After the Edo Tensei was released, Minato found himself in a dark, endless void. Darkness stretched in every direction, suffocating and silent. He raised his eyebrows in confusion, his sharp eyes scanning the emptiness around him.
"Where am I…? Is this the afterlife? This place feels… so empty. What's going on?"
Suddenly, Minato heard a calm, soothing voice echo in his ears.
"This place is known as the void between life and death, Minato Namikaze. I have summoned you here because there are matters we must discuss."
Minato slowly turned his head—and froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief as a radiant figure hovered before him, suspended effortlessly in the endless void. Soft light emanated from the being, casting away the suffocating darkness that had surrounded him moments ago.
'An Angel!!!'
The angel possessed an ethereal beauty, his long golden hair shimmering like sunlight and his golden eyes burning with divine intensity. His muscular frame was encased in brilliant golden armor, and from his back extended a pair of vast, snow-white wings, pure and immaculate.
The angel offered a gentle, warm smile before beginning to introduce himself.
"Allow me to introduce myself, Minato Namikaze. I am Raphael, the Angel of Reincarnation. Because of your sacrifice, the prophecy has been fulfilled, and the Lord wishes to reward you—and your family."
Minato's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper as he replied.
"Sir. I am listening."
Raphael nodded and continued.
"The Lord intends to give you and your family a new lease on life by reincarnating you, your wife Kushina Uzumaki, and your son Naruto Uzumaki after his death. This is the deepest wish of your heart, yet there are conditions you must agree to if you choose to embrace this second chance together."
Minato's body trembled as the words sank in. Tears welled up and traced silent paths down his cheeks. Collapsing to his knees, his voice choked with emotion, he whispered, "…Is this… truly possible? A second chance… for all of us?"
Raphael looked at Minato warmly and nodded to him.
Minato took a shaky breath, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his racing heart. His eyes, glistening with tears, met Raphael's golden gaze. With a voice thick with emotion, he finally spoke, "I… I don't know if words can ever express what I feel right now. Thank you… for this… for giving us a chance…"
Raphael sighed looked at Minato and replied.
"Don't thank me just yet, Minato Namikaza… what you're about to hear may not sit well with you."
Minato stood, his posture straightening. He fixed Raphael with a steady gaze, eyes serious and unwavering, then gave a deliberate nod.
"Please… go ahead, sir. Tell me the conditions."
Raphael smiled and nodded.
"First, understand this—when you and your family are reborn, you will possess no chakra. The world you are about to enter does not harbor such power."
"Second, all memories of your previous lives will be completely erased for the three of you."
"These are the conditions I spoke of. If you accept them, I will reincarnate you and Kushina Uzumaki immediately… and when your son meets his end, I will grant him the same fate."
Minato got quite after hearing Raphael's words.
'Losing all my memories… it's a heavy price. But I truly want to live with Kushina and Naruto as a real family. I don't care about losing my chakra… but if I lose my memories, I'll lose all the joyous moments I shared with Jiraiya-sensei, Kushina, Shukaku, and the others.'
After full five minutes Minato gritted his teeth and said.
"Fine, I accept those two conditions… but may I ask a question?"
Raphael smiled and nodded.
"Go a head."
"If Kushina and I lose all our memories, how could we possibly end up together? And if we do, would Naruto still be born as our son?"
Raphael smiled and started answering his question.
"When you first meet Kushina in your new life, you will feel a sense of familiarity toward her, and she will feel the same. However, whether you two get married will depend entirely on the choices you both make."
"If the two of you end up getting married, Naruto will be born as your son, and both you and Kushina will feel the same familiar connection when he comes into the world."
Minato smiled in relief. Deep down, he knew that Kushina was curious by nature, just as he was. He wholeheartedly believed that, in this new life, they would end up together—and that Naruto would be born again as their son.
"Alright, Mr. Raphael… I agree to those conditions. I want to be reincarnated."
Raphael gave a warm smile and nodded. Then, with a graceful wave of his hand, Minato began to glow with a brilliant light, his form shimmering like molten gold. The radiance intensified, bathing the void in warmth and light. After a tense minute, the glow reached its peak—and then, as suddenly as it had begun, Minato vanished, leaving no trace behind. Only the lingering echo of his presence remained, a silent promise of a new beginning.
"Have a happy life, Minato Namikaze. You deserve this new chance. Now… it is time for me to meet Kushina Uzumaki."
Without a word, Raphael vanished from sight, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air where he had stood.
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