my sister-in-law. No problem." Naruto handed Minato the Flying Thunder God Kunai.
Minato's eyes softened as he examined the Kunai. The resemblance, chakra, and familiarity in Naruto's actions began to connect the dots for him. He spoke softly, almost to himself. "So… you're Naruto Uzumaki?"
Naruto shrugged. "Let's call it that for now. You'll figure it out eventually."
Minato smiled warmly, reaching out to ruffle Naruto's hair. "Then let's work together, Naruto."
Naruto let the gesture slide, thinking He'd need the practice before he had Kakashi.
Choza remained cautious. "Minato… are you sure?"
Minato glanced at him. "Just treat him like a long-lost brother."
Naruto decided to bribe Choza for good measure. Pulling a scroll from his pouch, he materialized a bag of snacks. "Here, these are from Fire City twenty years in the future. I meant to give them to a friend in the Akimichi clan, but I haven't run into him yet. You can have one."
Choza's eyes lit up as he took the bag. "Snacks from twenty years in the future? Incredible! Who's this friend of yours? I'll return the favour when I see him."
Naruto smirked. "Don't worry, you'll figure it out eventually." 'It's for your son, anyway'
"You're a good person," Choza declared, smiling broadly as he handed Naruto a figurative "good person card."
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At the Rōran Square…
Fireworks erupted into the sky, and the square was alive with cheers. Naruto and Minato, along with Choza and Shibi, leapt onto a nearby tower to observe the festivities from a hidden vantage point.
The crowd shouted praises like "Your Majesty the Queen!" and "Queen Sara!" It was clear they were awaiting the appearance of the young queen.
Moments later, a red-haired girl stepped onto the balcony, flanked by two guards. She waved and smiled at the crowd, her regal bearing contrasting with the youthfulness of her features.
"That's Queen Sara," Minato explained quietly.
Suddenly, the balcony beneath Sara collapsed. She screamed as she plummeted from the ten-story height.
Minato reacted instantly. A Flying Thunder God Kunai shot through the air, and in the blink of an eye, Minato appeared, catching Sara mid-fall and teleporting back to the tower. It was a scene almost identical to how he'd once saved Kushina.
Strangely, the crowd below didn't react. They continued cheering as if nothing had happened.
Naruto, watching from the side, grinned mischievously. Should I tell Mom about this later? Nah, his memory will be sealed, so he probably didn't say anything all these years.
Minato gently set Sara down, his mask still concealing his face. "Are you alright, Your Majesty?"
Sara, still shaken, stared at him with wide eyes. "Who… who are you?"
Minato removed his mask, revealing his calm, handsome features. "We're ninjas from Konoha. We're here to protect you and investigate a dangerous individual."
Sara's panic eased slightly at Minato's gentle tone and demeanour. "Thank you for saving me," she said, regaining her composure. "What dangerous individual are you talking about?"
"Six years ago," Minato began, "a man named Mukade used the Dragon Vein's power to create and enhance puppets. His goal is to spark a war."
Sara's face hardened. "That's not true! The person who came here six years ago wasn't a ninja named Mukade,. It was a kind man named Anrokuzan! He inherited my mother's will and worked tirelessly for this city. He couldn't be the weapon maker you're describing!"
Naruto crossed his arms, resisting the urge to comment on the ridiculous name "Anrokuzan."
Minato shook his head solemnly. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but you've been deceived. Anrokuzan is Mukade, and his intentions are far from peaceful."
Sara's voice wavered. "No… that's impossible!"
"Then how do you explain what just happened?" Minato asked gently. "The balcony collapsed, and it seemed as if someone pushed you."
Sara's face went pale. She remembered the sensation of someone shoving her from behind. The only one near her at the time was…
"I need to find him," she said, determination replacing her fear. "I need to ask him myself."
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