Chapter 91 The World Reborn - Minato Namikaze (Part Two)
Reborn 02
The rain gradually stopped.
The pale gray light before dawn seeped in through the cracks in the window. Minato opened his eyes on the tatami mat; he was awake. His body still retained the alertness of his many years as the Fourth Hokage, but his heart was fuller and more aching than ever before—the even, gentle breathing in the tatami room felt so real that it made him want to cry.
He turned his head, quietly watching Xue's sleeping face in the dim light. She was facing him, her long hair spread out on the pillow, one hand unconsciously resting on her cheek, her whole body curled up in the blankets, appearing exceptionally slender. Xue was very thin, so frail. Yet she possessed a resilience that no one else could match.
He got up, walked to her bedside, and stopped.
Minato leaned down, his fingertips pausing just before touching her cheek. In the end, he only lightly and with extreme restraint touched the ends of her hair scattered on the pillow with his knuckles. Soft, slightly cool, carrying the lingering scent of lilac.
He'll take his time...
"Wait a little longer, Xue," he whispered in a voice only he could hear. "Soon... you won't have a chance to escape."
The sleeping girl seemed to sense something, frowned slightly, and murmured something indistinctly, but did not wake up.
-
The lush green of midsummer has been replaced by the golden hues of early autumn, as Yuki has just finished her mission to gather intelligence on the Third Hokage of Sunagakure from the Land of Wind.
After giving a detailed report on the mission to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, he walked out of the Hokage's office as the sun was already setting. Orange-red rays streamed through the corridor windows, casting long, warm patches of light on the floor.
Just as she breathed a slight sigh of relief, a familiar figure appeared once again, almost exactly at the corner of the corridor.
Her brilliant blonde hair was edged with a soft glow in the setting sun, her azure eyes held a gentle smile, and her figure was as upright as a bamboo stalk. Minato Namikaze stood there, as if merely passing by, yet also as if… he had been waiting for a long time. She frowned slightly.
"You're back." The young man's voice was as clear and gentle as ever, carrying just the right amount of concern.
Xue's heart skipped a beat almost imperceptibly.
She stopped and met his gaze, nodding slightly: "Yes, senior."
This wasn't the first time. Ever since that rainy summer night, no, perhaps even earlier, the frequency of her encounters with Minato Namikaze had become so high that she couldn't ignore them. Training grounds, mission posting areas, shopping streets, even along the Naka River where she occasionally strolled alone... His appearances were always so natural, and his reasons were always so plausible—exchanging ninjutsu tips, going the same way, having new mission information to share, or simply "I saw you and came over to say hello."
At first, she didn't think much of it. Minato-senpai was a gentle and considerate person who took good care of his juniors. But as the incidents happened more often and over time, a subtle feeling, almost like being enveloped in an invisible spiderweb, quietly began to grow within her.
His smile remained warm, his eyes clear, and his words of concern impeccable. Yet, Xue felt something was different. Beneath that gentleness lay an undeniable sense of control; his clear gaze seemed to pierce through all her pretenses, precisely targeting the most subtle ripples in her heart. He was like a meticulously woven, incredibly soft net, omnipresent, slowly closing in, occasionally giving her an almost suffocating feeling when she was alone.
Is it just my imagination?
Standing in the corridor bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, Xue gazed at the swaying golden autumn leaves outside the window behind him, momentarily lost in thought.
It's autumn.
The events of that rainy summer night seem like they happened just yesterday; the sweltering heat in the air and the fragrance of lilacs still linger in my memory.
"How did the mission go?" He took a few steps closer, keeping a perfect distance. "The sandstorms in the Land of Wind must be quite strong, right? Your face looks a bit dry."
His fingertips brushed against the back of her hand unintentionally, carrying a trace of warmth.
"Fortunately, we got the information we needed." She answered briefly, her gaze still fixed on the autumn colors behind him, as if that golden expanse was more worthy of study than the living, breathing, and highly regarded genius ninja in front of her.
"Go home and rest well. I'll bring you some moisturizing ointment later... It's a new formula from Lady Tsunade, very effective for repairing damage from sandstorms." Minato's voice was gentle. Unlike in the dream, Kato Dan and Senju Nawaki were still alive. Lady Tsunade was still serving as the head of the medical team in the village, not having left to gamble and drink.
here we go again.
This kind of meticulous care is irresistible.
Xue raised her eyes and finally looked at him again. The setting sun gilded his handsome profile, and his blue eyes appeared clear in the light, reflecting her slightly tired but beautiful face.
"...Thank you, senior." She finally whispered her thanks, suppressing the inexplicable feeling of suffocation deep inside.
Perhaps I'm just overthinking it. Minato-senpai has always been like this, kind to everyone, but perhaps a little more attentive to her? After all, they were comrades who fought side by side, comrades who could entrust their backs to each other.
"Go back quickly, take a hot bath. Get some rest, Xue." He smiled gently, just as he always had.
Xue nodded and walked past him. In the instant they brushed past each other, she seemed to catch a faint, refreshing scent of him, like the scent of sunshine, mixed with a very faint metallic smell of kunai.
She looked back as she walked out of the Hokage Building.
There seemed to be a figure standing in a window on the third floor, but it was not clear.
It must be an illusion.
She slowly walked towards the Uchiha clan's territory.
-
Since then, the team composition for missions has begun to change. In the past, as a highly regarded commoner genius, Minato's mission assignments were usually solo or paired with more senior Jonin. But now, he has started to appear frequently and coincidentally near Yuki's team, sometimes to provide support along the way, sometimes because their mission lines intersect, and the reasons are always sufficient and natural.
Occasionally, during mission allocation meetings, he would use his still insignificant influence as a candidate for the fourth generation to make seemingly fair but actually subtle suggestions to place Yuki's team in similar or complementary positions to his own or a team he trusted.
At first, Xue didn't pay much attention. Senior Minato was strong and reliable; missions with him always went exceptionally smoothly, minimizing casualties. However, his gaze seemed to linger on her longer than before. After she cleanly and efficiently dealt with the enemy, he would appear by her side immediately, offering her rations or water; their fingertips would occasionally brush against each other, and his warmth was always palpable. When she encountered a bottleneck in her research on new ninjutsu, he would always happen to pass by the training ground, casually offering a few pointers on his profound chakra control theories, always hitting the nail on the head.
His care was meticulous yet subtle, maintaining a comfortable sense of boundaries.
Like the shade of a tree in summer, it quietly provides coolness without blocking out all the sunlight.
Secondly, Minato begins to get involved in Yuki's interpersonal relationships.
Especially towards Obito Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake, as well as her contemporaries...
As Obito entered puberty, his gaze would often linger on his stepsister, whom he shared a room with but was not related by blood. Yuki never minded his overly intimate physical contact, simply seeing it as familial dependence and affection. But to Minato... those unconscious approaches and shining eyes made him vaguely feel that Obito might harbor feelings for her that even he himself was unaware of, feelings that went beyond those between siblings.
So, whenever Obito tried to grab Yuki's wrist to practice taijutsu or ask her for ninjutsu tips, he would subtly step in, shielding Yuki behind him, and smile at Obito: "Obito, let me practice with you. Your taijutsu explosiveness is good, but the details and rhythm still need polishing. It will be more effective if I spar with you." Or, he would use some urgent ninjutsu question or a new rule just issued by the Hokage to naturally divert Yuki's attention, extinguishing Obito's little schemes.
With the looming threat of the Third Shinobi World War looming ever closer, Team 7 was officially formed, and Minato rightfully became the Jonin instructor of Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara. This gave him more opportunities to get closer to Yuki and subtly influence the entire team's dynamics. At the same time, the fact that Dan Kato and Nawaki Senju were still alive allowed him to re-examine and plan for the long term.
He acknowledged Obito's dream and devoted more time to targeted training. He aimed not only to improve Obito's strength but also to hone his character, cultivating his composure and judgment in dire situations. Minato's goal was clear: he wanted Obito to survive the impending brutal war, to survive unharmed. This way, Yuki wouldn't suffer the fateful and deeply entangled connection with Kakashi due to Obito's "death" or the loss of his eye from severe injury.
He could not allow Xue to develop feelings for any other person, whether male or female, besides himself.
During post-mission meals or rest periods, Minato would always naturally choose to sit between Yuki and the always aloof Kakashi. He wasn't intentionally preventing them from communicating; he simply used his presence to subtly establish a safe distance, separating them from any potential private interactions that might transcend camaraderie. He did this so smoothly and naturally that even the usually perceptive Kakashi initially only raised an eyebrow, noticing that his beloved teacher seemed to be paying particular attention to the harmony and…stability of the team atmosphere lately.
Until one day, Kakashi deliberately lagged behind the group. He raised his tired, lifeless eyes and looked ahead.
The setting sun dyed the sky golden red, and also cast long, occasionally intimately overlapping shadows of the two figures walking side by side ahead.
The blond youth tilted his head slightly, listening intently to the black-haired girl beside him whispering something. A genuine, soft smile played on his lips, a departure from his usual perfect gentleness towards strangers, revealing a heartfelt joy. And the way he looked at her…
Kakashi's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
That wasn't the way a teacher looks at an outstanding student, nor was it the way a senior looks at a junior.
That's the look a man has when he gazes at the one he loves.
Profound, focused, with an undeniable possessiveness and a deep, ocean-like yearning, it almost completely swallowed that slender black figure into the azure blue.
Kakashi quickly looked away, instinctively pulling his headband down even lower to cover most of his face. A complex mix of emotions swept through him—a sharp, knowing pain, a slight, inexplicable emptiness—but ultimately, all of these settled into a deep, still silence. He said nothing, simply putting his hands in his pockets and following silently.
Minato knew what he was doing. He was weaving a web, using gentleness, strength, and impeccable companionship to gradually envelop Uchiha Yuki in his aura. He wanted her to become accustomed to his presence, to rely on his wisdom, and to feel secure in his protection. He wanted to become the most indispensable part of her life, the first landmark she would look for when she looked at the world.
He guided her, but never denied her ideas; he protected her, but encouraged her to challenge stronger opponents; he intervened in her social life, but never rudely prevented her from interacting normally with her friends—he simply nipped the tiny buds that might have developed into special feelings in the bud, preventing them from happening in the first place.
The cool early autumn is gradually giving way to the crisp chill of late autumn.
Xue suddenly stopped on their way back from their mission, when they were alone.
"Minato-senpai." She called out to him, her dark eyes still clear and bright, reflecting the brilliant sunset and his slightly stunned figure.
Minato's heart skipped a beat without warning, as if he had been gently pricked by that overly pure gaze. His usual gentle smile quickly returned to his face. He stopped, standing a step or so away from her, and asked calmly, "What's wrong, Yuki?"
“You seem a little different lately,” she tilted her head slightly, a gesture with a touch of girlish innocence that caused a stray strand of hair to sway, her eyes filled with a pure, unadulterated inquiry, “…”
"What's different?" he asked with a smile, but his heart skipped a beat.
Has he been discovered? His secret, deliberate approach?
The setting sun cast a pale gold hue on her eyelashes and delicate shadows on her fair cheeks. She pondered for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly, as if she were truly searching for the right words to describe that subtle feeling.
“I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s just… I feel like you’re spending a lot more time around me than before. And,” she paused, her cheeks flushing almost imperceptibly, and her voice lowered, “…you also seem to be paying more attention to me than before.”
His fingers, hidden in his sleeves, curled slightly. He met her clear, unwavering gaze, which seemed to reflect all his secrets, and forced himself to maintain the most open and honest demeanor.
“Because Xue is a very important person.” He spoke calmly, each word uttered with utmost seriousness. “To me, Xue is the most important junior, and also…” He paused subtly for half a second, like a carefully crafted breath in a performance, “…the most important partner. Isn’t it natural to want to pay more attention to you, to want to protect you?”
He carefully and cautiously concealed that burning, almost bursting love behind the barrier constructed by the three words "most important." He meticulously packaged those possessive desires and yearnings that churned day and night, almost materializing into reality, as an inescapable sense of responsibility as a senior and a deep, natural concern between companions.
This distance is just right right now.
Xue looked at him, and for the first time, his focused figure was clearly reflected in her usually calm and composed dark eyes, causing a slight ripple to appear on her face. She seemed to want to say something, her lips moved, but in the end, she only nodded, gave a soft "hmm," and turned to continue walking forward.
But the base of her ears was tinged with a faint pink in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Minato followed half a step behind her, watching her hair being blown by the wind, watching her slender back, and the smile on his lips could no longer be suppressed, spreading little by little until it reached his eyes.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
