Chapter 331: People Who Shouldn't Exist
The setting sun dyed the sky the orange-red of Kurama. After showing Boruto around Konoha all afternoon, the group finally arrived beneath Naruto's apartment building.
This apartment building looked somewhat aged, the exterior paint slightly mottled from time's passage. "Alright, this is where I live." Naruto stopped, turning to Boruto and Sasuke behind him. "Though it's a bit small, I hope you don't mind. Since you rarely visit, I'm preparing a feast tonight."
Between the two, Boruto's expression appeared somewhat downcast. He gazed at that face far too familiar to him, hesitating momentarily before finally mustering courage to speak.
"Um..."
"Hmm?" Naruto slightly tilted his head, patiently awaiting Boruto's next words.
"About today's matter... I'm sorry..." Boruto lowered his head. "I shouldn't have spoken out of turn without knowing the circumstances..."
"It's fine," Naruto casually waved his hand. "I actually don't mind. If you're going to apologize, you should apologize to her." He pointed at Satsuki standing aside.
"I... I understand..." Boruto somewhat uncertainly responded. He secretly glanced at Satsuki-chan, internally sighing—this world's "master" was even harder to approach than he'd imagined. Was Sasuke-san's childhood personality also like this?
"Oh right, and you." Naruto turned his gaze backward, addressing Uchiha Sasuke who'd been maintaining distance. "Leaving guests exposed to wind and weather isn't good. At least eat dinner first."
Uchiha Sasuke had originally been calculating finding a suitable position in a nearby tree to spend tonight—for him who'd spent years traveling, this was already habitual experience.
Hearing Naruto's invitation, he slightly froze, expression somewhat complex as he nodded.
Naruto skillfully pushed open the door. Warm lamplight flowed from the doorway as he naturally called into the room as usual. "I'm home."
However, the responding voice from the kitchen direction made Uchiha Sasuke, who'd just stepped into the room, freeze in place—for an orphan who'd lost parents since childhood, this voice should have been a forever unattainable luxury.
"Oh, Naruto, and Satsuki-chan, welcome back."
From the room serving as both kitchen and study, a woman with red hair emerged. Her appearance was beautiful, her features brimming with lively spirit, wearing an apron printed with cute patterns, hands still holding dishes she was wiping.
When she noticed two unfamiliar figures behind Naruto, she set down her work and came out, face carrying friendly curiosity. "Oh my, guests? Are you Naruto's friends?"
This person is?!
Sasuke naturally recognized this face—one only seen in photo albums: Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato's wife, Kushina Uzumaki! Naruto's mother?!
Sasuke knew this world's Naruto had changed many things, but Naruto's parents' sacrifice occurred over ten years ago during the Nine-Tails attack at Naruto's birth. How exactly had this Naruto accomplished this?
While Sasuke's heart churned tumultuously, Boruto beside him had already blurted out:
"...Grandma?!"
"...Huh?! Brat, what did you say?!"
Completely unaware this youth was her grandson in another world, Kushina was instantly enraged by this address. Though as a mother she clearly knew her actual age was no longer young, being called "grandma" by a youth who looked about Naruto's age was naked humiliation!
Crimson hair moved without wind, scattering in the air. Kushina began emanating dangerous presence, posture ready to violently strike at any moment—immediately startling Boruto awake.
"No! I'm terribly sorry! I mistook you for someone else!" Boruto frantically waved his hands explaining.
"Mistook me?" Kushina's tone grew more dangerous. "You mean I look like some 'grandma'?!"
"Mom, that's not it!" Seeing Kushina about to explode, Naruto hastily intervened. "Actually, this person's eyesight isn't great. He has a very respected elder who also has beautiful red hair, so he momentarily saw wrong just now!"
"Right! Exactly! I'm terribly sorry!" Boruto quickly took this offered way out.
Kushina suspiciously examined them, gaze sweeping back and forth, finally seeming to accept this explanation. "Fine then, I'll believe this story. But Naruto, who exactly are these two?"
She carefully scrutinized young Boruto and heavily wrapped Uchiha Sasuke. Somehow, these two strangers gave her a wondrous sense of familiarity, as though she'd met them somewhere.
"Sort of newly acquainted friends," Naruto casually introduced. "Traveling performers who just arrived in Konoha these past days."
"I see, outsiders." Kushina nodded, then turned toward Naruto revealing a gentle smile. "Then Naruto, take care of the guests first. I'll go tidy up some things. Remember to come help Mom prepare dinner in a bit."
"Yes, I understand." Naruto obediently responded.
After Kushina's figure disappeared behind the kitchen door, Boruto involuntarily retreated several steps, drawing close to Sasuke beside him, asking in a volume only they could hear:
"Sasuke-san, what's going on? Didn't Grandma sacrifice herself long ago? I remember in the photos..."
Sasuke's gaze still followed Kushina's departing direction, voice maintaining deliberate calm. "...Boruto, investigating this reason isn't our mission. Remember, this is another world—any situation can occur."
Boruto could only silently nod accepting this response, but his inner shock was difficult to calm. He surveyed this cramped apartment, unable to help thinking—Dad... this world's Dad lives here?
Though the room wasn't large, it was tidily organized, air carrying faint cleaning agent fragrance. Was this Grandma's work?
Boruto privately pondered. Just then, his gaze was attracted by an unusual presence in the room's corner—a massive blue canine creature quietly lying on the ground. Initially Boruto thought it was an exquisite sculpture.
However, when that "sculpture" suddenly turned its head, examining him with curious eyes, Boruto cried out in fright. "Whoa?! It's alive?!"
Hearing this, Naruto hastily explained. "Of course it's alive! Let me introduce—this is Zacian, my companion and family member, not a pet."
Speaking, Naruto affectionately stroked Zacian's head larger than an adult's. The blue giant beast obediently lowered its head, emitting satisfied purrs.
Boruto could only numbly nod. After all, today had already involved enough bizarre events—overly mature father, female version master, still-living grandma... In comparison, Dad raising a giant ninja dog became the least remarkable thing.
After some bustling, Naruto served tea like receiving guests. The living room atmosphere grew somewhat awkward—largely attributable to Satsuki and Sasuke. Two people whose bearings both tended toward coldness sharing one room could only make the air more frozen.
After a while, Naruto went to the kitchen helping prepare dinner. Boruto couldn't help feeling surprised—so Dad could cook? Or did only this world's Dad possess this skill?
The most awkward person remaining was now Boruto, since neither Sasuke nor Satsuki showed intention of initiating conversation. Just as he sat restlessly, knocking sounds finally broke the silence.
"Eh? There are other guests?" Boruto said with relief, attempting to ease the atmosphere.
Satsuki stood up, tone calmly answering. "Yes, probably my father and mother arrived." She walked toward the door.
Sasuke-san's... father and mother? Boruto struggled digesting these words somewhat unfamiliar to him. Sitting aside, Uchiha Sasuke hearing this sentence—his fingers unconsciously tightened, teacup trembling slightly in his hands, hardly daring believe the content he'd heard.
Satsuki opened the door. A gentle woman's voice came from outside.
"Satsuki-chan, you're indeed here. You haven't troubled Kushina and Naruto, have you?"
"Of course not, Mom, honestly." Satsuki's voice rarely carried a trace of acting spoiled, previous coldness thoroughly dissipating.
Two people entered through the doorway—a gentle woman with black hair and ink-dark eyes, and following behind her, a taciturn man whose bearing carried some natural authority. Precisely Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha.
CRASH—
Ceramic shattering sounds suddenly rang out. Boruto turned in surprise. Everyone in the living room looked toward the sound's source—Uchiha Sasuke had violently stood up, teacup dropping from his hands, smashing to pieces.
His pupils trembled violently, gazing in disbelief at those two faces somewhat blurred in memory.