[The System deducted the remaining Karma Points for bringing the Host to this world.]
Haruto blinked as his surroundings shifted, the world around him slowly coming back into focus. He glanced around, seeing the aftermath of the brutal battle. His mother, Kushina, was collapsed on the ground, her body lifeless. The weight of the moment crashed into him, and for a brief second, he wished he could turn back time.
Before he could process further, the old Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, appeared. His gaze flicked over Minato's still body, and he checked for a pulse. There was none.
Hiruzen's face grew grim, his expression showing a deep sorrow as he stood up. In the corner of his eye, he noticed Kushina, and immediately, he rushed to her side.
"Kushina..." His voice broke the air, sorrow heavy in his tone.
Kushina, with what little strength she had left, reached for him. "Lord Third... my sons now... contain the Nine-Tails... half in Naruto... and half in Haruto... please, look after them... hic..."
With one final, painful gasp, she fell silent, her life slipping away.
The atmosphere became heavy, suffocating, as the reality of the loss set in. Hiruzen gently lowered her body to the ground, his heart weighed down with grief. His gaze turned to the two infants, lying motionless beside her. It was only then that he noticed Kakashi, who had silently appeared, his body frozen in place as he processed the devastation.
"No... NOOOO!" Kakashi's voice cracked as he took in the sight of their bodies. His legs trembled beneath him, and the images of his own tragic memories flooded his mind.
Obito's goofy smile, the way he'd died protecting them... Rin, her hand held by Obito's, only for her life to be taken by his own Chidori. And the warm smile of his sensei, Minato—gone.
Then, Kushina. The woman who had treated him with kindness, now lost forever.
"Why..." Kakashi couldn't hold back his tears, his sobs echoing in the otherwise silent room.
The shattered picture of Team 7 hovered in his mind, the last remains of his cherished past. But now, that bond too had fractured, leaving him broken. The only thing remaining of that picture was Kakashi, standing alone.
Hiruzen, seeing the turmoil in Kakashi's eyes, approached with a weary, understanding gaze. "Kakashi... I know how you feel, but now... it's time to protect your sensei's children. Take Naruto and Haruto to a safe place."
Kakashi nodded weakly, tears still streaming down his face. He gently scooped up both infants, his body flickering out of sight with the Body Flicker Technique, taking them to safety.
---
Outside the Barrier:
Hiruzen stepped out of the barrier, where Konoha's shinobi had gathered. The air was thick with grief and uncertainty. The ninjas stood, their faces grim, waiting for news.
One of the shinobi, voice trembling, spoke up. "Former Hokage... how is Lord Fourth?"
Hiruzen's face tightened, his voice heavy. "Minato... and his family... have perished, sacrificing their lives to protect the village."
The words hit like a hammer. The shinobi instinctively stepped back, as if the news was too painful to comprehend. "No... it... it can't be..." they murmured in disbelief. Without another word, the ninjas rushed inside, only to find the bodies of their fallen Hokage and his wife.
---
Funeral Day:
The day was cold and dreary, a heavy rain falling over Konoha. The village was gathered at the grave of their fallen hero, Minato Namikaze. Despite the somber mood, the crowd began to thin as the hours passed.
But Kakashi remained, kneeling at the grave, his face wet with both rain and tears.
"S... Sensei..." Kakashi's voice trembled, filled with a raw, aching sorrow. "You truly made me an orphan... I lost my teammates... I lost my sensei..." His voice faltered, and he broke down completely, no longer able to hold back the torrent of grief that overwhelmed him.
He continued to cry, his sorrow so deep it felt as though the rain itself wept with him.
The atmosphere was thick with the death of the Hokage. The villagers, though relieved the Nine-Tails had been sealed, could not escape the heavy burden of loss. Minato's legacy would live on, but the tale of the Fourth Hokage would be passed down through generations, as a hero who died protecting his people.but...who was his son again?
-_-
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