Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Naruto Uzumaki finally realized that he was a child with parents.

He finally learned the identities of his biological parents.

It turns out that her father was the Fourth Hokage, a hero who sacrificed himself to protect Konoha Village!

It turns out that his mother was the second Jinchuriki, the last guarantee for Konoha Village to stand tall in the ninja world!

It turns out that I resemble a fox because I inherited my mother's duty, a price I paid to protect Konoha Village!

Why would the villagers of Konoha treat me this way?

Naruto's mind was in complete chaos. Upon hearing his mother's incredibly shocking and outrageous pronouncements, the little fool became a staunch believer in his mother's words.

The mother and son quickly formed a small circle, pushing Minato Namikaze aside.

Xia Zuo extended his right hand, making a handshake gesture.

Although Minato Namikaze didn't know the handshake etiquette, he cleverly imitated Natsume's gesture and extended his right hand.

The two soul hands clasped together, and Xia Zuo shook them vigorously up and down twice before saying, "I've heard so much about you, Fourth Hokage. I am Xia Zuo, a Konoha genin."

Minato Namikaze sincerely thanked him, saying, "I know you. Thank you so much for taking care of Naruto."

Xia Zuo was somewhat surprised: "Oh, the Fourth Hokage knows about Naruto's situation?"

Minato Namikaze smiled and said, "I created Naruto's seal, so I can barely use Naruto's senses to see and hear some things."

Xia Zuo's eyes held a questioning look as he bluntly asked, "So, what are your thoughts on Naruto's future?"

Minato Namikaze's eyes dimmed, and after a slight hesitation, he said, "Naruto's future is up to Naruto to decide."

The Fourth Hokage ultimately didn't say it outright; he was disappointed and angry, but he clearly expressed his meaning through coded language.

Xia Zuo smiled slightly and did not make things difficult for Namikaze Minato.

What the Fourth Hokage and his wife are seeing now is Naruto being ostracized, bullied, monitored, and even deprived of his inheritance rights.

Naruto Uzumaki almost lost his life.

Jiraiya left the village on his own, Kakashi Hatake was lost in grief and ignored everything, Fugaku and his wife pretended to be blind, and the Third Hokage...

Hiruzen Sarutobi was the most despicable; he treated Naruto like a dog, training him in order to gain Naruto's absolute affection and trust in just a little bit of time.

If Minato Namikaze were to be resurrected, we don't know what he would do, but he would definitely not let the Sarutobi clan have an easy time.

If Kushina Uzumaki were to be resurrected, she would not hesitate to blow up the Hokage Building, sever ties with Mikoto Uchiha, strip Kakashi Hatake of his title as her disciple, and no longer acknowledge Jiraiya as her elder.

She is such a decisive and efficient woman.

Unfortunately, none of them could be brought back to life.

Therefore, Minato Namikaze could only express his dissatisfaction and anger in coded language, and Kushina Uzumaki only dared to teach Naruto some techniques in adult language, hoping that he could live a more carefree life and not be so repressed.

This is only because Xia Zuo is here now.

If it weren't for Xia Zuo's appearance, when Minato and Namikaze met Naruto again eight years later, they would only have said words of praise and encouragement.

After all, the Third Hokage had passed away by then, and Kakashi Hatake and Jiraiya had taken Naruto Uzumaki as their students, which provided some compensation, and Naruto's situation had improved considerably.

But more importantly, Naruto Uzumaki was completely brainwashed into a people-pleasing personality, not only becoming deeply involved in the power center of Konoha Village, but also at the heart of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Faced with his son's situation of either advancing or dying, both the projected Minato Namikaze and the impure Minato Namikaze could only swallow their rage.

They even had to smile at the child, encourage Naruto to keep working hard, and hope that he could have a better life.

Just imagine how frustrated the Fourth Hokage must have been. No wonder he didn't even glance at the Third Hokage once he was imprisoned.

The Third Hokage also bowed his head and admitted that he was the lowest-ranking of the four Hokage, showing none of the arrogant demeanor of the "strongest Hokage of all time".

Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze, who were sealed away, had limited time. They were merely memories and emotions entrusted to the chakra of the Fourth Hokage, not souls or consciousness.

Even if Xia Zuo wanted to help them prolong their time, he wouldn't know how to proceed with such a procedural entity.

Although everyone knew that the reunion would lead to a final farewell, the blow to Naruto Uzumaki was too cruel, and he could only accept it helplessly.

Finally, Naruto Uzumaki, suppressing his grief, smiled as he bid farewell to his parents, his smile radiating warmth and sunshine, just like his father's.

On the contrary, Kushina Uzumaki couldn't hold back and cried uncontrollably at the last moment, holding her son with tearful eyes, turning into starlight.

Minato Namikaze held Naruto's head with one hand, stroking his son's hair with a greedy and reluctant touch, and faced the two of them with the brightest and most sunny smile.

He bowed deeply to Xia Zuo: "Please take good care of Naruto."

Xia Zuo nodded without hesitation and said, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't get fooled by that old lecher Jiraiya."

"Fourth Hokage, don't despair. You will have another chance to see Naruto in the future."

Minato Namikaze was taken aback, and couldn't help but shake his head, saying, "I am..."

Xia Zuo raised his hand to stop him, and said to himself, "I know you are in the belly of Death now, but I will become Death soon too. Colleagues can always make a deal."

"After all, the Nine-Tails can't remain separated into Yin and Yang forever."

Minato Namikaze's pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly understood; the dead could not possibly contend with the living.

He then laughed heartily and said, "You really know a lot."

Xia Zuo couldn't help but use honorifics in admiration: "Fourth Hokage, you are truly magnanimous."

In the very end, Minato Namikaze's body began to emit tiny specks of light.

He crouched down to be at eye level with Naruto Uzumaki.

Minato said in the most sincere tone, "Naruto, remember, your mom and dad love you."

"The life you're living now isn't what we wanted. I'm sorry, Dad misjudged you and didn't plan things out well enough."

Naruto Uzumaki nodded and said, "Dad, I don't blame you."

"As long as you and Mom love me, that's enough."

"I have Brother Xia Zuo to take care of me, Sister Quan, and my classmates... In the future, I will also have good friends, so you and Mom can rest assured."

Minato Namikaze's body blurred, but he still left Naruto Uzumaki with a smile and a faint "thank you".

Xia Zuo shook his head repeatedly, his admiration for the Fourth Hokage deepening, while his dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage increased significantly.

After Minato Namikaze's last glimmer of light dissipated, Naruto Uzumaki finally released his emotions.

Tears streamed down his face as he cried out, "I have no mother anymore! I have no father anymore!"

When Kushina Uzumaki disappeared, the Adamantine Chains on Kurama (the Nine-Tails) also disappeared, but it remained quietly in a corner, showing remarkable understanding, without disturbing the final farewell.

Only after Naruto started crying loudly did Kurama give a haughty snort: "Hmph, what an annoying kid."

Xia Zuo glanced at the Nine-Tailed Fox, which made it tremble all over in fright.

He was then reassured by Xia Zuo's words: "I'll be counting on you to take good care of Naruto from now on."

Nine-Tails swallowed hard, forced himself to remain calm, and lay down, whispering, "Okay, I'll try my best."

Xia Zuo left satisfied.