Minato and Kushina Awaken

A few days later.

Outside the Senju Clan's intensive care tent, a light breeze drifted by, carrying the distinct, bitter scent of medicinal herbs.

Yue Uchiha sat cross-legged on his cot, the dark purple diamond-shaped mark on his forehead pulsing with a faint, slow, and steady rhythm.

After these few days of complete relaxation and recovery, his nearly exhausted spiritual energy had finally found some relief. Although his blinded left eye remained unable to see, the tearing, agonizing pain had vanished entirely.

"Clatter."

The tent flap was lifted, and Hikari Uchiha stepped inside quickly.

She had changed into the gray, coarse-cloth robe issued by the Senju logistics department, yet it could not hide her clear and elegant features.

"Yue," Hikari lowered her voice, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes, "That white-haired adjutant with the perpetually dark face just sent word. He said the two people in the main tent... are about to wake up."

Yue snapped his right eye open, a sharp glint flashing through his pitch-black pupil.

"Hashirama Senju's Yang Release is truly as legendary as they say. To be pierced through the edge of the heart by the Nine-Tails and suffer fatal wounds where even the soul was eroded by the Death God, yet be pulled back from the gates of hell in just a few days."

"Let's go, Hikari. Let's go see them."

At this moment, inside the Senju medical tent.

The air was thick with an incredibly dense vitality, so potent it almost made one feel oxygen-drunk.

Minato Namikaze suddenly opened his eyes from the endless darkness, gasping for air.

His memory was still frozen at the moment the Death God swung its short blade, and the Nine-Tails' sharp claws pierced through his and his wife's chests.

"Kushina! Naruto!"

Minato instinctively tried to form hand seals, only to find his body completely empty; his chakra meridians were as dry as a cracked riverbed.

Furthermore, the sensation coming from his chest was not the heart-wrenching pain he expected, but a tingling, warm comfort.

"Oh! You're finally awake! Your vitality is truly astonishing!"

A booming, hearty, and pleasantly surprised male voice exploded in Minato's ears.

Minato turned his head sharply, his vision gradually focusing.

What met his eyes was a rugged face with long black hair and a cloth headband tied across the forehead, wearing a wide grin.

The man wore deep red layered armor, and his large palm was hovering over Minato's chest, emitting a glowing green light of life.

This face...

Minato's brain felt as if it had been struck by lightning.

As the newly appointed Fourth Hokage of Konoha, how could he not recognize this face, carved into the very top of the Hokage Rock and revered by all the people?!

"First... First Hokage?!" Minato's voice was dry and hoarse, his eyes filled with unbelievable shock.

"First? What First?"

Hashirama Senju scratched the back of his head and laughed heartily, "My name is Hashirama Senju! Are you still a bit muddled in the head from such heavy injuries?"

"Big Brother, stop wasting breath on him. This man and woman suffered such severe piercing wounds, and their souls look as if they've been gnawed on by something evil—these are definitely not marks left by ordinary combat."

A cold, rational voice filled with deep wariness came from the shadows of the tent.

Minato moved his eyes with difficulty to see a cold youth with spiky silver hair and red markings on his cheeks, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, his icy blue eyes staring fixedly at him.

The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju!

"Minato..."

Just as Minato's mind was in chaos, a faint murmur came from beside him.

Minato turned to look and saw that on the adjacent bed, Kushina Uzumaki, with her long, vibrant red hair, was struggling to open her eyes.

Beside Kushina's bed sat a dignified, beautiful young woman, also possessing dazzling red hair.

The woman was using a warm towel to gently wipe the cold sweat from Kushina's forehead, her eyes filled with tenderness and kindness.

"Don't be afraid, child. As fellow members of the Uzumaki Clan, seeing you suffer such heavy injuries truly breaks my heart."

The woman smiled and comforted her, "My name is Mito Uzumaki. This is the territory of the Senju Clan; you are safe now."

Mito Uzumaki! The wife of the First Hokage and the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

Minato was completely stunned.

One could call the First Hokage an illusion, but with the Second Hokage and Lady Mito present, combined with the primitive, wild chakra fluctuations and the rough tent furnishings, this was definitely not something the Konoha Hospital could fake.

Is this the Pure Land?

"It seems you are recovering well, Minato, Kushina."

Just then, a familiar voice came from the tent entrance.

Minato looked up.

"It's you... Yue Uchiha." Minato gritted his teeth, forcing himself to try and sit up.

"Halt! Uchiha, did I not tell you to wait outside? Who gave you permission to enter?"

Tobirama's gaze turned icy as he instantly stepped in front of Yue, the water-natured chakra on his body faintly churning.

"Lord Tobirama, please, there is no need for tension. We are merely here to check on our severely injured 'comrades'." Yue Uchiha paid no mind to Tobirama's killing intent, turning instead to look at Hashirama. "Clan Leader Hashirama, thank you for your miraculous medical skills. If not for you, I fear these two friends of mine would not have survived."

"Hahaha, a healer's heart is a kind one! Besides, you represent the voices within the Uchiha Clan that yearn for peace!" Hashirama waved his hand heartily, then looked at Minato with some curiosity. "However, this friend of yours named Minato called me 'First Hokage' the moment he woke up. What a strange title."

Minato opened his mouth, just about to ask something.

In that split second, his gaze drifted past Hashirama Senju's broad shoulders and landed on Yue Uchiha, who was standing behind him.

Yue was shaking his head almost imperceptibly, then blinked his eyes twice in a rapid, rhythmic fashion, his gaze conveying an extremely clear warning and hint.

As the Fourth Hokage, known for his supreme intelligence and high emotional quotient, Minato Namikaze's brain completed a frantic cycle of processing in a thousandth of a second.

The living, young Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju;

The rough canvas tent and the ancient layered armor;

And Yue Uchiha, who had severed the contract with the Death God on the Night of the Nine-Tails and brought them here.

Everything was far too strange.

Minato forcibly suppressed the endless worry for Naruto and Konoha in his heart. His face, which had been tense from shock, instantly relaxed. He gave a wry smile and reached up to rub his temples, feigning the weak appearance of someone who had just recovered from a grave injury and was suffering from a splitting headache.

"My apologies... Lord Hashirama."

Minato's voice was hoarse, tinged with a measure of confusion and lingering fear. "My brain is still a complete mess. I just had a terrifying nightmare, dreaming of our clan's late 'First Elder'... Seeing you while I was on the brink of death, I thought it was the Elder coming to guide me. It was a slip of the tongue; I hope you will forgive my foolishness."