Chapter 140: The Fourth Hokage and His Wife

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===The damp, gloomy seal space.

Naruto Uzumaki blinked open his eyes, then gasped in awe. "Whoa! A giant fox!"

A massive head slammed against thick iron bars, shaking the entire space.

The crimson fox bared fangs larger than a man, its murderous aura surging as it roared, "BRAT!"

Turbulent chakra erupted in dense fog—yet none of it could touch Naruto.

Ever since Sasame had Uzumaki Karin reinforce the seal, the Nine-Tails had been completely cut off—unable to leak chakra or even glimpse the outside world.

Trapped in solitary confinement, Kurama had grown far more vicious than in the original timeline.

"Th-This fox can TALK?!"

Naruto yelped but quickly relaxed upon realizing it couldn't escape.

"BRAT! I AM NO FOX!"

Kurama's thunderous voice echoed through the seal.

A gust of fox breath blasted toward Naruto and Sasame.

"…"

Sasame flicked a hand, erecting a chakra barrier.

"If you're not a fox, what are you?"

Naruto, emboldened by safety, prodded with childlike curiosity.

"I… AM THE STRONGEST TAILED BEAST!"

Kurama faltered for a split second before bellowing.

"Tailed beast?"

Naruto's face twisted in realization. "You're the Demon Fox?"

His expression shifted.

All these years, he'd thought he was the monster people hated—only to discover the truth.

Had he suffered because of this thing?

"I am the 'Demon Fox' they speak of."

Kurama's lips curled into a savage grin. "Come closer, brats. Let me tell you why."

Naruto instinctively stepped forward—desperate for answers after years of scorn.

"Naruto."

Sasame gripped his shoulder. "Stay here."

Then he strode toward the bars.

Kurama's heart leaped.

Foolish humans. So easily tricked.

Past jinchūriki had been far harder to manipulate.

Though Sasame wasn't the host, his bond with Naruto made him a perfect hostage.

Maybe this was its chance to escape!

As Sasame neared, Kurama's eyes gleamed with malice, jaws parting slowly.

Though trapped, at this range, it could lash out with tendrils of chakra.

"Big bro, look out!"

Naruto sensed the danger too late.

Sasame raised a hand—not in defense, but toward the seal itself.

If he remembered right, attempting to undo it would summon Minato, while Kushina would appear if Kurama went berserk.

Their love for Naruto was undeniable—though their trust in Hiruzen had been sorely misplaced.

"DIE, BRAT!"

Kurama's chakra lashed out like crimson whips, snaking toward Sasame.

Its eyes glinted with triumph. This host was pathetically naive.

Sasame didn't dodge.

He simply clapped his hands.

Sage Art: Wood Release — Wood Dragon Technique!

A green seed materialized mid-air.

Kurama froze.

That felt… familiar.

Before it could react, the seed sprouted, morphing into a colossal dragon-like vine that ensnared the fox in an instant.

"GYAAAAAH!"

Kurama's bones creaked under the pressure. "HURTS! IT HURTS!"

In the original timeline, Hashirama had used this very jutsu to humiliate Kurama.

The Wood Dragon didn't just restrain—it drained chakra relentlessly.

"Damn you! AAAAGH!"

Kurama thrashed wildly—uselessly.

Memories of Hashirama's grinning face flooded back.

"Kurama, you're too dangerous. You need to be sealed."

Then—BAM. Pinned like a bug.

GODDAMMIT!

You had Wood Release THIS WHOLE TIME?!

Could've led with that!

Now it was stuck between pride and agony.

A tailed beast DOES NOT BEG!

"Let me GO!"

Kurama's ears stood straight up from the pain.

"Big bro, maybe let it go? It sounds… kinda pitiful."

Naruto covered his ears—half out of sympathy, half because the screeching was deafening.

Sasame nodded, dispelling the dragon.

Kurama collapsed, panting, its gaze now wary.

"You… Who ARE you?"

Its tone had noticeably softened.

"Sasame."

He smirked. "That's Naruto. You know him, right?"

"…Yeah."

Kurama grumbled. "Watched the brat grow up."

Its earlier ferocity had vanished, replaced by something almost… docile.

"Watched me… grow up?"

Naruto's jaw dropped.

"Right here."

Kurama shot him a glance, then—noting Sasame's expression—added hastily, "From birth. Your parents sealed me inside you."

"WHAT?!"

Naruto's mind short-circuited.

Why would his parents do this?!

"Hey, Fourth Hokage. Time to come out."

Sasame pressed a hand to the seal.

Naruto's confusion doubled.

The Fourth Hokage is in my stomach too?!

Kurama's eye twitched.

Goddamn sneaky humans!

Backup plans on backup plans!

The seal shimmered—then another hand materialized, stopping the unraveling.

Minato Namikaze emerged.

Clad in his signature green flak jacket and white Hokage robe, his blue eyes darted around in bewilderment.

"You're… Naruto?"

His voice was laced with doubt.

Logically, only his son should be here, attempting to break the seal.

Sasame was handsome—but in a way entirely unlike Minato.

And the age didn't match.

Alarm flashed across his face.

Had an enemy captured Naruto?

"Over there."

Sasame pointed.

Minato turned—and stiffened.

No explanation needed.

That was his son.

The resemblance was undeniable.

A lump formed in Minato's throat.

They'd only met once—during the Nine-Tails attack, when Naruto was just a newborn.

Now, here he stood—a living, breathing boy.

Years of absence weighed heavily.

How does a father greet the son he abandoned?

"The… Fourth Hokage?"

Naruto's confusion deepened.

"You… don't recognize me?"

Minato's heart sank.

Hiruzen should've told Naruto about him.

Unless…

He doesn't know I'm his father.

The realization stabbed through Minato.

What the HELL, Hiruzen?!

His fists clenched.

"I know you. You're Minato Namikaze—the Fourth Hokage. Your face is on the Hokage Rock."

Naruto's reply confirmed his fears.

Minato's voice cracked. "I'm also your—"

"Call Kushina out."

Sasame cut through the tension.

"Who are you?"

Minato's guard shot up. "How do you know these things?"

"Ah, introductions."

Sasame smiled. "I'm Tsunade's apprentice—and a Wood Release user from the Senju clan."

Minato's eyes widened.

He knew Tsunade's history.

Had she wanted the title, he wouldn't have become Hokage.

Yet now, she was the Fifth.

And this boy—

Senju. Wood Release.

A once-in-an-era prodigy.

"Bring Kushina. I'll explain everything about Naruto."

Sasame added, "Don't worry about fading. I can sustain you."

Yang chakra flowed into Minato, reinforcing his fading consciousness.

A gift—more time with his son.

(Unaware he'd later be reanimated, Minato saw this as his only chance to make amends.)

"Kushina only appears if Kurama goes berserk."

Minato paused. "Wait… Where IS Kurama?"

His gaze dropped to the cage—where the mighty Nine-Tails was curled into a ball, sulking in the corner.

"???"

Since when did Kurama behave like this?

"Kurama. Throw a tantrum."

Sasame ordered.

"You—! You DARE order ME?!"

Kurama's pride flared.

"Hmm?"

Sasame's hands inched together.

Kurama's ears flattened.

"GRRR… FINE!"

It exploded in a burst of chakra, shaking the seal.

"Got it. No need for the hands!"

Instantly, golden chains shot from the darkness, pinning the fox down.

Kurama groaned.

Knew this would happen.

So. Damn. Humiliating.

A wild mane of red hair descended from above—Kushina Uzumaki, chains spiraling from her back.

"Huh? What's going on?"

She landed, eyes darting between Minato and Sasame before locking onto Naruto.

"Minato… Is that—?"

"Our son."

Tears welled in her eyes as she lunged, crushing Naruto in a hug.

"Naruto! I'm so sorry!"

"M…Mom?"

Naruto flinched, pushing her away. "You're my MOM?"

"???"

Kushina whirled toward Minato. "Explain. NOW."

"I'll show you."

Sasame stepped forward, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder before projecting his memories.

(Thanks to 10 Fate Points, extracted seamlessly.)

Seconds later—

"HIRUZEN!!"

Kushina's hair erupted like crimson flames. "HOW DARE YOU?!"

Minato's face darkened.

He'd chosen to die—trusting Hiruzen to care for Naruto.

Instead, his son had grown up shunned, hated, alone.

"Naruto… Forgive us!"

Kushina sobbed, clutching him tightly.

Minato's fists trembled.

This was HIS fault.

"Sasame, where's Jiraiya? Kakashi? My guards?"

Minato forced the question out.

"Jiraiya's always traveling. Kakashi's drowning in guilt. Your guards? Pushed out of power."

Sasame met his gaze. "None dared defy Hiruzen."

Minato's vision reddened.

[Naruto, Minato, Kushina, and Hiruzen's fates have changed. +237 Fate Points.]

"I'll leave you to your reunion."

Sasame turned to leave—his work done.

"Sasame… Thank you."

Minato's voice was thick with gratitude.

Without him, they might've never known Naruto's suffering.

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