Chapter 294: "Living"
...Naruto's original plan had been to immediately handle his mother Kushina's situation after settling Gaara. After all, the "Menma" form's power had limited duration and had already dispersed, while Naruto's own "Nine Masked Supakha" hadn't been resummoned yet.
However, he'd already left Flying Thunder God marks on Kushina and Mito's Impure World bodies, so he wasn't worried about not finding them. Moreover, the sealing jutsu applied to them was both restraint and, to some degree, protection—at least ensuring they wouldn't cause destruction or suffer harm while in an uncontrolled state.
How much time had passed? The Third Hokage and Jiraiya had already found them while sealed?
Naruto reconsidered—this made sense too. After all, the battlefield traces left by "Menma's" battle with the previous two Nine-Tails jinchuriki were at missile-bombardment level. Not attracting attention would be difficult.
"So then..." Naruto took a deep breath, that form of address naturally emerging. "...Where is Mom being kept now?"
When the Third heard this address, his eyes clearly wavered. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke slowly. "Kushina... along with Lady Mito, plus the First and Second Hokage are currently placed within Konoha's ANBU base, in a special room used for storing classified scrolls."
"Currently, unless we can persuade Orochimaru to voluntarily release the jutsu... we haven't found any other safe method to undo this forbidden technique."
...No, actually Naruto knew one method—Release: Impure World Reincarnation.
As long as one knew the seal formula, the summoned souls of the deceased could actively release their contract with the present world through their own will. If their wishes were fulfilled, they could break free from restraints through powerful will and return to the Pure Land.
Moreover, Orochimaru was now completely sealed. Forget fine manipulation—the current jutsu even needed talisman reinforcement for control. No need to worry about him pulling any tricks.
But... this understanding brought not relief, but deeper struggle. Would his mother truly willingly leave after the jutsu was released?
Just thinking about this question filled Naruto with indescribable irritation. Knowing all the original story's truth, he understood too clearly—in Kushina's life's final moments, the deepest, strongest wish in her heart was wanting to personally watch her child grow into adulthood.
Though the Impure World Reincarnation body carried the soul's consciousness, this shell ultimately couldn't compare with true life. Unable to feel sunlight's warmth, taste food's flavors, experience an embrace's pressure... the body constructed of sensationless dust... not even requiring sleep, that most basic physiological need. Could such an "existence" truly count as living?
Emotional reluctance clashed violently with rational recognition in his mind, tearing at his decision.
What about... the system?! With the system, could he truly not find a best-of-both-worlds solution? He unwillingly questioned inwardly again.
The Third Hokage watched Naruto's expression suddenly grow heavy, brows tightly furrowed, appearing to undergo intense internal struggle. He naturally assumed this was heartache over his mother's circumstances—still unable to rest even after death.
"Naruto... these years..." The Third Hokage's voice carried heavy exhaustion as he slowly stood from his seat. "If I had announced your lineage earlier... I'm very sorry."
He bowed his head slightly toward Naruto. This action made Jiraiya's eyes flicker, but ultimately he didn't interrupt.
"However, if you want to hate, or feel disappointed about anything," the Third's voice was earnest, "please only hate me alone... Though saying this sounds like making excuses for myself, I still request that you hear me out completely."
Before Naruto could respond, the Third had already begun his explanation.
He recounted that before Naruto's birth, the Third Shinobi World War erupted. Konoha, as first among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, became a target for all, facing opposition from multiple forces.
During that most difficult period, one young Konoha ninja repeatedly reversed battle outcomes on the battlefield through outstanding ability, establishing tremendous renown.
"That excellent ninja was your father," reminiscence showed in the Third's gaze, "and also Konoha's Fourth Hokage—Minato Namikaze."
Through his elusive Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato became a nightmare for countless enemy nation ninja. His reputation inspired such fear that enemy nations even established an unwritten rule—if encountering the "Yellow Flash" on the battlefield, one could immediately abandon missions and flee, with the village not pursuing accountability.
How did that title come about? Naruto understood inwardly—it wasn't a heartwarming legend, but majesty forged with enemies' blood and lives. The Third's current narration had already beautified that past.
The Third continued, saying that on the day of Naruto's birth, a mysterious ninja controlled the Nine-Tails and attacked Konoha. To seal the rampaging Nine-Tails and protect the village, Naruto's father and mother successively gave their lives. Combined with the tremendous destruction from the Nine-Tails' rampage, Konoha ninja suffered severe casualties, plunging the entire village into an unprecedented period of weakness.
"If your lineage had been announced at that time... enemy nations would inevitably have taken advantage of the weakness, and I had no absolute confidence I could block all assassination attempts targeting you."
The explanation finished. The content roughly matched the truth Naruto had deduced from clues.
Jiraiya stood to the side, silently watching as his teacher the Hokage bowed and apologized to a youth, saying nothing. Because the rumors about Naruto being the "demon fox" spreading was directly related to the Third failing to timely stop Danzo's covert instigation. The Third's indecisiveness bore inescapable responsibility in this matter.
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