"…Ugh…"
Seeing the unwavering resolve in Namikaze Kirito's eyes, Minato and Kushina both understood—there was no persuading him.
Minato let out a quiet sigh.
He didn't blame his son.
He blamed himself.
If he had lived… if he had been there… his two children would never have been forced down such paths.
Naruto's suffering aside, even Kirito—choosing to shoulder the entire ninja world just to protect his family—was proof of how deeply unsafe that childhood had been.
So no matter what Kirito chose now, Minato knew he no longer had the right to lecture him.
As a father who had failed once already, the only thing he could do now was this—
Protect his family with everything he had.
That, at least, was still his responsibility.
"Hehehe…"
Orochimaru stepped forward, eyes gleaming.
"Kirito-kun, I knew your plan couldn't possibly be so shallow. Now it finally makes sense. Becoming a king… becoming a god."
He licked his lips faintly.
"How thrilling."
"I will follow you to the end."
Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses.
Because of Kirito, he had recovered what he once lost.
Yakushi Nono—the woman who had been his mother at the orphanage—had been revived through reincarnation. The regret carved into his heart by Danzō's schemes had finally been erased.
She now cared for orphans once more, just as she had before.
For Kabuto, following Kirito was no longer a choice.
It was conviction.
"The path Kirito-sama walks… is the path I will walk."
Kaguya Kimimaro dropped to one knee without hesitation.
When Orochimaru had handed him over to Kirito, he had already offered his loyalty—but now, there was no room for doubt.
Kirito had cured his bloodline disease.
Given him power.
Given him purpose.
"Even if the road ahead leads to hell… I will follow."
"This is the only path to true peace."
Uchiha Itachi spoke quietly.
After years at Kirito's side, he no longer believed peace could be maintained through compromise and division.
Only unity could end the cycle.
The transplantation of First Hokage cells, the power drawn from the Dark Fruit, and Kabuto's medical expertise had cured his illness and awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had already chosen his life's purpose.
Seeing their loyalty, Kushina felt a strange sense of relief.
Fighting the entire world was madness—
But Kirito was not alone.
And neither would she allow him to be alone again.
If her child chose this path, then as his mother, she would stand beside him.
Her fists tightened.
As a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan and a former jinchūriki, she was far from weak.
Her sealing techniques alone were enough to terrify enemies.
"We stand together."
Kirito's voice was calm and absolute.
"Then we are invincible."
The eyes of Gensokyo's core members burned with fanatic resolve.
Unifying the ninja world.
A plan so insane that succeeding would rewrite history itself.
That was now Gensokyo's ultimate goal.
Minato said nothing more.
His only wish now was to reunite his family.
His wife had returned.
His eldest son stood before him.
But there was still one missing—
Uzumaki Naruto.
After enduring so much… it was time to give him happiness.
One by one, the members of Gensokyo withdrew, leaving the space to the family of three.
There was too much to say.
Too many lost years.
Servants soon arrived with food and wine.
That night, laughter and tears filled the room.
They spoke endlessly—of the past, of the future, of things they had never been able to say.
For a moment, it felt like those lost years were finally being reclaimed.
Minato and Kushina longed to see Naruto immediately.
But Kirito stopped them.
"Father. Mother. I understand how you feel—but now isn't the right time."
"Why?" Kushina's voice trembled. "Naruto has suffered too much. I—"
Minato raised a hand, stopping her gently.
"Kirito… you have a plan, don't you?"
Kirito nodded.
"Naruto's darkest years are already behind him. Now is the time for him to grow."
"If we reveal ourselves too suddenly, he won't be able to accept it."
"And Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others would never allow us to return openly."
"I want to wait until the Konoha plan is in motion—then we'll appear."
Silence filled the room.
They understood.
If the Fourth Hokage and his wife—long confirmed dead—suddenly reappeared, the world would never believe it.
It would only place Naruto in greater danger.
No matter how painful it was, waiting was necessary.
They continued talking late into the night.
Kirito told them everything that had happened in the shinobi world during the ten years they were gone.
Kushina covered her mouth when she heard of Kirito's battle in the Sand Village.
Capturing the Kazekage.
Standing alone against an entire village.
Only then did they truly realize—
The child before them no longer needed protection.
He had already become someone who faced the world alone.
Kirito deliberately avoided mentioning the masked man and the deeper conspiracy behind the scenes.
That darkness had not surfaced yet.
Telling them now would only burden their hearts.
After dinner, the three sat together quietly.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
Kabuto entered.
"Boss. The Mist ninjas didn't wait for you. They're dissatisfied… and preparing to act."
Kirito narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had planned to visit the Mist Village after seeing Tsunade but resurrecting his parents had taken priority.
The Fourth Mizukage had been controlled through the Gedo Statue.
Gensokyo had already informed the Mist's upper leadership.
Now...
Every major village was already being infiltrated.
If the ninja world was to be unified…
It couldn't be done alone.
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