The ritual went more smoothly than expected.
Under Kabuto's control, Yakushi Nonō performed the Living Corpse Reincarnation on her own clone.
She had regained her body.
"How are you feeling, Director?" Kabuto asked carefully at her side, his face showing a rare trace of unease.
"What a wondrous technique." Nonō closed her eyes, attentively feeling the changes in her body. As a skilled medical ninja herself, her knowledge of the human body rivaled Kabuto's. "The state of this body is unexpectedly good. Does this mean we've broken free from the cycle of death?"
In a sense, using Impure World Reincarnation in tandem with Living Corpse Reincarnation was essentially exploiting a loophole in the shinobi world—resurrection by smuggling, so to speak.
For now, nothing seemed amiss. Whether problems would appear in the future was unknown.
But the future could be dealt with in the future. At worst, she could rely on Rinne Tensei someday to walk the proper path of resurrection.
"Kabuto," Naruto suddenly spoke up, calling him over. "Take a few days off. Spend some time with your Director and visit the orphanage."
"Uzumaki-sama!" Kabuto's face lit up with emotion—Naruto had said exactly what he'd been yearning for.
There were so many things he wanted to say to his Director.
"Go," Naruto added.
As for whether Kabuto might harbor other thoughts now that Nonō had been revived—there was no need for concern. On the contrary, her revival only made him more loyal.
Because not only was the knot in his heart undone, but he had gained yet another bond.
As long as the orphanage in Konoha still existed, with Nonō's nature she would never abandon those children, and neither would Kabuto. But their combined strength alone was far from enough to protect them in the shinobi world—so Kabuto would continue to serve Naruto.
And with every war, there would only be more orphans, more children to care for, more bonds to form—ties that would only make Kabuto inseparable from Naruto.
In the original timeline, when Nonō died, Kabuto lost his sense of purpose and fell into confusion. Orochimaru's appearance gave him meaning, a goal, an identity—hence why Kabuto imitated him so closely.
Even to the point of becoming "Orochimaru-Kabuto" after Orochimaru's death.
But now, Naruto had given him a new faith, a new purpose.
As a leader, he had solved Kabuto's material worries and given him spiritual belief and conviction. Could a subordinate not pledge their life to such a master?
A man dies for one who truly knows him.
This was an open and righteous scheme.
Was it worth all this effort just for Yakushi Kabuto?
Absolutely.
Research had never been Naruto's strength, so he valued such talent immensely.
He was starving for capable people. Kabuto wasn't only a top-class spy but also an exceptional researcher—Naruto had barely three such people at hand.
His goal was the vast cosmos above, waiting for the day when the horn would sound to counterattack the Ōtsutsuki. Until the Ōtsutsuki threat was completely eliminated, he would know no peace.
"Someday, I'll erase the entire Ōtsutsuki clan from existence."
Three weeks later.
The Fourth Hokage was also "smuggled" back to life in the same way.
Father and son met, their eyes locking.
"I'm home," Minato said, gazing at Naruto with gentle warmth. For the first time, he stretched out his arms toward him, speaking softly.
And for the first time, Naruto answered that call. He extended his hands and embraced the Fourth tightly, replying in the same tender tone: "Welcome home."
Some things needed no further words. A simple "I'm home" and "Welcome home" carried all that mattered.
He would never again be alone. For the first time, it felt like there was the faint shadow of a family.
Now… all that was missing in the household was a mother.
Once the Ōtsutsuki were dealt with and all concerns laid to rest, he would bring her back too.
After Minato's revival, he formally resumed managing Konoha's affairs. After all, that had been his role before death. As for Naruto? He had no desire to waste his time on paperwork.
After all, becoming Hokage had never been his dream.
And as for the so-called "Fifth Hokage-sama"—
"What are you trying to do?" Danzō, dressed in the robes of Hokage, trembled as he pointed at the throng of clansmen standing behind Naruto. "Do you mean to betray the village?"
His face was dark as the bottom of a pot.
Shadow of a Cursed Fate indeed—living up to the name.
"Of course not," Naruto, standing at the front, shook his head lightly. "We simply noticed that Hokage-sama has been overworking himself day and night for Konoha. His health has already deteriorated beyond saving. We wish for the Fifth Hokage to rest well at home."
"It's only out of concern for your health, Hokage-sama."
"Please, Hokage-sama, take good care of yourself!"
"Please, Hokage-sama, take good care of yourself!" the clansmen behind Naruto chorused.
"Nonsense! I'm perfectly fine! My body is strong!" Danzō roared. But in his excitement, his face flushed red. "How could I possibly be beyond saving? Utter nonsense! Cough, cough!"
Trying to prove his health, he had shouted too forcefully, only to suddenly clutch his mouth as violent coughs wracked him.
A faint warmth spread across his palm, carrying the metallic tang of blood. When he opened his hand, a shocking red stain greeted him.
"Blood? I… I actually coughed up blood?"
"No, impossible, this can't be!"
Danzō flailed like a cat scalded with boiling water, frantically shaking his hand to fling the blood away. Yet the trace left at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"Fifth Hokage-sama, look! Look at yourself!" Naruto exclaimed as though he'd found buried treasure, pointing at the blood at the corner of Danzō's lips. "Your rheumatism has already spread from your legs into your internal organs. Your body is riddled with holes."
"The rheumatism has already seeped deep into your bones."
"You are already beyond saving!"
"If it reaches your brain, you'll collapse on the spot…"
Does rheumatism even cause coughing up blood? Can it spread?
The clan heads glanced at each other in confusion. This seemed to be outside the range of their knowledge.
But based on the medical reports Hokage-sama had previously shown them… perhaps it could?
Well, if Uzumaki-sama's close aide says so, then it must be true.
"My… my rheumatism has eaten into my very bones?"
"My life is nearing its end?"
Danzō stood frozen, dazed. Unconsciously, he stumbled back a step, bumping into the seat behind him. His legs buckled, and he collapsed into the Hokage's chair. "Why… why? I had only just become Hokage!"
He, Danzō, had only just seized the Hokage's seat. He had a chest full of grand ambitions left unrealized. He had yet to turn Konoha into the foremost of the Five Great Villages.
"It's all Hiruzen's fault, all because of Hiruzen!"
"If he hadn't insisted on forcing me to establish Root deep underground, in that cold and damp darkness, how could I have ever developed this rheumatism?!"
"How could it have come to this?!"