For many in Konoha, life went on as peacefully as before.
But for Sai, this meant watching over the future Hokage from the shadows, carrying out tasks for Naruto that no one else could know about.
Or rather, guarding Naruto against every conceivable threat.
To Naruto, deep in the Forest of Death was the only place where he could feel at peace. He had one final matter to resolve here before he could look forward to the future.
Of course, the Forest of Death wasn't safe for him by any means, but it was certainly a safe place for the village.
Although the Nine-Tails had sworn that if Naruto lost control and it gained freedom, it would not level Konoha, its release would still unleash massive destruction across the surrounding areas.
Naturally, the forest was now teeming with danger, but these were not things Naruto had to worry about.
In Sai's eyes, the spiders lurking deep in the Forest of Death had evolved into apex predators, and their territorial instincts were intense.
The Nine-Tails chakra radiating from Naruto appeared to keep them at bay, but no one could be sure—after all, these spiders' instincts were nothing to take lightly.
"Tamako, let me be honest—I truly don't know if bringing you here for this mission was the right call," Sai said, placing his hand on his tanto just in case something unexpected came up. He had no intention of being caught by those damned spiders—they had already taken down seven along the way, each one larger than the last. "I can't guarantee your safety, so I don't understand why you insisted on coming."
He and Maki should have been enough to protect Naruto from the spiders, but everything fell apart once Tamako arrived, bringing along four shapeshifting demonic statues ready to lay down their lives to protect her. Maki readily welcomed the help of these powerful familiars, but Sai had always felt uneasy around them ever since his first encounter years ago.
"No matter how dangerous it is, whenever it involves sealing techniques, I will always stand by my master's side," Tamako said, placing her hand on Naruto's stomach to track his progress in confronting the tailed beast. "It is my duty as a vassal of the Uzumaki clan. I will serve my master with all my strength."
"If I recall correctly, Tamako…" Sai interrupted, "…wasn't it Danzo-sama's wish for you to become Naruto-senpai's wife? You even said before that if the mission required it, you'd willingly wed anyone."
Maki struggled to keep her composure as she stared blankly at Sai. "Senior Sai, with all due respect, if you continue joking about my relationship with Naruto-senpai, I won't let you off as lightly as I used to."
If Danzo truly expected her to follow through with the original plan, she would unquestionably carry it out without hesitation.
The hint of victory on Maki's face quickly vanished when she noticed the inscrutable look Tamako gave her.
Though this white-haired girl wasn't skilled in combat, her command of sealing techniques was exceptional. If she chose to, this buxom young woman could make anyone experience a taste of hell itself.
"I'm quite curious, Danzo-sama..." Sai mused quietly to himself, his eyes lingering briefly on Naruto. "What would you think upon seeing the current situation?"
******
Naruto opened his eyes and found himself in an unfamiliar place that somehow felt strangely familiar.
It was a village, massive in scale yet ancient in appearance—its architecture far older than any modern ninja village he'd ever seen.
Walking down the main street, he kept feeling a sense of déjà vu. When he reached an intersection and saw the emblem engraved onto the ground, he finally realized where he was.
"Uzu no Kuni?" Naruto gasped in shock, quickly scanning around. He clearly remembered getting ready for the final showdown with the Nine-Tails right after breaking the seal with the key.
The Nine-Tails had brought him here, they started fighting, and then he found himself in this village that once belonged to his ancestors.
"This doesn't make sense at all—I've never actually seen Uzu no Kuni before it was destroyed."
If his spiritual world had chosen Uzu no Kuni as the battlefield for his decisive fight against the Nine-Tails, he expected to see the ruins he'd seen while searching for family relics with Tamako, not this vivid recreation of the village, down to every last detail—even the saltiness in the air.
"Hmm, darling, you wouldn't know, of course—but I do."
Wait a second—this was his spiritual world, so besides the Nine-Tails, there shouldn't be anyone else here. If the Nine-Tails really was behind him talking like that, he'd rip it apart and barbecue it on a stick.
And what's with the "darling"? If the Nine-Tails called him that, he'd kick its ass—and maybe even make it punch itself for letting such words slip out. Plus, this voice sounded like a woman's.
Naruto turned around to see who had dared speak, and he came face to face with a woman he had only ever seen once—in a photograph. Long, blazing red hair, eyes the color of violets, and a smile brimming with motherly warmth he'd never known in person.
This couldn't really be Kushina Uzumaki, could it?
Naruto took two steps back, suspicion flaring in his eyes as he looked around.
"You bastard! Nine-Tails! You promised 'no illusions'—we had a deal!"
That rule existed because neither of them could conjure illusions intentionally.
Before he could shout further at his usual tenant, suddenly, a warm hand brushed gently against his cheek.
"I'm not an illusion," she said, pausing slightly before adding, "Well… technically, I am. Back then, when I sealed my chakra inside you, I left behind a fragment of my will."
Gaping at the woman before him, his cheek still under her gentle touch, Naruto asked, "So… you're part of the chakra sealed inside me?"
"That's exactly right."
"You should've appeared when I was fighting the Nine-Tails."
"Aww, my clever little one."
Seeing Naruto holding her tightly, Kushina Uzumaki felt as if she might float off the ground.
Kushina hugged her son back just as tightly, amazed by how much he had grown—taller and stronger.
The last time—and in truth, the only other time—they'd met, he'd still been so small and fragile.
Now, though, he was every bit as powerful as she'd imagined—and she could feel it in his embrace.
"Hey... I expected you'd be more thrilled to see me," Kushina said, still holding her son in a tight embrace. "Minato isn't here. I guess he already tried meeting you through sheer willpower? Didn't he mention me?"
At this, Naruto blinked, loosened his hold on his mother, and looked at her with confusion written all over his face, trying to recall. "Uh... Things were too chaotic when we met. All I remember is telling him who that masked guy from Akatsuki was… and then I slapped Dad across the face."
"You hit him with a backhand?" Kushina asked, caught off guard.
"He told you to do it?"
"Well... not exactly," Naruto admitted somewhat sheepishly.
Minato hadn't directly told him to slap him; he had simply said that maybe Naruto would feel better if he let out the anger inside him.
To Naruto's surprise, Kushina burst into laughter upon hearing this.
"You even hit him with a backhand? No wonder you're my son!" Kushina laughed, brushing away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes. "So why did you hit him?"
It wasn't until she asked that question that Naruto really began to think deeply about it.
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