Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy

Standing at the entrance to his house, Sasuke was about to unlock the door when he suddenly paused and glanced toward Naruto's apartment.

"Still asleep?"

"That's the first time I've seen him stay in bed this late."

He narrowed his eyes.

"And there's another presence inside."

"It's not Hinata."

"That doesn't seem right."

"Did something happen?"

The unusual feeling immediately put Sasuke on alert.

Without hesitation, he changed direction and headed toward Naruto's apartment.

...

"An enemy that even ninja cannot oppose... the ninja world?"

Inside Naruto's mental realm, Kakashi repeated Minato's question under his breath.

He knew his teacher would never ask something meaningless.

After thinking carefully, he answered.

"Ever since the ninja village system was established, wars between nations have never stopped."

"I've spent years carrying out missions all over the world."

"If such an unprecedented enemy truly appeared, then in my opinion... before enough painful sacrifices were made, the ninja world would continue fighting separately."

"Every major village possesses its own foundation and strength."

"After several ninja wars, we all have a rough understanding of each village's military capabilities."

"If an unbeatable enemy truly existed..."

"Then only after it caused enough destruction."

"Only after it wiped out one of the Five Great Villages."

"Only then would the ninja world realize the danger."

"Only then would they understand that if one village falls, the others won't survive either."

"At that point, they might unite."

After a moment, Kakashi finished what he considered the most reasonable answer.

More importantly, he simply couldn't imagine a single individual threatening the entire ninja world.

Not even the legendary Madara Uchiha.

At least not without seeing it firsthand.

"And do you think unity would be enough to defeat such an enemy?"

Minato continued calmly.

"And if victory were possible... how many people would die?"

The question reminded Kakashi of children arguing about whose father was stronger.

An impossible hypothetical.

Yet because the one asking was Minato, Kakashi answered seriously.

"If the question is real..."

He paused.

"Then I don't think victory is possible."

"If an enemy truly possesses enough power to destroy an entire hidden village by themselves..."

"Then even a united ninja world would likely lose."

"Because if I try to imagine possessing that level of power myself..."

"I'd need enough strength to destroy a village like Konoha."

"And if I can destroy Konoha..."

"Then I can probably destroy every other village too."

"Perhaps even the entire ninja world."

Kakashi looked directly at Minato.

"That is the conclusion I reached."

Minato nodded.

"Then tell me."

"Why are you so certain the ninja world would lose?"

"And how could its chances improve?"

This time, it wasn't a question.

It sounded more like guidance.

Kakashi slowly organized his thoughts.

"The current ninja villages are ultimately military forces serving their nations."

"For any country, the weakening of another nation is beneficial."

"If enemies beyond the ability of shinobi truly exist, then cooperation becomes the only option."

"But no nation would commit everything immediately."

"They would all hesitate."

"They would all wait."

"They would all want someone else to pay the price first."

"Unless every single nation were simultaneously threatened."

Kakashi's eyes gradually widened.

"It would be like a shinobi possessing one hundred percent of their chakra."

"To maximize their chances, they'd need to fight with everything."

"But against such an enemy..."

"They would only begin taking the threat seriously after losing twenty percent."

"Or thirty."

"Or even more."

As the words left his mouth, realization struck him.

He finally understood where Minato had been leading him.

Minato smiled.

"Exactly."

"But even that isn't enough."

"Using your example, not only must that shinobi fight with one hundred percent of their chakra..."

"They must also become stronger."

Kakashi fell silent.

Minato continued.

"Everything I'm about to tell you is not something I've personally witnessed."

"You can think of it as a prophecy."

"Or perhaps events that once had the possibility of becoming reality."

Then Minato began explaining.

The existence of the Ōtsutsuki.

The origin of chakra.

The history hidden behind the ninja world.

The terrifying enemies destined to descend from the heavens.

He deliberately omitted certain details regarding Kurama.

Not because he didn't trust Kakashi.

But because much of that information ultimately came from Kurama himself.

Minato had needed years before fully believing him.

If Kakashi learned everything at once, the source alone might make him doubt the entire story.

And there was another problem.

Even now, Minato didn't fully understand Kurama's ultimate plan.

Still.

Even with countless details omitted, the information alone shattered Kakashi's worldview.

Far more thoroughly than learning the truth about Obito from Itachi.

The Ōtsutsuki.

Godlike beings.

A hidden history stretching back thousands of years.

Enemies capable of crushing the Five Great Villages with ease.

If anyone else had told him this story, Kakashi would've assumed they were insane.

Even hearing it from Minato, it still felt unreal.

Finally, Minato explained the existence of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

Then he fell silent.

Allowing Kakashi time to process everything.

For a long while, Kakashi said nothing.

Eventually, he inhaled deeply.

Even though this was merely a mental world, his body reacted instinctively.

He needed time to stabilize himself.

Strangely enough, because the information felt so detached from reality, his recovery was actually faster than when he had learned the truth about Obito.

After a while, he raised his head.

"So, Sensei..."

"Then Naruto?"

At last, Kakashi understood why Naruto had become so powerful.

Yet he still didn't understand Minato's goal.

Minato's voice was calm.

"Naruto was once the only hope."

"But this time..."

"I refuse to place that burden solely upon him."

His blue eyes reflected a determination that had never wavered.

"Which is why, just as you've realized..."

"I intend to completely change the structure of the ninja world."

After hearing Minato's plan, Kakashi stood frozen.

Several moments later, a complicated expression appeared on his face.

It was somewhere between a bitter smile...

And disbelief.

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