Chapter 434: Father
Hidden Rain Village, deep within the tower chamber.
The air still carried faint traces of medicinal scent and damp atmosphere. Dim chakra lamps illuminated the room's sparse furnishings and... two figures whose minds churned with tremendous upheaval.
"Nagato... be careful... how do you feel?"
Konan's voice trembled as she carefully supported Nagato's arm.
Her emotions at this moment were complex beyond measure—joy at recovering what was lost, nervous wariness toward unknown power, and an unreal dreamlike sensation.
Not long ago, Naruto had removed those Rinnegan that had brought both endless power and suffering. The process had been unusually gentle and swift, causing Nagato almost no additional pain.
However, the moment the Rinnegan left his body, a transformation occurred.
Not deterioration, but a reversal worthy of being called a miracle!
Nagato's body—which had become skeletal and withered like dead wood from long-term life force depletion and Rinnegan erosion—actually began recovering at a visible rate!
Beneath pale skin, flesh and vitality regenerated like spring returning to earth. Emaciated muscle lines became soft and powerful, his hunched spine slowly straightened.
Most incredibly, his legs that had long lost all sensation actually experienced tendon regeneration, bone reconstruction, skin coverage... ultimately presenting themselves whole and intact before their eyes!
Even his empty eye sockets—which had been left with horrifying cavities after the Rinnegan's removal—slowly grew a pair of new, healthy black eyes identical to any normal person's!
Though his gaze still carried the confusion and weakness of someone newly recovered from long illness, they were unmistakably eyes that could see light!
All of this occurred within mere dozens of breaths.
According to Uzumaki Naruto's explanation, this was a small "compensation" he'd given Nagato, using his power to "heal" Nagato's body.
Healing? Limb regeneration? Perfect restoration of a broken body eroded by the Rinnegan for decades, even creating new eyes from nothing?!
The shock in Konan's heart was beyond measure. Her gaze toward Naruto inevitably mixed deeper, indescribable wariness and awe alongside gratitude.
How many unknown abilities and methods beyond common understanding did this young junior disciple still hide?
Just what level had his power reached?
"Mm... I'm fine now..."
Nagato's voice sounded—compared to his previous hoarse dryness, though still somewhat weak, it now carried more vitality.
With Konan's support, he experimentally, bit by bit, placed his body's full weight onto those newly regenerated feet standing on the cold stone floor.
Stable.
How many years had it been?
So long he'd almost forgotten what "standing" felt like. So long he'd grown accustomed to the constant dull pain from confinement and chakra rods.
The lightness of a body no longer obstructed by foreign objects... it was all so unfamiliar, yet so... real.
He slowly released Konan's hand, standing independently. Then he lowered his head, looking at his hands that were no longer pale and withered but possessed healthy skin tone and muscular definition, and slowly, forcefully clenched them into fists.
His knuckles made faint cracking sounds.
Abundant warmth belonging to the Uzumaki Clan's vigorous life force surged through his body, supporting him, nourishing him.
He raised his head, looking at Naruto before him.
"...Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Naruto shook his head. "After all, in terms of relationships, you're my senior disciple."
Senior disciple... this title made Nagato pause slightly.
"...Mm."
Nagato responded quietly, accepting this identity's revival. He paused, his voice carrying uncertainty and a search for guidance. "What should I do... from now on?"
Having lost the Rinnegan, lost his identity and power as a "god," bearing past sins and promises for the future, where should he—the actual controller of the Hidden Rain Village—go from here?
Naruto looked at this senior disciple whose eyes held confusion and offered his suggestion.
"Just like before."
"However, no longer as 'Pain,' no longer as the lofty 'god,' but as Nagato. As Uzumaki Nagato."
"I'm asking you... please continue governing the Hidden Rain Village. Use your deep understanding of this country and its people to continue leading it toward the path of peace and prosperity you once promised."
Govern the Rain Village... as "Nagato"...
"I see..." Nagato exhaled a long, slow breath. "I... understand."
The conversation seemed to reach a conclusion. However, Nagato didn't shift his gaze. His black eyes still carried an indescribable mixture of intense longing, careful hope, even somewhat... eager anticipation, locked firmly on Naruto's face.
Beside him, Konan, though silent, wore an identical expression.
They were waiting.
Waiting for Naruto to fulfill the next part of his promise.
Naruto naturally read the urgency in their eyes.
"I understand."
He nodded. "Then please, prepare Yahiko's remains properly."
At these words, Konan's body trembled slightly. Tears instantly welled in her eyes. She nodded forcefully, unable to say much before turning and hurrying toward another corner of the chamber.
Nagato also took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and silently followed to help.
Watching their busy, hope-filled figures, Naruto stood in place, his gaze profound.
Creating all phenomena from nothing... this kind of power touching the fundamental laws of the world shouldn't be necessary or used lightly.
Over-reliance or abuse of such power might bring unknown dangers... though Naruto was confident he wouldn't be eroded by power.
But...
His gaze fell on Nagato's newly straightened back, on Konan's devout yet sorrowful expression as she carefully brought out Yahiko's remains.
Since he'd already begun using it... then he might as well settle another matter while he was at it.
That way, he wouldn't need to make a special trip to the Land of Whirlpools.
A massive energy phantom slowly yet incomparably real manifested in reality's dimension.
---
The next morning, Konoha Village, Uchiha compound.
A serene, elegant residence with typical Uchiha architectural style sat in one corner of the compound.
The courtyard was meticulously maintained—moss-covered stone paths, well-trimmed ornamental bamboo rustling softly in the morning breeze, several koi swimming leisurely in the pond.
This was the residence Mikoto had specially arranged for Uzumaki Kushina after her son Naruto and future daughter-in-law Satsuki officially moved in together.
The house was spacious and comfortable, the environment beautiful and quiet, far from the village center's bustle—undoubtedly an excellent choice for someone who enjoyed quiet or needed spiritual healing.
However, for Kushina who preferred lively scenes, this sudden, complete tranquility had become a difficult to dispel... boredom.
"Sigh..."
Uzumaki Kushina wore comfortable home robes, her crimson long hair casually draped. Her entire body sprawled in a large "X" shape on the living room's wide, soft sofa, utterly lacking her usual spirited image. She stared at the ceiling, eyes unfocused.
The house... was too clean.
After moving in completely, she'd already cleaned the entire residence inside and out with her restless energy and slight sense of ceremonial new beginnings, leaving not a speck of dust. She'd even picked up every fallen leaf in the courtyard corners.
Now, looking around, she couldn't find a single place that needed tidying or organizing.
"So boring..."
She drew out her voice, complaining to the air. Only she was home—so quiet she could hear her own breathing and the friction of bamboo leaves outside.
Though enjoying the Uchiha Clan's highest standard of treatment, this feeling of being forgotten by the world in some corner really didn't suit her lively nature.
"Why hasn't Mikoto come to find me yet..." she muttered. "She said she'd come over this morning to drink tea and chat..."
She rolled over, lying on her side on the sofa, her gaze falling on the massive blue dog quietly resting on the carpet—Zacian.
"Zacian..." She reached out, beginning to randomly, idly ruffle the thick, soft fur on Zacian's neck, messing up the smooth blue coat into chaos.
"You're bored too, right? Such a big house, just us two... oh, and those fish and bamboo in the yard that can't talk..."
Soukyo lifted an eyelid, glancing at its master's mother.
Though the ruffling was somewhat uncomfortable, it maintained good manners and didn't dodge, only releasing a "wurru" sound from its throat as acknowledgment before closing its eyes again, allowing Kushina to continue her "torment."
Time passed bit by bit in silence and boredom.
Just as Kushina was beginning to consider going to the training grounds to find a rock to punch for entertainment—
Knock knock knock.
Clear knocking finally came from the entryway!
"Coming!!"
Kushina's eyes instantly lit up, her entire body springing from the sofa! The lazy, bored expression on her face vanished completely, replaced by long-awaited "complaint" and joy that someone had finally come.
As she shuffled toward the entrance in house slippers, her mouth had already begun its "scolding."
"Really, Mikoto! You're so late today! Living alone in such a big house is really boring, you don't know how long I've been waiting for you—!"
Swish.
She pulled open the heavy wooden door.
The latter half of her words, along with the smile mixing complaint and anticipation on her face, froze completely the instant she saw who stood outside, as though someone had pressed pause.
Sunlight poured in from outside, outlining the visitor's upright form.
Golden hair seemed to shimmer with scattered light in the morning sun.
Azure eyes currently held complex emotions—guilt, longing, uncertainty, and a trace of careful, fearful-of-rejection nervousness.
Handsome, young, radiating sunshine-like warmth, identical in every detail to her memories of him when he departed.
Namikaze Minato.
At this moment, standing outside the door, standing in the sunlight, standing within her reach.
Kushina's entire body froze. She didn't even dare believe her eyes, instinctively raising her hand to rub them forcefully, then rub again.
The figure before her... didn't disappear.
Minato looked at his wife's completely stunned, almost petrified appearance, the tension and guilt in his heart intensifying. His Adam's apple bobbed once, his hands somewhat restlessly curling slightly, finally gathering courage to speak softly.
"Kushina..."
He called her name.
"It's been... so long... Are you... still angry with me?"
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