Chapter 6: An Unexpected Journey Through Time

“Lord Harano, are you alright? Did you accidentally get hurt just now?”
Seeing Harano slip and fall onto the ground, Tomoko was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly picked him up to check him anxiously.
“I’m fine, Tomoko. How could those little brats possibly hurt me? Isn’t that right, Minato?”
Harano struggled free from Tomoko’s embrace, crossed his arms behind his back and declared proudly.
How could he admit defeat in front of his little brother?
“Yeah, big brother is super good at fighting!”
Minato nodded in agreement and admiration. He had witnessed Harano take down Fugaku Uchiha with a single move, and held great respect for Harano’s powerful taijutsu technique.
At that moment, Minato quietly resolved to master that move himself.
If Harano had known Minato’s thoughts, he would have understood the origin of the strongest secret taijutsu technique of Konoha.
Watching Harano showing off, Tomoko smiled and said, “Heh, Lord Harano, aside from fighting with Lord Hizashi and Lord Hiashi over toys, when have you ever actually fought anyone? You’re not even as good as little Minato!”
Her smile, to Minato, was as warm and dazzling as the winter sun.
Harano was already used to Tomoko’s gentle smile, but Minato was entranced; growing up in an orphanage, no one had ever treated him with such kindness.
“Grr…”
Suddenly, a soft sound broke the warm atmosphere.
Minato’s face, which had just begun to recover from swelling, instantly turned red and adorable.
“Heh, little Minato, are you hungry? I’ll go prepare some food,” Tomoko said, rubbing Minato’s head and rising with a cheerful smile.
“Hey, Minato, do you really want to be my little brother?”
As Tomoko walked out along the petal-strewn path, Harano asked.
“Of course! Big brother, you’re so good at fighting, and you’re the first person willing to help me. You’ll always be the boss of Minato Namikaze.”
Sitting on the stone bench opposite Harano, Minato grinned, his sun-like smile radiating charm.
“Truly, Minato is born with an aura! He inspires trust without even trying,” Harano thought, gazing at the little sun before him.
Harano’s expression grew serious. “Minato, since I’m your boss, does that mean you’ll always listen to me?”
“Of course, I’ll always listen to you, boss,” Minato replied without hesitation.
“Alright, I trust you.”
“Minato, do you have any dreams?” Harano suddenly asked.
“Of course! My dream is to become Hokage, protect the village and everyone, and make sure no child becomes an orphan.”
When talking about his dream, Minato’s face lit up, his declaration ringing out with a radiant glow.
Harano thought, “That’s no special effect—I really see Minato shining!”
“Minato, what if I want to be Hokage too?” Harano asked, surprised.
Minato’s face froze for a moment, then he hesitated, “Then you should be Hokage, boss. I’ll do everything to help you and protect everyone.”
Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, and the sadness on his face, Harano felt a warmth in his heart. Being trusted like this was truly wonderful.
“Hahaha, don’t worry! As your boss, I wouldn’t compete with my little brother; helping you is what a boss should do,” Harano laughed, patting Minato on the shoulder.
“Being Hokage is exhausting and dangerous. I’ll just keep developing myself quietly, and someday all the Hokages will be my little brothers—now, isn’t that stylish?” Harano thought.
“Really? Boss, do you believe I’ll become Hokage?” Minato came to life again.
“Of course! You will definitely become Hokage—and the strongest one, surpassing all previous Hokages. That’s the promise of Hyuga Harano,” Harano said seriously.
“Yeah, I believe in you, boss,” Minato replied with a bright smile.
“Huh? So your name is Hyuga Harano! I thought you were called Hyuga Wind-Thunder Four-Dance Wheel…” Minato exclaimed in surprise.
Harano: “………”
“Looks like Minato’s talent for naming things was cultivated early,” Harano thought, facepalming.
…
The two boys continued to chat idly, lying across the stone table.
“Minato, why did you go buy kunai today?” Harano asked, curious.
He wondered why Minato, a child from the orphanage who hadn’t entered the ninja academy, would need kunai.

---

“Ah, it’s like this. Since the war just ended, the village needs to pay more compensation, so the orphanage gets less funding. We haven’t had meat for three months. I thought I’d try my luck in the forest with a weapon,” Minato scratched his head, smiling.
Seeing Minato’s relaxed manner, Harano understood the hardship behind it. After all, he too had grown up in an orphanage in his previous life.
Back then, even though the state gave out funding every month and donations came from kind people, very little ever reached them.
If he could have two meals of stir-fried vegetables per day, Harano was already content.
Let alone in this world, where the second great ninja war had just ended and refugees were everywhere—even the wealthy Land of Fire was struggling. Konoha couldn’t spare more funds for the orphanage.
“Don’t worry, as your boss, I’ll help you,” Harano said seriously.
Tap tap tap…
The sound of wooden clogs on the stone path rang out. Harano and Minato turned to look, and Harano could tell from the footsteps it wasn’t Tomoko.
But Minato didn’t know; he swallowed, full of hope for the upcoming meal.
A few seconds later, seeing the figure enter through the gate, Minato’s face changed, instantly standing up nervously.
“Grandfather, you’re finally back from work!” Harano jumped into the old man’s arms.
“Greetings, Great Elder…” Minato said anxiously.
“Mm,” the Great Elder nodded gently.
“Grandpa, I have something to tell you. From today, Minato is my little brother, and he’s agreed to move in with us and help me deal with Hizashi and Hiashi,” Harano suddenly said.
“Oh? Is that so?” The Great Elder looked over the two boys, puzzled.
“Ah, no, I…” Minato was startled by Harano’s words, and hurried to explain.
“Hmph, Minato, you just said you’d listen to your boss, and now you’re scared of fighting?” Harano quickly cut in, winking at Minato.
Minato wasn’t stupid; he caught on and looked down, silently counting ants.
Of course, the Great Elder saw through their little tricks.
Looking at his grandson in his arms, the Great Elder’s eyes filled with a mix of guilt, nostalgia, and sorrow.
“Well then, little Minato, you can come live with Harano from now on. I’ll go with you to the orphanage to handle the adoption paperwork,” the Great Elder smiled kindly, bending down to take Minato’s small hand.
“Just giving Harano a playmate,” he thought.
Minato’s face bloomed with joy, unable to believe it.
He had never imagined he would have family, or someone who cared about him.
“But… but… if I leave, who will take care of the other kids at the orphanage?” After a moment, Minato’s face fell, torn by worry.
“Grandpa, the other kids at the orphanage are so pitiful—they haven’t had meat for three months. Please help them,” Harano pleaded, shaking his grandfather’s hand.
“Don’t worry, I’ll donate some money to the orphanage in the name of the Hyuga clan,” the Great Elder promised.
Harano discreetly flashed Minato a victory sign.
Minato’s face lit up with excitement. No longer an orphan, and the funding issue solved—Minato felt today was his lucky day.
He felt even more grateful to Harano, silently vowing to repay his boss, even at the cost of his life.
Ten minutes later, after eating the meal prepared by Tomoko under the cherry tree, the Great Elder led them to the orphanage to handle Minato’s adoption.
Of course, Tomoko was allowed to eat at the table only because Harano insisted and pleaded with his grandfather, who reluctantly agreed.
Otherwise, in a clan like the Hyuga, branch family members were not allowed to dine with the main family.
An hour later, outside Konoha’s orphanage, the paperwork was done. Harano stood holding his grandfather’s hand, Tomoko helped carry Minato’s washed, faded clothes.
Minato was crying, surrounded by a crowd of orphanage children bidding him farewell.
Everyone was in tears, happy for Minato being adopted by the prestigious Hyuga clan, but also sad at the impending separation.
Seeing this scene, Harano remembered when he left for college in his previous life, leaving the orphanage for another city.
The children had sent him off in the same way, crying their hearts out.
But later, everyone drifted apart and lost touch.
Thinking of this, Harano’s eyes reddened, nose aching.
The Great Elder assumed Harano was thinking of his parents, and felt even more guilty, resolving to grant Harano whatever he wished for.

---

Ten minutes later, Minato finally finished saying goodbye to his friends, his eyes red as he ran over.
“It’s alright, Minato. Don’t be sad; you can always come back and visit your friends,” Tomoko said gently, wiping away his tears.
“Thank you, Tomoko,” Minato nodded earnestly.
An hour later, at nine in the evening, moths clustered under the streetlights along the long avenue.
The four carried new bedding and clothes, leaving behind laughter as they made their way to the Hyuga clan.
Back at Harano’s house, he took the lead, assigning the room next to his own to Minato.
With two mischievous little kids “helping,” Tomoko spent over an hour getting Minato’s room ready.
Once Minato’s room was prepared, Harano was tired. After washing up and exchanging goodnights, he went to bed.
Minato, however, couldn’t sleep. Lying on the tatami, touching the new bedding and looking at his fresh clothes, he pinched himself.
He was afraid it was all a dream, and that he’d wake up back in the orphanage’s cramped, damp bed.
Harano, meanwhile, drifted into sleep, worn out from fighting, visiting the orphanage, shopping for Minato, and all the activity. He slept deeply, without dreaming.
Suddenly, Harano felt a cold wind blow through. He shivered, groping for the blanket he must have kicked off.
Instead, his hands found something strange.
A few seconds later, unable to bear the cold, Harano squinted, ready to retrieve his blanket.
“Straw?” He blinked, using the faint light to see what he was holding.
“Why is there straw in my room? Did Minato sneak in for a prank? Is Naruto’s prankster talent inherited?”
Thinking it was Minato’s mischief, Harano got up to go to his room and deal with him.
But upon rising, Harano was fully awake, mouth agape, eyes wide with shock.
By the dim light, Harano saw he wasn’t in his own room, but somewhere unfamiliar.
Opposite him was a long table at half his height, with three old incense burners arranged on it.
Above, on the platform against the wall, stood three statues of venerable Daoist masters, all covered in dust and bearing fine cracks.
“Daoist masters? Is this a temple?”
Looking around, he saw the walls behind the statues and the hall’s sides were all faded red lacquer, chipped and battered.
The ceiling was supported by massive wooden beams.
The cold wind he’d felt had come from a half-open wooden door behind him.
Outside, a row of wooden doors with thick paper pasted on the upper parts—now full of holes—and exquisite carvings below.
“Was I kidnapped? But that can’t be! In the world of Hokage, there are temples but not Daoist ones.”
His mind a jumble, Harano felt dizzy.
The cold wind had made his head ache, vision blurred, and his body weak.
Thinking made his eyelids grow heavier.
Thud!
A sharp pain stabbed through his head, as if a knife twisted inside. His vision went black, and he collapsed.
Just before fainting, through the half-open door, Harano glimpsed a figure approaching.
Please don’t let it be a trafficker!
Otherwise, I’m so cute—I’ll be sold into slavery for sure!
Before losing consciousness, Harano prayed fervently to meet a good person.
Perhaps heaven heard his prayer, for he was about to meet a benefactor.