Land of Water Royal Palace, luxurious lounge.
Nawaki leaned back in a soft recliner, covered by a thick blanket. He scanned the familiar figures of Orochimaru and Tsunade before his gaze settled on Shun.
This man, dressed in deep blue Daimyo attire, exuded a calm and steady demeanor that hinted at his extraordinary nature.
Nawaki could not hide his excitement at the reunion. "Orochimaru-sensei, Tsunade-nee, am I really alive? Am I dreaming?"
He raised a hand to touch his cheek, the real sensation made his eyes well up slightly. He thought he would forever remain in that war-torn era, never expecting to have a chance to be resurrected.
Orochimaru sat on a nearby sofa, his tone a few shades softer than usual. "No, it's not a dream, it's real. It took us five years to improve the resurrection jutsu and finally bring you back to life."
Tsunade walked forward, handed him a cup of warm herbal tea, and gently patted Nawaki's hand. "Nawaki, drink some tea to soothe your throat."
Nawaki took the teacup, his fingertips touching the warm cup, and a wave of warmth spread through his heart.
He looked at Shun again, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "By the way, Tsunade-nee, who is this? He looks unfamiliar, but I feel you two are very close?"
Shun smiled, his tone relaxed. "My name is Uchiha Shun, I am your brother-in-law, and now the Daimyo of the Land of Water. Later, we even moved Konoha to the Land of Water."
"Brother-in-law... Daimyo of the Land of Water... and moved Konoha to the Land of Water?"
Nawaki's eyes widened abruptly, and the teacup in his hand almost spilled.
"This... how can this be? I remember that before I died, Konoha was still perfectly fine in the Land of Fire. How could it move to the Land of Water? And Tsunade-nee, I remember Jiraiya-sama was always following you, saying he wanted to marry you."
In his memory, Tsunade and Jiraiya were childhood sweethearts, their mutual feelings already unspoken, and Konoha, as the ninja village of the Land of Fire, had deep roots. How could it suddenly relocate?
When Tsunade heard the words "Jiraiya," the hand holding her teacup paused slightly, and a complex emotion flickered in her eyes.
She sighed softly and slowly said, "Jiraiya is not dead, he is still doing well. As for moving Konoha to the Land of Water, it's because six years after your death, the Third Great Ninja War happened, and Konoha suffered heavy casualties. Later, the Land of Fire Daimyo formed the National Ninja Army, bringing the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane and Mitokado clans over, and the Land of Fire gradually became a battlefield. So we moved Konoha to the Land of Water, away from the war."
Nawaki murmured to himself, his heart full of emotion, "So that's how it is. I never thought the Land of Fire would become like that. It's good that you moved to the Land of Water. So Tsunade-nee, do you and brother-in-law have children?"
Upon hearing this, Tsunade's face softened with a gentle smile. "Yes, we have a son named Shiryu. He's already six years old this year, very spirited, and he's attending the Ninja Academy now. Nawaki, you're an uncle now. Later, I'll take you to see Shiryu, he'll definitely like having you as an uncle."
Nawaki's eyes instantly lit up, his face full of anticipation. "Uncle? I have a nephew? That's great, I must go see him."
Shun smiled and added, "Shiryu has a calm temperament and is easy to get along with. By the way, Jiraiya is currently traveling around, and his 'Icha Icha Paradise' is still being serialized and has become popular in various countries."
Nawaki was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud, a hint of guilt on his face.
"Icha Icha Paradise? Oh, I secretly bought that book back then. I hid it under my pillow, but sister found it and chased me around, hitting me for half the day."
As he spoke, his eyes were filled with nostalgic amusement.
"I never thought that after so many years, he's still writing that, and still so improper."
Tsunade pointed at Nawaki, teasing, "You were only 12 back then, and you were secretly reading such books. It'd be strange if I didn't hit you."
Nawaki scratched his head sheepishly, then smiled and changed the subject, "Let's not talk about that. So many people and things have changed. I feel like an outsider now."
Shun noticed his dejection and slowly said, "It's alright. I will use Genjutsu to show you the major events that have happened in these eighteen years, so you won't feel like a stranger anymore."
As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly lit up, and his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotated.
Nawaki felt as if he was immersed in the long river of time. He saw the cruelty of the Third Great Ninja War, the exposure of the Sarutobi clan's corruption, the Land of Fire Daimyo forming the National Ninja Army, and the process of Konoha moving to the Land of Water.
He also saw the adorable appearance of Shiryu and five other children and the scenes of Orochimaru and Tsunade tirelessly researching to resurrect him, which gradually warmed his heart.
When the Genjutsu ended, Nawaki slowly opened his eyes, which were already red.
"18 years have passed, and so many things have happened. Thank you, brother-in-law for letting me see all this."
Tsunade looked at his relieved expression, a sigh of relief escaping her, and said with a smile, "Silly boy, you don't feel like an outsider anymore, do you? From now on, we are all family."
The atmosphere in the lounge grew warmer.
Nawaki held the warm herbal tea, listening to the three of them recount more details of their lives. Occasionally, he would interject with amusing anecdotes from his mischievous days with Jiraiya and Orochimaru, making the three of them laugh frequently. Memories of the past and present gradually intertwined, allowing him to fully immerse himself in this long-lost liveliness.
The sky outside gradually darkened.
Tsunade checked the time and said, "Nawaki, it's getting late. You've just been resurrected and need more rest. I've had a maid prepare a room for you, it's right next door and very quiet."
Nawaki nodded earnestly. "Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei, Tsunade-nee, and brother-in-law. Thank you for not forgetting me."
A hint of approval flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. "Nawaki, you've just been resurrected today. Get a good night's sleep first and adjust your physical condition. Tomorrow, I'll have some surprises for you and teach you some special Ninjutsu."
Shun patted his shoulder. "Nawaki, you don't need to rush. This is your home. With us here, you don't need to worry about anything anymore."
Nawaki smiled and nodded, following the maid to the room next door.
Tsunade watched Nawaki leave, then pondered. "Now that Nawaki has been resurrected, it's time to consider his marriage. Shun, do you have any suggestions?"
"Nawaki's physical age is already over 18, but his mental age is only over 12. It's too early to talk about these things."
***
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