The night was thick with tension. As Asteru stepped out from the shadows of the war-torn village, his calm demeanor in stark contrast to the chaos around him. The skies above were lit by the flickering glow of fires, and in the distance, the roar of the Nine-Tails echoed, shaking the earth. The third Hokage stood ahead, his robes flowing lightly in the breeze, his gaze fixed on the towering beast wreaking havoc.
Asteru tilted his head to the right, his sharp eyes catching sight of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, mid-battle. Minato, his face resolute despite the dire circumstances, had placed his infant son, Naruto, gently on the ground. His hands moved swiftly, forming intricate hand seals—snake, boar, sheep, rabbit, dog, rat, rooster, horse, and snake again. Each movement carried a sense of finality, an unwavering resolve.
As the last seal was formed, a thick mist of smoke rose behind Minato. From within the smoke emerged the Shinigami—a translucent, towering specter with a gaunt, demonic visage. Its long, shaggy white hair was adorned with two red horns, and its purple-hued skin contrasted against the white kimono draped over its body. Asteru's sharp gaze lingered on the Shinigami's dagger, clenched tightly between its teeth, and the ominous red prayer beads hanging from its form.
Minato's voice rang out, firm and steady despite the weight of his decision. "Let's believe in this child. He is our son, after all."
Nearby, Kushina Uzumaki, her breath ragged from exhaustion, watched her husband with tear-filled eyes. The toll of childbirth, coupled with the extraction of the Nine-Tails from her body, left her visibly weakened. Sweat poured down her face as she clung to consciousness.
Minato turned toward her, his expression softening momentarily. "After this jutsu, I'm going to seal your chakra inside Naruto," he explained. "You won't have much time to spend with him when he's grown up, but I want you to help him when the time comes for him to control the Nine-Tails' power."
Kushina's expression shifted from exhaustion to desperation. Her voice trembled as she spoke, huffing between sentences. "He is our son… which is why I don't want him to bear such… a heavy burden… Why… Why the Reaper Death Seal…? There's no need for you to die… just so I can meet Naruto… especially for a short time…"
Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to continue. "I would rather you stay with Naruto… and watch over his development… So why?! Why do you have to sacrifice yourself for my sake?! Why for the Bijuu balance? For the country? For the village?!" Her voice rose in anguish, her body trembling.
Minato knelt before her, his expression calm yet filled with a father's resolve. "To forsake one's country and village is the same as forsaking one's child. You, whose birth nation is no more, know too well how harsh life is for those without a home. Besides, our family… is Shinobi."
He paused, his gaze softening. "Even if I were to stay, I would lose to you. There's something only you can tell Naruto… something only a mother can say."
Kushina's tears continued to fall as she looked at her husband. She wanted to argue, to protest, but she knew Minato's mind was made up.
The Shinigami's spectral hand moved through Minato's soul, its cursed markings spreading across his body. Asteru, observing the scene from a distance, narrowed his eyes. He stood behind the Third Hokage, who was watching the ritual intently.
The Third Hokage's expression shifted as he realized what Minato was attempting. "Those signs… Don't tell me he's launching the Reaper Death Seal?!"
Asteru, his voice calm and measured, confirmed the Hokage's fears. "Yes, he is. That's what he's chosen to do."
The Hokage turned toward Asteru, his surprise momentary. He hadn't sensed Asteru's presence until he spoke, but his composure quickly returned. Two other shinobi arrived, landing beside them with soft thuds. "Third Lord, what's happening?" one of them asked, their eyes fixed on the chaos before them.
The Hokage replied, his voice heavy with resignation. "It's no use… We can't intervene. The barrier is preventing the Nine-Tails from escaping, and it's blocking us from entering."
Asteru, his expression unreadable, added, "They've decided to handle this themselves."
Inside the barrier, the Shinigami's hand pierced through Minato's soul and grabbed hold of the Nine-Tails. The colossal beast roared in pain and fury as its chakra was forcibly extracted. "You! Fourth Hokage!" it bellowed.
Minato's voice rang out, firm and resolute. "Seal!"
The Nine-Tails screamed as its chakra was sealed into Minato's body. The process left him weakened, his breaths shallow and labored. The Third Hokage, watching from the outside, muttered in disbelief. "I didn't think he would actually go through with it…"
One of the shinobi beside him added, "But the beast is still alive! He couldn't seal all of it!"
Minato, his body trembling from the strain, prepared for the next phase of the ritual. "Alright… now for the Eight Signed Seal," he announced. He placed Naruto at the center of a summoning altar, his movements deliberate despite his exhaustion.
The Nine-Tails, its size diminished but its fury undiminished, growled menacingly. "A ritual altar! He's planning to seal me again?! Inside that baby?!"
Kushina, her strength fading rapidly, struggled against the chains that bound the Nine-Tails. The beast saw its opportunity and lunged toward Naruto, its claws aimed at the helpless infant.
Kushina and Minato, summoning the last of their strength, moved to shield their son. Blood dripped from the Nine-Tails' claws as it pierced their bodies, stopping just short of Naruto.
Their breaths were shallow, their bodies trembling from the pain. Minato, his voice weak but filled with determination, said, "I said I was his father. Dying for him is my right."
Kushina, her voice barely above a whisper, added, "And I'm his mother… It's my right too."
The shinobi outside the barrier watched in shock. "There's a child?!" one of them exclaimed.
Another added, "They saved it...!!"
As Minato completed the seal, he summoned Gamatora, the toad, and entrusted him with the key to the seal so it could reach Master jiraya. The toad, startled by the chaos around him, whoa!! Nine tails!! Hey fourth! What's up you?!! as it received the key it disappeared.
The Third Hokage, observing from a distance, muttered, "So that's it. He plans to save the village by making his son the Jinchūriki."
Asteru, his voice calm but laced with a hint of disdain, replied, "What a moron he is… but that's his plan and I can't change it."
With the ritual complete, the barrier dissipated, and Minato and Kushina lay on the ground, their breaths shallow. Kushina, using the last of her strength, whispered her final words to Naruto, her voice filled with love and regret. "Naruto… Don't be a picky eater… Eat a lot and grow well… I love you…"
As her voice faded, Minato added his own words, his smile faint but filled with pride. "Naruto… my words to you as your father are… Ditto your loquacious mother…"
Their lives are coming to an end as the Nine-Tails was sealed within Naruto, leaving the village in stunned silence.
The barrier dissipated as Minato completed the final ritual, sealing the Nine-Tailed Fox into his newborn son, Naruto. A hushed silence enveloped the area as the weight of his sacrifice became evident. Minato's body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, his golden hair catching the faint moonlight one last time. Before a shinobi near the Third Hokage could reach him, Kushina, already weakened and teetering on the edge of death, collapsed as well. A nearby shinobi managed to catch her just in time, preventing her frail body from hitting the cold earth.
The Third Hokage approached, taking the crying infant into his arms. Kushina, her voice weak and trembling, looked at the old man with a pleading expression. "Please… look after… my child…" she murmured, each word heavy with emotion and exhaustion.
The Third Hokage nodded solemnly. "I will, Kushina," he assured her. "What is his name?"
With a faint smile, Kushina whispered, "Naruto… His name is Naruto…"
The Third Hokage repeated the name, as if committing it to memory. "Naruto, you say? Fine. I shall take full responsibility for this child."
Standing a few steps away, Asteru Kurogami watched the scene unfold, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. In his mind, however, a different thought echoed. "Ah, here comes the biggest lie in the entire anime history. Everyone who watched Naruto back in my world knows the truth—you didn't take care of him."
Sora, the sentient spirit of his blade, chimed in telepathically, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Then why don't you adopt him, Master? If you think you can do better, why not take him in?"
Asteru sighed inwardly. "If I adopt him, the whole plot may change," he replied, his tone calm but firm.
Sora, not one to back down easily, pressed on. "Then why don't you adopt him until he reaches the age of three? At that age, children tend to forget everything. It wouldn't affect the plot if he doesn't remember you."
Asteru shook his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "I don't think so…"
Sora let out a playful pout-like sound in his mind, as if annoyed by his refusal.
Suddenly, Asteru's senses flared. A distortion in the space near Naruto caught his attention—a subtle yet ominous ripple. His eyes narrowed. "Impossible… It can't be…"
From the void emerged the masked man, his presence radiating malice. Asteru's mind raced. "This shouldn't be happening! After taking Minato's Rasengan, he should've gone into a comatose state! What's he doing here?!"
The masked man reached out for Naruto, his hand inches away from the infant. The tension in the air thickened, freezing everyone in place. The Third Hokage and Kushina, too weakened to react, could only watch in horror.
But Asteru moved.
In an instant, he closed the distance between them, his movements a blur of speed and precision. Leaning back slightly, his hands still in his pockets, he delivered a casual yet devastating kick. His leg arced smoothly through the air, almost lazily, before connecting with the space near the masked man.
The resulting shockwave was deafening, like a gunshot from a Desert Eagle. "BOOM!" The masked man was blasted out of his spatial distortion, his body tumbling across the ground. His mask cracked slightly from the force.
The masked man stared at Asteru, his tone low and menacing. "Who are you?"
Asteru tilted his head, his gaze calm but piercing. "You didn't go into a comatose state after taking Minato's Rasengan. How?"
The masked man said nothing, choosing instead to retreat. With a subtle ripple in space, he disappeared once more.
The Third Hokage, Kushina, and the other shinobi stared at Asteru in shock. The sheer power and precision of his attack had left them speechless.
The Third Hokage was the first to recover. "Why did you let him escape?" he demanded.
Asteru shrugged nonchalantly. "He's already injured. He'll enter a comatose state on his own. There's no need to kill him now."
Before the Third Hokage could respond, Kushina spoke, her voice trembling. "Who… are you?"
Asteru turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "My name is Asteru Kurogami. I can see that you don't have much time left but before you go, I want to tell you something. This incident has made me change my mind. I promise you, I'll take care of Naruto until he reaches the age of three. I'll protect him until he's strong enough to face the dangers of this world on his own."
Kushina's expression shifted from shock to neutrality, then to relief. "I don't know where you come from or why you want to protect him, but… thank you," she said softly. "After seeing your power, I believe you can keep him safe."
With those final words, Kushina closed her eyes, a peaceful expression on her face as she passed away.
The shinobi who arrived later mourned the loss of the Fourth Hokage and his wife. Standing beside them, the Third Hokage spoke gravely. "There are few who knew Kushina was pregnant, and even fewer who knew she was married to Minato. This secrecy will help keep Naruto safe from enemies. But…" He hesitated. "Everyone in the village will see him as the demon fox's vessel who destroyed their village."
Asteru's voice was calm yet firm. "I'm aware of that. That's why I intend to take care of him until he turns three."
The Third Hokage frowned. "Why only until then? Why not longer?"
Asteru hesitated for a moment before replying, "I have my reasons. I've already become involved in something I didn't intend to. Please understand my situation, Lord Hokage."
The Third Hokage studied him for a long moment before nodding reluctantly. "Very well. But what will happen after he turns three?"
"I'll think of an answer and let you know when the time comes," Asteru said simply.
With that, he teleported himself to the top of the Hokage Monument. Sitting there with one leg folded and the other hanging off the edge, he gazed out over the village.
Sora's voice broke the silence. "Why did you do that? You said you wouldn't interfere."
Asteru sighed, his gaze distant. "Sora, how long have we been fighting side by side?"
"For over two centuries. Why do you ask?"
"You share my memories, so you know the truth," Asteru said. "What I saw in the anime didn't happen here. The masked man showed up again. That means the flow of fate hasn't changed; we just never saw what happened behind the scenes. The author of the series only showed what he wanted us to see. But in reality… it is different."
Sora interrupted, her tone thoughtful. "You're saying that the Third Hokage might've stopped him, and he still would've gone into a comatose state later?"
"Exactly," Asteru replied. "He'll recover in a few years, just in time to create Akatsuki and destroy the Uchiha clan alongside Itachi. That explains how this world actually works. Interfering won't change much, as long as we don't make major moves."
The first rays of dawn began to light the horizon, bathing the village in a warm glow. Asteru stood, stretching slightly.
"Then I've decided," he said, his tone resolute. "I'll be the exception. I'll join Naruto as the fourth member of Team 7 and I'll be with him as his one of the childhood friend and watch him grow. I'll stay by his side as his friend and his guardian."
Sora chuckled. "Looks like your vacation has just begin now."
And with that, a new chapter in the history of Konoha and in "The Land of Fire" had began.