Naruto : Minato back to the past

"I killed Rin!"

Kakashi's voice was hoarse, his breath uneven, as tears streamed from the corners of his eyes. His entire body trembled, and his hands clenched the hospital sheets beneath him. Lying on the hospital bed, his expression was one of torment, his emotions locked in a fierce battle between guilt and anguish.

Hearing those words, Minato's expression froze. His normally calm and composed demeanor shattered in an instant, his hands slowly curling into fists. A flicker of hope had existed within him before Kakashi awoke, a small part of him clinging to the possibility that this cruel truth could be avoided. But now, with Kakashi's confession, that fragile hope was utterly destroyed.

Because this outcome aligned exactly with what Minato had feared.

"What!?"

Beside Minato, Kushina's reaction was just as severe. Her eyes widened in shock, and sorrow quickly clouded her gaze. Obito and Rin had been like younger siblings to her, their bonds forged through shared struggles and laughter. To hear of Rin's death—especially at the hands of Kakashi—was a blow she was not prepared for.

But unlike the impulsive girl she had once been, Kushina forced herself to suppress the flood of questions that surged in her heart. She wanted to know every detail, but she knew this was neither the time nor the place.

"Who is it?! Who was behind this?!"

Minato's thoughts were a whirlwind of rage and suspicion. He refused to believe that Rin's death was a mere accident. There were too many coincidences, too many threads leading back to something sinister. A deep, seething fury rose in his heart—a rage unlike anything he had ever felt before.

His sharp mind instantly recalled the masked man who had attacked Konoha, the one who had unleashed the Nine-Tails upon the village. Could that same individual have orchestrated this tragedy?

Minato could not say for certain. But one thing was clear—whoever had set these events in motion was now on his list of those who must be eliminated.

The intensity of his emotions leaked into the air around him, an unintentional burst of killing intent radiating from his body. Even without meaning to, Minato's sheer presence was enough to send a chill down the spine of those nearby.

Kakashi, already drowning in guilt, was the most affected. The overwhelming aura sent him spiraling into memories of that night—the look of despair in Rin's eyes as his blade pierced her heart.

[Kakashi]

"Ahhh!!"

A gut-wrenching scream tore from Kakashi's throat. He clutched his head with both hands, his body curling inward as if trying to escape from his own mind.

"Minato!"

Kushina's sharp voice cut through the air as she reached out, placing a firm hand on Minato's arm. Her touch grounded him, snapping him out of his dark thoughts. He blinked, his expression shifting from rage to concern as he registered the distress he had caused.

At that moment, the ward's door burst open, and several medical staff rushed inside.

"The patient's condition is unstable," one of them stated firmly. "We ask that you refrain from visiting for now."

Minato, realizing his presence was only agitating Kakashi further, nodded in understanding. He offered a quiet apology to the doctor before allowing himself to be led out of the hospital with Kushina by his side.

Minato walked in silence, his face devoid of expression. His mind was a storm of thoughts, each one darker than the last.

Kushina, walking beside him, stole glances at his face. She knew him better than anyone. She understood the depth of his connection to his students—Obito, Rin, and Kakashi. They were more than just pupils to him; they were his responsibility, his cherished comrades.

Minato had saved countless lives during the Third Great Ninja War. He was a hero on the battlefield, the legendary Yellow Flash of Konoha. And yet, he had failed to protect the ones he loved the most.

No matter how strong someone was, there were some losses that could never be accepted.

When they finally reached their home, Minato forced a small, bitter smile.

"I'm going to rest for a while," he said softly, his voice lacking its usual warmth. "Sorry, Kushina."

"Minato..."

She whispered his name, watching as he slowly retreated into their home. The weight of grief on his shoulders was so heavy, it made her chest ache.

Minato's Room

Once inside, Minato shut the door behind him. He leaned against it for a brief moment before letting out a deep breath. His hands trembled slightly, his emotions pressing down on him like an unbearable weight.

Two silent tears slipped down his cheeks.

A ninja must not cry. That was the way of the shinobi. Especially for someone like him—the Fourth Hokage, the man who stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world.

On the battlefield, no matter the enemy, no matter the odds, he had always faced challenges with an unwavering smile, as warm as the sun.

But in the end, he had still failed.

He had failed Obito. He had failed Rin.

Their voices echoed in his mind.

[Minato-sensei, you are so kind.]

[Minato-sensei, I'll become Hokage after you. I'll protect this village, so watch over me until then!]

[Minato-sensei!]

Memories of their smiles surfaced, as vivid as if they had happened just yesterday.

"Why… why couldn't I reach them in time? Why did I failed again and again!"

His fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms.

Then, suddenly—

A Voice in His Mind

"Hmph… pathetic, Fourth Hokage. If the likes of Hanzo the Salamander, the Third Raikage, or any of those you've defeated could see you now, they'd be ashamed."

The deep, mocking voice resonated in Minato's head.

His eyes widened slightly.

"The Nine-Tails…"

Of course, the Kyuubi had chosen now to taunt him.

Minato let out a bitter chuckle, fully expecting the beast to enjoy his misery.

But instead, the next words the fox spoke were far from what he expected.

"Hmph. Those brats—Obito and Rin—are already dead. Crying over them won't bring them back. If you have the time to sit around mourning, you should be using it to figure out who's behind all of this."

Minato's breath hitched.

The Kyuubi… was offering him advice?

It wasn't wrong. Obito and Rin weren't coming back. If he truly wanted justice, if he truly wanted to make their deaths mean something, then he had to act.

"Earlier," the Kyuubi continued, "when you saved Kakashi, you sensed it, didn't you? That chakra belonged to a tailed beast. It was the Three-Tails from Kirigakure. Its Jinchūriki must have perished as well."

Minato's eyes sharpened.

Kirigakure. Again.

Everything kept leading back to that village. The more he uncovered, the more certain he became—someone had infiltrated or manipulated Kirigakure from the shadows. Even the Mizukage might not be in control of his own actions.

The realization sent a cold shiver down Minato's spine.

As his mind raced, the Kyuubi let out a huff.

"Don't get me wrong, human," it scoffed. "I just don't want you to get yourself killed and take me down with you."

Minato smiled faintly at that.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, centering himself.

Then, in the quiet of his mind, he spoke.

"Thank you, Kyuubi."

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