Twelve years before the start of the series, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox attacked Konohagakure destroying much of the village and taking many lives. The leader of the village, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails into a newborn, Naruto Uzumaki. Orphaned by the attack, Naruto was shunned by the villagers, who out of fear and anger, viewed him as the Nine-Tails itself. Though the Third Hokage outlawed speaking about anything related to the Nine-Tails, the children — taking their cues from their parents — inherited the same animosity towards Naruto. In his thirst to be acknowledged, Naruto vowed he would one day become the greatest Hokage the village had ever seen.

As Sakura questions who the man before them was, Minato introduces himself and advises her to get ready for the explosion. Just then the sea rises up behind them, leading Minato to explain to the confused Allied Shinobi Forces that he had sent the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball to the sea. Akamaru's growls alert everyone in the vicinity that something was not right with their would-be saviour, and the shinobi soon notice that he is a reincarnated shinobi. However, Minato tells them not to worry as he was on their side, and asks Sakura if she was Naruto's girlfriend. Naruto answers, though his response prompted Sakura to headbutt him in retaliation for lying about being intimate, the belligerent action reminding Minato of Kushina and her own short temper. As Naruto notes that he has felt their chakra in Tailed Beast Mode, and that others were coming as well, the shinobi on the battlefield turn in shock to see the three other previous Hokage arrive. Read more...