Chapter 435: Reunion and Farewell
Time seemed to freeze at the entryway for several seconds.
Kushina stood rigid at the door, one hand unconsciously resting on the doorframe while the other hung suspended in midair.
For a moment, she lost the ability to organize language, only staring intently at Minato, confirming this wasn't genjutsu or some other trick.
Finally, extremely slowly, in an unreal tone, she forced words from her dry throat.
"You... were resurrected? ...The same... the same as me?"
Minato's heart clenched painfully at his wife's appearance. He nodded, his gaze tender yet heavy.
"Yes, it was Naruto... our son did it..."
Hearing this answer, Kushina's eyes violently fluctuated. She seemed to have anticipated it, yet found it difficult to accept.
She lowered her eyelids, long lashes concealing the tears that instantly surged up. When she raised them again, she'd forcibly suppressed some of her external emotions, leaving only a stiff, businesslike calm.
"I see... he still went and did it..."
She murmured the words, then stepped aside, clearing the doorway. Her gaze no longer met Minato's, only staring at the entryway floor.
"You... should come in."
Her voice was dry and lacking warmth, completely incompatible with the brilliant sunshine outside and the warmth a reunion should have.
Hearing this, Minato felt slightly relieved, even experiencing a trace of humble gratitude.
Not immediately shut out... not instantly scolded and driven away... This was already far better than several of the worst scenarios he'd envisioned.
He understood Kushina, knew what turbulent emotional storm was being suppressed beneath her current "calm." Allowing him inside meant... at least there was still a chance for communication.
"Thank you."
He said quietly, then stepped carefully into this somewhat unfamiliar "home."
Kushina closed the door behind him. The soft "click" isolated the outside sunlight and bustle. The indoor lighting seemed to dim several degrees, the atmosphere becoming even more stagnant.
The two walked toward the living room one after the other in silence.
Zacian had already tactfully risen, silently pacing to the garden sliding door where it lay down, leaving them only a quiet back view.
Kushina walked to the main sofa position and sat, her posture somewhat stiff. Minato hesitated, then chose the single sofa across from her, slowly settling down.
Between them sat a low table—the distance not far.
Clearly long-married, yet at this moment like strangers meeting for the first time, or even worse.
The air was so heavy it made breathing difficult. Dust floated slowly in shafts of light.
Kushina placed both hands on her knees. She kept her eyes down, not looking at Minato or anything else, only staring at the smooth lacquered surface of the low table.
Ultimately it was she who first broke the silence.
"I thought..." her voice sounded, still carrying that deliberately maintained stiffness and blandness, "you would firmly refuse to resurrect yourself."
She understood Minato. Understood his sense of responsibility as Hokage, understood that sometimes rigid "principle"—sacrificing personal happiness and life for the greater good.
"...I'm no longer Hokage now."
Minato answered quietly. "So... I can temporarily... not think about all that..."
"...I'm sorry."
Kushina's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for an instant. She didn't immediately respond, silence spreading between them for several seconds.
"Oh."
She finally spoke, her tone growing several degrees colder. "Not Hokage anymore..."
She repeated the phrase as though chewing on its meaning. Not Hokage anymore, so he could "temporarily" not think about those grand principles? Then what about when he made that decision? Was it because he "was Hokage" that he could take for granted...
Minato heard the ice in her tone, guilt deepening in his heart.
"Yes." He responded again, voice even lower. "I'm truly sorry... leaving you alone... waiting for so long..."
"Should you be apologizing to me?!"
Kushina's head shot up abruptly!
All the emotions she'd forcibly suppressed exploded in that moment! Her voice suddenly rose, her eyes no longer calm or cold but blazing with flames mixing pain and fury!
She glared fiercely at Minato, her previously clenched fingers now tightly balled into fists.
"The person you should apologize to... is it me?! Huh?!"
Facing his wife's sudden outburst, Minato's face showed no surprise, only resigned calm and sorrow. He sat there quietly, head slightly bowed, eyes lowered, waiting for his wife to pour out all the accumulated pain, grievance, and anger onto him.
---
Hidden Rain Village, the damaged platform edge outside the tower.
Naruto and Satsuki had donned their masks again, resuming their Ember organization attire and standing side by side, preparing to leave.
Opposite them stood Nagato and Konan, who had just experienced life's greatest upheaval and whose expressions still carried some bewilderment yet also newfound hope.
"Everything's finished."
Naruto spoke first. "Then we'll take our leave."
"Also... I apologize. I promised my subordinates I'd take away 'certain things' you buried here."
He referred to Konan's ocean of 300 billion explosive tags. Satsuki had already released the concept modification previously applied to Konan.
Konan's memory had recovered completely, naturally recalling that ultimate trump card capable of repeatedly leveling the Hidden Rain Village and surrounding ocean countless times.
However, those explosive tags were now sealed by Naruto, packed into storage scrolls.
Hearing Naruto's words, Konan only shook her head gently, a smile appearing on her face.
"Those things no longer matter to me."
Her gaze fell tenderly on Nagato beside her, then turned toward the tower interior where Yahiko remained, still somewhat confused and bewildered.
"To me, Nagato and Yahiko are everything. For their wellbeing, I can sacrifice everything of myself."
Her gaze returned to Naruto. "So... truly, thank you very much for everything you've done."
Nagato stood to the side, listening to Konan's words, feeling the long-absent health and strength within his body, his heart a complex mixture of emotions. He'd gained a healthy body, Yahiko had been reborn, Konan had set down her heavy burdens...
All of this was thanks to this powerful "junior disciple" before him.
Naruto nodded slightly, accepting Konan's gratitude. He could understand this feeling of placing loved ones above everything else.
"That's good." His tone softened somewhat. "By the way, regarding the remaining Akatsuki members..."
He referred to the members captured by Ember—Juzo Biwa, Raiga Kurosuki, and Hidan who was imprisoned by special means.
"Since we no longer need to continue fighting, as Akatsuki's former leader, you might hope for their return. I'll send them back to the Hidden Rain Village for your disposal."
"However, I hope you understand... when you initially recruited members, you perhaps focused more on strength and agreement with the 'plan,' without deeply screening their essential nature."
"Some people... absolutely cannot be allowed to roam free."
Like Hidan. That kind of pure evildoer who enjoyed spreading evil cults, reveling in slaughter and pain, and acted without restraint due to his immortal body—Naruto fundamentally didn't believe he deserved to remain alive in the world, continuing to harm humanity.
This had nothing to do with positions. It was a matter of principle.
Hearing this, Nagato immediately nodded, his face showing no displeasure or objection.
"Yes, I understand."
His voice recovered the steadiness of a leader. "I'll continue staying here, managing the Hidden Rain Village. As for those people... I'll handle them appropriately. A peaceful world..."
He looked at Naruto, his expression solemn. "...I'll leave it in your hands."
Naruto nodded equally solemnly. "Yes. I'll make it reality."
"A world without meaningless war, without conspiracy and lies, without false peace."
As his words fell, brief silence descended again.
At this moment, Konan stepped forward. She extended both hands, palms upward, chakra gently stirring.
Surrounding subtle, white paper fragments flew quietly from her sleeves, from the air. They danced and spiraled lightly above her palms.
All the paper pieces combined perfectly together, forming a bouquet of lifelike, pure white paper flowers.
Konan held this delicate paper bouquet, presenting it to Naruto. "To realize Jiraiya-sensei's dream, to realize the dream Nagato and Yahiko pursued..."
"I hope you can become the flower of hope that never withers."
Naruto looked at the bouquet composed of paper yet currently filled with blessing, silent for a moment. Then he extended his hand to accept it.
"Thank you."
He responded simply, carefully putting away this special paper bouquet.
Beside Naruto, Uchiha Satsuki quietly observed this scene throughout.
Regarding Konan presenting flowers to Naruto, she showed not the slightest special reaction, only maintaining her usual cool silence before "outsiders."
Only in those black eyes faintly visible through the mask's openings, when her gaze occasionally swept past Naruto, did gentle light flow in their depths.