Naruto: Not a Ninja, the System

Any ninja from Konoha using a Sealing Technique unique to the Whirlpool Clan—it was enough to enrage even the calmest member of the Uzumaki bloodline.

For someone born of that clan, seeing such techniques performed by outsiders without acknowledgment or reverence was nothing short of humiliating.

"Impressive. That seal—was it for suppressing Chakra?" Jaxon asked casually, glancing at Xuanwo Yunnai as she rubbed her chest.

"No. That bastard engraved the seal directly over our hearts," Yunnai replied, her voice tight with frustration. "It means our lives are now completely in their hands. If that guy so much as thinks about it, he could kill us instantly."

There was a raw bitterness in her tone. For someone proud of her clan, the idea of being shackled like this was unbearable.

"Relax," Jaxon said gently, smiling as he patted her head. "They wouldn't dare."

But as he turned toward the masked Anbu who had applied the seals, his eyes sharpened. His voice grew cold, laced with a veiled threat.

"Since Konoha insists on this level of caution, I expect that they will also guarantee our safety along the way. If anything happens to my people, I'll have no choice but to mobilize the Hoshino—no—my family's resources and seal every one of them."

The atmosphere grew tense.

But the masked ninja remained composed. "You have my word," he said. "Now that you've arrived at the gate, I'll escort you directly to Hokage-sama. No harm will come to you in Konoha."

With that, the young Anbu calmly removed his mask.

A youthful face appeared—handsome, confident, with a mop of unmistakable yellow hair.

Jaxon's smirk returned.

"With hair like that, you're not exactly easy to forget. Minato Namikaze, right?"

Minato blinked in surprise. "You remember me?"

"I'd be hard-pressed to forget that bright yellow mop. I doubt there are many people in Konoha with hair that loud," Jaxon teased with a laugh.

Minato's face darkened slightly, his jaw tightening.

Still, he kept his composure. "Let's go. I've already notified Hokage-sama of your arrival. He's expecting you."

Jaxon grinned. Without hesitation, he slung his arm around Minato's shoulders like they were childhood friends.

Though they'd only met once a decade ago, Jaxon had always liked this guy.

After all, this was the future Fourth Hokage. And more importantly—there was something charmingly simple about Minato. A kind of pure-hearted foolishness that made him oddly endearing.

"I have to say, it's been ten years—and you still haven't lost that baby fat. Amazing!" Jaxon grinned mischievously.

Minato's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

This guy… is still just as infuriating as when we were kids!

Minato didn't reply aloud. Instead, he cast a glance toward the red-haired man driving the carriage—Whirlpool Zhen.

"Those two redheads with you… Are they from the Whirlpool Clan?"

"Oh? So sharp. You figured that out all on your own?" Jaxon replied, feigning amazement as he clapped Minato's shoulder again. Luckily for the Leaf shinobi, Jaxon hadn't used much force. Otherwise, that friendly slap might've sent Minato staggering.

Minato's eyes widened. "They really are Uzumaki?"

The disbelief on his face was genuine.

To his knowledge, aside from Kushina, the rest of the Whirlpool Clan had perished. Yet here, in front of him, were two unmistakably red-haired elites from the very clan he believed extinct.

His gaze drifted back to Whirlpool Zhen, his senses telling him what he couldn't deny—this man's chakra was dense, his strength certainly at the level of an elite Jonin.

In the once-glorious Whirlpool Clan, anyone who reached that level of power wouldn't be unknown.

This wasn't just interesting—this was monumental.

It meant there were survivors.

And Minato knew exactly who needed to hear this news first: Kushina.

"All right, let's stop wasting time," Jaxon said, tone more businesslike. "I've got more important matters to attend to after this. Let's head to the Hokage's office."

There was a flicker of excitement in his eyes—subtle but unmistakable.

. . .

Konoha Village had changed.

Compared to the version of the village Jaxon saw ten years ago, it had expanded greatly. Even with the Second Shinobi World War ongoing, the chaos of the outside world hadn't yet reached the heart of Konoha.

On the streets, shops bustled with activity. Merchants called out their wares, children ran through the alleys, and villagers strolled by casually.

It was far livelier than Jaxon remembered. Though the number of stores still didn't match what would exist years from now, it was a dramatic improvement from his last visit.

When they finally reached the village gate, Jaxon stepped off the carriage and began walking instead, surveying the familiar surroundings.

The massive wooden gates still stood tall.

Despite the passage of time, they looked exactly the same. Most structures built from ordinary wood would have decayed or weathered after a decade—but these gates hadn't aged a day.

Must be Hashirama's doing again, Jaxon thought to himself. Those trees probably haven't even needed maintenance in decades.

Ninja wood.

A creation of chakra and earth energy. These gates were just another testament to Hashirama Senju's otherworldly abilities.

. . .

"Young Master Jaxon—" Minato began respectfully.

"No need to be so stiff. Just call me Jaxon," he interrupted, grinning.

Before Minato could respond, Jaxon wrapped his arm around him again, like a brother greeting a long-lost friend.

Minato exhaled in exasperation.

Seriously… Why is this guy still the same as he was back then?

He gritted his teeth but kept quiet.

Instead, he turned toward Whirlpool Zhen again. The Uzumaki was seated stoically at the front of the caravan, his expression unreadable.

Minato's instincts told him the man was incredibly strong.

He couldn't hold back anymore.

"Those two redheads… They're really Uzumaki?" he asked again, still reeling.

"Yup. What, surprised?" Jaxon said with a smirk, clearly enjoying Minato's disbelief.

Minato was genuinely stunned.

He had always believed the Whirlpool Clan to be lost, their bloodline scattered to the wind. Seeing survivors here today brought a mix of awe and hope.

He immediately thought of Kushina again.

She had always carried the weight of being the last of her kind—or so she thought.

This news would mean everything to her.

. . .

"Let's hurry to the Hokage's office," Jaxon said, already walking ahead. "I've got work to do after we're done."

His voice carried a note of determination, but his expression also held something else—anticipation.

Konoha was about to get interesting.

---

Hokage's Office

"Hokage-sama, Jaxon has arrived. He's waiting just outside the building."

Minato knelt on one knee as he delivered the message.

Across the room stood Hiruzen Sarutobi, a man whose face bore the weight of years and war. Wrinkles creased his once youthful features, and though his eyes remained sharp, the lines beneath them told stories of hardship.

Gone was the warm, easygoing expression he sometimes wore in public. What replaced it was solemnity.

"Have him brought in," Hiruzen said after a moment. "And summon Danzo."

Minato's eyes flickered at the name but nodded. "Yes, sir."

As Minato rose to his feet and turned to leave, Hiruzen walked over to the large glass window that looked out over the village.

Below, the stone faces of the Hokage Monument stared back at him from the cliffside—Hashirama, Tobirama, and his own likeness carved beside them.

He lit his pipe slowly, took a long drag, and exhaled.

Smoke curled into the air like the thoughts running through his mind.

So… Jaxon has returned.

And behind that, the old fears stirred again.

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

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