Moved

At the border of the Land of Fire, the Konoha ninja camp had gathered all of the village's high-level combatants. Although many of the ninjas still did not understand why they had been summoned, their professional discipline kept them on high alert, ready to engage in battle the moment the Fourth Hokage gave the order.

Inside the main tent, Naruto, who had fallen unconscious after his battle with the Raikage, lay sleeping on a cot. Hiruzen, Danzo, Jiraiya, the two advisors, Hyuga Hiashi, Fugaku Uchiha, and others stood nearby, waiting for him to wake up.

After examining Naruto's body, Hiruzen spoke to the group: "It appears he simply exhausted his chakra and suffered from physical overexertion due to his injuries. There shouldn't be any major issues; he will wake up shortly, so there is no need for everyone to worry too much."

Hiruzen then looked at Jiraiya and asked: "Jiraiya, what exactly happened after Naruto arrived at Kumogakure? It is baffling that someone with such a massive chakra reserve and monstrous vitality could be pushed to the point of collapse."

"Heh, old man, I have to say, this disciple of mine is a monster. Don't let his age of five fool you; he is stronger than most people. Those so-called geniuses don't even deserve to tie his shoes compared to him," Jiraiya said proudly.

Hiruzen asked with surprise: "Oh? What exactly happened? Explain it to me clearly."

Jiraiya proudly recounted everything that had occurred since Naruto arrived at Kumogakure: his battle with the Raikage for the sake of peace between Konoha and Kumogakure, his perfect control over the Nine-Tails' chakra, his awakening of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, his use of the Hyuga clan's White Eye, his ability to perfectly combine bloodline limits with the Nine-Tails' chakra, and his mastery of the Flying Thunder God, which was on par with the Fourth Hokage.

Jiraiya said to Hiruzen with pride: "Old man, tell me, isn't it impressive that my disciple could facilitate peace between two great ninja villages at such a young age? Hahahaha, it's all thanks to my excellent guidance."

Everyone present sighed with emotion upon hearing Jiraiya's words. Hiruzen said with relief: "Heh, Naruto is a good child; he hasn't let us down. He is truly Minato's son, having inherited his father's will perfectly."

Mitokado Homura added: "Indeed, he is worthy of being Minato's son."

Utatane Koharu then said to Hiruzen: "Hiruzen, you were right. This child is indeed the hope for Konoha to stand at the pinnacle of the world once again. Even if it meant starting a war, it would have been worth it."

Even Danzo had to admit that Hiruzen's decision had been correct.

Just as everyone was lamenting, news arrived from outside the tent that envoys from Kumogakure had arrived. Hiruzen ordered them to be brought in, and a Konoha ninja led two Kumogakure ninjas inside—Killer B and Yugito.

The Konoha ninja approached Hiruzen and said: "Lord Hokage, the envoys from Kumogakure have arrived."

Hiruzen looked at Killer B and Yugito, then told the Konoha ninja: "You've worked hard, go and rest."

After the man withdrew, Hiruzen looked at Killer B and Yugito and asked: "The two of you, may I ask what the Raikage requires?"

Yugito said to Hiruzen: "Lord Hokage, Lord Raikage sent us here to express his apologies for the actions taken by our people in Konoha. Kumogakure will severely punish everyone involved in this incident."

Yugito paused for a moment before continuing: "Furthermore, regarding the wager between the Raikage and Naruto Uzumaki, the Raikage hopes to reach a fair peace treaty with Konoha, which would also fulfill his promise to Naruto. We hope Lord Hokage can provide an answer so we may report back to the Raikage."

Everyone in the tent was surprised. Although they had just heard from Jiraiya about the wager, they hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. However, everyone present was a high-ranking official who had seen their fair share of storms, and they quickly regained their composure.

Hiruzen said calmly: "Regarding Kumogakure's actions in Konoha, since the Raikage wishes to handle it himself, we trust he will act impartially. As for the peace treaty, this is something Konoha has always strived for. Konoha truly hopes to coexist peacefully with Kumogakure and help one another."

"We will convey Konoha's sincerity to the Raikage. May we see Naruto Uzumaki?" Yugito asked.

Danzo asked vigilantly: "What business do you have with Naruto Uzumaki?"

Seeing Danzo's wariness, Yugito quickly explained: "Please don't misunderstand. My master and I simply wanted to chat with Naruto Uzumaki. After all, we are all Jinchuriki; I thought we would have many common topics to discuss and wanted to get to know each other. There is no ill intent."

Everyone was surprised that Kumogakure had sent Jinchuriki as envoys, but they understood that Jinchuriki would indeed have much to discuss. Once they realized this, they lowered their guard.

Hiruzen replied: "I am truly sorry, but Naruto has not yet awakened."

Yugito said regretfully: "That is unavoidable. We will have to wait for another opportunity. Please convey to Naruto Uzumaki that we hope he will visit Kumogakure again."

Hiruzen replied: "I will." "Then we shall take our leave." After Yugito finished speaking, she and Killer B left with expressions of regret. Killer B's greatest wish in coming here had been to become friends with Naruto Uzumaki, but unfortunately, he could not see him.

The Konoha group stayed for three more days, during which they reached a non-aggression pact with Kumogakure.

On the third day, when Naruto woke up, he found Hiruzen by his side. As for Danzo, the two advisors, Hiashi, and Fugaku, they had returned to Konoha immediately after the agreement with Kumogakure was reached.

After all, there were many matters in the village that needed to be handled. Originally, Hiruzen should have returned as well, but fearing for Naruto's safety, he and Jiraiya had stayed behind to look after him.

"Naruto, you're finally awake. Do you feel any discomfort?" Hiruzen asked with concern.

Seeing Hiruzen's genuine care, Naruto felt a warmth in his heart. He replied: "I'm fine, Grandpa Hiruzen. Where is this? Wasn't I fighting the Raikage in Kumogakure? How did I get here? And Grandpa Hiruzen, why are you here too?"

Seeing that Naruto hadn't noticed his presence, Jiraiya said angrily: "Hmph, you still have the nerve to ask! You ran off to Kumogakure to cause trouble without a second thought. If I hadn't brought you back, do you think you would have walked out of Kumogakure unscathed?"

Only then did Naruto notice Jiraiya next to Hiruzen. Seeing that Naruto had only just noticed him, Jiraiya's temper flared even more, and he was about to lash out.

But Hiruzen stopped him: "Alright, alright. The child has just woken up; as his master, you should show some concern instead of just scolding him. Let Naruto rest properly; we can discuss other matters later. Come out with me, don't disturb his rest." With that, he pulled Jiraiya out of the tent.

After resting for another day, Naruto learned that it was Jiraiya who had brought him out of Kumogakure, and that Hiruzen had brought all of the village's high-level combatants to the border out of fear for his safety. Naruto was so moved he didn't know what to say to Hiruzen and Jiraiya.

Naruto had always thought of himself as an orphan whom no one cared about, but Hiruzen and Jiraiya had given him the love of family—a love he had only felt from his parents, but now, he had it from them as well.

"What's wrong? Why are you acting like a fool and not saying anything?" Jiraiya said with dissatisfaction.

Naruto calmed his emotions and said: "It's nothing. I just didn't expect Grandpa Hiruzen to risk a war with Kumogakure to save me, nor did I expect the Pervy Sage to sneak into Kumogakure alone to rescue me. I'm just a bit moved."

Hiruzen and Jiraiya both felt Naruto's longing to be cared for and loved, and they couldn't help but feel a pang of pity in their hearts.

Jiraiya asked: "Naruto, do you hate your parents?"

Naruto replied: "To say I don't hate them would be a lie, but I love them even more. I hate that they couldn't watch me grow up and share in the joys of family life. I hate that my father had to be the Hokage, and I hate that my mother had to be a Jinchuriki.

But I also love them very much. They sacrificed so much for me. To ensure I could be safe while controlling the Nine-Tails, both my father and mother gave their lives. They also gave me that brief moment of reunion so I could feel the value of family and learn how to be a strong person.

For the sake of peace in this world and to ensure more people could find happiness, my parents gave up their own. I remember a sentence my father said to my mother: 'Because our whole family are ninjas.'" Thinking of his parents, Naruto felt a deep sense of loss.

Jiraiya walked over to Naruto and placed a hand on his head.

He encouraged him: "Pull yourself together, Naruto. Don't be sad or sorrowful. People only become stronger because they have experienced sorrow. Only by walking out of sorrow and overcoming it will you become stronger and stronger. I believe your parents thought the same, and they believed you would definitely be able to do it."

"Yeah, I will. Don't worry, Pervy Sage. I am the son of the Fourth Hokage and Kushina Uzumaki; I won't let myself be drowned in sorrow," Naruto said to Jiraiya, lifting his spirits.

Jiraiya said with relief: "That's more like my disciple."

After finishing his sentence, Jiraiya paused for a moment before saying to Naruto with a sinister grin, "By the way, you've been calling me Pervy Sage since just now. Who told you that? I am the Toad Sage Jiraiya, not some Pervy Sage, you damn brat."

Jiraiya chased after Naruto in a fit of rage. While running, Naruto retorted, "But my mom said you're very perverted, and you're always peeping at women bathing, and you call yourself a sage—so what else would you be if not the Pervy Sage?"

Upon hearing that it was Kushina who had told Naruto and even spilled all his secrets, Jiraiya was overcome with shame and anger.

"That's called gathering material! Gathering material, understand? I do it for the sake of my vast readership, it's not peeping!"

"Mom said that peeking at women bathing makes you a pervert, so, Pervy Sage Jiraiya—yep, that's right, no argument there." Jiraiya was so infuriated by Naruto that he was on the verge of losing it.

Regardless of whether Naruto had just recovered or not, he was determined to beat the living daylights out of this little brat. Seeing that Jiraiya had snapped, Naruto didn't hesitate to throw all his Kunai and use the Flying Thunder God technique to escape.

Meanwhile, the Third Hokage had finally snapped out of his daze. Ever since Naruto revealed that he had met Minato and Kushina, the Third had been plunged into deep worry.

He feared that once Naruto learned of his true parentage, he would harbor hatred toward Konoha. However, after hearing the conversation between Naruto and Jiraiya, he felt a great sense of relief. Watching the impudent master and student before him, the Third couldn't help but smile.

At the same time, he spoke to Minato in his heart, "Minato, do you see this? Your child is growing up well. He has inherited your will, and in the future, he will be the pillar of Konoha."