NOVEL NEXT Chapter 87: Reunion
As Sasuke and Fugaku approached, carrying their defeated foes, I nodded to them. It was a strange sight—my friend with Gaara slung over his shoulder, and Fugaku holding Danzo as if he were nothing more than a troublesome burden.
"Naruto, Gaara's down, but he's out cold," Sasuke reported, setting Gaara gently on the ground. He glanced up, noticing the reanimated Hokage, his eyes lingering on my father with curiosity and a hint of respect.
Fugaku took off his cloak and smirked slightly as he saw the past Hokages. "Well, well. If it isn't the previous Hokages. And Minato, how are you holding up?"
My father gave a slightly sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. "I'm doing well, though I admit it's strange being back under these circumstances," he replied, his gaze drifting over Sasuke and Fugaku, a look of appreciation forming. "It seems much has changed since my time."
Hashirama stepped forward with that characteristic boundless energy. "Ah! So you must be Fugaku Uchiha! It's good to see the Uchiha still fighting strong for the village."
Fugaku chuckled, glancing at me. "Naruto here deserves much of the credit. The Uchiha wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for his intervention. He's given us a second chance, one I intend to honor."
Tobirama's eyes flicked between Fugaku and Sasuke, a hint of his old reservations showing, but he said nothing. Instead, he looked to me. "Naruto, your approach is different—bold. Let's hope it steers Konoha onto a better path."
I nodded, my determination unwavering. "I won't let any clan be driven to the edge again. The village is stronger united, and that's the future I'm fighting for."
"Oh, and by the way," I said, chuckling, "your granddaughter is here, Hashirama. Can't imagine what she'd say to see both of you back!"
Hashirama's eyes widened with surprise, and he seemed to be both curious and apprehensive. "My granddaughter… I can only imagine what she'd say." He scratched his head awkwardly.
"Well, anyway," I added, grinning, "I think she's likely to be the next Hokage."
"What? My granddaughter as Hokage?" Hashirama's expression fell, his shoulders slumping as he processed the idea. "How… how did that happen?"
Hashirama's face fell, his usual energy dampening as he thought about his granddaughter's potential future. "Tsunade... as Hokage? I can't imagine her sitting still in an office all day!" He shook his head, looking both amused and distressed.
Tobirama sighed, rubbing his temple. "Knowing Tsunade, she'll probably complain about it every day, but she's got the strength and heart to lead. She's more like you than you realize, brother."
I grinned. "Well, she's definitely got everything to need to be Hokage, and with her skills, she'll be able to protect the village from any threat. Plus, she's already shown she's got the resolve to step up when it counts."
Minato nodded thoughtfully. "She's got a natural talent for healing and a deep care for her comrades. Even if she resists, I think she'd end up being a great Hokage."
Hashirama seemed to relax a bit, a proud smile breaking through. "Alright, alright. Maybe it won't be so bad. But if she becomes Hokage, she better remember she's representing all of us!"
Afterward, we all reunited with Mom, Tsunade, and the others. I noticed Haku nearby; she'd fought alongside us, freezing Suna shinobi to protect the village.
"Mom, I have something for you," I said, a hint of excitement in my voice. She looked at me, puzzled, until I pointed over to where Dad stood. She turned, her expression shifting to one of utter disbelief as she saw him standing there. She seemed to freeze, too stunned to react.
"Mom… are you there?" I asked, gently shaking her shoulder.
She blinked, snapping back to reality. Slowly, she walked over to Dad.
As my mom slowly approached my dad, her eyes wide with disbelief, it was like time had stopped around us. She took each step slowly, as if afraid this was just a dream that might vanish if she moved too quickly. Dad, standing there just as he had all those years ago, looked back at her with warmth and a soft smile.
"Minato... it's really you?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Dad nodded, his eyes misty. "I'm here, Kushina."
With that, she closed the gap between them, wrapping her arms tightly around him. They stood there, holding each other in silence as if making up for all the years they had lost. I felt a deep sense of peace watching them, and it felt like a missing piece of our family was finally back.
Nearby, Tsunade smiled softly, while Haku and the others looked on respectfully. It was a powerful reminder of what we had been fighting for—these moments, this peace.
After a few moments, Mom finally pulled back, looking Dad over like she was trying to memorize every detail. She turned to me with a shaky smile. "Naruto… thank you for bringing him back, even if it's only for a short time."
I nodded, feeling a warmth in my chest. This moment made all the struggles worthwhile.
"Tsuna, there's something for you too," I said, a soft smile forming as I gestured toward both Hashirama and Tobirama.
When Tsunade saw her grandfather, Hashirama, and great-uncle, Tobirama, standing together in front of her, her expression shifted from disbelief to an intense wave of emotions—joy, sadness, and a bit of frustration.
"Grandpa… Uncle… what are you both doing here?" she asked, her voice breaking. She looked like she was holding back tears, but her usual strength and pride wouldn't let them fall so easily. "You shouldn't be here. You're supposed to be resting, not back here in this chaos."
Hashirama chuckled warmly, his face lighting up with that same easygoing grin he always wore. "Ah, Tsuna, it's good to see you've grown so strong. I'm glad to see my granddaughter has become such a formidable woman."
Tobirama, ever the stern one, gave her a brief nod. "Tsunade, you've done well, despite the challenges. We had to see for ourselves how the village has fared. And it appears you've upheld our legacy admirably."
Tsunade took a deep, steadying breath, her fists clenching slightly as if trying to gather her composure. "You left us to handle so much... so many burdens. But I'm glad to see you both, even if just this once."
Hashirama's smile softened as he stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Remember, Tsuna, the Will of Fire never truly dies. It's passed on, generation to generation. And you've done more than we could have hoped to carry it forward."
A quiet strength settled over Tsunade, her emotions finally finding calm. "Thank you… both of you," she said quietly, her voice now steady.
As she stood there with them, I could see a sense of healing in her eyes, as if some old wounds had finally started to mend. This reunion, however brief, had given her something priceless—reassurance and pride in her legacy.
"I think it's time for all three of you to leave," I said, the weight of the situation settling in.
"Yeah, we're reaching our limit," all three of them agreed, the reality of their departure sinking in.
Though Orochimaru wasn't physically present, his presence was felt at a distance—hidden away, knowing well that anyone who spotted him would likely want to confront him with anger.
Kushina, still reluctant, glanced at Minato. "I think it's time to leave," he said gently to her.
Though her heart was torn, she nodded. "Okay, Minato," she replied, her voice quiet, but resigned.
"Goodbye, Tsuna," Hashirama said, giving a final nod to the Hokage.
"Goodbye, Tsunade," Tobirama echoed, his usual sternness softened by the gravity of the moment.
"Goodbye, both of you," Tsunade replied, her voice steady but tinged with sadness.
With a final glance at the village, the three of them slowly faded into dust, leaving behind three dead bodies and a few fallen shinobi. The air around us was heavy, and the reality of their departure hung in the silence.
Turning away from the spot where my parents had vanished, I glanced at my mother and Tsunade. I could see the grief in my mother's eyes, but there was a sense of determination there as well. "Let's go back," I said softly, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we'll figure it out together."
Tsunade gave me a tired, but resolute look. "Yes, there's a lot to rebuild... but for once, maybe we can do it without running from the past."
I nodded, knowing she was right. We'd been fighting ghosts for too long—now it was time to face the future and rebuild what had been broken.
We started walking back to the village, each step a little heavier than the last. Konoha was still standing, but it would take time to heal. The weight of the past, the burden of all the battles fought, the friends lost, and the mistakes made... it would all be there, lingering. But for the first time in a long while, I felt like we could face it head-on.
The village was safe for now. The people I cared about were safe. And no matter what came next, I knew we would stand together to protect it all. The future was ours to shape.