In the Uzumaki Household…
Naruto leaned back, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"So, Tsunade," he said with a mischievous glint, "you ready to become Hokage now?"
Tsunade, seated on the couch with a half-full cup of sake in hand, didn't even flinch.
"I promised Grandma Mito I'd take care of Konoha," she said simply, sipping her drink.
Naruto blinked.
"Dang," he muttered. That was supposed to get a reaction.
He leaned forward, undeterred. "You do realize what you're getting into, right? Imagine it: you're trapped behind a desk, buried in paperwork, your hair all messy from scratching your head in frustration—no gambling, no sake, just ink stains and council meetings."
Tsunade visibly shivered at the mental image. Her hand trembled slightly around her sake cup.
"…I may need to retract my statement," she said flatly. Then, turning to Minato, "You were Hokage before, right? Can't you just… pick up where you left off?"
Minato chuckled softly, but didn't answer.
Naruto smirked. "You do remember he died, right?"
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, and yet he's right there. What kind of broken logic are we living in now?"
To explain that, we need to rewind to a week ago—right after the attack.
A Week Ago — After the Dust Settled
Tsunade slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the soft light of the room.
She sat up groggily.
"Where… am I?" she whispered. Then sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "So it really was just a dream, huh?"
She swung her legs off the bed and padded down the hall, still groggy.
Voices filtered through from the main room.
Curious, she stepped into the doorway—
And froze.
Everyone was there.
Voices. Laughter. Familiar voices.
Mito sat at the center of it all, waving her hand dramatically. "Come here, little Tsunade! I want to hear your legendary stories—and especially the ones about the 'Legendary Sucker'!"
The room burst into laughter.
Reanimated Hashirama, Tobirama, Madara, Mito, Minato, Kushina, Kurenai, Yugao, Yakumo, Anko—even a few of Naruto's allies. The house was full of warmth and banter.
Orochimaru had already slipped away, returning to his hidden base, muttering something about "advancing his research" after discovering Naruto possessed the Sharingan. That revelation had certainly fast-tracked his obsessions.
Back in the hall, Hashirama turned to Mito with mock sternness. "Why are you teasing her, Mito?"
Mito scoffed, "Oh please, you're the one who introduced her to gambling in the first place. This is all your fault!"
Hashirama opened his mouth to reply—then thought better of it. "...Fair point."
Meanwhile, Tsunade stood dazed at the doorway, still unsure if she was dreaming.
Naruto walked over with a grin, giving her a light shake on the shoulder. "You alive in there, Princess?"
He placed a hand on her forehead, feigning concern. "No fever. But I'm starting to think you might need a full medical checkup."
Tsunade scowled and swung at him instinctively, but Naruto caught her fist with ease.
"Whoa, relax," he chuckled. "You sure you don't want to say hi to your grandparents? They're not staying forever, you know. They might take it personally."
Naruto quietly stepped aside, giving Tsunade space to reunite with her grandparents.
Hashirama, Tobirama, and Mito all waited, their expressions soft—offering her smiles not just of recognition, but of pride.
Everyone in the room expected her to rush into their arms again, to fall into that long-lost embrace of blood and memory.
But Tsunade… surprised them.
She turned around.
And walked back—toward Naruto.
He blinked, caught slightly off guard.
Then—without a word—she pulled him into a tight hug.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with quiet emotion.
"Thank you… for everything."
A few small tears trickled down her cheek, landing on his shoulder.
Naruto froze for just a moment. The hug had come out of nowhere—but the emotion behind it? He felt it.
He wrapped his arms around her gently, just as sincerely.
"There's no need to thank me," he murmured. "You're my family. I'll always be here—for you, for everyone. That's what matters to me."
He reached up and softly wiped the tears from her cheek, his touch light as wind.
Just as the mood settled into warmth—
"Ara ara~!" Mito's voice chimed from behind them, full of mischief. "I didn't know my little Tsunade was in love—with such a younger man, too~!"
The room exploded in laughter.
Hashirama snorted. Tobirama shook his head. Even Madara looked away with a smirk.
Kushina was wheezing in the corner. "No way! Naruto, what did you do?!"
Tsunade turned crimson, eyes wide in horror.
"G-GRANDMA!" she cried, spinning around. "Don't say weird stuff like that!"
Naruto, ever the king of poking the bear, raised an eyebrow with a wicked grin.
"Wait… hold on," he said innocently. "Is it true, Tsunade? You love me?"
Tsunade gasped, mortified. "Naruto!!"
The blush on her face could've powered all five nations.
Everyone laughed harder. Even Mito had to wipe away a tear of her own, cackling like an old fox.
Naruto gave her a playful wink, eyes gleaming with mischief—and something deeper.
"I accept it," he said, voice soft but steady. "I love you, too."
It wasn't the first time he'd confessed.
But this time… it hit different.
There was no crowd. No chaos. No teasing undertone. Just sincerity.
Tsunade froze.
Her heart—so used to bracing itself—softened.
That unbearable weight she carried… the guilt, the pain, the loneliness… it began to lift.
She felt light.
She felt young again.
For years, she'd brushed it off. When he was a child, she told herself it was nothing more than a passing fantasy. A crush, a playful obsession.
But Naruto had grown—into a man who bore the weight of nations with grace, a man whose strength didn't just come from chakra, but from his heart.
His crimson hair. His blue eyes. His spirit is like no one else's.
And she had fallen for him.
Deeply.
But she'd held back. Bound by reason. Bound by duty. Bound by age and history and fear.
Now? That wall cracked.
And behind it wasn't the Sannin.
Just a girl in love.
Tsunade yelped and darted to the couch, diving between Mito and Hashirama. She grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it.
Muffled squeals escaped.
Hashirama chuckled gently. "Don't tease her," he said, patting her head. "She's still just a child."
'Child,' the word echoed in the room.
Coming from Hashirama—who still saw his grandaughter as the little girl who followed him around with clenched fists and snotty tantrums—it wasn't strange at all.
Just… endearing.
Moments later, Tsunade joined the rest in conversation, laughter returning to her lips like sunshine after a storm.
But all things must end.
Eventually, it was time for them to return.
To the Jodo.
To peace.
Mito pulled Tsunade into a deep hug. "Take care, little one. Be a good girl."
"You too, Grandma," Tsunade whispered, clinging tighter.
Then came Hashirama and Tobirama.
She hugged them both. Fierce. Silent. Meaningful.
"Take care," she said.
They didn't reply with words—just proud nods, warm eyes.
Kushina hugged Mito next, resting her head on the older woman's shoulder, murmuring something only they would hear.
Meanwhile, Naruto stood with Madara.
"You're not going to meet your clan?" he asked quietly.
Madara looked at him, unreadable. "No. Not yet. I have a feeling I'll be back. So… next time."
Naruto raised a brow. "You planning something?"
Madara didn't answer. Just gave him a knowing grin.
That Madara smile. The one that said I've already thought ten steps ahead of you, brat.
"I like you, Naruto," Madara said finally. "But don't forget… you've inherited my dream. And if you stray from it—"
Naruto grinned. "Then you'll try to kill me, huh?"
Madara smirked. "If that happens, then our fight is going to be legendary."
It was rare for Madara to acknowledge anyone. And rarer still to respect someone enough to see them as a rival.
But he had done both.
Because he saw it—
Naruto Uzumaki would change the world.
Forever.
Naruto then turned to the three First-generation legends. "You don't have to go. I can rewrite your fate—erase death. I have that power."
Hashirama smiled softly. "No, Naruto. We've had our time. This is your world now."
Tobirama gave a rare nod. "Don't waste it."
And then—
One by one…
Hashirama.
Tobirama.
Mito.
Even Madara.
They began to fade.
Ash rising from their forms like light dissolving into the wind.
Silent.
Dignified.
Free.
Only Minato remained.
He hadn't vanished.
He wouldn't.
Because somewhere in his heart, he knew—
Leaving Kushina and Naruto again… would break them.
So he stayed.
Alive.
Hidden.
The world still believed he was dead. And maybe it was better that way. For now.
Memories couldn't be rewritten overnight.
But with time?
The world would see.
The Yellow Flash was back.
And so, one month later, the world would understand:
Minato Namikaze had returned.
And this time… he wasn't leaving.