Am I Truly a Bringer of Misfortune?

Shi Xiu returned to the courtyard with Obito and Haku. Haku's wide eyes darted around, curiously taking in everything in his surroundings.

He was first drawn to the two magnificent houses, then cast his gaze toward the exquisite pavilion standing beside them.

Beyond that were the colorful, vibrant flowerbeds surrounding the pavilion.

Flowers of every hue bloomed in competition, their petals delicate and dripping with dew, swaying gently in the breeze and releasing a charming fragrance.

Haku was deeply stunned by the picturesque beauty before him. Compared to the Mist Village of his memories and the desolate, barren landscapes he had witnessed while fleeing for his life, this place was nothing short of a paradise on earth.

At this moment, Minato and the others, who had been sitting in the pavilion, noticed Shi Xiu's return and stood up to walk toward them.

Kushina, sharp-eyed, immediately spotted Haku standing beside Shi Xiu.

Her eyes lit up, a brilliant smile bloomed on her face, and she hurried forward.

Ignoring the fact that Haku's hands were a bit dirty, she reached out without hesitation to take his hand and said kindly, "Oh my, what a cute little girl! Lord Shi Xiu, where did you bring such an adorable child from?"

Haku looked up in surprise at Kushina's slightly strange but kind face, feeling particularly curious about her distinctive red hair and black eyes.

Haku tilted his head and looked at Shi Xiu beside him with a questioning gaze.

Shi Xiu naturally sensed Haku's confusion and smiled slightly, patiently explaining to him.

"This is Kushina, and over there are Minato Namikaze and Rin Nohara. They were all resurrected by me through the Reanimation jutsu!"

When Haku heard that Shi Xiu possessed the power to resurrect the dead, a flicker of irrepressible anticipation flashed through his otherwise calm, water-like eyes.

However, it was only for a fleeting second; the hope vanished like a shooting star, and Haku quickly returned to his usual state, saying nothing more.

At this moment, Haku's heart was filled with complex and tangled emotions.

He wondered to himself: did Shi Xiu truly possess the miraculous power to resurrect his mother?

If it were possible, could his mother return to his side?

At the same time, another worry welled up—surely a forbidden jutsu that defied the heavens must come with strict limitations and potential risks?

Moreover, if one were to resurrect others, would it bring some unforeseeable harm to Shi Xiu himself?

Just as Haku was lost in thought, he slowly turned his head and looked timidly at Kushina.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke up: "Um... actually, I... I am a boy!"

Upon hearing this, Kushina froze, staring blankly at the delicate, long-haired child before her, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

Kushina instinctively turned to look at Shi Xiu, who gave a slight nod, confirming that Haku spoke the truth.

Only then did Kushina snap out of her daze. A look of embarrassment appeared on her face as she hurriedly explained.

"Oh my, I am so sorry! It's just that... you are so cute that I mistook you for a girl."

Facing Kushina's apologetic words, Haku shook his head slightly and replied in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible.

"It's alright. This isn't the first time such a misunderstanding has happened; I'm used to it."

Haku's words did not alleviate Kushina's embarrassment; instead, they made her feel even more awkward.

After all, she had been secretly planning that when Naruto grew up, she could arrange for this well-behaved, cute "little girl" to spend more time with him—perhaps a spark might even fly between them.

Fortunately, these thoughts had not been spoken aloud, or the situation would have become even more mortifying.

At this awkward moment, Minato stepped in just in time to break the tension.

Minato smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "Lord Shi Xiu, where did you go? Nara Luling came looking for you this morning! It's a pity she waited for a long time without seeing you, and she has already returned."

Hearing that Nara Luling had come to see him, Shi Xiu instantly understood the purpose of her visit.

However, he had not yet formulated a perfect plan for how to deal with her.

Fortunately, knowing she had already left allowed Shi Xiu to breathe a sigh of relief.

After a brief pause, Shi Xiu began to recount everything they had just experienced to the group.

"I went to the Mist Village with Obito. If Black Zetsu wants to resurrect Kaguya Otsutsuki, he must gather all nine Tailed Beasts and summon the Ten-Tails. Therefore, Obito and I went deep into the Mist Village and brought back the Fourth Mizukage, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki."

When Minato and Kushina heard the name "Black Zetsu," their expressions turned grave.

Then, upon learning that Black Zetsu was plotting to collect all the Tailed Beasts, the two exchanged a look, their eyes filled with deep anxiety.

If Black Zetsu intended to gather all nine, then the Nine-Tails was undoubtedly essential.

In that case, was their beloved son, Naruto, in danger? At the thought of this, Minato and Kushina's hearts tightened.

Shi Xiu keenly sensed their inner unease and comforted them: "Rest assured, as long as I am here, Naruto will never be in danger."

Hearing Shi Xiu's words, the heavy hearts of Minato and Kushina finally settled, and they both let out a soft sigh of relief.

However, this ease did not last long before they began to look around with curiosity.

Minato's sharp eyes scanned the surroundings for a long time, but he could not find anyone else.

Because the Mist Village was famous for its secrecy, even someone like Minato knew nothing of the Fourth Mizukage's true appearance.

Thinking of this, Minato turned his gaze to Shi Xiu and asked in confusion, "Lord Shi Xiu, where is the Fourth Mizukage?"

Shi Xiu smiled and said, "I have temporarily placed them in Obito's Kamui dimension. And before sending them in, I gave them a stern warning, so there won't be any trouble."

After saying this, before Minato and the others could continue to ask, Shi Xiu added, "Now, I intend to take Haku to bathe, and then take him to the market to pick out some suitable clothes."

Minato and Kushina looked at Haku, whose face was covered in dust, and nodded. "In that case, Lord Shi Xiu, please go ahead."

With a smile, Shi Xiu led Haku slowly toward the street. Haku stared unblinkingly at the bustling, prosperous streets of Konoha, his eyes filled with wonder and amazement.

The scene here was completely different from what he had seen in the Mist Village; tall buildings stood in rows, people came and went, shops were filled with an dazzling array of goods, and the sounds of hawking rose one after another—a truly prosperous and thriving picture.

Shi Xiu noticed Haku's thoughtful expression and couldn't help but ask with a soft laugh, "What is it, Haku? You're lost in thought; what are you thinking about?"

Haku looked up, his gaze meeting Shi Xiu's, but he seemed hesitant. After a long silence, he finally gathered the courage to speak.

"Sir, do... do you really think I bring misfortune to those around me?" As he finished, a trace of unconcealable worry and unease flickered in Haku's eyes.