16 Why We Revive the Fourth Generation

On the hospital bed, Kotono watched Naruto reunite with his mother and couldn’t help but shed tears.

She sniffled. No matter the outcome of the Holy Grail War, at least Naruto had finally seen his mother.

Before today, he didn’t even know what his mother looked like or what her name was.

Her wish for seizing the Holy Grail had always included reuniting Naruto with his parents.

Kotono felt genuinely happy for Naruto.

But she found crying a bit embarrassing, especially since she was so moved that her nose felt like it was about to run.

She wanted to wipe it but couldn’t lift her hand easily.

Fortunately, at that critical moment, a tissue gently wiped away her tears and helped with her runny nose.

“Thank you.”

She looked up and was comforted to see Kakashi’s eyes were red as well.

That was wonderful—she wasn’t the only one moved to tears.

Kakashi shook his head, signaling it was nothing.

As the emotion faded, Kotono couldn’t help but start analyzing the situation with her sharp mind.

At this moment, those who could openly stand in the hospital room were all connected.

Then Kakashi...

“What’s your relationship with Naruto?” Kotono quietly and considerately asked, “Are you Naruto’s uncle?”

She sneaked the question: “Did the Third Hokage forbid you from acknowledging Naruto?”

Kotono spoke softly, but since everyone present was an excellent ninja, they caught her query clearly.

Kakashi broke out in a nervous sweat from embarrassment. Kushina tenderly patted the back of her son in her arms, softly soothing the little boy who nearly fainted from crying, and slowly spoke.

“That’s a misunderstanding on Kotono’s part.”

Kushina’s tone was warm and kind.

Whether because Kotono had contractually resurrected her or because of the obvious Uzumaki bloodline she carried, Kushina felt a strong affection toward her.

Most importantly, the deep bond between Kotono and Naruto—inseparable through life and death—moved her profoundly.

How Kotono fearlessly protected Naruto from powerful enemies.

How Naruto steadfastly guarded Kotono without retreat.

When Naruto said, “Since I was little, only Kotono has been willing to be my friend,” did Kushina sound deaf?

Just thinking of those words and picturing her son’s frail and bedraggled state brought tears to Kushina’s eyes.

But to be fair...

“One thing the old Third Hokage did well.”

“As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, if the Hokage was unable, for the most part, you should stay within the boundaries of the sealing barrier.”

Kushina expressed her disdain for the Third’s strength and temperament without reservation.

Before Minato developed the Rasengan and truly became a powerful Hokage capable of subduing the Nine-Tails, Kushina was forced to remain confined within the fixed range of the sealing barrier.

Even a single butterfly was freer than she was.

Back then, the village still had formidable shinobi like the Legendary Sannin, and Kushina herself was an Uzumaki skilled in sealing jutsu, yet she still suffered such strict restrictions.

After the war ended, the Sannin gradually left, and the Third Hokage aged.

The Nine-Tails’ attack and the sacrifice of her and Minato dealt a heavy blow to the village’s vitality.

Given this context, it was no small feat that the Third Hokage allowed Naruto a relatively free childhood.

Although in their plan, Naruto should have been cherished and raised as the son of a hero...

Perhaps this was the fate of a Jinchuriki.

“What is a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?” Naruto asked drowsily.

“It’s the tailed beast sealed inside your mother’s body, and also the monster inside you,” Kushina said lovingly. “Over the years, because of the Nine-Tails, you’ve suffered quite a bit, haven’t you?”

Naruto looked somewhat confused.

The Eight Trigrams Seal, improved and reinforced by Minato, was stronger than the Four Symbols Seal on Kushina, so Naruto had yet to confront the Nine-Tails directly.

Kotono suddenly recalled something. “You mean the orange fox inside Naruto? The one as tall as a mountain?”

The three of them were astonished.

“I sensed Naruto’s chakra was off, and every time he used ninjutsu, a strange chakra would appear and interfere, making it hard for Naruto to practice,” Kotono explained. “So I tried to sense it, and one night, by chance, I accidentally entered Naruto’s inner world, saw the Nine-Tails, and even spoke a few words with it.”

“I knew that fox had bad intentions—it looks like it’s asking for a beating!” Kushina said through gritted teeth. “Don’t worry, Naruto, Mom will take care of it!”

The Third Hokage’s focus was very pragmatic: “What did the Nine-Tails say? How long can you maintain Kushina’s summoning? Will she be able to appear again next time?”

These three realistic questions instantly chilled the warm atmosphere in the hospital room.

At least for now, no one was concerned whether Kakashi was Naruto’s brother or uncle.

All eyes turned attentively to Kotono.

“What does this have to do with you?” Naruto anxiously grasped his mother’s hand. “Didn’t Mom come back to find me?”

Kushina smiled with a hint of sadness.

She didn’t know how to explain to her surprised son that she was already dead and only existed through Kotono’s Uzumaki bloodline manifestation.

That would be too cruel for a child who had just been reunited with his mother.

* * *

“I didn’t say much to the Nine-Tails. I asked who sealed it here to torment Naruto.”

“The Nine-Tails asked if I wanted to save Naruto. I said yes, but it said it hated Uzumaki clan members like me the most and drove me out.”

“That’s the Nine-Tails for you,” Kushina’s gaze toward Kotono grew softer.

“It was Minato who split the Nine-Tails and sealed half inside Naruto... At the time, the situation was desperate; he had no other choice.”

Kotono nodded in agreement.

Tokiomi Tohsaka had caused his daughter’s tragedy. Minato’s actions were consistent with his past life—it was all his fault.

Naruto obediently nestled in his mother’s arms, his eyes rolling around.

It was clear he had many questions about what was said, but he obeyed his mother’s words to wait until the adults’ time was up before asking.

“My current chakra can sustain the contract for another twenty minutes. As long as the contract remains and my chakra is sufficient, I can summon Aunt Kushina anytime.”

“The exact duration needs testing.”

“But as my chakra grows, the time will definitely extend.”

“Also...”

Kotono hesitated briefly, then said firmly:

“If I don’t break the contract with Aunt Kushina, I can summon one more heroic spirit.”

She glanced at Kushina and Naruto. “Although the cost is great... I can summon the Fourth Hokage, as long as I have the relic.”

Naruto’s face lit up with surprise. Kushina was clearly moved but restrained her joy, instead asking with concern, “Does this bloodline limit put strain on your health?”

Kotono started to speak but stopped.

Seeing this, Kushina’s heart sank but she still smiled reassuringly: “It’s okay. Just being able to see Naruto once more makes me very satisfied. Don’t push yourself for our sake.”

She already knew that such a forbidden bloodline technique wouldn’t come without limits.

Kotono was a good child, willing to share such secrets for Naruto’s sake. Because of this, Kushina felt there was no reason to let her suffer for her own benefit.

“All I can say is, if it fails, it’s just death.”

“??!!”

Everyone was shocked. You mean death is just ‘fine’?

But for Kotono, death was indeed just that, because dying merely meant restarting or summoning Kushina again.

“I’m not afraid to die. The only factor in deciding whether to reserve the last summon slot for the Fourth Hokage is one thing.”

“—Is the Fourth Hokage strong enough?”

It seemed like a ridiculous question.

The strength of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, was an undeniable fact.

In truth, anyone who became Hokage was no weakling and was likely the strongest in the ninja world at the time.

But when Kotono explained the unusual reason behind her question, everyone immediately understood her.

...

She said seriously: “I was given this bloodline limit to win a war that is destined to break out—the Holy Grail War.”

She roughly explained the concept of the Holy Grail War.

“In ten years, multiple factions will enter the battlefield. Masters and their servants will wager their lives, all to compete for the Holy Grail, a treasure capable of granting any wish.”

“I need the strongest possible servants to help me claim victory in this great war.”

“If I can win and seize the Grail, the servants who assist me can use its power to reincarnate—meaning they can obtain real bodies and achieve true resurrection.”

Kotono did not conceal the truth: “So my only concern about summoning the Fourth Hokage is whether he can keep up with the intensity of this war.”

Kushina thought for a moment, then answered seriously.

“Minato was truly strong. Back then, the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Cloud Village even had official rules that if you encountered the Yellow Flash, you could abandon all missions. To be blunt, it was because of Minato that Konoha won the Third Great Ninja War.”

Naruto’s face filled with admiration. “Dad was so amazing!?”

Kushina smiled proudly. Since it wouldn’t affect Kotono’s health, she naturally wanted to help her husband seize this chance for resurrection and reunion.

Considering Minato’s strength, she was very confident.

Kotono weighed Minato’s identity carefully: “So after the Fourth Hokage’s resurrection, can he help me initiate the Fourth Great Ninja War?”

Having a powerful faction backing her would make it much easier to clear the main quest.

If the Third Hokage wasn’t reliable, then summon the Fourth instead.

The Fourth Hokage was close to Naruto and was Konoha’s highest leader at the time (even if he died), so if his raw strength was no problem, he was the most suitable second summon.

She proposed seriously: “If Konoha controlled the initiative in the Fourth Great Ninja War, the advantage of the organizer’s position would make things much easier for us.”

“...Huh?”

“Eh???”

Everyone was stunned once again today.

Wasn’t this the Holy Grail War? What did the Fourth Great Ninja War have to do with it?

Isn’t Konoha all about advocating for world peace?

And isn’t Kotono the best inheritor of the Will of Fire? Why does she keep talking about starting a ninja war!