Namikaze Minato

Namikaze Minato (波風ミナト) was the the Fourth Hokage (四代目火影, Yondaime Hokage; Literally meaning "Fourth Fire Shadow") of Konohagakure.

He was famous in life for his speed, leading to the moniker of Konoha's Yellow Flash (木ノ葉の黄色い閃光, Konoha no Kiiroi Senkō; English TV "Yellow Flash of the Leaf"). He died during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, sacrificing his life to seal the Nine-Tails into his infant son, Uzumaki Naruto.

Background

Minato falling in love with Kushina after he rescue her from being kidnapped by Kumo shinobi.

When Minato was in the Ninja academy, his class-mate Uzumaki Kushina thought that he looked "unreliable" and even "girly". He dreamed of being acknowledged by the Konoha villagers by becoming the Hokage, which Kushina considered to be an impossible dream for someone like him. Years later when Kushina was kidnapped by Kumogakure ninja, Minato was the only one to pick up on the fact that she was leaving behind strands of her red hair to mark their path. After rescuing her, Minato explained that he had always admired her hair. No longer seeing him as "unreliable", she fell in love with him.

According to those who knew him personally, Minato was a very talented ninja prodigy  — a rare genius that appeared only once in a generation. He graduated from the Ninja Academy at the age of ten, and was added to a genie team under the tutelage of Jiraiya who took a special interest in Minato, and took him on as an apprentice,amongst other things teaching him the Summonig Technique. He even believed Minato might be the child of the prophecy,someone who would someday save the world.

Team Minato

In time, Minato married Kushina. He also became a jonin and was put in charge of a genin team of his own, consisting of Nohara Rin, Uchiha Obito, and Hatake Kakashi. For their test to officially become genin, Minato tasked them with taking one of two bells from him in actual combat. Despite the team not having full loyalty towards each other, seeing them work together to snatch even on bell convinced Minato to pass his team.

During the Third Shinobi War, Minato led his team on a mission into Kusagakure to destroy the Kannabi Bridge. Because Kakashi had recently become a jonin, Minato gave leadership of the mission to Kakashi while he went to help Konoha's forces on the front lines. After meeting up with the surviving and out-numbered Konoha ninja, Minato used his Flying Thunder God Technique to kill the opposing Iwagakure ninja. He then returned to his team, just in time to save Kakashi and Rin from another group of Iwa forces, but was too late to save Obito. When Kakashi and Rin recovered from the ordeal, Minato helped them complete the mission.

Before becoming Hokage, Minato clashed with A on several occasions. On what was seemingly their first meeting, Minato, an Inuzuka,Akimichi , and a fourth member, confronted A and his team. There, Minato and A had a clash of speed with Minato almost severely injuring the future Raikage before B intercepted the attack. Upon receiving the signal that Konoha was retreating for the time being, Minato lingered to praise B's bravery and told A that he had a good family and followers surrounding him as he did, and also offered A the advice of making sure his brother knew who he was before he became neither human nor jinchuriki. Minato then declared that the next time they met, it would be to put the title of "kage" on the line. Not one to allow his enemy to escape so easily, A attempted to attack Minato before he left. Believing that Minato would teleport to one of his special kunai, A was shocked to see the Konoha-nin appear behind his brother before realising that Minato had marked him earlier. Impressed by the fact that B had reacted fast enough to pull one of his swords on him, Minato praised B for his skills.

Minato as the Fourth Hokage.

Minato, not yet thirty years of age, was chosen to become the Fourth Hokage. At some point during his reign, Minato taught his signature technique to the hokage guard platoon to better aid them in their duties of serving the Hokage at any given time. In the anime, shortly after Minato's official reign began, he sent Kakashi on a mission to retrieve important documents to aid the delicate transition of peace between Konoha and Iwa. Knowing that Kakashi was still traumatized by the death of Rin by the young jonin's own hand, Minato sent Maito Gai and some ANBU as secret backup for Kakashi, which proved to be a wise decision as Kakashi soon collapsed from hyperventilation in battle. Visiting his former student in the hospital, Minato decided to promote Kakashi to the ANBU Black Ops, working directly under Minato himself. Later, when Kushina became pregnant, the two expecting parents were overjoyed. Kushina, however, became a nervous of their future child's well-being, to which Minato promised as a father he would definitely protect their child. Midway through the pregnancy, Jiraiya visited with his first book. Minato read it and liked the main character's determination — whom he believed to be just like Jiraiya — decided to name their son "Naruto" in the hopes that he would be just like the main character and, in turn, Jiraiya. Jiraiya warned them that it would make him Naruto's godfather, but they insisted that this was a good thing.

Because Kushina was the jinchuriki of Kurama, special arrangements had to be made for Naruto's birth. Since the seal keeping the Nine-Tails within her would weaken during childbirth, Naruto would be secretly delivered in a remote location outside Konoha. In the anime, as Kakashi continued his duties in ANBU admirably, Minato grew concerned when reports told him that Kakashi was growing colder in all his aspects. Deciding to help Kakashi regain his value of life, he went to Hiruzen for advice, who suggested that he assign Kakashi to protect Kushina during the pregnancy. On the night Kushina was to go into labor, Minato decided to give Kakashi the day off as gratitude for his good work.

Soon after Uzumaki Naruto was born they were found by Obito who had killed the ANBU stationed outside and infiltrated the cave. Obito had killed Sarutobi Biwako and Taji then took Naruto hostage, threatening to do the same to him. Minato was able to take Naruto back, but this gave his opponent the chance to escape with Kushina to break the seal. By the time Minato found a safe place to put Naruto and then teleported to Kushina, he spirited her to safety just as the freed Nine-Tails was about to kill her. With Kushina looking after Naruto, Minato heads to Konoha to defend it from the Nine-Tails.

Minato defeats Obito.

Minato arrived in the early stages of the Nine-Tails' attack. After protecting the village from the beast's Tail Beast Ball by erecting a barrier and sending the attack elsewhere, Minato tried to reach the Third Hokage to inform him of what had happened, but was stopped by Obito, who tried to warp him away. However, Minato flew to another of his kunai, and was quickly followed by his opponent. Analysing his opponent, Minato came to assume that Obito standing before him was Madara Uchiha, which he discarded by saying that Madara was dead. When the two began fighting, Minato realised that the battle would be decided by speed, and by carefully timing his Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato was able to strike Obito with a Rasengan and apply the Flying Thunder God Technique seal on his back as well. This allowed him to teleport directly to Obito and uses a Contract Seal to sever the ninja's hold on the Nine-Tails before he could escape.

When Minato returned to the ruined village, he summoned Gamabunta to hold down the Nine-Tails long enough to teleport it away from the village to Naruto and Kushina's location. Kushina then restrained it with her chakra chains and erected a barrier so that the beast could not escape. Despite knowing that the trauma of resealing the Nine-Tails in her weakened body would kill her, she volunteered to do it so the Nine-Tails would die with her. Minato however disagreed, and instead decided that he would use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal on the Nine-Tails to weaken it and then seal the rest into Naruto. Kushina objected since this would mean Minato's death and leave Naruto orphaned. Minato insisted it was for the best since allowing the Nine-Tails to resurrect itself, without a jinchūriki to contain it, would inevitably cause harm to Konoha and the Fire Country. Also, Minato was convinced that Naruto was the "Child of the Prophecy" that Jiraiya had once told him about, and would need the Nine-Tails' power to someday defeat Obito. After Minato used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal away the beast's Yin chakra, the Nine-Tails realised their intentions and tried to kill Naruto, but Minato and Kushina used their bodies to shield him.

Minato dead on the ground after he seals Kuram inside Naruto.

While Kushina gave her final words to Naruto, Minato summoned Gerotora, gave him the key to the seal he would use on Naruto, and sent him to Jiraiya. After Kushina told Naruto how much his parents loved him he seconds everything she says and then sealed the Nine-Tails and the rest of their chakra into Naruto so that they would be able to see him again when he was older, ending his life. Since the Third Hokage had come to help, Minato used his last moments to request that Konoha think of Naruto as a hero, and not the container of the monster that caused so much death and destruction. Before he died, he sealed the rest of their remaining chakra into Naruto so that they could someday see him again too, specifically if ever the seal was about to break so that they could restore it, or help him control Nine-Tails' power. He successfully sealed the nine tails inside Naruto, and died shortly afterwards. He was then given a funeral to honor his sacrifice to the village and the next Generation. Ultimately, Minato's reign as the Hokage was rather short, as Tsunade noted that he "died too early".

Personality

Jiraiya and Tsunade pointed out that Naruto physically bears great resemblance to Minato. Minato was calm, collected, and highly perceptive. During difficult events, he was still capable of maintaining his composure, assessing the situation, and devising appropriate plans of action. He did have a playful side, once making a highly convoluted name for a technique combination, before quickly disconsidering it. He also seemed well aware of the terror his reputation inspired in his foes. He appeared to be respectful of those around him; he didn't like freely speaking about others' pasts, and was said to be a very nice person. Minato also referred to Orochimaru as "Orochimaru-san", a polite way of addressing someone, when questioning how Orochimaru managed to reincarnate him and his predecessors. He deeply cared for and loved his wife and child, becoming very nervous because of Kushina's pain during labour and even shedding tears of joy at his son's birth. Minato also deeply cared for the village and all the shinobi, saying that they all are a big family. He also enjoyed reading, and took a special liking to reading Jiraiya's work in particular.

Though not knowing each other for very long, the dynamics between Minato and Senju Tobirama is very unique. Both men seem to have a great level of respect for one another, especially since they seem to operate the same in battle in terms of thinking. The fact that they are both users of the Flying Thunder God Technique also seems to factor into this as each has lauded the other's speed and quick-thinking.

One quirk Minato possess is his tendency to create ridiculous names for techniques. For example, upon seeing Naruto and Sasuke's combination Rasenshuriken, Minato decided to name it Scorch Release: Halo Gale Jet Black Arrow Style Zero, a grandiose title which he himself thought didn't sound good. Later, when he announced he was going to use his Spiralling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Participate Formula, Tobirama stated if they weren't in the middle of a battle he would laugh at such a terrible name. When he later reiterated the name of Naruto and Sasuke's technique, Tobirama exasperatedly dismissed the name, telling Minato to not stop the attack.

Jiraiya said that Minato was a shrewd person, and was not a man who would do something without reason. He was very knowledgeable of the ninja world, concluding that only Madara would have the power or the reason to have the Nine-Tails attack Konoha during his battle with Obito. Minato was known for his indomitable spirit, drive, determination, and fierce ambition which was inherited by his son. His devotion to the village, and his love for his friends inspired all those around him, and, as a result, he became well-liked by the villagers. Minato is also shown to be very forgiving, as even the revelation that Uchiha Obito was responsible for his and Kushina's deaths. Including that it wasn't enough to make him show the slightest bit of anger toward his former student, and instead showed great sadness over the fact that Obito ended up like this instead of becoming Hokage and displayed a desire to save him instead.

Upon his reincarnation by Orochimaru, and after Uchiha Sasuke's inquiring about the Uchiha Clan Massacre and the meaning of being a shinobi, Minato confessed himself disappointed in failing to meet the Third's expectations for him, as his reign as Hokage was shortened by his sacrifice during Kurama's attack on the village. He also believed that the Uchiha clan's situation could have possibly had a different outcome, if he had survived.

After becoming Hokage, Minato seemingly became somewhat more prideful as he started using "ore", which is a prideful way of saying "I" or "me", instead of using "watashi", a more formal way of referring to one's self. Minato was also a very cautious individual as he set up at least two safe houses as well as scattered his Flying Thunder God Kunai over the outskirts of Konoha, presumably so he can intercept enemies that cross Konoha's borders. Inadvertently, this trait enabled him to escape from Obito's Kamui away from Konoha. Ultimately enabling him to subdue the latter and remove his control over Kurama without causing more chaos in Konoha.

Appearance

Minato as a child.

Minato was a fairly tall, fair-skinned man who on more than one occasion has been compared with Naruto in terms of physical appearance; both have bright, blue eyes and spiky, blond hair. Minato also had jaw-length bangs framing either side of his face. According to Jiraiya, Minato was considered to be very handsome.

His normal attire consisted of a standard Konoha-nin uniform with two bands each on both of his sleeves, a leaf green flak jacket, blue forehead protector, and blue sandals. After becoming Hokage, he started wearing a short-sleeved long white haori over his normal attire, decorated by orange flames-like motifs on the edges, with the kanji for "Fourth Hokage" (四代目火影, Yondaime Hokage) written vertically down the back, and closed on the front by a thin, orange rope.

During his time in the Ninja Academy, he wore a simple white suit of clothing with green trimmings and a hood. After becoming a full-fledged shinobi, he wore a tracksuit with three stripes on the sleeves, mesh under-armour, a pair of black pants and sandals.

Abilities

Minato beating up all the Kumo Shinobi that kidnapped Kushina.

According to Jiraiya, Minato was one of the most gifted shinobi who ever lived and was also believed to be one of the strongest shinobi that ever existed. His abilities were so far advanced that even the Fourth Raikage thought that no one would be able to surpass him. Mitarashi Anko said in discussion with the Third Hokage about Orchiaru's immense strength and his threat to the village, admitted that she wished the Fourth had been alive to face him. At a young age, he was able to single-handedly rescue Kushina from three Kumogakure ninja.

During the Third Shinobi War, flee-on-sight orders were given to enemy shinobi should they ever see him appear on the battlefield. Minato was also capable of counteracting the Nine Tails' attacks to the point that Obito found it necessary to intervene and stop Minato directly. Obito was later forced to retreat due to being severely injured by Minato. He even complimented Minato and stated he was worthy of his title of "Fourth Hokage".

Minato's fighting style often excluded time consuming hand seals that give enemies an opening so he often relies on his two original techniques: the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Rasengan. Like Senju Tobirama. Minato could detect the presence of people within an area by simply placing his finger on the ground.Minato was also skilled in transfering chakra and could even adapt it to another person's own chakra, as seen when he placed some of Kushina's and his own chakra within Naruto so that they could see him when he was older, and assist him in dealing with Kurama.

Taijutsu

One of Minato's trademark attributes was his immense speed and instantaneous reflexes, able to react fast enough to catch an infant Naruto mid-fall to prevent him from being stabbed by Tobi. He could also respond to Tobi's  Kamui technique quickly enough to escape it. He is often referred to throughout the series as the fastest shinobi who ever lived, with the speed of the currently fastest living shinobi often being compared to his own, such as A or Naruto in his Nine Tail Chakra Mode, with the former admitting that even with his Lightning Release Armour enhancing his already immense speed and reflexes was still outmatched by Minato. Even when assisted by his brother, A was unable to lay a hand on Minato.

When fighting, he mainly employed the use of his unique kunai, wielding them proficiently and taking advantage of their particular form, which made them even more suitable for close range combat than standard kunai. Using this type of kunai, he was able to nearly sever one of the Eight Tails' tentacles when B moved to save his brother from Minato's counter-attack despite having nearly no leverage, showing that he possessed a great deal of strength.

Rasenagan

Minato can also use ninjutsu techniques. Minato spent three years creating the Rasenagan by observing the Tailed Beast Ball. It is the highest level of shape transformation and it does not require hand signs to be performed. Instead, using a concentration of spinning chakra in the form of a sphere in the user's palm, immense damage is inflicted to its target upon contact. As its creator, Minato had great mastery over the Rasengan, able to form it with one hand and his standard version — at one point — being larger than the Rasengan used by other characters (roughly the size of the Big Ball Rasengan). The lack of elaborate preparations needed for the Rasengan gave Minato an advantage over other technique users in battle.

For example, in his fight with Obito, he is able to form a Rasengan right after throwing his marked kunai at him, allowing Minato to land a devastating blow immediately after performing the Flying Thunder God Technique. As its creator, Minato had great mastery over the Rasengan, able to form it in either hand and even make it larger than any other user's Rasengan (roughly the size of the Big Ball Rasengan). He had intended to combine the Rasengan with his own nature transformation, but the task was too difficult to complete before his untimely death.

Flying Thunder God Technique

Minato was famous for his use of the Flying Thunder God Technique, later even gaining praise from Senju Tobirama, the creator of this technique, for his superior usage of it. It is a space–time technique applied through the use of special seals, which essentially allowed him to teleport to any location with untraceable movements. By throwing kunai that had the seal attached to them behind enemy lines, Minato could wipe out an entire platoon in the blink of an eye. Because Minato would mark his kunai beforehand, he could use them as a medium for his space-time ninjutsu, allowing him to remotely activate said techniques from any distance. Likewise, Minato could teleport to his kunai even as it travelled through the air, allowing him to both attack and defend simultaneously, and through this method, outmanoeuvre Obito's intangibility. Minato is also capable of simultaneously transporting multiple people to different markings, without accompanying them. During the Fourth Shinobi War, Minato was able to teleport the entire Shinobi Alliance, something that even Tobirama admitted that he could not do.

For defensive use, Minato was capable of implementing space–time barriers to counter large attacks such as a Tailed Beast Ball, sending the blast to a distant area away from the village.[61] He was later even able to warp away a Tailed Beast Ball of larger proportions created by the Ten-Tails, and was able to teleport things even as large as the Nine-Tails itself, albeit at the cost of a large portion of his chakra due to the beast's immense size.

By working in conjunction with another Flying Thunder God user, he can instantly swap places with said person and any enemy they bring along, in order to allow attacks to connect with the target.

Fuinjutsu

Minato was very knowledgeable in Fuinjutsu, partially due to Kushina teaching him some of the Uzumaki Clan's unique sealing techniques. He knew the full capabilities of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and was aware that he could not completely seal all of the Nine-Tails' chakra within the death god. Minato could also remove an opponent's ability to use the Summoning Technique.

The greatest example of his prowess with fuinjutsu is the seal used on Naruto, placing two Four Symbols Seal to create the Eight Trigram s Sealing Style, which would allow small amounts of the Nine-Tails' chakra to leak out and naturally mix with Naruto's own.

Summoning Technique

In his youth, Jiraiya taught Minato how to use the Summoning Technique to summon  toads. He was able to summon Gamabunta, showing considerably large reserves of chakra in doing so, and was one of the few people that Gamabunta would willingly cooperate with without hesitation.He could use the Summoning Food Cart Destroyer Technique for a devastating surprise attack that could even pin powerful large targets like the Nine-Tails down.

Jinchuriki Transformations

Due to sealing the Yin half of Kurama into himself before his death, once he was reincarnated he was able to use a cloak similar to Naruto's Nine-Tails Chakra Mode which overlays his mantle.[43] It seems to take some skill to activate this, as Naruto was amazed, and even the Yang half of Kurama complimented his sealing skills for using the cloak.[44] In this mode, he was seen using a chakra arm to grab the chakra of the tailed beasts.[45] He also showed the ability to enter a Tailed Beast Mode, one of near-identical appearance to that of his son, albeit with a darker colouration. In this form, Minato could still use his regular techniques, such as the Rasengan, albeit on a much larger scale. He could also use other techniques that come with the form such as the Tailed Beast Ball in conjunction with Naruto.

Senjutsu

During his lifetime, Minato learned to use the senjutsu taught at Mount Myoboku — the art of gathering natural energy to aid in his techniques, and also how to enter Sage Mode by gathering natural energy into his body as well. By his own admission, Minato stated that his skills with senjutsu were limited as he took a longer time to gather the natural energy, and as such he never applied them to actual combat before. Nevertheless, he was able to perfectly balance the natural energy with his chakra, only displaying the pigmentation around his eyes — the true marking of a Sage. In this form, his physical parameters and techniques are greatly augmented.

Intelligence

Minato was shown to be very intuitive and clever from a young age. Of the many ninja sent out to save Kushina from her Kumogakure kidnappers, Minato was the only one to notice the trail of hair she was leaving. After seeing a technique once, he could correctly deduce the basic mechanics behind it, such as the strengths and weaknesses of Kakashi's Chidori. During difficult events, he was still capable of maintaining his composure, assessing the situation, and devising appropriate plans of action. During his skirmish against Obito, he was able to determine that his opponent didn't want to drag on their fight as he could not keep Kurama summoned for very long, as well as quickly ascertain a method of counter-attacking. Using this information, he was able to take advantage of Obito's haste to not only wound him, but also remove his control over the beast as well.

Naruto (Part l)

For most of the series, Minato was only mention in some episodes by the supporting characters.

Introduction arc

Seen in a flashback,and mention by Naruto. He is also mention by Mizuki.

Invasion of Konoha arc

Mention by the Third hokage,and seen in a flashback.

Search for Tsunade arc

Mention by Naruto, Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Sasuke Retrieval arc

Mention by Kurama,during Naruto's battlee with Sasuke.

Pre Shippuuden Filler arc

Mention by Naruto,when he leaves to do his two and a half year training with Jiraiya.

Naruto Shippuuden (Part ll)

Invasion of Pain Arc

It was not until the Invasion of Pain that he made an actual appearance in the story. When Naruto started to give into the temptation of power from the Nine-Tails and was about to release the beast, the imprint of Minato stopped him. Minato voiced his dislike of seeing the Nine-Tails again, but pointed out that its actions had allowed him to see his son once more. Naruto eventually picked up on what Minato was saying, and was overjoyed to finally find out who his father was. Minato tried to talk with Naruto, but the Nine-Tails kept interrupting the conversation, angered at the presence of the Fourth Hokage, so Minato transported them to another space that was quieter. Naruto was outraged at the idea that Minato would seal the Nine-Tails into his own son, which Minato apologised for. Naruto punched him in anger but quickly got over it, claiming that as the Fourth's son, he could handle it.

Because he had a limited amount of time to talk to Naruto, Minato briefly caught up with him, at the same time indicating that he knew that Pain had killed Jiraiya and was aware of Konoha's destruction as he saw it through Naruto. He expressed his suspicions that Pain was actually being manipulated by someone else due to his childhood psychological traumas, and that it was "the masked man of the Akastsuki" who really wished Konoha's destruction. He went onto suggest that, as long as the current ninja system exists, people like Pain, who were ruined by war, will continue to exist. He restored the seal on Naruto's stomach and voiced his confidence in him that he would find a way to stop the vicious cycle of death and destruction before disappearing to the afterlife.

Chikara Arc

In the anime, Minato restored Naruto's seal once more when the latter almost lost control after his clone absorbed his Nine Tails chakra. Once again, Minato voiced his confidence in his son, and his ability to overcome this adversity.

Fourth Shinobi War Arc

In Uchiha Sasuke's quest for answers, Minato's soul was freed from within the Shinigami and subsequently reincarnated by Orochimaru along with the three Hokage that preceded him, using Zetsu's spore clones as sacrifices.

Shocked to find himself in this state, Minato questioned Orochimaru about how he was able to break the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Greeted with the question of who he was, Minato proudly brandished the emblem on the back of his haori, letting the First and Second know that he was the person who had inherited the title of Fourth Hokage, pleasing Senju Hashirama who took this as a sign of the village's stability, though Minato admitted he could not say anything about that as he had actually died before Hiruzen had. He later sheepishly told Hashirama that his sealing inside of the Shinigami was due to a different incident than Hiruzen coming to be there. Upon Hashirama's reaction on learning that Tsunade had inherited the title of Fifth Hokage, Minato could not help but ask if he was worried, but Hashirama simply laughed his concern off, noting that he had spoiled the Fifth quite a bit when she was a child.

After the exchange between an outraged Senju Tobirama, who was ready to retaliate after hearing Sasuke declare that he may exact his revenge on the village, and Hashirama, who had to forcefully stop his brother, Minato marvelled at the fact that something so simple had almost caused the Naka Shrine to cave-in. Upon hearing that Madara had been reincarnated on the battlefield and about the Fourth Shinobi War, Minato soon felt Uzumaki Naruto and Kurama's chakra on the battlefield, and was elated that his son had managed to achieve what he had hoped he would when he sealed the beast inside him. After Hashirama completed his story, and Hiruzen lamented that he had been too indulging a Hokage, Minato told the Third that he had done the best he could have given the circumstances. He lamented that he had failed as a Hokage, having died during the Kyuubi's attack on Konoha, which left his reign woefully short and falling short of all the expectations which had been heaped upon him. Nevertheless, when Sasuke had made his decision to protect Itachi's sacrifice, the four Hokages and their new-found allies moved to the outside of the Naka Shrine where, upon Hashirama's behest, took his place upon his bust on the Hokage Monument. Minato expressed excitement in finally being able to meet his son as well as bringing him a present to make up for not being able to be there for him as a father.

Arriving on the battlefield just in time to warp the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball away, he managed to save Naruto and the remainder of the Shinobi Alliance. There he greeted his son — enquiring whether or not he was too late — to which Naruto happily responded that he was right on time. Introducing himself to Haruno Sakura, Minato also noted that they needed to brace themselves for impact. Just then, the ocean behind them rose up, leading Minato to first explain that he had sent the Tailed Beast Ball out to sea and then that though he was reincarnated, he was on their side. Curious, as he thanked Sakura for healing his son, he also asked whether she was his girlfriend. Sakura's subsequent violent response to Naruto's answer reminded Minato of Kushina.

With this the other Hokage arrived on the battlefield and launched into action immediately, at Hashirama's behest. Minato then entered his own Nine-Tails Chakra Mode using the Yin chakra he took from Kurama's being, telling the other Hokage that he had already marked the location. With the Hokage moving to their designated location, Minato and the other Hokage used the Four Red Yang Formation technique to trap the beast as they prepare their counter attack. Minato later is impressed by Naruto changing the "nature" of the Rasengan after seeing the Rasenshuriken.

Minato's attention was later called to the once masked man's cries atop the Ten-Tails. Realising that Madara was controlling the newcomer with his chakra so that he could revive himself. As others around him sprung into action to stop this from happening. Minato then created a shadow clone and was able to teleport directly to where the newcomer was, and is shocked to see that it was his former student Obito. With realization dawned on him, as he realised that Uchiha Obito had been responsible for the attack on Konoha by the Nine-Tails. Noting that the Flying Thunder God marking never disappears as Sasuke arrived. Obito falls to the ground, and they turned their attention to Madara. However Obito who is still alive used the opportunity to seal the Ten-Tails within himself, finally achieving his goal of becoming the beast's jinchuriki.

As the shell fell away, Obito's new form was revealed. His appearance changed somewhat drastically, causing Minato to comment that this was too odd. As Obito surveyed the battlefield wide-eyed, he created several chakra arms and destroyed the Four Red Yang Formation sending the real Minato and the other Hokage reeling. As Minato called out for him to stop, in response to this, Obito simply sounded out his own name, as if it were unfamiliar to him.

Shocked to see Obito attack the First and Second with such speed, Minato nevertheless heeded Tobirama's command to get away from the area. Flying Gamakichi and the others to a safer distance, Minato noted how quick Tobirama was to act and watched on as the Second used his Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags in an attempt to incapacitate Obito. When this did not work, Minato noted to Sasuke that while the Hokage were in fact fighting to reveal Obito's abilities, their reincarnated bodies would take some time to reconstruct and such needed to buy some time. Teleporting his clone to his side, Minato noted that while it had been some time since he had used it, he would attack with the Spiralling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Participate Formula‎ technique but before he was able to do so, he noticed Obito's upper half was about to attack Naruto. Just before he was about to teleport to his son's aid, Sasuke arrived using Susanoo and diverted the attack, at the same time, Minato, unaware, was sent reeling by Obito's apparently vulnerable lower half. Later when both Naruto and Sasuke were attacked by his former student, Minato anxiously prepared to fly to their location, hoping that he would make it in time.

Unable to teleport to Sasuke and Naruto's aid as it appeared that the seal for the Flying Thunder God Technique had disappeared from Obito's body, Minato was able to teleport the boys to safety thanks to Naruto's quick thinking to use chakra arms to connect himself and Sasuke to Minato. Proud that his son was keeping up with Sasuke, he once again turned his attention to Obito, noting that they needed to defeat him while he was still struggling to control the beast. As Minato prepared to attack Obito, the latter fired off an attack of his own causing Minato to go on the defensive instead. The group is shocked to see the attack stop short of them and expand, then contract again before attacking Obito's body. Back on the offensive, Minato made his way to Obito, remembering how his pupil was as a child, he called out to him noting that he was on his way. Minato is later shocked to see Obito's form change and the now in control Uchiha in turn attacked his former sensei. Though his arm is ripped off, Minato teleported back to what he thought was safe at the moment only to realise that Obito had attached some of the mysterious substance to his body.

Deciding that he would teleport away from Sasuke and Naruto to protect them from the attack, Minato is shocked to see Tobirama grab the orb before he does. As the orb expanded some distance away from them, the real Tobirama appeared noting that it was a clone who had teleported to Obito with the orb. Upon seeing Obito resurface unscathed, the team prepared yet another counter-attack but before he and Tobirama can act, Sasuke and Naruto rushed forward adamant that they would create an opening for the Hokage to attack. As Tobirama called him to action, Minato also marked Tobirama with his Flying Thunder God seal noting that the technique they were about to use would benefit from their immortal bodies. Teleporting himself in front of Naruto and Sasuke's attack and with Tobirama at Obito's location, the two Hokage use the Mutually Instantaneous Revolving Technique to switch places causing Obito to be struck by an attack that had struck Minato earlier. With this, the jinchūriki's body is set ablaze by the flames.

Watching as his former student was set ablaze, Minato was surprised to see the mysterious orbs head towards Obito's location but Tobirama — who teleported to Minato's side — noted that their attack had landed before he was able to protect himself. This too would also prove to be futile as Obito emerged from the flames barely scathed. As they began readjusting their strategy, Tobirama noted that Minato's right arm had not regenerated yet and surmised that Obito was using Yin-Yang Releaase to nullify the Impure World Reincarnation. Though chided by Tobirama for acting without thinking, Minato later called out to Obito to remember his dream of becoming Hokage but the latter decried not only the position, but Minato for his failings leading Minato to spiral into a bout of self doubt, blaming the course which followed the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha on himself. His son, however, noted that Obito should not look down on someone who had attained the post of Hokage, and as Tobirama teleported his progeny above Obito to deliver a fatal blow, an astounded Minato realised that his son had also attained Sage Mode like his sensei. As Minato looked on amazed, the Yin half of Kurama sealed within him notes that Naruto's speech was enough to move even it.

Listening on in some shock as the beast told Minato to discard Obito's words and not leave his son to correct the past. When Obito erected a giant tree in their midst which began to form four Tailed Beast Balls and later when his former student trapped them within a barrier, Minato told the Second that due to his current state he would only be able to teleport one of the balls at best but noted that there was another way to handle their current situation. Before he could initiate this counter-measure, his son told him that he had a plan of his own, and listening on as he rebutted Obito's attempt to berate his father, Minato thought of his wife and noted that their son had grown so much before bumping fists with his son and responding emphatically.

As they bumped fists, the father-son duo meld the chakra of the halves of Kurama they each had stored inside them. As they discuss the strategy in their inner world, Minato could not help but marvel at his son's growth, and noted with remorse that he must have endured some hardships growing up, though Naruto simply brushed these aside and tells his father that the only hardship was the task at hand. Naruto's plan allowed Minato to connect himself, via Naruto, to all the other members of the Alliance whom had previously been given Kurama's altered chakra, and teleport them outside of the barrier. When praised by the Second, Minato notes that this was only a start to his atonement for his mistakes and noted to his son that he would like to speak to him a bit longer. Dumbfounded when Naruto told him there was no need as both his and Kushina's feelings had all been conveyed to him already, Minato cannot help but tear up at the man his son had become.

Noting how similar fighting alongside Naruto was to fighting next to Kushina, Minato admired Naruto's courage in light of the situation. However, when Naruto entered Tailed Beast Mode and charged off, Minato could not help but wonder if it wasn't for all the wrong reasons after his son had to be reminded by Tobirama that only senjutsu-based attacks would work. Following Yin-Kurama's lead, Minato also donned a Tailed Beast Mode mantle of his own to provide support for his son on the battlefield. He immediately produced a giant Rasengan, having Naruto feed natural energy into it, while Tobirama teleported the two of them to Obito. Obito, however, managed to block the attack, sending both men reeling backwards. As Naruto and Minato then tried to perform a sage-enhanced Tailed Beast Ball, Obito extracts the Ten-Tails to begin his Eye of the Moon Plan.

As the beast begins to transform into an enormous tree, assuming its final form, Naruto and Minato looked on in shock while trying to evade the giant roots. Minato was able to retreat to Tobirama's side and as the Second tried to destroy the rapidly regenerating roots, Minato noted that his chakra levels were too depleted to teleport to Naruto's aid. As his son is saved by Hiruzen and they are all teleported some distance away, Minato looked on as his former student declared that they should all stop struggling as the giant tree began unfolding its flower.

As Minato surveyed the devastation on the battlefield, through Yamanaka Ino's Mind Body Transmission Technique, Minato was able to see his son's memories and experience his feelings of loss as he grew up after Naruto donned his Tailed Beast Mode mantle. Solemnly Minato looked on as an image of him and Kushina flashed through his son's memories. Seeing Naruto regain his resolve, Minato and Naruto connected themselves to one another so that Yin-Kurama could transfer more chakra to the duo, returning the Fourth Hokage to his normal state. As he watches Naruto go off, Minato he silently puts his faith in his son. Though weakened somewhat, he later assisted the Alliance in their attack on the Shinju by allowing Tobirama to use him as a medium to teleport the shinobi out of harm's way on the battlefield, so they could fight without reservation. Later assisting his son in wresting control if the tailed beasts' chakra from Obito, Minato used a chakra arm to grab onto the chakra if the beasts while manifesting nine tendril-like tails which allowed the members of the Alliance to form an anchor of sort as well as aid in the tug-of-war.

As Obito lays defeated and helpless, Hatake Kakashi suddenly teleports on top of the fallen Uchiha, determined to strike him down. Minato quickly intervenes. As Kakashi is shocked by the appearance of his late sensei, Minato explains that much like his late wife Uzumaki Kushina, Naruto's persistent scolding finally reached Obito. Deciding to deal with his former students personally, Minato tells Naruto and the others to go aid the First Hokage against Madara.

Turning his attention to where the defeated Obito laid, Minato surmised that with the tailed beasts extracted, Obito would soon die. Yin Kurama, however, informed Minato that Obito's life was in no danger because even as a shell, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path is filled with life energy, meaning Obito will only be temporarily paralysed. Having agreed to keep watch over Obito as Kakashi departed, Minato was shocked when Obito formed a hand seal and noted that he was going to use the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, sacrificing his life to make amends for his transgressions. They are later shocked when Black Zetsu emerged from underground, merged with Obito and forced him to use the technique to revive Madara instead.

Succeeding in its main goal of existing, Black Zetsu then proceeded to take Obito's Rinnegan eye to return it to Madara. Minato and Kakashi quickly acted to stop it, to which Black Zetsu responded by merging again with Obito, warning them that his unison with the dying Obito was the only thing still keeping him alive. Minato asks what it is, Black Zetsu responds that he is a manifestation of Madara's will, calling Kakashi and his allies fools for underestimating Madara. Suddenly, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path emerges from Obito's body. Kakashi quickly uses Kamui on it. As the structure to disappears, Minato asks Kakashi if he succeeded, to which the student declined, having only affected the target's right arm. Black Zetsu attempts to take the Rinnegen eye from Obito's left socket with the Uchiha's own hand, to which Obito just resisted. While Obito tells Kakashi to destroy the left Rinnegan, Black Zetsu informs the Konoha shinobi that the right Rinnegan has already been retrieved and returned to Madara.

Deciding that they had to take the risk, Minato and Kakashi decided to attack Black Zetsu. Before they could strike, Yin Kurama and Minato sensed the disappearance of Yang Kurama's chakra, realizing that the Yang half was extracted and sealed. Suddenly, Gaara arrived with Sakura and an unconscious and near dead Naruto. Gaara quickly told Minato that Yang-Kurama said Naruto can be saved by sealing Yin-Kurama inside his son. Minato began the process of transferring the Yin half into Naruto, only to be intercepted by Black Zetsu, who took the tailed beast for himself before retreating. Madara then appeared, now the Ten-Tails' jinchuriki, to retrieve his left eye.

As Black Zetsu attempted to return to Madara with Yin Kurama and Rinnegan eye, Obito managed to overshadow Black Zetsu and keep it merged with him, determined to talk to Madara. As the two discussed Obito's purpose in life, Minato quickly transformed into Sage Mode and mounted an attack with Kakashi and Gaara. However, Madara easily repelled the attack, sliced off Minato's remaining arm and kicked him back to Gaara.

Black Zetsu then attempts to return to Madara with the left Rinnegan and Yin-Kurama, only for Obito to overshadow the manifestation, keeping it merged to him. As Obito begins discussing his relationship to Madara, Minato is shocked as the younger Uchiha impales his hand into Madara's chest.

Obito proclaimed that he has returned to how he was before meeting Madara, choosing to side with his childhood allies. After failing to steal the tailed beasts inside Madara, Obito and Kakashi then teamed up. Minato watched in amazement, remembering how his two students would always argue as children. Combining their respective Kamui, Kakashi and Obito managed to teleport both Naruto and Obito himself to the other dimension. Unable to move in his current state, Minato silently thanked Obito for choosing to save Naruto. He also thanked Maito Gai, having just arrived to help Kakashi.

Regaining the strength to stand, Minato noted that in his current condition, he was incapable of using hand seals again and his skills with senjutsu were not enough to help them in this situation. This prompted Guy to open the seventh gate and attack Madara with his Daytime Tiger, impressing Minato with his taijutsu prowess. Attempting to save Guy after the attack left him incapacitated, Minato had Kakashi throw his kunai towards Guy intent to fly to his location as Madara resisted the attack. Guy was however rescued by the timely arrival of Rock Lee. Accepting the grim situation, Guy resolved to open the life-threatening eighth gate.

Watching in amazement as Guy began to overwhelm Madara, Minato decided join the fight. He quickly explained to his allies the true mechanics behind Madara's chakra orbs. Minato had Lee through one of his Flying Thunder God Kunai at the orbs, letting Minato teleport them away, giving Guy the opening to land his completed attack on Madara.

Minato ends up on his Hokage sculpture in Konoha and is horrified to see the effects of the Infinite Tsukuyomi as the God: Nativity of a World of Trees surrounds Konoha. He then teleported back to the battlefield that he fought Madara at. He then notice that Madara's chakra was gone, and thought that the latter had disappear. Minato then decided to head to Naruto's location to help his son out with his battle. Minato finally reached the location the powerful chakra was coming from where he met up with the other Hokage. They realised that the Infinite Tsukuyomi had been cast and it was impossible to release the living from the grasp of the Shinju. As the Hokage mulled over their next course of action, they were all shocked when the spirit of the legendary Sage of the Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo manifested from out of Madara's remaining lower half before them.

Film Appearances 

Naruto Shippuden Movie 4

Twenty years in the past, Minato was assigned a secret mission alongside Shibi Aburame and Choza Akimichi to intervene in the crisis in Roran, where a Sunagakure missing-nin from the future called Mukade is building a Puppet Army using the power of the Ryūmyaku, an ancient chakra flow deep underground the city, and plans to change the future to his favour, conquering the Five Great Shinobi Countries. Minato asks the Third Hokage's permission to bring his student,Kakashi Hatake, and the Hokage agrees.

When they arrive in Rōran, Minato and his Team saved Naruto from Mukade's puppets. Realising that the boy is also from the future, Minato tells Naruto to leave the city until they finish their mission, trying to keep him in the dark so the future won't be changed. However, Naruto ends up saving the Queen of Rōran, Sara and attacks Minato, thinking they are the ones after her life. As a result, Minato decides to tell Naruto the truth about their mission and that Mukade arrived six years before Naruto, changed his name into Anrokuzan and has become the Minister of Rōran. Naruto recognises Minato's face and tells him he looks just like the Fourth Hokage. While Shibi claims that it is impossible, because their Hokage is still the Third, Minato asks Naruto to stop talking about the future. Sāra doesn't believe in them and runs off to prove Anrokuzan's innocence. Minato tells Naruto to protect Sāra while they look for Mukade and gives Naruto one of his Flying Thunder God Kunai.

When Naruto and Sāra try to fight Anrokuzan on the city's underground, Minato and his Team reappear and help Naruto while Sāra saves the men Mukade kidnapped to build his Puppet Army and takes them and their families to the Garden of Ryumyaku, where they'll be safe.

Mukade fuses with his puppets, becoming a giant puppet monster using the Ryūmyaku's power. To stop Mukade from regenerating, Sāra must stop the flow of the Ryūmyaku in the Source of the Ryumyaku while Naruto and Minato fight off Mukade. Naruto attacks Mukade with the Rasengan, shocking Minato, but is unable to defeat Mukade. Out of chakra and exhausted, Naruto is saved by Minato who tells him to attack Mukade's weak point with the Rasengan once Sāra stops the Ryūmyaku's flow. Naruto answers that he's out of chakra but Minato tells him he'll lend him his. Naruto tells him that it is impossible, because the Rasengan is a technique that the Fourth Hokage completed and that only he and Jiraiya can use, to which Minato replies that is why he can do it, having not only realised that he would be the Fourth Hokage but also that Naruto was his child. Since they have similar chakra, their Rasengans resonate and fuse together, creating the Superme Ultimate Rasengan and defeating Mukade.

After Minato seals off the Ryūmyaku completely, Naruto and Yamato begin to glow because the time flow has come back to normal and they must return to their own time. So the future won't be changed, Minato decides to erase everybody's memories. However, Naruto tells Minato that he has to talk to him, but Minato refuses, telling Naruto that they'll meet again. Naruto persists and tells Minato that if they don't talk now, he'll never have the chance. As Minato prepares to send them back to the future, Naruto begins to ask if he could possibly be his father. Minato interrupts him and tells him that if he ever had a son, he wished he would be brought up a ninja just like Naruto, to which Naruto smiles and sheds tears of joy, before being sent back to the future. Minato used a technique to wipe out everyone's memory so it wouldn't affect the future.

Naruto Shippuden Movie 6

Naruto and Sakura meet Tsunade and Shizune, who tell them that a masked man attacked Kumogakure, and killed their jinchūriki which Naruto and Sakura believe to have been Tobi. They then meet Naruto's parents, who are alive in this world. Minato says that Jiraiya died finding the Red Moon Scroll that was said to help save the world. Tsunade lets Naruto and Sakura join Minato and Kushina on their mission when Kakashi and Guy return. Sakura is shocked at finding out who Naruto's parents are, while Naruto is angry that Tobi would dare to make copies of his dead parents, and he swears to break the Genjutsu. While Sakura is still enjoying her life, she wonders how Naruto is doing. While Naruto attempts to ignore his parents, he sees an album showing him how his life would have been if his parents had been alive.

In the morning, Sakura notes that this world's Kakashi and Guy have switched personalities, while Naruto isolates himself from his parents at every turn. They soon locate where Jiraiya hid the scroll, but as the group stops to rest, Naruto charges ahead until he is confronted by the appearance of Gamabunta, Gamahiro and Gamaken. They refuse to listen to Naruto and the group who explains their reason for being there and attacks them with an army of frogs. Naruto attempts to enter Sage Mode, but while trying to gather enough energy, Kushina interferes and tries to protect him from Gamabunta but a shot of acid burns her leg. As a result, Naruto gets distracted and is unable to enter sage mode. Minato then saves both of them quickly and is able to get the scroll, dispelling the Summoning Technique.

As Sakura heals Kushina, Naruto still attempts to brush off his parents, causing Minato to say no matter what Naruto does, they will always try to save him as that's what they naturally tend to do as parents. Kushina then awakens and hugs Naruto, causing him to breakdown in tears and finally accept them as his parents. They return to Konoha, where Tsunade locks the scroll in the village's safe until the night when a red moon will appear, when they can use the scroll to fulfil the said prophecy. As Naruto and Sakura walk home together, Naruto quickly runs home saying he has something to do, leaving Sakura alone. Sakura now finds her home too lonely and wonders if Naruto's always felt this way. As she walks down town she sees happy families, only making her more sad. She then realises that this world's Sasuke is just a flirt as she sees him flirting with a group of girls and decides that Naruto was right on his decision to quickly break the genjutsu they're now trapped in and wishes to return to their own world. As she walks to Naruto's home to try to find a way to break the genjutsu, she see how happy Naruto is and wonders if they really should leave. Sakura later meets Naruto, and asks him if he wants to stay. Although he denies it, he later thinks to himself that he truly does not want to leave.

At that moment an explosion occurs at the Hokage's office, where the masked man from earlier asks for the scroll they brought back. He overpowers Minato, Kushina, and Tsunade, and then Naruto and Sakura arrive. They realize that this was the man Tsunade was talking about, and that he knows Obito. He overpowers Naruto and Sakura, and kidnaps Sakura in exchange for the scroll. He then uses Great Spiralling Ring, destroying a large part of Konoha and leaves. Naruto tries to save Sakura, but Minato prevents him, showing that in the end this world's Minato is different from his father. He takes one of Minato's kunai and the scroll leaving with Sakura's father's Hokage coat. Sakura is tied up and meets Tobi who is a ghost saying they are in an old training ground that Minato and Jiraiya used. Naruto arrives but is attacked by the other masked man asking for the scroll. Naruto is unable to fight properly as his stomach acts up, the Masked Man then takes the time to summon the Nine Masked Beasts, and about to kill Naruto when the Akatsuki arrives and saved him.

This Akatsuki was hired by Tsunade to help Naruto, and they deal with the masked beasts when Naruto attacks the masked man. Itachi saves Sakura and Tobi decides to escape instead. The Akatsuki defeats the masked beasts that turn into nine fox kits, while Naruto chased the masked man into the training grounds. They then fight, Naruto uses Sage Mode and uses the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken to counter the Masked Man's Great Spiralling Ring. It ends in a draw, but the attack destroy the masked man's mask, showing that he is Menma, this world's Naruto. Menma informs Naruto that the pulsating inside his stomach must be Kurama's reaction to the Black Nine-Tails within Menma. Menma then called back the defeated masked beasts, and summoned Kurama's counterpart, the Black Nine-Tails. Naruto was unable to attack, while the Akatsuki retreat, taking Sakura with them. Not wanting to be manipulated by the Sharingan again, Kurama makes a truce with Naruto to work together, allowing him to summon Kurama out of his body. In the battle Naruto is barely able to win, but Tobi reveals that this was his plan, to have Naruto and Menma fight, as doing so would cause the two foxes to fight and weaken Kurama. As he possessed Menma, Kurama warned Naruto if he looked into Menma's Sharingan, it would be all over, for Obito planned to extract Kurama out of Naruto the same way he extracted it from Kushina sixteen years ago. As Menma overpowers Naruto, the latter tries to use the scroll when he notices the moon had turned red, but Menma cuts the scroll, causing Naruto to look into Menma's eyes. Naruto's memories are erased, but Sakura rescues him before Kurama is extracted from him.

Naruto, in an amnesia state, stares at the destroyed Red Moon Scroll, which brings back memories of his training to learn the Rasengan with Jiraiya, and how his father was the one who invented the technique. Naruto is able to break free of the genjutsu just in time to save Sakura, and then defeats Obito the same way his father did, breaking the Limited Tsukuyomi. Obito, using his ghost body, attacks again, until Minato and Kushina arrive. Obito decides to give up and exits the genjutsu world just as Naruto and Sakura are enveloped in a bright light, preparing to return to their world as well, but beforehand Naruto thanks Minato and Kushina who quickly goes to assist Menma who is returning to his original state as their son. Naruto and Sakura returns to their world, where Naruto's Hokage coat breaks down since it was only part of the genjutsu world and not real.

Legacy

Minato dead on the ground after he seals Kurama inside Naruto.

The Third Hokage did his best to look out for Naruto but very few were able to detach their hatred of the Nine-Tails from that of Naruto despite Minato's final wish that his son be seen as a hero. The Third forbade anyone from speaking of the Nine-Tails, hoping that the younger generation would not blindly hate Naruto as the rest of the villagers did. He gave Naruto his mother's last name so that his relation to Minato would be kept a secret from Minato's enemies, and otherwise did his best to give Naruto a comfortable life despite the boy having no parents and being ostracised by the rest of the village. Naruto would never be told his parents' identities, and neither would most of Konoha.

With Minato's death, the Third was forced to resume his position as Hokage, a role he filled until his death, never being able to find a replacement of Minato's calibre. Minato himself became regarded as the village's hero,and, indeed, one of the greatest ninja Konoha had ever produced,so much so that villagers would regret his death when tragedy struck the village years later. Because Minato was never able to tell anyone what happened during the Nine-Tails' attack, villagers came to their own conclusions and the Uchiha were suspected of the act. Jiraiya recognised that Minato would not have sealed the Nine-Tails into his own son unless he had a good reason and that Minato intended Naruto to gain control of the Nine-Tails, but could never conclude why.

Although Naruto had no idea about his relation with Minato most of his life, he appeared to greatly admire the Fourth Hokage, considering him a hero who gave his life for the village, showing anger when Tsunade spoke ill of him and becoming overjoyed whenever Jiraiya or Kakashi mentioned his resemblance to Minato. Before Naruto left Konoha to begin his training with Jiraiya, he looked at the Fourth Hokage's carved head and asked him to look after him. After learning the truth about his relation to Minato, and despite the shock that his own father made him a jinchūriki, Naruto was proud to be the Fourth Hokage's son. Years after his death, Killer B was surprised when he learned Minato created a technique similar to the Tailed Beast Ball: the Rasengan.

Video Games

Namikaze Minato is a playable character in the following video games:

• Naruto Shippuuden Geekito Ninja Taisen! Special
• Naruto Shippuuden Ninja Destiny 3
• Naruto Shipuuden Ultimate Ninja 4
• Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja 5
• Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3
• Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Impact
• Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
• Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 3
• Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
• Naruto Shippuuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution
• Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3

Though not a playable character, Minato appears in the Ultimate Ninja game series as part of Naruto's ultimate technique called "Mysterious Aid Arrives".

Knowable Relatives

• Uzumaki Kushina (Wife/dead)
• Uzumaki Naruto (Son)
• Jiraiya (Sensei/dead)
• Sarutobi Biwako (Friend/dead)
• Sarutobi Hiruzen (friend and precessor/dead)
• Tsunade (Succesor)
• Hatake Kakashi (Student)
• Nohara Rin (Student/dead)
• Uchiha Obito (Student)
• Hyuga Hinata (True Counterpart/Possible Daughter In law)

Trivia 

• "Minato" means "harbour" (港) and "Namikaze" means "waves and wind" (波風).
• Minato's silhouette can be faintly seen in the background of the Naruto Shippuden third opening standing behind Naruto and Sora and under the Nine-Tails, in reference to its attack on Konoha that binds all four characters.
• Minato and Kushina died the same day Naruto was born, which was October 10.

According to the databook(s):

• Minato's hobby was reading, Jiraiya's novels were his favourite.
• Minato wished to fight Jiraiya.
• Minato's favourite food was Kushina's homemade cooking.
• Minato completed 847 official missions in total: 122 D-rank, 147 C-rank, 216 B-rank, 323 A-rank, 39 S-rank.
• Minato's favourite phrase was "The fire's shadow illuminates the village" (火の影は里を照らす, Hi no kage wa sato o terasu).
• Minato ranked ninth in the sixth Naruto character popularity poll and seventh in the seventh poll.
• In Naruto Shippuden Movie 4, Minato's chakra appears to be a light green colour, as opposed to the normal blue.
• In the Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival!, Minato suddenly appears in the hallway of the stadium when Naruto is running to the toilets. All of these appearances in this special were only for the comical effect.
• He shares the same blood type as his wife and son.

Minato shares many simliarities to The Fourth Kazekage.

• They both were the fourth Kage of their village.
• They both were married to a woman.
• Their wife's blood type was pass down to their child.
• Both entrust the safety of the village to their sons.
• Both were the strongest Kage during their lifetime.

Minato also shares similarities with Bardock from Dragon Balll Z.

• Both resemble their Sons.(For Minato : Naruto,and For Bardock : Son Goku)
• Both fought the most powerful villain. (For Minato : Uchiha Obito, and For Bardock : Frieza)
• Both left the Fate of the universe to their Sons.
• Both have a technique that their son inherits from them. (For Minato : Rasengan, and For Bardock : Super Saiyan)
• Both of their son fought the same enemy that they did. (For Naruto : Uchiha Obito, and For Son Goku : Frieza)

Minato also shares similarities with Yugi Muto from Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters.

• Both of their love interest are their childhood best friends. (For Minato : Kushina, and for Yugi : Tea)
• Both of them have a different Personality in them. (For Minato : It used to be Yin Kurama,and For Yugi : Yami Yugi)
• Both risked their life to protect someone precious to them. (For Minato : Uzumaki Naruto, and For Yugi : Joey Wheeler)
• Both become best friends to someone that loves fighting. (For Minato : Kushina, and For Yugi : Joey Wheeler)
• Both would not use violence if they are involved in a fight.
• Both of them have a Yin-Yang Personality within them. (For Minato : It use to be Yin Kurama, and For Yugi : Yami Yugi)
• Both are seen in ghost form by someone that looks like them. (For Minato : Naruto, and For Yugi : Yami Yugi)
• Both were shy when they met their future love Interest. (For Minato : Kushina, and For Yugi: Tea)
• Both of them have a nickname that they are known for. (For Minato : The Yellow Flash, and For Yugi : Yami No Games)
• Both of their other personality is sealed within someone. (For Minato : his son Naruto, and For Yugi : The Millieum Puzzle).

Minato also shares some similarities with Isshin Kurosaki from Bleach.

• Both are the father to the main character. (For Minato : Naruto, and for Isshin : Ichigo)
• Both were the strongest in their life time.
• Both of their background on how they met their late wife is reveal.
• Both try their hardest in ghost form to see how their Sons are doing without their help.
• Both try to help out their wifes, before their wifes are kill.
• Both of them witness their Sons being Born.
• Both of their Sons wanted to be left off on their own, trying not to be a burnen to anyone.
• Both are seen in ghost form by their Sons for the first time.
• Both of them went through the hardships in life to protect their children.
• Both of them lost their Wife to a demon.

Minato shares a ton of similarities with Hyuga Hinata.

• Both them fell in love during their childhood.
• Both of their are true prodigys.
• Both of them are quiet, and Shy.
• Both of them enter the Ninja Academy at a young age.
• Both of their confessed their love to their love interest. (For Minato : Kushina and For Hinata : Uzumaki Naruto)
• Both of their fell in love with the weakest person in their class. (For Minato : Kushina and For Hinata : Uzumaki Naruto)
• Both of them Acknowledged the weakest person in their class. (For Minato : Kushina and For Hinata : Naruto)
• Both of them met their future love interest at a young age.
• Both of them rescue their love interest, and risked their life to protect them.
• Both of them consider their Love Interest their Road Model. (For Minato : Kushina and For Hinata : Naruto)
• Both of them Acknowledge their love interest's dream to become Hokage.
• Both would usually spy on their love interest, without them knowning.
• Both would usually see their love interest being builled by other kids.
• Both wouldn't laugh at their love interest when they show their lack in Ninjutsu.
• Both would try to be admire by their love interest.
• Both try to confess their love to their love interest during their youth.
• Both would try to be Acknowledged for their strength by their love Interest.
• Both would fight along side with their love interest.
• Both help their love interest regain their strength.
• Both helped their love interest to see that they are not alone.
• Both of them fell in love with an Orphan. (For Minato : Kushina, and for Hinata : Naruto)
• Both of them, and their love interest are from a different clan.
• Both of them train hard to see if their love interest can respect them.
• Both of them use a powerful technique to protect their Love interest, from someone that is evil.
• Both of them have a ton of Determination, and guts to protect those that they love.
• Both of them have faith in their love interest.
• Both of they tried hard to hangout with their love interest during their childhood.
• Both of them find out later on that their love interest is the jinchuriki host of Kurama.
• Both of them fill safe around their Love Interest when they battle alongside them.
• Both of them were not assigned to the same team as their love interest when they were at the rank of Genin.
• Both of them changed their love interest's life around after they rescued them during their youth.

Voice Actors

• Japanese : Toshiyuki Morikawa (adult) , Miyu Irino (child)

• English : Tony Oliver (adult), N/A (child)

All information on Namikaze Minato is from http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Minato_Namikaze

Gallery

Team Jiraiya

Team Minato

Minato as a child.

Minato telling his classmates that his dream is to become a great Hokage, that is acknowledged by all the villagers.

Minato looking at Kushina being bullied by their classmates.

Minato happily looking at Kushina after seeing her beat up the bullies that picked on her.

Minato's reaction after Kushina yells at him by asking him who is he looking at.

Minato being shy while looking at Kushina.

Minato trying to explain himself to Kushina after she asks him if he thinks of her as an outsider.

Minato beating up all the Kumo Shinobi that kidnapped Kushina.

Minato asking Kushina if she's alright.

Minato catching Kushina as she's falling to the ground.

Minato about to carry Kushina back to Konoha.

Minato telling Kushina that he have always admire her strength, and determination.

Minato telling Kushina that he always thought of her as a Shinobi of Konoha, instead of as an outsider and that he didn't want to lose her.

Minato falling in love with Kushina after he rescue her from being kidnapped by Kumo shinobi.

Minato with Kushina as she becomes Kurama's second Jinchuriki.

Minato and Kushina finding about the Child of Prophecy from Jiraiya.

Minato with Kakashi and Rin.

Minato describing the bell test to his students.

Minato battling Obito, and Rin.

Minato battling Kakashi.

Minato surprise that his students learned the true purpose of the Bell Test; Teamwork.

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Minato and Hiruzen watching other teams during the Chunin exam.

Minato gives Kakashi one of his own Kunai's as a gift for becoming a Jonin.

Minato with his team.

Minato about to tell Kushina that he has become the Fourth Hokage.

Minato as the Fourth Hokage.

Minato visits Kakashi at Konoha Hospital.

Minato asks Kakashi to be his right hand man in the ANBU.

Minato happy that he will be a father.

Minato admits to Hiruzen that Kakashi is feeling guilty about killing Rin.

Minato agrees with Hiruzen to have Kakashi guard Kushina during her ten month Pregnancy.

Minato asks Kakashi to protect Kushina during her ten month pregnancy.

Minato during Kushina's ten month Pregnancy.

Minato and Kushina eating dinner.

Minato with Kushina.

Minato asking Biwako if Kushina is alright while she is having labor pains.

Minato happily crying now that he's a father.

Minato seeing Naruto or the first time.

Minato being told by Biwako to don't touch Naruto.

Minato being told by Biwako that Kushina get's to see Naruto first.

Minato and Kushina thanking each other now that they are parents.

Minato saving Naruto from being kill by Obito.

Minato bringing Naruto to one of his safe houses.

Minato saving Kushina before Kurama kills her.

Minato telling Kushina that Naruto is alright.

Minato angrily glares at Obito before he leaves to take Kushina to Naruto.

Minato telling Kushina that he'll be right back from defending Konoha from Kurama, and Obito.

Minato vs Obito

Minato defeats Obito.

Minato telling Kushina that he's almost out of Chakra.

Minato tells Kushina that he'll make Naruto kurama's next Jinchuriki, and that this plan will save their son and Konoha.

Minato tells Kushina to have fate in Naruto; because he's their son.

Minato telling Kushina that they are a family of Shinobi, and that protecting Naruto from Kurama is their duty as shinobi.

Minato and Kushina protecting Naruto from Kurama.

Minato telling Kushina to give Naruto any final advice before he seals their chakra, and Kurama inside of him.

Minato telling Naruto to listen to his chatty mother before he seals Kurama inside of him.

Minato lays dead on the ground after he seals Kurama inside Naruto.

A photo of Minato during his funeral.

Minato with Obito and Rin in a vision by Kakashi.

Minato being punched in the stomach by Naruto.

Minato asks Naruto how old is he now.

Minato is surprise that Naruto is 16 years old.

Minato becomes happy, when Naruto tells him that he'll manage since he's his son.

Minato tells Naruto how he sees from his point of view, how pain and hatred are created.

Minato being asked by Naruto. om how to bring peace to the shinobi world.

Minato tells Naruto that he can't answer his question.

Minato tells Naruto that he will find the answer on his own.

Minato tells Naruto that he believes in him.

Minato tells Naruto that he's chakra is fading away, and decides to restore Kurama's seal on Naruto one last time.

Minato smiling at Naruto before he fades into Heaven.

Minato wishes Naruto good luck as he fades into Heaven.

Minato with his family.

Minato and Kushina with an Infant Naruto.

Minato and Kushina in a vision by Naruto, along with other shinobi that fought to protect what was precious to them.