Naruto : Minato back to the past

The ancient kingdom of Rōran lay spread out beneath the desert sun, its towering hexagonal buildings stretching as far as the eye could see. These monolithic structures stood as testaments to a civilization older than the five great ninja nations, imbued with an aura of wisdom and power.

Swish!

A lone figure darted through the shadows, moving from one building to another with the agility and speed. Deep blue eyes took in the massive structures around him, their sheer scale and craftsmanship an awe-inspiring sight, even though he had been here for more than ten hours.

"Why is there no one here except for the guards?" the yellow-haired boy murmured, his brows knitting in confusion. He had scouted the area thoroughly, but aside from the frequent armored guards, Rōran appeared deserted. It was as if the whole city had become an empty shell—no citizens, no signs of daily life.

For a city this size, the lack of people felt unnatural, almost haunting. He glanced at the towering structures, feeling their silent, watchful presence pressing down on him. "If it were Dad here," he muttered, "what would he do?"

He ruffled his hair, frustration bubbling up. This kind of tactical puzzle wasn't his strong suit. He was more at home on the battlefield, where quick reflexes and straightforward strategies solved problems, not silent streets and eerie emptiness.

Suddenly, he heard heavy footsteps echoing down the stone pathways. His instincts kicked in, and he quickly concealed himself behind a nearby pillar, pressing his back against the cool stone. A team of armored guards marched by, their heavy armor clanking with each step. They stopped briefly, scanning the area with sharp eyes before continuing their patrol.

The guy who made those armors must be connected to the dragon veins, he thought, narrowing his eyes as he watched the guards disappear into the shadows. His father and mother's mission had been to seal the Dragon Vein's power years ago, ensuring that no one could abuse it. But this mysterious figure had somehow manipulated it.

"It has to be him," the boy muttered to himself, clenching his fist. Whoever this man was, he had harnessed the Dragon Vein's power in an attempt to disrupt the ninja world, albeit without fully breaking the seal his parents had set.

But as he surveyed Rōran, an uneasy question weighed on his mind: Why is Rōran still here? According to history, Rōran should have fallen long ago. This entire place should be nothing more than a pile of ruins. And yet, here it was, standing proudly, as if untouched by time.

Pondering his next move, he watched the last of the armored guards fade into the distance. A small grin tugged at his lips as an idea struck him. "Yeah... I think I know what to do."

In the scorching expanse of the Land of Wind, two figures moved swiftly across the sandy terrain, their movements precise and efficient. Minato and Kushina advanced with the grace and skill of seasoned shinobi, maintaining a steady pace toward their destination.

Thanks to Minato's skill with the Flying Thunder God Technique, they had covered considerable ground quickly. He had left a marked kunai in the Land of Wind during the Second Ninja World War, allowing them to traverse the desert faster than most ninja could manage.

"It shouldn't be long before we reach Rōran," Minato said, spotting the glimmer of an oasis on the horizon. The faint shimmer of greenery was a rare sight in the vast desert, signaling they were close.

Kushina walked beside him, her steps steady but her energy barely contained. Her eagerness to face the unknown was as vibrant as ever, a quality Minato admired deeply.

"Once we arrive, remember not to act on your own. We don't know the situation inside Rōran, and charging in without a plan could put us both in danger," Minato cautioned, his tone both gentle and firm.

She rolled her eyes playfully, her tone laced with mock impatience. "I know, Captain Minato," she replied, a small grin hidden behind her mask. "I'll be careful."

Minato smiled slightly under his own mask, both amused and reassured by her response. Kushina was fierce and fearless, but he knew she trusted his judgment.

An hour later, after navigating through the lush vegetation of the oasis, they arrived at the outskirts of Rōran. They stood on a high cliff, gazing down into a basin where the sprawling city lay. The sight took their breath away—Rōran's hexagonal buildings rose proudly from the earth, their unique architecture blending strength and elegance.

For a moment, the two were silent, taking in the ancient beauty of the city. Even from this distance, they could feel a faint but powerful energy thrumming beneath the ground, radiating outward like the heartbeat of some ancient beast.

"Kushina," Minato said quietly, breaking the spell. "When we get down there, remember not to call me by my name. The Hokage stressed the importance of keeping our identities hidden."

"Then what should I call you? I can't just keep quiet the whole time," she replied, tilting her head in question.

"Why don't we use codenames?" Minato suggested. In Konoha, it was common for ANBU and Root members to hide their real names behind codenames, and for this mission, it made sense.

Kushina's eyes sparkled mischievously as an idea came to her. "Alright, but don't even think about picking some weird name," she said with a smirk. "I already have one for you—'Little Sun.'"

Minato's cheeks flushed slightly, but he couldn't help laughing. The nickname "Little Sun" was a throwback to their academy days, known only among close friends. It was endearing and nostalgic, a reminder of their bond.

"Alright then… Habanero," he replied, his voice warm with affection. In their younger days, Kushina had earned the nickname "Red-Hot Habanero" for her fiery temper and fierce combat skills.

Kushina grinned, and they shared a quiet laugh before leaping down from the cliff, their figures moving gracefully toward the ancient city of Rōran.

Meanwhile, within Rōran, the young man had found a secluded spot to prepare for his next move. Sitting cross-legged behind a building, he closed his eyes, letting his senses expand outward, connecting with the natural energy around him. Slowly, his pupils shifted from blue to brown, transforming into the horizontal slits of Sage Mode.

In this heightened state, he could perceive the vast energy of the Dragon Vein that coursed through Rōran's depths. Its power thrummed beneath him like a river, ancient and potent.

Suddenly, he sensed several teams of armored guards approaching from different directions, converging on his location. His eyes snapped open, and he allowed a small smile to creep across his face.

"Time to get to work," he murmured, forming the sign of the cross with his fingers.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Bang!

With a puff of smoke, a dozen shadow clones appeared around him, each one nodding in silent acknowledgment of the plan. They split up into groups of three, positioning themselves strategically to intercept the guards.

As the guards closed in, the clones acted swiftly. Two clones rushed forward, executing the Big Ball Rasengan while the third moved to draw the guards' attention. "Sage Art: Odama Rasengan Barrage!" they cried, their voices filled with determination as the swirling orbs of chakra collided with the guards.

The Rasengan attack exploded with tremendous force, shattering the guards' armor and sending them sprawling. Yet, even the devastating power of the Rasengan wasn't enough to fully subdue the armored soldiers. Their shattered armor pieces littered the ground, but the guards themselves remained unharmed.

The young man's real body leaped into action, his Rasengan charging with sage chakra as he aimed for the nearest guard. But just as he was about to strike, a flash of purple energy streaked down from above, enveloping the guards in a shimmering cocoon.

"Not so fast," he muttered, quickly adjusting his stance.

The purple energy reformed the guards' armor with astonishing speed, repairing the broken pieces and restoring their defenses in seconds. It was as though the damage had never occurred, the guards now standing as formidable as before.

On a high platform overlooking the city, the faint purple light intensified, illuminating the figure of a man hidden in the shadows. The young man recognized the aura—it was the same power he had sensed upon his arrival, the Dragon Vein's energy manipulated by an unseen hand.

A grim determination filled him as he formed a Rasengan in each hand, his chakra surging. He aimed the spinning spheres of energy at the incoming purple streaks, releasing them with precise timing.

"Sage Art: Rasengan!" he shouted, the Rasengan intercepting the purple energy and dispersing it in a flash of brilliant light.

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