Born in Sunagakure, dedicated to antagonizing Konoha for decades

Ever since he met Minato, he had always felt that Minato was the son of the blond middle-aged man who taught him how to pick up girls. They looked so alike, how could it not be? However, after Minato denied it, even Kakashi and World Forest did not believe his guess.

Now, seeing everyone on the battlefield saying the same thing, he felt as if he had finally heard the truth before his death.

"..."

Kakashi was also bewildered. When Obito guessed that Minato was the son of that blond middle-aged man, although Minato denied it himself, he later asked his father. After all, although his father and Shiki were rivals, they had known each other since childhood and should know each other well. However, his father clearly told him that Minato and that blond middle-aged man only looked alike and had no relation to each other, which Kakashi believed at the time.

But now, hearing the speculation that it was supposedly the work of a veteran leader from Iwagakure with an intelligence score as high as 95, he began to waver.

674. I really need to get a DNA test.

"Shikaku, what's your opinion on this...?"

A change in art style.

The intense atmosphere of war vanished without a trace, turning into a massive speculation about Minato Namikaze's identity. Even Minato's classmates, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza, couldn't help but become curious when they heard Tsuchiki's arguments. They had grown up with Minato, and their fathers were both high-ranking officials in the village. In particular, Shikaku's father had a good relationship with Shiki, although not as good as with Sakumo-sama. They remembered that there had been a rumor circulating in the village for a while that Minato was Shiki's illegitimate son, but that was more than ten years ago. Moreover, it had been personally verified by the Hokage, and Minato's own account had confirmed that Minato and Shiki had no relation.

After that analysis by the veteran leader of Iwagakure, they also felt it was very reasonable, so it's still best to verify with a smart person.

"...How would I know? But it could very well just be a coincidence. (￣ω￣;)"

Nara deer looks up at the sky for a long time.

Shouldn't this be the time for a fight? How did things turn out like this? The sudden change in tone caught him off guard...

Not only that, he also breathed a sigh of relief. The wave of identity speculation sparked by Minato's arrival was indeed crucial. Konoha had suffered a lot of casualties in the battle so far, especially those who were killed by the Four-Tails Jinchuriki. If the fighting continued, he would really have to ask the village for help. The Tsuchikage was too ruthless, attacking more than 30,000 people at once. Was he really not afraid that the Mist would raid his home again?

As a commander, he's under immense pressure. Right now, all he wants is for the war to end quickly so he can find a girl, get married, have kids, and retire as soon as his son grows up...

......

"Sun Wukong, aren't your senses supposed to be very strong? Can you sense if this guy is the son of the Golden Lion?"

Old Purple, who had been blasted away by Minato Namikaze, stared at Minato from afar. The more he looked, the more it resembled him; he'd completely forgotten about being blasted away. He couldn't help but ask the Four-Tails inside his belly. He wasn't very familiar with Shiki, but the Four-Tails inside him was quite close. Aren't tailed beasts supposed to have incredibly strong sensory abilities? Shouldn't it have some kind of ability to discern bloodlines...?

"I don't yet have the ability to determine bloodlines, but this guy looks so much like that bastard Golden Lion, I'd guess it's pretty much the same. Let's not make any rash moves and observe the situation first..."

The four tails inside Lao Zi rolled their eyes, but seeing that the blond brat opposite them did indeed resemble the devil Shiki, they seemed to recall being dominated by Shiki and said to Lao Zi in a trembling voice.

It's better to be safe than sorry. What if this brat really is Shiki's son, and Shiki beat him up? What if they recognize each other as father and son someday, and Shiki comes looking for revenge? Then Shiki will be the one getting beaten up again. Just thinking about that bastard's fists is just too damn painful...

"Well, that's fine, but judging from the looks of it, it seems like a fight won't break out..."

Old Purple has been with the Four-Tails for decades, so he knows exactly what the Four-Tails is thinking. Of course, he can't let the Four-Tails get beaten up. Besides, judging by the speed of that blond brat just now, he doesn't think he can do anything to him. He was hit by a ball of light earlier and still has a concussion.

"Father, let's retreat first. We can't fight now."

Huang Tu never expected that his casual thought would turn the battlefield into this state. Looking at his severely wounded and tragically dead underlings around him, he couldn't bear it and said to his teacher.

"...Let's go back and rest, and fight again another day. (▼he▼メ)"

Onoki glared at his son, annoyed. Putting aside the fact that his son's words had ruined the atmosphere, just the fact that this little yellow brat who could use the Flying Thunder God Technique was really that bastard Shiki's son made him furious. They were both sons, but look at other people's sons and then look at his own.

Although he didn't believe that the Golden Lion could have such a powerful son after doing such a despicable thing, he had heard Tsuchiki's analysis earlier, and it was indeed possible. A ninjutsu as difficult as the Flying Thunder God Technique is not something that can be mastered with just talent. White Fang's talent was strong enough, wasn't it?

He hasn't even mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique yet. Don't spout nonsense about the Flying Thunder God Technique being some kind of secret, or that not everyone can obtain it. Given White Fang's contributions to Konoha, what ninjutsu couldn't he learn? Therefore, in his view, the conditions for learning the Flying Thunder God Technique are even more demanding than his Dust Release. At the very least, one needs to be a prodigy. That bastard Golden Lion is a prodigy, isn't he? Plus that appearance, that blond hair…

Onoki feels awful just thinking about it. (｀⌒′メ)

........

Onoki left with the Iwa ninja, but the Konoha people showed no sign of leaving, remaining to continue discussing whether Minato was the son of Shiki. This topic was clearly more important than the war itself...

"...Teacher, let's go back too."

Minato Namikaze looked helplessly at the people around him. It was just that they looked alike, yet they could actually end a war. Moreover, people seemed very interested in this topic. Even his teacher was looking him up and down.

"...Minato...I think that old bastard Tugi's analysis makes sense. How about we have Orochimaru do a DNA test for you? (⊙_⊙)?"

Jiraiya offered his suggestion hesitantly.

He'd find out if Minato looked like Shiki, but those were just rumors. While Minato was an orphan, his background was verifiable. His parents were refugees from the Land of Fire who later settled in Konoha. But now that Tsuchimaki mentioned it, he's thinking about it. Minato was born in Konoha 24 (1935). Shiki was already a Colossus in Konoha 24, making it difficult for outsiders to infiltrate. But Shiki was an exception. What if Shiki really did infiltrate Konoha, get drunk, and happened to encounter Minato's mother, then unleashed his beastly nature...? That reasoning seems quite plausible.

A ninja world legend got drunk; how could Minato's mother, a weak woman, possibly stop him...?

Later, his talents were wasted, and by a twist of fate, he was born into the current Minato. This also explains why children from commoner backgrounds can be so talented. Even though neither of his parents are blond, they have a blond child.

"I'll ask Lord Orochimaru for help when I get back... -_-||"

Seeing that even his teacher was like this, Minato Namikaze felt it was necessary to find Orochimaru to have his DNA tested and get to the bottom of things. Otherwise, Kushina might be waiting for him with a knife, as Kushina and Shiki were blood enemies.

Falling in love with the son of your enemy... Ugh! How melodramatic...

675. Rasa: Shinto-sama was handsome back in the day too.

Shocking! The Konoha genius who mastered Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Technique is suspected to be the son of Shiki of Sunagakure; the resemblance between father and son is as high as 90%!

Shocking! Is it moral decay or the distortion of humanity? How did Shiki's son become a genius of Konoha...?!

The Fourth Shinobi World War has begun. Sunagakure and Iwagakure have already started fighting Konoha, Kumogakure has also entered the fray, and Kirigakure is on its way. In an instant, the shinobi world is in turmoil, and the atmosphere of war has reached its peak. However, a piece of news came from the Iwagakure battlefield and instantly dominated the headlines of the shinobi world, overshadowing the Four-Tails Jinchuriki who was constantly achieving godlike feats on the Land of Earth battlefield and the Fourth Kazekage who had just taken office and was charging to the front lines on the Land of Wind battlefield.

When people look at the two photos in their hands and compare them, they find that they really do look alike!

Looking at Minato Namikaze's photos, it's as if people are seeing a young Shiki (Golden Lion). Anyone who lived through the old era knows that Shiki was once incredibly handsome and talented; he just grew increasingly disheveled in the end...

The news that Konoha's super genius Minato Namikaze was the son of Shiki the Golden Lion spread more and more vividly, and some imaginative people even filled in a thrilling and bizarre mystery about Minato's background.

Back when Shiki was still a peerless beauty, he infiltrated Konoha to get close to Tsunade. Due to the sensitivity of their identities, Tsunade resolutely rejected Shiki's advances. Shiki then chose to soothe his heartbreak by drinking. In the end, Shiki, who was completely drunk, encountered Minato Namikaze, a commoner mother. One was a ninja world legend, and the other was just a weak woman with no strength. It is quite reasonable that Shiki, under the influence of alcohol, mistook the weak woman for Tsunade and did something to her.

There are many versions of the story, but this one is the most credible. It is reasonable from the perspective of both character and human nature. For a time, the topic of Minato Namikaze making a mistake while drunk was very popular in the ninja world. Even the question of when the Fourth Shinobi World War would start, when the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Leaf Village would start fighting, and whether the Hidden Mist Village had run into an iceberg because it hadn't landed for so long were all forgotten.

After learning that Minato Namikaze, who bore a 90% resemblance to Shiki and was suspected to be his son, had actually mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, which was said to be even more difficult to learn than Dust Release, and blasted away the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Minato Namikaze's reputation as a super genius spread throughout the ninja world. His handsome appearance and exceptional talent caused his fame to soar, jumping from second-tier to top-tier, instantly overshadowing Sakumo Hatake, the true culprit who murdered the Third Kazekage.

......

"Could it be... that this perfect ninja is really my offspring? But I have absolutely no recollection of him/her. This is so damn strange..."

On the battlefield of the Land of Wind, the first battle between Sunagakure and Konoha came to an end after the two sides' subordinates fought for three days and three nights without a clear winner. The two sides agreed to fight again on another day. Sakumo returned to his tent, covered in sweat, and asked one of his subordinates who used water techniques to prepare a bath for him. While soaking in the bath, he began to think.

When Sakumo Hatake got married, it was the first time he had seen the Perfect Ninja. He was just joking at the time. Although judging from the year, he could indeed be the Perfect Ninja's father, given his super memory, if he were really caught in a game of tag, even if he was drunk and blacked out, there's no reason he wouldn't have any memories. He's not "Conan's father." Even if he were, wouldn't he have found some scenes after being reminded by him?

He had no memory of it, but the stories circulating outside were so incredible, it was as if he had seen it with his own eyes. This made him unconsciously doubt whether he had really become the person he hated the most.

Bah! You beast!

"Lord Shinto, is that Minato Namikaze really yours...?"

"Shinto, if that's the case, then bring that brat back. We'll raise him for you, no problem."

"Yes, we'll help you raise him. We'll bring that child back. What good is our genius if he stays in Konoha..."

"........"

Just as Shinto was soaking in the tub, lost in thought, Rasa led a group of high-ranking officials in, who were clean-cut and remained untainted by the fierce battle. As soon as Rasa finished asking his question, the group of old guys started chattering away.

Rasa's idea was simple: after becoming the leader, he would have to consider things from the perspective of the gang... I mean, the village. When his teacher was still alive, he had more than once been troubled by the fact that Shinto-sama's outstanding talent had no successor. After all, there weren't many geniuses in the village, let alone super geniuses. But back then, at least there was a handsome Sasori to give Sunagakure face.

However, when he took office, Handsome Scorpion disappeared along with his teacher, which meant that the village didn't even have a super genius to represent them anymore. Lord Jie and Lady Yusa had been trying for a second child for several years without any success, so it seemed unlikely. Moreover, even if Lord Jie and Lady Yusa were to become pregnant with a second child, it was hard to say whether the child would reach the level of Handsome Scorpion, since neither of them had particularly outstanding talents.

However, if it is the child of a real master, from a genetic point of view, the probability of reaching super genius is as high as 95%. The remaining 5% is because if the girl is an ordinary person, it may lower the child's standard.

However, Shinto's seniority is even greater than his father's. His father was once his junior brother. It's impossible for a junior like him to urge him to get married like his teacher. Besides, everyone in the ninja world knows that Shinto is in love with Tsunade from Konoha. Over the years, Tsunade has spent enough money to buy several small countries. So, as a junior, he was too embarrassed to bring up this issue in front of Shinto.

Upon hearing that Konoha's super genius, Minato Namikaze, was likely the son of Lord Shinto, he immediately ordered an investigation into Minato's background. What he found astonished him: born a commoner, unremarkable until the age of six, then transforming into a prodigy after starting school. Minato's record was practically a tale of a prodigy's rise to power. Without any formal instruction, he self-taught the Flying Thunder God Technique, the only space-time ninjutsu left by the Second Hokage, considered even more difficult than Dust Release. He also developed a No-Seal A-Rank ninjutsu after observing the Tailed Beast Ball… Most importantly, the person in the photograph looked exactly like Lord Shinto in his youth. Despite Lord Shinto's current disheveled appearance, his grandfather's study contained photographs of him in his younger days; Lord Shinto was quite handsome back then…

676. What if this guy gets old and can't be protected anymore?

If Minato Namikaze is indeed Shinto's son, as rumored, having him bring him back to the village would not only fill the void left by Sasori's departure, but would also make him a double-best candidate, instantly strengthening the village. Crucially, Shinto is getting old and can't keep the village running forever. Besides, if the village always relies on Shinto, wouldn't that mean the younger generation is incompetent?

Although he was confident that he could become a Double Flower Red Pole, he probably couldn't reach the level of Lord Shinto. If he waited until Lord Shinto could no longer hold on, he alone wouldn't be able to protect him. Lord Chiyo was already old. Before he took over as a Double Flower Red Pole, the village only had Lord Jie and his wife and Lord Shinto as the two true Double Flower Red Pole. But how many more years could they hold on? When they got old, he would be left to rely on himself. The pressure was too immense.

If Minato Namikaze is Shinto's son, then bringing him back will help share the burden. The village is so big, he really can't handle it all by himself.

The other old guys had a lot more to say. Based on their understanding of Shinto, Minato Namikaze might actually be Shinto's son. Back then, he frequented Konoha, and it's normal for young people to get drunk and have affairs without wanting to take responsibility. Who hasn't been young?

Now that guy's age is what it is, a ninja's professional lifespan is only a few decades. After fifty, their condition begins to decline, and after sixty, their physical functions completely decline and their hidden injuries erupt. At that time, they will either die or be bedridden at home waiting to die. Although this guy is incredibly tough and has not suffered any injuries in decades, and has maintained himself quite well, there will still be a day when he retires. Although this guy is usually crazy and unreliable, he never fails when it matters. Since this guy rose to prominence, from the first war to the second war, he has swindled countless benefits for the village outside, and their various clans have also reaped a lot. He even tricked the Seven-Tails back.

So, although this guy usually doesn't give them much face, they have to endure it for the sake of the village and the clan. But now the village's situation is not good. The Third Hokage and their super genius grandson have gone missing, which means the village has instantly lost two Double-Flower Red Staff members. Of the remaining three Double-Flower Red Staff members, Lady Chiyo is a puppeteer and is in good condition, but she is getting old after all. Who knows how much fighting power she still has? Before the Fourth Hokage grows up, their village only truly has two Double-Flower Red Staff members, Shinto and the Jie couple. But the real top-level fighter is Shinto, who is already middle-aged. Unlike Konoha, where geniuses are plentiful, every super genius is a product of extraordinary luck. Now, the next generation's hope for the entire village, Sasori, is missing. Although the Fourth Hokage is not bad, he is not a genius. They may not be good at fighting, but after so many years and with Shinto and Sasori as benchmarks, they still have vision. So they are worried that when Shinto gets old, the Fourth Hokage alone will definitely not be able to protect the village. At that time, their Sand Village will decline.

As for Minato Namikaze's talent, there's no need to say more. Every village already has his information, and everyone who reads it will give him a thumbs up. He's definitely going to be a top figure in the ninja world in the future. Even if he doesn't reach the level of a true master, he won't be far off. After all, one is a warrior and the other is an assassin; they're just different types.

If this kid is truly a prodigy, then they must bring him back no matter what, so that Sunagakure can remain at its peak for decades to come!

"...Can't you see I'm trying to remember? But this is so weird, the stories outside are so vivid, but I don't remember a thing. Logically, the first time should be the most unforgettable experience, so even if I'm a bit dazed, I should still have some recollection, let alone with this eight-core processor..."

Masato's head was throbbing from the constant chatter of a group of old guys. After unleashing a burst of Conqueror's Haki to silence them, he stroked his chin and said...

"But Minato Namikaze not only looks a lot like you, but his talent is also so strong that he can even use the Flying Thunder God Technique... By the way, with the real battles so popular, is the Flying Thunder God Technique really that powerful?"

When Rasa heard what Masato said, he felt that there was some truth to it. He still remembered the night before he set off. Even after the fierce battle in the previous days, he still couldn't forget that night... The memory was deeply imprinted in his soul, and he probably would never forget it for the rest of his life. So he completely agreed with what Masato said.

However, he took back his words. While it's true that people can look alike, this is generally only possible among direct bloodlines. He had never actually seen it happen to others. But when the Flying Thunder God Technique was mentioned, Rasa became curious. After all, it was said to be a ninjutsu even more difficult to learn than the Dust Release technique, so it was hard for a young person not to be curious.

"This Flying Thunder God Technique is indeed very powerful. I don't know much about it, after all, I had only been a rookie for a few years when Tobirama Senju died. I only know that after learning it, you can perform spatial jumps and truly teleport. You saw how skillful White Fang's movements were when I fought him. I can only say that this Flying Thunder God Technique is even more skillful than White Fang's movements. I can't really say how it is. You will see it when you have the chance. After all, now that the Hidden Cloud Village has entered the fray, the pressure on the Hidden Leaf Village is getting bigger and bigger. This kid is also Hiruzen Sarutobi's grand-disciple. If nothing unexpected happens, he will be the next Hokage. When that happens, Hiruzen Sarutobi will definitely send him around to put out fires and participate in every war. It is much harder to become Hokage than to become Kazekage. Just having someone's support is not enough. You need a lot of fame."

Masato stroked his chin as he explained.

He had once been tempted by the Flying Thunder God Technique. When he first went to the Uzumaki clan to trade for the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique, he considered acquiring it as well. Given Tsunade's stature, the Senju clan would certainly not refuse. However, he later gave up. He was just an ordinary person with no special bloodline, essentially a BOFF from the One Piece world. His physique was stronger than those from the Naruto world, but his chakra reserves were truly average. The Flying Thunder God Technique was obviously a chakra-consuming skill; he would run out of chakra and become weak after only a few uses. It was like turning a durable, tough guy into a fast one—it was putting the cart before the horse. Moreover, he might not even possess the rare space-time ability. Without space-time ability, he couldn't learn this jutsu at all. Instead of spending time researching someone who might not be able to learn it, he was better off researching the Shave technique he could learn, which wasn't necessarily much slower than the Flying Thunder God Technique. Therefore, he abandoned the idea of ​​researching the Flying Thunder God Technique.

677. Kakuzu: This kid is too difficult to handle!

"Sister, Minato Namikaze really does look like Masato, huh? You think it's possible...?"

In Sunagakure, Ebizo, Chiyo, and Sasori's parents sat around a table, comparing a pile of photos. They were much more meticulous than the others. On one side of the table were photos of Mato from when he was twelve to when he was twenty. Because the great invention of the camera only came out after Mato was eleven, there were no photos of Mato before he was twelve. Chiyo had raised Mato with great care, so she still remembered what he looked like before he was twelve.

On the other side were photos of Minato Namikaze from childhood to adulthood, obtained through various means by spies from Konoha. The group compared them, and as an anthropologist had said, if two completely unrelated people had similar facial features, it was probably just a coincidence that their facial features developed at a certain point in time, and they might look different after a few years. So, in order to seek the truth, and because Chiyo was very concerned about her beloved nephew's single status, she took out photos of her beloved nephew from childhood to adulthood, and asked the spies from Konoha to collect as many photos of Minato Namikaze, who might be her grand-nephew, from childhood to adulthood, for comparison.

Upon comparison, aside from the hairstyle and temperament, Masato's existing photos from age twelve to twenty are clearly those of Minato Namikaze from age twelve to twenty. In Ebizo's eyes, Masato is a younger version of himself.

"Hmm...! But didn't my brother say he had no recollection of it?"

Handsome Scorpion's parents stared at the photo on the table, nodding in agreement. It was just too damn similar. They wouldn't believe it if they weren't told it was their older brother's son. But their older brother had sent back messages via the slug girl's time travel, and it was so long ago they had no recollection of it. That meant it really could be a coincidence. They couldn't just randomly claim their son as their older brother's; it concerned his reputation...

"So I plan to go to Konoha myself to investigate this child's background, and also to look for Sasori..."

Chiyo's expression was very serious. This concerned her beloved nephew's reputation, which she took very seriously. If it was indeed the seed that her beloved nephew had accidentally sown while drunk, and such a brilliant genius at that, he certainly wouldn't stay in Konoha. She might have to negotiate with Hiruzen Sarutobi. If not, she would take this opportunity to go out and look for her beloved grandson. During this period of the Fourth Shinobi World War, there had been no news of her beloved grandson, and she was worried sick. She didn't know if her beloved grandson would be used to being alone outside without anyone to take care of him. With her beloved nephew, his son, and daughter-in-law there during the war, she wasn't worried at all.

"This... Mother, the ninja world is in chaos right now. We're at war with Konoha. It wouldn't be good for you to go to Konoha. How about I go instead?"

Hearing his mother's words, Sasori's father was startled. Ever since the Third Hokage was likely killed by Konoha's White Fang, Konoha's image in his mind had lost its righteousness. What if something happened to his mother in Konoha? Wouldn't that force him to become the protagonist? Supporting roles and protagonists are the same price; being a supporting role is much more carefree...