Naruto: Imitation Ninja

Kushina wasn't surprised in the slightest by the sudden appearance of the two figures. After all, her husband's Flying Thunder God Technique was renowned throughout the village. His sudden arrivals and disappearances had long ceased to astonish her.

What did shock her, however, was the possibility that Xingliu might have used the same technique. Then again, she wondered if perhaps her eyes had deceived her.

After all, how could such an S-rank jutsu—a technique that even many seasoned shinobi struggled to master—be casually learned by a young boy with no formal ninja training?

"Minato, Xingliu, you're back! How bad is the damage to the village?"

Kushina smiled warmly at the two as they walked closer. Their swift return implied that the crisis had been brought under control.

"We only conducted a preliminary survey," Minato began, his tone steady. "Other than the initial destruction caused by the Tailed Beast Bomb, there appear to be no casualties. We've managed to avert a catastrophe this time."

Minato turned to glance at Xingliu, who was standing nearby, grinning brightly. "If not for Xingliu's intervention, the damage to Konoha could have been far worse."

"This time, it's truly thanks to you."

"W-Water… Lord Minato, you're being too polite," Xingliu stammered, his hands waving awkwardly. "I only did what I thought was right…"

Despite his modesty, a hint of pride flickered in Xingliu's heart. Though he had merely copied Minato's jutsu and used it to intimidate the enemy, receiving gratitude from the legendary ninja prodigy Namikaze Minato was undeniably gratifying.

"No, Xingliu. You absolutely deserve our thanks," Minato said solemnly.

"From a public standpoint, you subdued the Nine-Tails and scared away Tobi, saving countless lives in Konoha.

"From a personal standpoint…" Minato glanced toward Kushina, who sat radiating maternal warmth as she cradled their newborn son. "…you saved the two most important people in my life."

"You've earned not just my gratitude but the gratitude of my entire family—and the village."

At that moment, an elderly man carrying a staff approached. His entourage first bowed respectfully to Minato before taking up defensive positions behind him, remaining vigilant.

Recognizing the man, Minato quickly led Kushina in a bow. "Third Hokage, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be overseeing the village?"

"Haha, it's already a breach of etiquette that I wasn't present during the attack. If I didn't show my face even after the enemy had retreated, wouldn't people criticize me?"

The elderly man, Sarutobi Hiruzen, let out a hearty laugh, his demeanor far warmer than his stern reputation suggested.

This was the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen. In the original timeline, he had only appeared after Minato and Kushina sacrificed themselves to seal the Nine-Tails. Bound by the barrier Minato had set, Hiruzen could only watch helplessly as his chosen successor paid the ultimate price to protect the village.

Though he later provided some support to Naruto, the harshness of Naruto's childhood was largely attributable to Hiruzen's decisions.

"This is the young man you mentioned earlier, isn't it?" Hiruzen asked, his gaze settling on Xingliu.

Minato nodded. "That's right. His name is Xingliu. Without him, the village would have suffered far greater losses during this crisis."

Minato recounted Xingliu's actions, including his foresight regarding the attack and his critical role in defending the village. Initially skeptical, Hiruzen's doubts evaporated when he saw the box containing the Nine-Tails in Xingliu's possession.

To be able to subdue the Nine-Tails without harming Kushina, its jinchūriki, was a feat beyond the capabilities of ordinary individuals. As long as Xingliu posed no threat to Konoha, Hiruzen decided to turn a blind eye to his unconventional methods.

"As expected, heroes emerge from the younger generation," Hiruzen mused with a smile. "When Minato was your age, he already had strength close to that of a Kage. It seems I'll be able to retire and enjoy my twilight years soon enough."

Though his words were lighthearted, Hiruzen's thoughts were weighed down by the countless battles he had fought and the sacrifices he had witnessed in his lifetime. While he still had the strength to lead, he longed to pass the mantle to the next generation.

"Lord Third, you shouldn't speak so lightly about retirement," Minato replied, smiling wryly. "Right now, I'm far from qualified to take over, especially with a newborn son to care for."

"Let me spend a little more time with my family first," he added.

Minato's response left Hiruzen momentarily speechless. After all his grand proclamations, the younger man had neatly sidestepped the responsibility.

"Ah, fine, fine," Hiruzen relented with a resigned shake of his head. "If that's the case, I suppose this old man will continue to shoulder the burden for a few more years."

"Lord Third, you're truly wise!" Minato and Kushina exchanged amused glances, their laughter filling the air.

As much as they loved their village, the couple treasured the precious early moments with their son, unwilling to trade them for the responsibilities of leadership just yet.

"Well, enough talk of retirement," Hiruzen said, his expression turning serious. "We have something far more pressing to discuss."

His gaze shifted to the box in Xingliu's hands.

"Shouldn't we address this troublesome creature that has plagued us for so many years?"

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