Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 472 The Night of Beichen

Is anyone online?

"Izuna? What's wrong?"

[I don't think I can make this decision. Can someone approve "Golden Wheel's" official documents?]

"...Lord Izuna is still awake."

"Haha, with so much work piling up, plus the mid-year review meeting, it would be a miracle if I could even get any sleep!"

"I'll help you..."

"No way! You think the research department's mid-year report isn't troublesome?! Every single time, you're working overtime to get it done!"

"Where's Hashirama Senju? Stop playing dead! Come here!"

"I'm exhausted from dealing with the combined attacks of the Jinchūriki during the day..."

"It's just talking, isn't that what you're best at? What a load of rubbish! Are you coming here yourself, or should I have Tobirama throw you over?"

"Izuna, didn't you used to hate it when I gave orders? Naruto's official documents are all..."

Stop making excuses, are you coming or not?!

"Um... excuse me, but Minato's back, right? I've worked with him before. His ideals used to align with 'Hui' to some extent, but he was too young and was severely suppressed by the old guard. If we give him time to adapt, I believe he'll be a valuable asset to us soon."

A sudden silence fell over the four-person chat group. Although they were all ninjas, they weren't so heartless as to force parents who had sacrificed themselves to protect their children one moment and were now facing devastating news the next to go to work. They suddenly remembered that Fugaku was unaware of the serious matter, and considering he was about to negotiate with his own son, they knew they couldn't delay any longer.

"Ahem, Fugaku, because you were with the daimyo before, we haven't told you something very important."

"...You haven't been secretly expanding your territory behind my back, have you?"

"Please set up an isolation barrier first."

Fugaku, who was in Konoha, felt a sense of unease and alarm bells rang in his mind, but he still carefully made sure that no one could see into the room.

Naruto has temporarily died in the line of duty. The person currently in Konoha is your son, Sasuke.

When Fugaku exploded on the spot, Kurama, who was in another place, grabbed the host and pulled him into the mental space without saying a word, dumping out all the voices that were coming out of his mind.

"Mr. Nine-Lama, do you mean there are four people talking in your head?"

"Yes, that's it! I knew those four people had my chakra on them; it turns out they were used for this!"

After pondering for a moment amidst Kurama's incessant complaints, Minato informed Kushina of the situation and requested permission to leave.

“Since everything here is the result of Naruto’s hard work, as his father who was absent from his childhood, I should do something for him.”

Kushina knew that drifting along like this couldn't go on. Mikoto visited her every day, but her best friend was also burdened with responsibilities and had very little personal time. Everyone here seemed busy, but they enjoyed it and were steadily moving towards that seemingly unattainable dream.

That is Naruto's dream, the Hokage's dream, the dream of countless people in this world who have suffered, and the ultimate dream of the vast majority of people who yearn for a better life!

Their children have already taken groundbreaking steps toward this dream, so how can they stop here because they are so deeply mired in the pain of loss?

Just as they steadfastly believed in Naruto, who was still an infant, Naruto also believed in his parents; otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically threatened Orochimaru before his death to force him to release the Reaper Death Seal. Before their child returns, they should do something.

Izuna, burning the midnight oil, did indeed receive an unexpected helper, but the duties of "Golden Wheel" and the Hokage were vastly different. In matters of daily life like food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, the scale of consideration for "Golden Wheel" and the Hokage was completely opposite; any slight change could cause a major upheaval. Minato's intentions were good, but he too had to begin by studying that book of quotes, slowly learning and understanding everything about "Radiance."

"By the way, did you have trouble sleeping in the middle of the night and just happen to see the lights here were still on?" Izuna was a little puzzled as to why Minato would appear at this time.

Minato scratched his head and smiled awkwardly, "I'm a little embarrassed because I've been bothering you guys a lot lately, but I haven't been able to help at all."

"Naruto sacrificed himself to find true peace. As his parents, we couldn't help him while he was alive, so we should at least continue his dream after he's gone. We just really wanted to do something."

Izuna nodded, stood up and greeted him, saying, "Thank you for your support. Naruto will be very happy to know."

Minato came looking for them in the middle of the night, saying he wanted to help.

"Huh? What a coincidence?"

Look at their awareness, and then look at you making excuses and delaying—aren't you ashamed?!

"Okay, okay, stop yelling, I'm coming right away..."

"Is Kurama there? Could you please pass a message to Naruto?"

Even if you're fast asleep, you should be woken up. Can't you all just stay quiet at night? Tell me, what do you want me to convey?

His parents said they would continue his dream and fight for the future that "Hui" envisioned.

He will hear every single word.

"Thank you for your help, Kurama... wait, isn't there still half of it inside Minato's body?"

"Heh, I didn't expect you humans to be even slower to react than I am."

Izuna's first reaction was to lower his head, prop himself up on his hands, and try to pretend he wasn't there, but Minato's presence was incredibly strong; he was currently looking through the bookshelf with his back to Izuna! Minato hadn't fully connected with Kurama yet, so naturally he couldn't hear the message from within immediately, but... given Kurama's occasionally cunning nature, he would definitely relay the conversation!

Having never felt so embarrassed in his life, Izuna steeled himself and shook Minato again.

"What's wrong, Mr. Izuna? Do you have any new materials to recommend?"

“Look into my eyes,” Izuna said. “I’m going to teach you a technique.”

Minato froze for a moment, then immediately understood why the Yin Nine-Tails within him had heard the voice in his mind. It seemed the Second Hokage had even thoroughly researched the clan's secret techniques in the mountains; he was truly a terrifying man. If the Second Hokage had lived to the age of the Third Hokage, the title of "Professor of Ninjutsu" would have changed hands.

The only one excluded from the group chat, the Third Hokage, was still sighing at the moon. He had traveled all over Hokushin in the past few days and had seen another kind of life for ninjas in this place that was similar to but different from Konoha. They did not have to fight, seize, or struggle, but lived peacefully like the most ordinary civilians, and interspersed the application of chakra in their lives.

So it turns out, ninjas can also live peaceful lives.