Naruto: Kage No Kunshu

Prologue (Updated)

Feeling weak again, Jin Woo clutched his chest and struggled to stay on his feet. He knew he had to find a safe place to rest before it was too late. Tightening his grip on his chest, Jin Woo scanned his surroundings, desperately searching for any sign of shelter. As the pain intensified, he quickened his pace, his determination pushing him beyond his physical limits. Finally, Jin Woo spotted a small cave nestled on the side of a rocky hill. With a burst of newfound energy, he pressed on toward the cave, hoping it would provide the respite he so desperately needed. As he stumbled inside, the darkness enveloped him, offering a moment of much-needed solace.

Jin Woo sank onto the cold cave floor, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. With trembling hands, he reached into his backpack and pulled out a small flashlight, flicking it on to cast a feeble glow around the space. The dim light revealed a narrow passageway leading deeper into the cave, beckoning him to explore further.

"I never imagined I would experience this sensation again ever since I obtained the System. [Coughs up blood] Damn it! (Image is blurred out). I am going to die here. All I can remember is being stabbed in the chest by the Frost Monarch with Kamish's Wrath. I am sorry, Suho, my son, and Hea-In, my wife. I couldn't fulfill my role as a father and husband for you both. There was no desire or necessity," Jin Woo said with a final breath, closing his eyes.

At that moment, he saw Hea-In and his son and peacefully passed on to the afterlife. At that very moment, he felt a serene sense of relief, knowing that his family would be taken care of. He embraced the soothing notion of his loved ones being safe as he closed his eyes. Before the darkness took him completely, a faint whisper seemed to fill the cave, "Jin Woo, you have done more than we could ever ask for," Hea-In's voice echoed softly in his fading consciousness.

"Please don't be sorry. You've been our strength," a young voice, likely Suho's, chimed in, surprisingly strong despite the evident sorrow. Tears welled up in Jin Woo's eyes, a mix of pain and joy at hearing their voices one last time. "Take care of your mother for me, Suho. Be the man I know you can be," he whispered, a final message he hoped would reach through time and space to his son.

"And Hea-In... I've always loved you. More than the stars could ever hold." As his breaths grew fainter, the last bits of light dimming from his vision, Jin Woo felt a gentle embrace, as if his family was there with him, comforting him in his final moments. "You are not alone, Jin Woo. You never were," the whispers seemed to assure him, a loving caress against his cooling skin. With those final words echoing in his heart, Sung Jin Woo let go, a smile gracing his lips as he drifted into the unknown, surrounded by love, leaving behind a legacy that would echo through the ages.

Centuries have passed since the era of Sung Jin Woo, and the once-celebrated power of hunters has all but vanished into the annals of history. Our tale now unfolds in the Elemental Nations, with a particular focus on the village hidden in the leaves, Konohagakure. It was the 10th of October, a date that would be forever marked by the chaos of the Kyuubi's attack on Konoha. For the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the day was fraught with challenges from the very start. His beloved wife, Kushina, had just given birth to their son, Naruto, an event that had unwittingly weakened the seal that kept the Kyuubi at bay. To make matters worse, Minato found himself in a fierce battle against a man masquerading as Madara Uchiha, a name that belonged to a legend long thought dead.

In the midst of this turmoil, Minato's opponent managed to snatch away his newborn son, Naruto, a boy who inherited his mother's bright blue eyes and distinctive whisker marks on his cheeks. Minato managed to retrieve Naruto, only to discover explosive seals hidden within his swaddle. Without a moment's hesitation, he teleported to the safety of the Uzumaki-Namikaze Compound to secure Naruto in his crib before racing back to confront the imposter. Despite the masked man's formidable prowess and mysterious Sharingan abilities, Minato's mastery over the Hiraishin and Rasengan jutsus allowed him to gain the upper hand, forcing the faux Madara to retreat. But victory came at a cost; the battle left Minato drained and lightheaded.