The People Who Returned to Life

Konoha - Morning

The new day hadn't even fully begun when the lights came on at Ichiraku Ramen.

Teuchi stood behind the cutting board, skillfully kneading the dough.

The broth in the pot bubbled and steamed, its aroma wafting out of the shop and slowly spreading along the street.

"I'm telling you, Dad, there's really no need to get up so early to work, is there?"

Ayame walked over yawning, rubbing her eyes with one hand and tying her apron strap behind her back with the other, complaining in a sticky, greasy voice:

"Naruto hasn't been in the village for the past few days, so no one else would get up early to eat ramen."

Don't say that.

"Back when that kid was still in Konoha, didn't he often say something like that?"

"The early bird catches the worm; if you exercise in the morning, you'll have plenty of energy for the whole day!"

Teuchi kept his head down, continuing to knead the dough, and said in a relaxed tone:

"Besides, Naruto might not be back anytime soon. If he happens to come back this morning and finds the ramen shop closed, he'll definitely be disappointed."

"While that's certainly true, what are the chances of such a coincidence—"

Before Ayame could finish speaking, her eyes involuntarily glanced at the Hokage Rock at the very top of Konoha.

Her hand, which was tying her apron, stopped abruptly, and her eyes widened suddenly:

"Dad, Dad, look... look!!"

"Um?"

Teuchi immediately stopped what he was doing, raised his head in confusion, and followed Ayame's gaze toward the Hokage Rock.

As the morning light shone from the east, the densely packed figures on the Fourth Hokage Rock could be vaguely seen.

His gaze swept across the group, then settled on a blond figure, and his usually squinting eyes widened suddenly.

"That, that person, could it be—"

At the same time, almost everyone in Konoha noticed the sky full of shooting stars.

The villagers and ninjas came out of their houses, looking up at the green rain of light.

"What is that? Why would a meteor shower happen at this time?"

"It was green... Has anyone ever seen a green shooting star?"

"I've never seen this before. Could it be some kind of Ninjutsu?"

The villagers discussed it animatedly, and soon someone noticed the strange thing about the Hokage Rock.

The ninjas with better eyesight were the first to see the figures above. Their faces gradually became clear in the morning light, transforming from blurry outlines into recognizable features.

Their faces were filled with disbelief; some people stood with their mouths agape, unable to speak, while others' eyes were already beginning to redden.

The older, middle-aged ninjas who had experienced the Nine-Tails Incident trembled, and their breathing became rapid.

"Th-those are... Dad, Mom? Aren't they already caught in the Nine-Tails Incident...? Is this... is this a dream?!"

"Daughter! Daughter!! Can you see Daddy? Daddy's here, it's me, Bobi!"

Feifei, have you seen Daddy?!

The ninjas shouted loudly towards the top of Kage Rock. Some even knelt on the ground, wailing and crying.

The villagers hurriedly grabbed the ninjas who were still able to maintain their composure, anxiously asking if they could help look for their parents or children.

The ninjas carefully observed the figures on the Kage Rock, their gazes immediately drawn to the three figures tightly embracing each other.

A blond man, a red-haired woman, and sandwiched between them, the blond boy they knew all too well...

"That, that's... the Fourth Hokage?!"

"He... he's holding... Naruto?!"

"And the Uchiha Clan, the Uchiha Clan members, they've been resurrected too!!"

Everyone immediately fell silent.

Those who were about to rush towards Kage Rock suddenly stopped, and everyone's eyes subconsciously focused on the family of three who were tightly embracing each other.

The villagers, who had previously encountered Naruto and were terrified of him, were now completely silent, their eyes wide with disbelief.

An idea they had never considered before gradually surfaced in their minds.

That terrifying kid Naruto, besides his arrogant and domineering style...

In terms of appearance, he does indeed bear some resemblance to the Fourth Hokage, who passed away many years ago.

Naruto, could he be the Lord Fourth's...?

"Stop! Stop! You're hugging too tightly!"

Dad, Mom, I... I can't breathe!

On the Fourth Kage Rock, Naruto was tightly embraced by Minato and Kushina, who sandwiched him between them.

His face was squeezed between the two people, feeling the two warm, still slightly trembling bodies beside him, and the growing gazes of the crowd below. The emotion he felt immediately dissipated considerably.

He wiped the snot and tears from his face, his cheeks flushed, and struggled to speak:

"While I can understand how you feel right now, at least pay a little attention to your precious son's life!"

A large crowd has already gathered below, and my image of wisdom and might is about to be—"

"Smack!"

Before Naruto could finish speaking, he received a sharp rap on the head.

"Shut up, Naruto!"

Kushina raised her fist, still emitting blue smoke, and said angrily:

"Mom, I'm feeling really touched right now, don't ruin the mood!!"

Her fierce expression, combined with the tears welling up in her eyes, created an indescribable sense of absurdity.

Having said that, Kushina completely disregarded Naruto's life or death, continuing to hold her son tightly in her arms, tears welling up in her eyes and she couldn't stop them.

"Finally, finally I can hug you like this, Naruto..."

Kushina sobbed as she buried her head in Naruto's shoulder.

Tears soaked the fabric; that was proof of the living.

Feeling the warmth from his mother, Naruto involuntarily gave up struggling.

He clutched his throbbing head and looked pleadingly at Minato, who was clinging to him from behind.

Minato didn't respond to Naruto, but simply gazed tenderly at the mother and child in his arms, embracing this hard-won happiness tightly.

Even his usually calm and collected eyes couldn't help but shed two hot tears.

Seeing that even his reliable father couldn't be counted on, Naruto could only sigh silently in his heart, "enjoying" the bittersweet love from his parents.

"Fortunately, I wasn't the only one who embarrassed myself..."

Naruto glanced at the familiar figure not far away and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Not far away, seemingly noticing Naruto's gaze, Sasuke struggled to lift his head from his mother's shoulder and glared at Naruto with annoyance.

However, with his face covered in snot and tears, he certainly didn't have much of an intimidating presence...

Watching the two still locked in a fierce argument, Kou shook his head with amusement.

He stood on the edge of Kage Rock, the morning light falling on his shoulders and profile, softening his features.

"Aren't you planning to join them, Brother Fugaku?"

Kou slightly tilted his head, his gaze falling on the imposing figure who had been silent since the beginning:

"You're excited right now, aren't you? Don't worry, if you just hug her properly, no one will laugh at you."

"If you take him up there too, Sasuke will be very happy."

Upon hearing Koko's words, Fugaku's face immediately turned red.

Looking at Sasuke's face, which was a mess of tears but still stubbornly refused to show weakness, his usually calm heart was suddenly stirred by turbulent waves.

Fugaku stared blankly at his wife and child, who were tightly embracing each other, suppressing the urge to rush over and hold them close. He forced a stiff smile at Kojima.

"... Let's not do it for now. Let's leave the time to his mother."

"After Mikoto calms down, I'll have a good talk with Sasuke."

"Before that, let's talk about the current situation."

"To be able to control his emotions even at a time like this, I must say he truly lives up to his reputation as Brother Fugaku."

He shrugged and gave Fugaku a nonchalant smile:

"But this is the Fugaku I know, so it's not surprising."

"Don't worry, I will explain the current situation and the events of these past years to you in detail."

As he spoke, Koko shifted his gaze from Fugaku's face to the densely packed Uchiha on the Kage Rock, who were still wandering in a state of bewilderment and surprise.

Their faces still bore a trace of lingering fear, but their gazes toward Kou held an overwhelming sense of joy.

Kou's gaze swept over the familiar faces from his memories, a gentle smile always playing on his lips... until he looked at the figure in the crowd whose face was filled with trepidation and surprise.

He stood in the crowd, half his face hidden behind someone's shoulder, as if he wanted to go forward but dared not.

The boy's eyes were bright, and he stared at Kou just like everyone else around him.

However, besides the same surprise as everyone else, his eyes also held a hint of nervousness, as if he were afraid of being rejected.

"But... while you seem ready, I have no idea whether someone else is ready."

Upon seeing that familiar face, the smile on his lips vanished instantly.

"I told you so, didn't I, you brat?"

The boy whose name was called immediately stiffened.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the Uchiha, the boy took a deep breath and walked step by step towards Kou...