Naruto: Uchiha Youngjo's Konoha Spring

Chapter 187: Team 7's mission to the Land of Waves, but their employer is Gato.
Caught off guard by the heavy punch, Minato Namikaze's back was completely bent over, and he looked up at Naruto in disbelief.

However, Naruto was already in tears at this moment.

"Why did you seal the Nine-Tails into my body? Do you know how I lived as a child because of this? Everyone in the village was hostile to me," Naruto said excitedly. "If it weren't for Kakashi and Touko-sensei, I might still be living like this now."

"I'm sorry, Naruto." Minato Namikaze gently hugged Naruto. "I've made you suffer so much."

Naruto, who was probably experiencing his father's embrace for the first time in his life, was stunned by the unfamiliar warmth.

"During the Nine-Tails' rampage back then, there was a mastermind controlling the Nine-Tails to attack the village. His strength was extremely strange, and without special power, it was impossible to contend with him," Minato Namikaze said.

"Regarding this, the culprit who used the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha is already dead at my hands," Uchiha Touko said.

Minato Namikaze looked over at the sound, exchanged a glance with Touko Uchiha, and smiled.

"Douguang, long time no see. Are you already the Fifth Hokage?"

"Thank you for the trust of the villagers," Uchiha Touko said after nodding.

"I've seen how much you've taken care of Naruto all these years, even though I'm in this sealed space," Minato Namikaze said.

“Of course,” Uchiha Touko nodded. “Taking care of the children in the village is also the Hokage’s duty.”

"Have you killed the masked man who orchestrated the Nine-Tails' rampage?" Minato Namikaze asked.

“That’s right,” Uchiha Touko nodded. “I’m very sorry, there’s a traitor in the clan.”

“That puts my mind at ease,” Minato Namikaze nodded.

"Fourth Hokage, please have your wife come out and meet us as well," said Uchiha Touko.

"Now?" Minato Namikaze glanced back at the Nine-Tails inside the sealed space and hesitated. According to their original plan, Kushina's chakra was to help Naruto obtain the Nine-Tails' power in the future.

“I brought Naruto to see you in the hope that he can understand the path he should take in the future. He is already a ninja,” Uchiha Touko said. “But right now, he doesn’t even have the most basic goal.”

"I didn't!" Naruto muttered in dissatisfaction upon hearing this.

"Sasuke wants to become the Hokage of Konoha in the future, while Neji wants to lead the Hyuga clan onto a new path. They are both working hard towards their respective goals, but what about you? Have you thought about what you will do after becoming a ninja?" Uchiha Touko asked.

"I...I also want to become Hokage!" Naruto stammered for a while before finally speaking, but his voice sounded somewhat weak.

This is normal. In the original timeline, although Naruto always aimed to become Hokage, he didn't really understand the meaning of Hokage until the great battle with Pain. All he wanted was everyone's recognition. But now, he has obtained that recognition. Who doesn't know that Naruto Uzumaki is now the head of the Uzumaki clan, one of the twin stars of the Ninja Academy, and the future pillar of Konoha? The status of Jinchuriki has little impact on him.

So, although Naruto seems cheerful every day, while Sasuke and Neji are contemplating the world, Naruto's little brain is always thinking about where he can stock up on a limited quantity of ramen.

Seeing this, Minato Namikaze's face also showed a hint of worry. For a profession like ninja, whose duty is to kill, it is indeed a very dangerous thing not to have a clear goal as a mental anchor.

"Fourth Hokage, you've seen it too." Uchiha Touko shrugged. "What this child needs now is guidance from his parents. As for the Nine-Tails..."

Uchiha Touko glanced back at Kurama, who had been silent since the beginning. Kurama noticed Uchiha Touko's gaze, and its fur stood on end again, but it obediently took a half step back.

"With me here, there won't be any problems," Uchiha Touko said after turning off his Mangekyou Sharingan.

“Okay, I understand.” Minato Namikaze nodded and then formed a hand seal.

Within the seal, another surge of chakra erupted, and soon, the figure of a red-haired woman appeared before Naruto.

However, in the next instant, a series of chains shot out from behind the red-haired woman and hurtled towards the Nine-Tailed Fox inside the sealed space.

In the blink of an eye, the Nine-Tailed Fox was bound like a rice dumpling.

"Naruto, hurry up and do it! Seize the Nine-Tails' chakra!" A hurried voice rang in everyone's ears. However, when Kushina realized what was happening around her, she suddenly became embarrassed. "Uh, isn't Naruto having a tug-of-war with the Nine-Tails?"

"Waaah!" The Nine-Tails, whose mouth was sealed, made a series of noises. Although it was unclear what he said, judging from his agitated appearance, Uchiha Touko guessed that he must have been swearing quite rudely.

"Haha..." Kushina laughed awkwardly, then looked at Naruto and her eyes lit up. "You're Naruto? You've grown so much!"

After saying that, Kushina rushed forward and hugged Naruto, giving him a good rub.

"He's still very handsome. He's truly my and Minato's child. Come here, let Mommy give him a hug."

Kushina's overwhelming maternal love instantly made Naruto feel a little breathless.

"Mom...Mom." After struggling for a while, Naruto realized that he couldn't calm his own mother down, so he could only let her rub him.

"Kushina, let Naruto go first." Minato Namikaze said at this moment.

"Minato?" Kushina finally released Naruto, then asked in confusion, "Wasn't it said that my chakra only appears when Naruto is tug-of-war with Kurama?"

"Kushinaga, Naruto's problem now is even more serious than the tug-of-war with the Nine-Tails," Minato said, and then explained Naruto's current situation to Kushina.

"Is it... that serious?" Kushina asked, somewhat puzzled.

This is understandable. Although Kushina was the previous generation's Jinchuriki of Konoha, she was not actually trained as a ninja. Therefore, she finds it difficult to understand how dangerous it is for a ninja to have no goal, or in other words, no ninja way to guide them.

“Kushina, Naruto is now a ninja. He is destined to have blood on his hands in the future. If he doesn’t have the right ninja way to guide him, he might get lost in the killing. And what’s even more dangerous is…” Minato Namikaze glanced back at the Nine-Tails, who was bound hand and foot, “Naruto also has power that ordinary people cannot reach.”

Kushina was also taken aback after hearing Minato Namikaze's words, looking at Naruto's somewhat bewildered face.

However, after a moment of silence, Kushina suddenly laughed and patted Naruto's head: "No, that won't happen. Naruto is a kind and good boy. I believe in him."

After hearing his wife's words, Minato Namikaze fell silent. After a while, he smiled with relief: "That's true. Naruto is, after all, our child."

When Naruto heard the Fourth Hokage and his wife's words, he was first stunned, then his eyes reddened. Never before in his life had he felt such unconditional trust. "Naruto, do whatever you want to do," Minato Namikaze said with a smile. "Your mother and I believe in you; you will definitely become a great ninja."

“Naruto, think twice before you act, and remember the three prohibitions of ninjas,” Kushina instructed. “If possible, Mom hopes you can continue to be this happy.”

"Dad...Mom..."

“Touko.” Minato Namikaze turned to look at Touko Uchiha. “I’m sorry, Kushina and I are afraid we can’t give Naruto any advice. As his parents, we are willing to trust Naruto’s own choices.”

"That's enough." Uchiha Touko nodded with a light laugh. "I also believe that Naruto will not let you down."

"I'll have to rely on you from now on." At this moment, Kushina released Naruto and came to Uchiha Touko, saying earnestly.

“Don’t worry,” Uchiha Touko said, “Naruto is also my disciple, so naturally I won’t watch him go astray.”

The figures of the fourth generation couple became illusory at this moment.

"It seems our time is running out," Minato Namikaze sighed.

"Dad? Mom?" Naruto became anxious upon seeing this. He had finally seen his parents and naturally didn't want them to disappear right before his eyes.

At this moment, Kushina also came to Naruto's side and gave him instructions again: "Naruto, I am very happy to see you grow up so healthily. Although it is a pity that I could not witness your growth, you will be a ninja from now on. I believe your teacher will tell you about the three prohibitions for ninjas, but there is one thing you must pay special attention to, and that is to stay away from a person named Jiraiya."

As Kushina continued to give her instructions, the two figures gradually became illusory.

"In short, Naruto, your mom and dad will always love you."

The Fourth Hokage and his wife's chakra slowly dissipated, turning into a wisp of light that circled around Naruto before disappearing completely. The Nine-Tails, now freed from its restraints, fell heavily to the ground.

The Nine-Tails, now free, wanted to curse, but seeing Naruto's distraught state, it hesitated for a moment and then kept quiet.

"Naruto, don't let your father and mother down." At this moment, Uchiha Touko came to Naruto's side, patted his head and said.

"Teacher, I want to be alone here for a while," Naruto said, looking up at Uchiha Touko.

"Alright, we'll send your body back after we get out," Uchiha Touko chuckled.

"Thank you, teacher." Naruto nodded.

"Think about your goals carefully. But whatever your ninja way is, as your teacher, I will always support you, as will your comrades."

"Yes!" Naruto perked up a little upon hearing this.

Seeing this, Uchiha Touko smiled and left the sealed space, leaving the space to Naruto.

After Uchiha Touko left the sealed space, Naruto found a place to sit down inside the sealed space and looked at the Nine-Tails in front of him.

"Brother Nine-Tails..." Naruto said cautiously after a while.

"What are you doing?" Kurama asked irritably, feeling extremely embarrassed after being tied up by Kushina without explanation.

"My mother was reckless just now. I apologize on her behalf. I'm sorry," Naruto said.

Nine-Tails: ...

Naruto's sudden apology caught Kurama off guard.

However, looking at Naruto bowing sincerely in front of him, Kurama felt a strange emotion rising in his heart. It seemed that this was the first time in all these years that a human had apologized to him.

Kurama gazed intently into Naruto's azure eyes, recalling the words once spoken by the Sage of Six Paths.

"Hmph." The Nine-Tails flicked its tail, creating a gust of wind that sent Naruto tumbling from side to side.

"What are you doing?!" Naruto complained after finally managing to stand up.

"Little brat, from now on call me Lord Nine-Tailed Fox, understand?" After saying that, Nine-Tailed Fox closed its eyes, and it was unclear whether it had actually fallen asleep.

……

The following day, Team 7, fully prepared, arrived at Uchiha Touko's office early in the morning, eager to receive their first mission as ninjas.

Uchiha Touko carefully selected from today's mission report, but couldn't find a suitable mission for them for the time being. With their current strength, ordinary C-rank missions were not useful for training, but there weren't many B-rank or higher missions available recently.

Just as Uchiha Touko was planning to simply pick a bandit stronghold in the southwest of the Land of Fire, which was rumored to be inhabited by rogue ninja from the Land of Wind, and let the three of them have a go at it, there was a sudden knock on the office door.

"Come in," Uchiha Touko casually said.

The office door opened, and Kado walked in.

"Lord Hokage." After entering, Gato first bowed to Uchiha Touko, and then greeted Naruto and the other two with a smile, "Young Master Sasuke, Young Master Neji, and Young Master Naruto are all here. Oh, you've become ninjas now? Congratulations."

"What brings you here at this hour?" Uchiha Touko asked.

“It’s like this,” Kado said, seeing that Uchiha Touko seemed very busy, so he didn’t waste any time. “My properties in the Land of Waves have been getting sabotaged by ninjas from the Northern Mist Village recently, so I was wondering if I could ask the Hokage to select a strong team of ninjas to help deal with it.”

"Are you still using the same old methods in the Land of Waves?" Uchiha Tokō frowned upon hearing this.

"Lord Hokage, you're wronging me," Gato said, spreading his hands. "My old way of making money only yielded a small amount. After shifting my focus to the Land of Fire, I only made normal business investments in the Land of Waves. I even invested in building a bridge for them."

(End of this chapter)