Kitazawa glanced at Neji and more or less understood what the boy was thinking.

This was, admittedly, an oversight on his part.

He had considered the regrets of Naruto and Kakashi—but not Neji.

It wasn’t that Neji hadn’t crossed his mind. Rather, Kitazawa had subconsciously avoided the idea of going to Konoha in this timeline altogether.

Konoha was crowded and complicated. Too many people, too many variables. Entering it recklessly could trigger unpredictable consequences in the future.

But since he had already brought Neji here, ignoring him now would be unfair.

Kitazawa fell silent in thought.

With Minato’s Flying Thunder God, sending Neji back to Konoha—just briefly—was entirely possible.

“Kakashi,” Kitazawa said after a moment,

“Go tell the Rōran residents who sheltered you that we’ll soon meet the Queen. Once that happens, their captured family members will be returned.”

Kakashi snapped back to awareness, nodded, and left the room without another word.

“Neji.”

Kitazawa turned to him.

“Do you want to return to Konoha?”

“I… can go back?”

Neji froze in place.

Previously, Kitazawa had made it very clear—they were people from the future, and wandering freely through the past was dangerous.

“You can,” Kitazawa replied calmly,

“but anyone you speak to will have their memories sealed afterward. People of this era can’t retain memories of the future.”

Neji nodded instinctively.

He was quiet, mature—he understood the danger of temporal interference without further explanation.

“I want to see my father.” After a long pause, Neji finally spoke.

Kitazawa nodded in response.

“Just a visit,” Neji added quickly.

“There’s no need to disturb him.”

Hyūga Hizashi was his father—but in this timeline, that man didn’t know him.

And since any memories would be erased anyway… perhaps silence was better than words.

Kitazawa sighed inwardly.

Too rational. Too sensible.

He found it ironic—his students were all like this. Even Naruto, usually reckless and loud, became astonishingly reliable at crucial moments.

Not long after, Kakashi returned.

“Let’s go,” Kitazawa said, rising to his feet.

Kakashi’s body stiffened. A wave of nervous tension surged through him.

The group moved quickly.

Remembering Shibi, Kitazawa dispatched a Shadow Clone to inform him, then headed back toward the building where Minato and the others were waiting.

“Mi… Minato-sensei.”

Kakashi recognized him instantly.

Though younger than the Minato in his memories, the man before him was unmistakable—same golden hair, same presence.

Minato also recognized Kakashi at once.

He had grown taller, broader—but the white hair and mask were unchanged.

Then Minato noticed something.

That eye…

Young Kakashi had always exposed both eyes.

A quiet possibility crossed Minato’s mind, and he sighed inwardly.

Still—being alive was already a blessing.

“Kakashi,” Minato said with a warm smile, “What an unexpected reunion.”

Kakashi stared at that familiar, sun-like smile, his vision blurring.

After his father’s suicide, he had sunk into darkness.

It was Minato—along with his teammates—who had pulled him back.

Unfortunately, that warmth hadn’t lasted forever.

Seeing this, Kitazawa chose not to intrude. He quietly led Sasuke and the others inside.

Naruto’s group was already resting, and Kitazawa instructed Sasuke’s team to do the same.

There weren’t enough rooms, so the three had to share.

Fortunately, they were used to it.

Compared to mission tents, this was practically luxurious.

Kitazawa didn’t sleep.

He still needed to discuss Neji’s situation with Minato.

While waiting, he practiced Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome.

Inside the room, techniques like Dance of the Camellia or Wood Style: Impalement weren’t suitable.

He made no effort to hide his Ice Release.

The reason was simple.

He could always claim it was self-synthesized.

After all, if he could recreate Wood Release, then Ice Release was hardly unbelievable.

Byakugan and Shikotsumyaku, however, were different.

They were true Bloodline Limits—normally impossible to synthesize without blood relations.

But normally was the key word.

There was another explanation.

Atavism.

Most ninja shared a common ancestor—the Sage of Six Paths… or more precisely, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya.

If one’s strength reached a certain level, awakening ancient bloodline traits wasn’t impossible.

Once Kitazawa stood at the apex of the ninja world, he could simply claim atavism and freely display Bloodline Limits like the Byakugan, Sharingan, or Shikotsumyaku.

Under ordinary logic, possessing multiple Bloodline Limits was impossible.

Which made atavism the only plausible explanation.

And even if people doubted it—They wouldn’t dare say so out loud.

In the end, it all came back to the same truth.

Strength was the answer to everything.

Time flowed quietly.

A knock sounded at the door.

Kitazawa stopped his training, rose, and opened it.

Standing outside was Minato.

“Minato-senpai,” Kitazawa greeted, stepping aside. “Please, come in.”

“I’ve already spoken with Kakashi,” Minato said with a soft sigh.

“I never imagined he would go through so much.”

“War is always cruel,” Kitazawa replied after a brief pause.

“Fortunately, the war eventually ends—thanks to you, Minato-senpai.”

“With such an outcome, at least our efforts weren’t wasted,” Minato said, then smiled wryly.

“But let’s not dwell on that. After all, those events haven’t happened yet for us.”

Kitazawa nodded.

In this timeline, the Third Shinobi World War had not fully erupted.

Kakashi had yet to team up with Rin and Obito.

His involvement in the Rōran mission came solely from his own initiative.

“Still,” Minato continued as he poured two cups of tea, “knowing that Konoha ultimately prevails… does put my mind at ease.”

“Thank you.”

Kitazawa accepted the cup, took a sip, then spoke calmly.

“Minato-senpai, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”

“Go on,” Minato said, holding his teacup but not drinking.

Kitazawa explained Neji’s situation, and the truth behind Hyūga Hizashi’s death.

“Something like that actually happened…?”

Minato’s brows knit tightly.

In his eyes, Konoha had been in the right—yet Hizashi had died as a substitute.

Unacceptable.

Minato fell silent.

Was I already gone when this happened…?

If he had still been alive, he would never have allowed it.

“I understand,” Minato said at last.

“I’ll take Neji back to Konoha tomorrow.”

Hizashi’s death was a debt Konoha owed Neji.

And as the future Fourth Hokage, Minato felt that responsibility keenly.

“Then the meeting with the Queen of Rōran will be postponed until the day after tomorrow?”

Kitazawa asked after some thought.

“Mhm.”

Minato nodded. “But keep a close watch on Anrokuzan. If he makes a move, don’t wait for me.”

“I understand.”

Kitazawa paused, then added,

“Why not bring Naruto along as well?”

“Naruto?”

Minato froze slightly. “I’ve already spoken with him enough.”

“Not just you,” Kitazawa said meaningfully.

Minato’s body stiffened.

He hastily raised the teacup and drank it all in one go.

Though Kitazawa hadn’t said the name aloud, Minato understood.

…Kushina.

“I see,” Minato said quietly, standing up.

“Get some rest. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”

The door closed.

Night passed without incident, and dawn arrived in the blink of an eye.

After breakfast, Minato departed with Naruto and Neji.

“Kakashi,” Shibi asked after watching them leave, “Are you heading to the Rōran Royal Palace? I can take you.”

“No,” Kakashi replied, shaking his head.

“Why not?”

“There’s nothing worth saying,” Kakashi said calmly.

“And telling him too much would only burden him. Besides… his memories will be sealed anyway.”

“That’s true.”

Shibi glanced at Kakashi’s concealed eye—and understood.

Some wounds were painful enough to remember.

Speaking them aloud would only reopen them.

“Shibi-senpai,” Kitazawa interjected, changing the subject.

“Since we have time, why not teach Shino?”

“That’s fine,” Shibi said with a smile.

“Teaching my son secret techniques ahead of time… that’s a rare experience.”

With that, he went to find Shino.

“I’ll go train Sasuke,” Kakashi said, steadying himself.

He needed something—anything—to keep his thoughts from spiraling.

Kitazawa nodded.

He wasn’t idle either, guiding Hinata and Kimimaro while training…

Back in Konoha Village.

“The Flying Thunder God Technique is amazing!” Naruto exclaimed, eyes shining.

“When you grow up, you can try learning it too,” Minato said with a gentle smile.

“Then I’ll ask Kitazawa-sensei to teach me!” Naruto said without hesitation.

To him, Kitazawa could do anything.

Minato opened his mouth—then stopped.

He wanted to say that Kitazawa didn’t know the Flying Thunder God Technique.

But in the end, he didn’t.

Because he could see the unwavering respect Naruto held for his teacher.

Minato reached out and gently ruffled Naruto’s hair.

If I were still alive… that respect would have been mine.

Yet he felt no jealousy.

Only gratitude.

Without Kitazawa, Naruto’s childhood would have been far lonelier than it already was.

“Neji.”

After a brief pause, Minato spoke,

“I’ll have a Shadow Clone take you to the Hyūga Clan.”

“…Mm.”

Neji answered absentmindedly.

Seeing his distracted state, Minato hesitated, unsure what to say.

He formed a set of hand seals, and a Shadow Clone appeared beside them.

“Naruto, come with me.”

Minato placed a hand on Naruto’s shoulder and activated the Flying Thunder God.

Naruto felt his vision spin. When the world stabilized again, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar living room.

“Minato? Why are you back so early—”

A voice cut off mid-sentence.

A young woman with long, vivid red hair stepped out from the inner room.

Her eyes landed on Naruto.

And she froze.

An indescribable sense of closeness surged from the depths of her heart.

Naruto stood rooted to the spot.

He already knew who she was.

Emotion swelled in his chest, and his vision blurred with tears.

“Kushina.” Minato stepped forward and quickly, quietly explained Naruto’s origin.

“…You’re joking, right?”

Uzumaki Kushina stared at him in disbelief.

“Don’t you feel it?” Minato said gently.

“His Chakra… it’s familiar.”

Kushina instinctively expanded her perception.

The moment she sensed it, her mind went blank.

The Nine-Tails.

There could not be two Nine-Tails in the same era.

The only explanation was—

Naruto was from the future.

And that Nine-Tails… was hers.

Kushina turned just in time to see Naruto’s tears finally spill over.

Her heart ached fiercely.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.

Unlike Minato, she accepted Naruto almost instantly.

“I’ll go cook,” Minato said, tactfully excusing himself.

“I’ll do it.”

Kushina shook her head and stopped him.

Minato paused—then understood.

“Naruto,” Kushina said confidently, “What do you want to eat? Your mom can make anything!”

“I… I can eat anything.”

Naruto wiped his tears, forcing a small smile.

“Then it’s settled!”

Kushina grinned brightly. “I’ll make all my specialty dishes today!”

“Thank you… Mom.”

Naruto spoke the word he had never said before.

Kushina’s hands trembled slightly as she patted his head.

“You’ve been through a lot. Sit down and rest—food will be ready soon.”

“Mhm!”

Naruto let go of her and sat on the sofa, curiously taking in the room.

“Kushina.”

She shot Minato a glance.

The two of them stepped into the kitchen.

“…Naruto feels like…”

Kushina trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Like someone seeing his parents for the very first time.

There was only one explanation.

“We’re people of the past,” Minato said quietly.

“We shouldn’t know the future. When Naruto leaves… I’ll seal your memories.”

“…Is that so?”

Kushina turned away, bitterness rising in her chest.

She couldn’t imagine how much her child must have endured.

“Kushina—”

“When is he leaving?” she interrupted, steadying herself.

Minato hesitated.

“…Tomorrow.”

He had intended to say this afternoon, but changed it when he saw her expression.

“Then I’ll cook for him first,” Kushina said firmly.

“I’ll help,” Minato added, opening the refrigerator.

Time slipped by unnoticed.

“So many dishes?!”

Naruto stared wide-eyed at the table.

Nine dishes—far more than necessary for just three people.

“Well?”

Kushina planted her hands on her hips proudly.

“Mom, you’re incredible, dattebayo!”

Naruto gave her a big thumbs-up.

“And the taste will be even more incredible!”

She laughed brightly. “Go on, try it, dattebane!”

Both of them looked at eache other for a moment and laughed heartily.

Minato handed Naruto a pair of chopsticks.

After scanning the spread, Naruto picked up a piece of chicken and took a bite.

Kushina watched him nervously.

“It’s delicious!” Naruto said without hesitation.

Kushina finally let out a relieved breath.

“Good! Then eat as much as you can.”

“Huh?”

Naruto scratched his head. “I don’t eat as much as Hinata or Choji…”

“Your teammates?” Kushina asked curiously.

“We haven’t graduated yet—they’re my classmates.”

“Then tell me about them,” Kushina said warmly, listening intently.

Even if her memories would be sealed… This moment was worth everything.

“Mhm!”

Naruto ate as he talked, enthusiastically describing the Genius Class.

“Your teacher, Kitazawa… he sounds amazing,” Kushina said, then glanced at Minato.

“But why don’t I remember him?”

“He’s Asuma’s classmate,” Minato replied.

“Oh—no wonder.”

Kushina nodded in realization.

He was young in this timeline; it made sense.

Still, like Minato, she felt deep gratitude.

She understood better than anyone what life as a Nine-Tails Jinchūriki could be like.

Without Kitazawa… Naruto’s life might have been far lonelier.

The next day arrived.

Minato, Naruto, and Neji returned swiftly to Rōran.

Though their schedule had shifted slightly,

Kitazawa—and Shibi—understood without complaint.

Some moments were worth delaying fate for.

——————————–

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