October 10th.
Outside the small hut in the back mountain, the golden glow of the setting sun painted the forest with a warm edge.
But within Naruto's Sealing Space, the atmosphere was tense yet filled with anticipation.
Thanks to the continuous power supply from the Nine-Tailed brand power bank, Minato Namikaze's figure was more solid than a month ago. At this moment, he formed extremely complex and profound hand seals, and golden runes danced around him like living creatures, flowing like streams into the core of the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and his expression was utterly focused.
Naruto sat cross-legged to the side, his small face showing a rare seriousness and expectation, his gaze fixed on the Fourth Hokage's movements. Behind the iron gate, the Nine-Tailed was also uncharacteristically quiet, its huge beast eyes peering through the sealing gaps, suppressing its anger and displeasure, watching everything unfold.
Minato Namikaze let out a low cry, and the final hand seal was completed!
Boom—!!!
In the core of the Sealing Space, a red light, even more intense and warmer than when Minato manifested, carrying a scorching aura like the fire of life, suddenly erupted! This light was filled with maternal warmth and endless longing, instantly dispelling all the coldness and hatred within the Sealing Space.
Vivid, blood-red long hair was the first to fly out! Immediately following was that beautiful face, with blood-red eyes that held the daze of just waking up, instantly locking onto the most familiar figure in the center of the light!
"Min... Minato?"
Uzumaki Kushina's voice trembled with a hint of uncertainty, her gaze fixed firmly on her husband's handsome and gentle face.
The separation by death three years ago, the chaotic slumber within the seal... countless fragmented memories flooded her mind instantly, finally transforming into an incredible ecstasy!
"Kushina!" Minato Namikaze's voice was filled with excitement and relief. He opened his arms, tears glistening in his eyes, "It's me! Welcome back!"
Kushina's figure solidified completely, and she almost stumbled as she rushed towards Minato. The two embraced tightly in the warm golden light! All the longing, pain, and despair transformed into tears of reunion at this moment.
"Minato! It's really you! This is wonderful! This is wonderful!"
Kushina hugged her husband tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
However, just as the immense joy of this marital reunion slightly subsided, Kushina's gaze inadvertently swept past Minato's side.
There, a small, blonde, blue-eyed figure stood quietly, a pair of clear, azure eyes identical to Minato Namikaze's, gazing at her with curiosity, anticipation, and a hint of imperceptible nervousness.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
Kushina's body suddenly stiffened! She slowly, incredulously released her embrace of Minato, her blood-red pupils suddenly widening, staring intently at that small figure. Blonde hair... blue eyes... that familiar feeling between the brows... and that throb of bloodline connection...
"He... he is..."
Kushina's voice trembled uncontrollably, her gaze darting back and forth between Minato and Naruto, an answer that made her soul tremble was on the tip of her tongue!
Minato Namikaze, with tears in his eyes, nodded vigorously, a smile of immense pride and tenderness on his face. He gently placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, turning her towards Naruto:
"Kushina, he is our son, Naruto."
"Nar... Naruto?!"
Kushina's voice suddenly rose, her blood-red eyes instantly flooded with tears. All her attention was instantly snatched away from her husband, completely focused on that small blonde boy!
The next second, Kushina's figure burst forth with astonishing speed! She bypassed Minato as if using the Body Flicker Technique, appearing in front of Naruto!
"Naruto! My little Naruto!"
Kushina's voice was heavy with sobs and uncontrollable ecstasy. She practically knelt down, extending her arms, and with a reverence that was almost devout and an irresistible force, she suddenly, tightly embraced that small, blonde boy, formed of consciousness, into her arms!
"Waaah—!!!"
The immense joy and the shock of having him back after losing him made Kushina completely lose control. She let out cries mixed with sobs and laughter, "Mommy finally... finally gets to hold you again! My darling! My Naruto!"
She buried her face deep into Naruto's soft blonde hair, greedily inhaling the imagined scent of her son, rubbing and pressing against him with all her might, as if to fill all the emptiness of the past three years.
"So cute! So cute! His golden hair is like Minato's! This face looks like mine, boo hoo... so soft like a little bun! Let Mommy kiss you properly! Cuddle you!"
Kushina was completely immersed in ecstasy, utterly disregarding her image, showering Naruto's little face with fierce kisses, rubbing and pressing, so excited that she was incoherent.
Naruto was a little stunned by this overwhelming attack of maternal enthusiasm. His body instantly stiffened, and his usually sly or calm little face was now filled with bewilderment. He didn't struggle, just let his mother hold him tightly in her arms, feeling that surging, burning love that almost melted him.
His small hand hesitated, then finally struggled gently, wanting to leave Kushina's embrace. But Kushina held him too tightly, and after struggling for a while, Naruto gave up!
Minato Namikaze stood by, watching his wife and son, tightly embracing, almost merging into one. His eyes filled with tears of happiness, and his face held a bittersweet yet incredibly relieved smile. He slowly approached, extended his arms, and gently embraced both his wife and son.
"Kushina... Naruto..."
Minato's voice was choked, filled with the immense happiness of having them back.
"We... are finally reunited. Truly... reunited."
The family of three, in this strange place that was the Sealing Space, embraced tightly under the complex gaze of the Nine-Tailed's huge beast eyes.
After a long while, Kushina finally calmed her excited emotions, but still held Naruto tightly, unwilling to let go, only creating a little space so that Minato could also get a good look at their son. She began to eagerly ask Naruto about his life over the past three years.
Naruto still described his life in a relaxed tone: the small hut he built, the big fish he caught, the grilling techniques he learned... However, who was Kushina? She was a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, a former Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, and above all, Naruto's mother!
She keenly caught the deliberately hidden loneliness in Naruto's understated descriptions, as well as the home and villagers he never mentioned.
"Living alone in the back mountain?"
Kushina's brows instantly furrowed, and a raging fire ignited in her blood-red eyes.
"Where is the Third Hokage?! How did he take care of you?! Where are the people of Konoha Village?! Is this how they treat the son of a hero?! The child of the Fourth Hokage and an Uzumaki Clan orphan?!"
Her voice suddenly rose, her red hair moved without wind, and her Chakra fluctuated violently due to anger! She wished she could rush out of the seal right now, confront the Third Hokage, and use her most skilled Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind him and give him a good beating! Then she would confront the villagers who ostracized her son and let them taste the wrath of the "Red-Hot Habanero"!
"Kushina! Calm down!"
Minato Namikaze quickly held his wife's shoulders. His face was equally grim, and his eyes were also filled with uncontrollable anger.
He understood the meaning behind Naruto's understated words even more clearly than Kushina! Compared to Kushina, he had watched Naruto grow up!
His fists clenched, wishing he could immediately go and get answers from the Third Hokage! But he also knew that they were just Chakra, and even if they could go out, it would only bring more burden to Naruto!
"Calm down?! How can I calm down?!"
Kushina yelled at Minato, tears welling up again, tears of anger and heartache, "Our son! He's only three years old! Minato! Three years old! How dare they?! That senile Third Hokage! He promised us he would take good care of Naruto! Is this how he took care of him?!"
"Alright! Alright, Mom, Dad,"
Naruto spoke up at the opportune moment, his voice calm, yet carrying a soothing power.
"Seriously, I'm doing fine. I don't care about Konoha Village or what the villagers think. I have my plans, I have my path to follow. And now, I have you two."
He looked up, a warm smile on his small face.
"That's enough."
Looking at their son's maturity and magnanimity beyond his years, the anger in Kushina and Minato's hearts was like a basin of cold water poured over them, leaving only endless sorrow and pity.
They understood that Naruto didn't want them to suffer and be angry over things that couldn't be changed; he had chosen to bear too much on his own.
Uzumaki Kushina took several deep breaths, forcing down her boiling rage, but the flames burning in her blood-red eyes had not extinguished; they were merely temporarily covered by an even more overwhelming maternal love.
She hugged Naruto tightly again, even tighter this time, as if to transmit all her strength and protection to him, her voice thick with tears and an unprecedented determination:
"I'm sorry… Naruto… your mom and dad were useless… we made you suffer… but! From now on, it's different!"
She looked up, her eyes tear-filled yet blazing as she gazed at Minato Namikaze:
"Minato! Did you hear that?! Our son, he's even stronger and more amazing than we imagined! We cannot let his strength become a reason for others to bully him!"
Minato Namikaze nodded heavily, his eyes also burning with steadfast flames. He gently stroked Naruto's golden hair and then placed his hand on Uzumaki Kushina's shoulder:
"Uzumaki Kushina is right. Naruto, your magnanimity makes your dad proud, but that doesn't mean your mom and dad can tolerate the grievances you've suffered! Although we can't directly change the outside world right now, we will always be by your side! We will support you with our knowledge, with our strength! Whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it boldly! As long as you don't harm Konoha, your dad will always be your strongest backing!"
He looked at Naruto and said apologetically:
"I'm sorry, Naruto! Your dad is the Hokage, and what Konoha owes you, I cannot get justice for you. But as long as you don't actively harm Konoha, your dad will try his best to fulfill all your wishes!"
"Alright, alright, let's not talk about these unhappy things anymore!" Naruto tried to liven up the atmosphere again. Although Uzumaki Kushina was reluctant, he still broke free from her embrace, jumped to the ground, and said with a smile:
"Today is a big day! It's my birthday! And it's also Mom's day of suffering! But it's also a big day for our family reunion! It's the first time our family celebrates a birthday together! We must celebrate it well!"
He paused, his blue eyes sparkling with cunning and anticipation: "Dad, Mom, do you want to… come out for a bit?"
Uzumaki Kushina and Minato exchanged glances, both seeing shock and ecstasy in each other's eyes.
"Come out? Naruto, are you saying…" Uzumaki Kushina's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded vigorously, "Big Fox, come on! Give them a show!"
Naruto created a Shadow Clone and shouted at the Fox Spirit in the cage.
The Nine-Tailed, already a bit annoyed, initially didn't want to bother with Naruto, but still couldn't resist the temptation of freedom.
The Nine-Tailed snorted, transferring its consciousness to Naruto's Shadow Clone.
The Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Kushina immediately understood when they saw this scene.
"Quick! Quick! I want to go out and hug the real Naruto!"
Uzumaki Kushina was already impatient, her eyes gleaming as she stared at her son.
Naruto chuckled, his consciousness returning to the real world, and he formed hand signs: "Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof! Poof!
Two identical blond Narutos appeared beside him. Soon after, the demeanor of one Shadow Clone suddenly changed; his posture became more upright, his eyes gentle and wise, and a characteristic gentle smile played on his lips.
The aura of the other Shadow Clone instantly became as fiery as a raging inferno.
"Whoa—!!!"
Uzumaki Kushina's Naruto Shadow Clone suddenly opened her azure eyes and let out an excited shriek. The first thing she did was pounce on the original Naruto beside her, hugging him tightly and spinning him around!
"Naruto! My little Naruto! Mom can really hug you now! You're warm! It's real!" She buried her face in Naruto's small shoulder, rubbing against him greedily, feeling her son's real body temperature and scent. Tears flowed freely again, but this time, they were tears of pure joy.
Naruto, a little dizzy from being spun, his small face flushed, said, "Alright, Mom, please put me down! We still have to prepare the birthday feast!"
Mainly, it was a bit awkward for two Narutos to hug himself!
Uzumaki Kushina reluctantly put Naruto down, but her hand still held his small hand tightly, as if afraid he would disappear.
"Alright! Then, let the birthday celebration begin!" Minato Namikaze clapped his hands with a smile, his eyes sparkling with warm light. "Naruto, will you and Mom prepare dinner together? I remember there are ingredients in the back mountain cabin, right?"
"Yeah! There's the fish I caught today, and some mushrooms and wild vegetables!" Naruto nodded excitedly.
"That's good," Minato looked at Uzumaki Kushina, a mischievous smile in his eyes, "Uzumaki Kushina, it's time to show off your cooking skills. But…" He deliberately drew out the last word, "remember to control the heat, don't set the kitchen on fire."
"Minato!" Uzumaki Kushina's face flushed, and she made to hit him, "Don't look down on me! For Naruto, I will definitely make the best birthday feast! You'll be amazed!"
"Then I'll be in charge of buying the cake!" Minato said with a smile, "I remember there's a good cake shop in the Village. I'll go buy it, and I'll be back soon." His golden figure flickered slightly, as if adapting to this temporary body, then he revealed a confident smile.
"Go quickly and come back soon! Don't delay our meal!" Uzumaki Kushina instructed, then pulled Naruto, "Come on, Naruto! Let's go to the kitchen with Mom! I'll show you Mom's cooking!"
As the last ray of sunset disappeared into the sky, a lavish dinner was already laid out on the cabin table. Minato's figure appeared at the doorway at just the right moment, carrying an exquisite cake box.
"I'm back! I got the cake, and it looks pretty good." Minato walked in with a smile, placing the cake in the center of the table.
"Hmph, at least you're on time." Uzumaki Kushina wiped the sweat from her forehead, looking at the table full of dishes with a proud expression.
At this moment, Naruto walked to the center of the room, looking in the direction of the Sealing Space with a hint of anticipation and hesitation, then formed hand signs again: "Shadow Clone Technique!"
Poof!
Another Shadow Clone appeared.
Naruto looked at his parents: "Dad, Mom, I want to… let the Big Fox come out for a bit too? Today is also its… well, the day it regains some freedom? Besides, without its Chakra, you wouldn't be able to come out either."
Uzumaki Kushina and Minato exchanged glances and both nodded. Minato said gently: "Naruto, do as you wish."
Naruto took a deep breath, and the Shadow Clone's eyes instantly turned into scarlet vertical pupils, erupting with a massive and wild Chakra aura.
"Hmph! What do you want now, brat?" A deep, oppressive voice came from the Shadow Clone's mouth. It stood with its arms crossed, its vertical pupils scanning the room with obvious impatience, but deep in its eyes was a hidden curiosity about the outside world.
"Big Fox."
Naruto walked over, a sincere smile on his face, "Today is my birthday, and both Dad and Mom are out. Thank you for your help. Would you like to eat something with us? The cake is very big, you probably haven't had any before, have you?"
The Nine-Tailed Shadow Clone scoffed: "Boring! Human food…"
But its gaze swept over the steaming dishes on the table, especially the cake that looked very sweet, and its voice trailed off.
It then glanced at the Shadow Clones standing nearby, controlled by Minato and Uzumaki Kushina's consciousness, and finally snorted, not refusing, but also too proud to approach directly. It just awkwardly walked to a slightly distant spot at the table and sat down.
"Alright, alright, you awkward Big Fox! Today, for Naruto's sake, I won't argue with you!" Uzumaki Kushina stood with her hands on her hips, but her tone was much softer than usual.
"Dinner's ready!" Naruto cheered, pulling his parents to sit down.
In the small back mountain cabin, the lights were warm. With no outsiders present, the Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Kushina had used transformation jutsu to appear as themselves. The family of three, along with an awkwardly cornered Fox Spirit Shadow Clone, sat around the table.
This was their first reunion dinner, three years late, transcending life, death, and hatred, and Naruto's first birthday with his family by his side.
Minato gently placed a simple birthday hat on Naruto, while Uzumaki Kushina carefully inserted three small candles. The candlelight flickered, reflecting Naruto's excited little face, and also the glistening tears and immensely satisfied smiles in Minato and Uzumaki Kushina's eyes.
"Happy Birthday, Naruto!" Minato and Uzumaki Kushina said in unison, their voices filled with endless love.
The Nine-Tailed looked on, then muttered:
"Happy birthday, brat!"