Chapter 4

When the meeting was over, i, Genji, Kushina, and Minato all left together, our minds heavy with the weight of the revelations. Minato, with his usual calm demeanor, teleported his family back to the home they should have all been living in from the beginning. The house felt both familiar and foreign to me, with its warm, welcoming aura and the subtle scent of Kushina's cooking lingering in the air.

Kushina immediately went to the kitchen to prepare dinner, her movements efficient yet tinged with an underlying tension. Minato suggested that both of his sons sit down and get a chance to know each other. His voice was gentle but authoritative, leaving no room for argument.

The two of us sat down next to each other on the living room couch. The silence between us was thick and uncomfortable, each of us waiting for the other to break it. We exchanged glances, our eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity, suspicion, and a longing for connection.

Naruto finally broke the silence, his voice shaky but determined, "So you are really my twin brother?"

Genji nodded, his expression solemn. "Yes, I never thought I had one until last week. The Third Hokage came to me and told me he had something important to discuss."

Naruto's face twisted in betrayal. "I can't believe he not only kept me in the dark about my parents but also hid the fact that I have a brother. Why would he do that?"

Naruto's eyes filled with unshed tears, his emotions raw and close to the surface. Kushina, overhearing the conversation from the kitchen, made some bowls of ramen and brought them over, placing them gently on the table. "That's not even the worst part," she said softly, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, his voice tinged with fear and curiosity. Minato intervened, placing a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"After dinner," Minato said, his tone leaving no room for argument, "what we're going to tell you is something even worse." The gravity of his words settled over the room like a dark cloud.

They ate in silence, the only sounds the clinking of chopsticks against bowls and the occasional slurp of ramen. Both brothers were too anxious to enjoy the meal, their minds racing with questions and fears about what was to come.

When dinner was over, Minato led them to his study, a room filled with scrolls and books that spoke of his long career as a shinobi. He pulled out a few papers from a drawer and handed them to Naruto and Genji. The papers detailed the existence of a loyalty seal, a forbidden jutsu that bound the bearer's will to those who controlled the seal.

"Not long after you both were separated," Minato began, his voice heavy with regret, "the elders decided that you would both have a loyalty seal placed on the back of your heads. These seals were meant to ensure your loyalty to the village at all costs. We removed them before you woke up from your coma, Naruto."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock, his mind reeling from the revelation. The sensation he felt earlier made sense now, but the implications were staggering. "So, everything I believed in, everything I wanted to do for this village... was it all a lie?"

Tears streamed down Naruto's face as he struggled to come to terms with this new information. The room was silent, the weight of the truth pressing down on everyone. Genji placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder, offering silent support.

Minato and Kushina looked at their sons with a mixture of guilt and determination. They knew the road ahead would be difficult, filled with more questions and painful truths. But they also knew that together, as a family, they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

"We're here for you," Minato said softly, his voice filled with resolve. "No matter what, we'll face this together."

Naruto now felt a glimmer of hope. He wasn't alone anymore. He had a family, a brother, and parents who loved him. And together, they would uncover the truth and forge a new path forward.

To be continued...