69novels Chapter 368 Back to Normal Life
Chapter 368 Back to Normal Life
Sasuke and Boruto left, and the forest returned to silence. Naruto hadn't done anything, but seeing that Satsuki already knew the information that "Naruto in the other world might have a wife," he felt as if he had let something down.
However, to his surprise, Uchiha Satsuki did not press further or show any strong emotions.
She stared at Naruto for a moment, then said in a calm but undeniably warning tone, "If you dare to try 'more possibilities' in this world, I'll have to go have a 'good talk' with Aunt Kushina."
After saying that, she turned around and so easily "let go" of Naruto.
Naruto was stunned, of course he understood what Sasuke was referring to—if he dared to show other girls any intimacy beyond friendship when they already had a "childhood betrothal" agreement.
Although Kushina Uzumaki dotes on Naruto, it would be a shock if she knew that her son had just gotten engaged to her best friend's daughter, and then immediately started "seducing" another girl...
Naruto decided he didn't want to think about it anymore.
Zuo Yue was able to let go of the topic so "easily" largely because of the "arranged marriage" agreement that had been confirmed by both sets of elders. This gave her a solid sense of confidence and security.
Within this framework, she could temporarily suppress the unease brought on by information from another world.
With the turmoil subsiding, the two said a brief goodbye at the edge of the forest and returned home.
Pushing open the apartment door, Kushina Uzumaki, wearing an apron, peeked out from the kitchen. Seeing Naruto return, she immediately put down what she was holding and hurried over. Instead of asking anything else first, she launched into a series of questions about his most pressing concerns.
For example… are you really alright? Is anything bothering you? What about that strange eye? Could it be harmful to you? And that street performer? Who exactly is he? Where is he now?
His eyes were filled with lingering worry as he carefully examined Naruto from head to toe.
Naruto patiently answered each question, confirming that his body was indeed fine, his chakra was functioning normally, and he felt that his new eyes were under control and he was not experiencing any discomfort... He managed to evade Sasuke's questions.
Hearing that Naruto was alright and Kushina's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, she didn't press Sasuke about his condition. Instead, she kept asking Naruto how he felt until he repeatedly assured her and even actively mobilized his chakra to demonstrate his condition. Only then did she finally seem to reluctantly accept the answer and stop asking questions.
However, she then made another request: she wanted to talk to the "Minato" who remained in Naruto's inner world.
Naruto nodded immediately, offering no objections.
With the input of chakra, a part of Kushina's consciousness, similar to the principle of shadow clones, re-entered that vast spiritual world and met with the chakra body of Minato Namikaze, who had been waiting there.
Naruto wisely refrained from "eavesdropping" on his parents' private conversation during their long-awaited reunion.
Time passed quietly.
After an unknown amount of time, Naruto sensed his mother's chakra consciousness returning. He opened his eyes and saw Kushina standing before him. Her face no longer held the urgency and questioning she had shown before; instead, she let out a deep, long sigh, sounding somewhat weary.
Then, without saying anything, she simply stepped forward, opened her arms, and hugged Naruto tightly.
Naruto quietly let his mother hold him, and he could clearly feel Kushina's body trembling slightly. He turned his head slightly and saw his mother burying her face in his shoulder, her eyes closed, but with a faint moisture at the corners of her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was an intense, overwhelming sense of fear and lingering unease in her eyes, as if she had survived a disaster.
For Kushina, witnessing her son suddenly fall into a deep coma for no apparent reason was enough to make an ordinary person sick with worry. Even now that the crisis has passed and her son is standing safely in front of her, the huge shadow and lingering fear that once shrouded her heart will not dissipate in a short time.
Home, warmly lit. Konoha has finally returned to peace.
------
What exactly did Kushina and Minato discuss in their spiritual world? Naruto could only make some inferences from the subtle clues he gleaned during his brief entry into the inner world the next day. Minato's face bore an expression that was a mixture of guilt and heavy exhaustion.
Meanwhile, the Nine Lama, who was lying to the side, had a subtle expression on his face that suggested he was watching a good show, almost gloating.
With Urashiki's threat removed, Naruto's personal "crisis" seems to have come to a temporary end, and life appears to have returned to its original track.
However, for Konoha Village and even the entire ninja world, the real turmoil and undercurrents were only just beginning to emerge.
The most direct impact came from the intelligence front. In the following days, Konoha Village was flooded with a large number of outsiders with diverse identities and purposes—merchants, tourists, and wandering ninjas.
Even "friendly delegations" from other ninja villages. How many spies from various factions were mixed in among them? As for how many spies there were? It's probably impossible to know for sure.
Naruto was happy to have some free time, while the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose injuries had slightly improved and who was able to handle affairs with difficulty, and Jiraiya, who was about to officially succeed to the throne, were extremely troubled and had to carry out a long and tedious task.
As time passed, order was gradually restored in the village. With the help of higher-ups, the regular ninja mission issuance system resumed operation, and the ninjas' lives returned to the familiar daily cycle of accepting missions, executing them, and reporting back.
Naruto's life seemed to have returned to normal: training, eating, occasionally going on missions, and spending time with Satsuki and Kakashi or others who would occasionally come over for a meal.
The uproar caused by his battle did not significantly disrupt his peaceful daily life... Knowing that their target possessed extraordinary strength, why would they rashly disturb them? They couldn't afford to gamble that every powerful individual was like Hashirama Senju.
Of course, it wasn't without any impact. For example, Naruto's name appeared on the bounty lists of various underground black markets, and the amount he was offered for skyrocketed to an astonishing astronomical figure at an alarming rate.
For example, there was also a high-value bounty for information about the origin of the "sighted blue giant ninja dog race".
Even just a few days ago, the Inuzuka clan sent a representative to visit them with utmost respect and even humility.
They first inquired about Zacian's origins indirectly, and then cautiously yet eagerly asked if they would be willing to temporarily "borrow" Zacian for "reproduction research" at an "extremely high price".
Despite the other party's extremely polite wording and almost pleading attitude, Naruto refused without hesitation... Zaixiang has only been around for a short time...
Ordinary days alternated between missions and training. One day, Naruto accepted a seemingly ordinary escort mission—to escort an actress to the Land of Snow.
The mission itself was full of twists and turns, but Naruto was able to "sweep" through it with his current strength. He experienced some of the unique customs and conflicts of the Land of Snow, making it a slightly novel adventure.
When Naruto finished his mission, passed through the gates of Konoha, and stepped back onto the familiar streets of the village, he looked up and gazed in the direction of the Hokage Rock.
Then, he stopped.
On the rock face, next to the statue of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, the previously vacant spot for the Fifth Hokage has been occupied by a brand-new, completed rock statue.
The rock statue's face was familiar, with its signature wild white hair and a somewhat stiff, serious expression.
The succession ceremony for the Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya, is about to begin.