Naruto : Minato back to the past

As Minato reviewed the intelligence report, fragmented memories surfaced in his mind—memories of the night everything changed. He recalled the tumultuous clash of forces that had catapulted him across time and space. Kushina's chakra had surged powerfully, mingling with the furious energy of the Nine-Tails, which had resisted its sealing with a terrifying strength of its own. Caught between these forces, Minato's soul had been pulled through an impossible rift, distorting reality and eventually leading him back to his younger self.

This phenomenon—this distortion of space-time—reminded him uncannily of Rōran's "Dragon Vein," rumored to possess limitless chakra. The idea of infinite power was, of course, an exaggeration, but Minato couldn't dismiss the Dragon Vein's potential. It was possible that, in the future, something akin to the Nine-Tails incident had happened to the Dragon Vein, triggering a similar space-time shift.

"It seems nothing is ever simple," he thought, his mind racing. Initially, he had planned to use an outside mission with Kushina as a way to investigate the anomaly. Now, though, he felt his suspicions crystallize around Rōran. Going there might reveal the answers he sought.

As he read further into the intelligence file, another question struck him: why had Kushina felt a powerful, inexplicable pull last night? It couldn't be a coincidence; her unique chakra might be linked to the Dragon Vein's disturbance somehow. But how? And why now?

He set the intelligence scroll aside, deciding to focus on the present. "Who is this 'Anrokuzan' mentioned in the report?" Minato asked, noting the name with suspicion. The intelligence suggested that Queen Sēramu's sudden death might be tied to this mysterious figure.

Hiruzen steepled his fingers, his face lined with concern. "Anrokuzan is something of an enigma. He first appeared in Rōran three years ago. Initially, our intelligence agents suspected he was a Sunagakure operative sent to infiltrate Rōran, likely to manipulate the Dragon Vein. But after considerable investigation, we found that wasn't the case."

"Then where did he come from?" Minato asked, his mind working rapidly. If Anrokuzan wasn't aligned with the Sand Village, his intentions were even murkier.

Hiruzen continued, "In a short time, Anrokuzan became highly influential. He gained Queen Sēramu's favor quickly, allegedly due to his unique talents, which put him in a position of power."

Minato's eyes narrowed. Rōran's Dragon Vein was a rare and formidable resource, coveted by both the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Its chakra flow was limited to the ground beneath Rōran, but if exploited, it could turn the ancient kingdom into a military stronghold on par with the five great ninja villages. Given the volatile history between the ninja nations, this kind of power could attract more than curiosity—it could start a war.

Konoha's initial suspicion had naturally fallen on Sunagakure, given that Rōran lay within the Land of Wind. It made sense that the Sand Village might attempt to infiltrate and control the Dragon Vein to bolster their power. But even Sunagakure seemed disturbed by Anrokuzan's influence. None of their agents sent to infiltrate Rōran had returned.

Minato pondered this, feeling a theory form at the edges of his mind. What if Anrokuzan himself was a time traveler? Someone who had emerged in this era to manipulate events to his own advantage?

"Whoever he is, he's clearly using the Dragon Vein to further his own agenda," Hiruzen stated gravely. "With power like that, he could easily become a threat not only to Rōran but to Konoha as well. Preventing such threats is a crucial part of a ninja's role in times of peace."

"So, you want me to infiltrate Rōran and find out what he's planning?" Minato asked. He could already sense where this mission was headed.

Hiruzen nodded but leaned forward, his tone more severe. "Not only that. I want you to locate Queen Sēramu's daughter, who's reportedly under Anrokuzan's control. Only those of the Queen's bloodline can fully manipulate the Dragon Vein. Whatever Anrokuzan plans, he'll need her power to accomplish it."

Minato's expression grew more serious as he processed the mission details. "Queen Sēramu may have been silenced because she discovered Anrokuzan's intentions," he speculated aloud.

"That's very likely," Hiruzen confirmed. "If Anrokuzan poses any real danger to the ninja world, eliminate him."

Minato nodded, accepting the weight of the mission. He knew that Rōran's secrets ran deep, and with the fate of Konoha at stake, he would leave no stone unturned.

After a brief pause, he looked up at Hiruzen, his expression resolute. "Hokage-sama, I have a request regarding this mission."

Hiruzen's gaze softened slightly. "What is it?"

"I want to take Kushina with me," Minato said, his voice steady. He didn't fully understand Kushina's connection to the anomaly in time and space or to the Dragon Vein itself, but he sensed a link too strong to ignore. Kushina's reaction to last night's disturbance couldn't be dismissed as mere coincidence.

Besides, she had expressed her own desire to uncover the truth. Although the mission posed potential dangers, Minato was confident he could protect her. However, he was fully aware of her unique status as Konoha's jinchūriki, and he knew Hiruzen might have reservations.

The Third Hokage's brows drew together thoughtfully. "What's your reasoning, Minato?"

Minato took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "Rōran's mysteries remain hidden, and if someone's trying to harness the Dragon Vein's power, it represents a hidden threat to the village. I believe we should consider permanently sealing the Dragon Vein if the risk proves too great. Between Kushina and myself, I'm certain we could do it."

Hiruzen's gaze sharpened, his eyes probing. "I'm sure you're capable, Minato, but is that the only reason?"

Minato hesitated briefly. The argument about the seal had indeed been a convenient cover for his real reason. But just as he struggled to articulate it, Hiruzen chuckled, a hint of warmth in his eyes.

"Very well, take Kushina with you," Hiruzen said, surprising Minato. "She's a capable kunoichi and a special jonin now. She can support you well in this mission."

Kushina's recent promotion to special jonin was well-deserved. Her mastery of the Uzumaki clan's fuinjutsu techniques, along with her contributions to the village's protective barrier, had proven invaluable. In many ways, her skill in sealing was unparalleled. Minato himself had been promoted to jonin several years earlier, though his rapid rise had only fueled Konoha's reputation.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Minato said, feeling a surge of gratitude and determination.

Hiruzen nodded, his aged face softened by a look of trust and hope. "Minato, I've placed Konoha's future in your hands. I believe in your judgment. Kushina is an essential part of that future as well. With your abilities, I have no doubt you can protect her."

Minato couldn't help but feel moved by Hiruzen's words, his respect for the Hokage deepening. Bowing, he took his leave and returned home, his mind focused and his purpose clear.

As he arrived at his house, he saw Kushina waiting for him, her expression immediately brightening when she saw him appear out of thin air. Her keen senses had likely picked up on his chakra's presence even before he materialized.

"You're back!" she exclaimed, grinning as she moved toward him. Her cheerful energy was infectious, and Minato found himself smiling back.

He led her into the house, where he began explaining the details of the mission. He shared everything about Rōran's secrets, the mysterious Anrokuzan, and the potential threat posed by the Dragon Vein. However, he chose to keep his theory about Anrokuzan's possible time-travel origins to himself for now, not wanting to add unnecessary concerns.

Kushina listened intently, her eyes flashing with interest. "So, the mission means we'll have to hide our identities as Konoha ninja?" she asked thoughtfully, raising an eyebrow.

Minato nodded. "We can't afford to reveal ourselves, especially not to the Sand Village or anyone in Rōran. Discretion will be key."

A mischievous smile crept onto Kushina's face as she stood, grabbing his hand. "In that case, let's not waste any time! We've got a mission to prepare for!"

Before Minato could respond, she pulled him up and dashed toward the door, her excitement bubbling over as she led the way.

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