Sasuke and Boruto left, and the forest returned to silence. Naruto hadn't done anything, but seeing that Satsuki already knew the information that " Naruto in the other world might have a wife," he felt as if he had let something down.
However, to his surprise, Uchiha Satsuki did not press further or show any strong emotions.
She stared at Naruto for a moment, then said in a calm but undeniably warning tone, "If you dare to... explore 'more possibilities' in this world, I'll have to go have a 'good talk' with Aunt Kushina, you know."
After saying that, she turned around and let Naruto go so easily.
Naruto was stunned, of course he understood what Satsuki was referring to—if he dared to show other girls anything beyond friendship when they already had a childhood betrothal agreement.
Although Kushina Uzumaki on Naruto, it would be a shock if she knew that her son had just gotten engaged to her best friend's daughter, and then immediately started "seducing" another girl...
Naruto decided against imagining it.
Satsuki was able to let go of the topic so "easily" largely because the "arranged marriage" agreement, which had been confirmed by both sets of elders, gave her a solid sense of confidence and security.
Within this framework, she could temporarily suppress the unease brought on by information from another world.
With the turmoil subsiding, the two said a brief goodbye at the edge of the forest and returned home.
Pushing open the apartment door, Kushina Uzumaki, wearing an apron, peeked out from the kitchen. Seeing Naruto return, she immediately put down what she was holding and hurried over. Instead of asking anything else, she launched into a series of questions about his most pressing concerns.
For example... are you really alright? Is anything bothering you? What about that strange eye? Could it be harmful to you? And that street performer? Who exactly is he? Where is he now?
His eyes were filled with lingering worry as he carefully examined Naruto from head to toe.
Naruto patiently answered each question, confirming that he was indeed in good health, his chakra was functioning normally, and that his new eyes were currently under control with no discomfort... Sasuke's questions were thus evaded.
Hearing that Naruto was alright, Kushina's tense shoulders relaxed slightly. She didn't press Sasuke about his condition, but instead kept asking Naruto how he felt. Only after Naruto repeatedly assured her and even actively mobilized his chakra to demonstrate his condition did she finally seem to reluctantly accept the answer and stop asking questions.
However, she then made another request: she wanted to talk to the ' Minato ' who remained in Naruto's heart...
Naruto nodded immediately, offering no objection.
With the input of chakra, a part of Kushina's consciousness, similar to the principle of Shadow Clone, re-entered that vast spiritual world and met with the chakra body of Minato Namikaze, who had been waiting there.
Naruto wisely refrained from "eavesdropping" on his parents' private conversation during their long-awaited reunion.
Time slips away silently.
After an unknown amount of time, Naruto sensed his mother's chakra consciousness returning. He opened his eyes and saw Kushina standing before him. Her face no longer held the urgency and questioning she had shown before; instead, she let out a deep, long sigh, sounding somewhat weary.
Then, without saying anything, she simply stepped forward, opened her arms, and hugged Naruto tightly.
Naruto quietly let his mother hold him. He could clearly feel Kushina's body trembling slightly. He turned his head slightly and saw his mother burying her face in his shoulder. Her eyes were closed, but there was a faint moisture at the corners of her eyes. When she opened them again, there was an intense, overwhelming sense of relief and fear in her eyes, as if she had survived a disaster.
For Kushina, witnessing her son suddenly fall into a deep coma for no apparent reason was enough to make an ordinary person sick with worry. Even now that the crisis has passed and her son is standing safely in front of her, the huge shadow and lingering fear that once shrouded her heart will not dissipate in a short time.
Home, warmly lit. Konoha has finally returned to peace.
What exactly did Kushina and Minato discuss in their spiritual world? Naruto could only deduce this from some subtle clues he gleaned during his brief entry into Minato's inner world the next day. Minato Namikaze's face bore an expression that was a mixture of guilt and heavy weariness.
Meanwhile, the Kurama, who was lying to the side, had a subtle expression on his face that suggested he was watching a good show, almost gloating.
With Urashiki's threat removed, Naruto's personal "crisis" seems to have come to a temporary end, and life appears to have returned to its original track.
However, for Konoha Village and even the entire Ninja World, the real turmoil and undercurrents were only just beginning to stir.
The most direct impact came from the intelligence front. In the following days, Konoha Village was flooded with a large number of outsiders with complex identities and different purposes—merchants, tourists, and wandering Ninja.
Even "friendly delegations" from other ninja villages—how many spies from various factions were mixed in among them? As for how many spies there were, it's probably impossible to know for sure.
Naruto was happy to have some free time, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, whose injuries had slightly improved and who was able to handle affairs with difficulty, and Jiraiya and had to carry out a long and tedious task.
As time passed, order was gradually restored in the village. With the help of higher-ups, the regular Ninja mission issuance system resumed operation, and the Ninja ' lives returned to the familiar daily cycle of accepting missions, executing them, and reporting back.
Naruto's life seemed to have returned to normal: training, eating, occasionally going on missions, and spending time with Satsuki and Kakashi or others who would occasionally come over for a meal.
The uproar caused by his battle did not significantly disrupt his peaceful daily life... Knowing that their target possessed extraordinary strength, would they still dare to disturb them? They couldn't afford to gamble that every powerful individual was like Hashirama Senju.
Of course, it wasn't without any impact. For example, Naruto's bounty on various underground black markets skyrocketed to an astonishing astronomical figure at an alarming rate.
For example, there was also a high-value bounty offered for information about the origin of the "sighted blue giant Ninja Dog race".
Even just a few days ago, the Inuzuka Clan sent a representative to visit them with utmost respect and even humility.
They first inquired about the origins of the Zacian indirectly, and then cautiously yet eagerly asked if they would be willing to temporarily "borrow" the Zacian for... "breeding research" at an "extremely high price".
Despite the other party's extremely polite wording and almost pleading attitude, Naruto refused without hesitation... Zacian has only been around for a short time...
Ordinary days alternated between missions and training. One day, Naruto accepted a seemingly ordinary escort mission—to escort an actress to the Land of Snow.
The mission itself was fraught with twists and turns, but Naruto, with his current strength, "smoothly" over them, experiencing some of the unique customs and conflicts of the Land of Snow, making it a slightly novel adventure.
When Naruto finished his mission, passed through the Konoha Gate, and stepped back onto the familiar streets of the village, Naruto looked up and gazed in the direction of the Hokage Rock.
Then, he stopped.
On the rock face, next to the statue of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, the previously vacant spot for the Fifth Hokage has been occupied by a brand-new, completed rock statue.
The rock statue's face was familiar, with its signature wild white hair and a somewhat stiff, serious expression.
The succession ceremony for the Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya, is about to begin.