Chapter 8
Ōnoki: "Huh? Fourth Kazekage, you seem to have some unspoken trouble. Do you have a story to tell?"
Third Kazekage: "Mind your own business about Sunagakure. Take care of yourselves!"
Gaara watched Naruto's experiences on the screen. As a jinchūriki himself, he deeply understood that pain. And his was even worse—he had to constantly guard against assassination attempts from his own father, the Fourth Kazekage… In this world, after going berserk and being thoroughly beaten awake by Naruto, he had changed. But seeing or remembering those old scenes still hurt. True understanding between people in this world seemed almost impossible. He and Naruto were both jinchūriki—that's why they eventually connected. But if he had met the other-world Naruto… what then? Would it amplify the darkness in his own heart? Unconsciously, Gaara clutched his chest—where even light couldn't reach.
[Ding!][Congratulations to Uzumaki Kushina for answering correctly. Reward: Revival of the dead. Issued after the viewing system ends!][Congratulations to Hiruzen Sarutobi for answering correctly. Reward: Chat mute technique—three uses. Can mute any one person in the viewing system for one hour!]
In the Pure Land, Kushina stared at the screen, rubbing her eyes repeatedly, hardly believing it. This is real? I'm actually coming back to life? Amazing!!!
She still had so many things to say to little Naruto, so much she wanted to do for him. The reluctance she felt at the moment of death— now turned to pure joy!
Uzumaki Kushina: "Minato! Minato! Did you see? I'm getting revived!"
Namikaze Minato: "Congratulations, Kushina! This is wonderful!"
Uzumaki Naruto: "Does that mean I'll have a mom soon?"
Uzumaki Kushina: "Silly boy—you've always had a mom!"
Uzumaki Kushina: "Don't worry. Once I'm back, none of those bullies in Konoha who hurt my son will escape! I'll tear down every one of their shops!!!"
Kushina wasn't just talking. Konoha's famous "Red Hot-Blooded Habanero"— a notoriously violent woman. And as an Uzumaki, she was incredibly strong! Most people were no match for her.
Uzumaki Kushina: "Oh right—Hyūga Hiashi, I'm coming back now. How's the marriage arrangement between your daughter Hinata and my son Naruto coming along?"
Hinata's face turned bright red. Just a moment ago it was boyfriend-girlfriend… now suddenly marriage?! But… if it's with Naruto-kun… marriage wouldn't be bad…
Hiashi never expected this. He had only said it casually earlier— after all, Kushina had been dead for years. How could revival be possible? But this damn system actually made it happen? Now things were complicated. The Uzumaki clan was once prestigious! But now… rarer than pandas, and without protection—everyone wanted to capture them to study their immense vitality! The current powerhouse was the Sarutobi clan. Though the Third Hokage was dead, his son Asuma was alive, and young Konohamaru was growing up— becoming Hokage later seemed guaranteed! Look at Konohamaru's childhood conditions: special jōnin Ebisu as his personal teacher. Ebisu might look weak, but he specialized in teaching. As he himself said: "Learning from me is the shortcut to becoming Hokage!"
Young Konohamaru was incredibly mischievous. Ebisu complained but never gave up. Even after the Third's death, he faithfully continued his duties. Konohamaru's later highlight—solo-killing a Pain path— Ebisu surely deserved some credit. His teaching skill even surpassed Kakashi's. Kakashi took days to teach Naruto and Sasuke tree-climbing chakra control. Naruto had talent issues plus Nine-Tails interference— but Sasuke, the Uchiha genius? Just that? In contrast, Ebisu—despite the village's anti-Naruto bias— patiently identified Naruto's biggest weakness: chakra interference. Later, teaching water-walking, he helped a chakra-disrupted Naruto master it in half a day! So in teaching, Ebisu was flawless. And this man was Konohamaru's personal tutor from childhood! Hard not to think the Third was grooming Konohamaru as the next Hokage.
Compared to that, young Naruto… had no teacher at all. Even after entering the Academy, no one cared about him. As head of the Hyūga—the top clan after Uchiha's fall— Hiashi had to think carefully. Wrong alliance could be dangerous! He decided not just for himself, but for the entire clan!
Kushina wasn't stupid. Seeing Hiashi hesitate and dodge, she understood the stakes. Back when she and Minato were alive, Konoha already sidelined the Uchiha for being too powerful! She knew exactly what some higher-ups were like. But now that she's reviving— everything changes! And she believed Minato would revive too. The Third is gone, after all… Minato could rightfully reclaim… Then Hinata would definitely marry over!
As Kushina schemed, the system's voice rang again.
[Ding!][Congratulations to Orochimaru for answering incorrectly. Penalty: Random sealing of one of the remaining three legs!]
Ino: "..."
Tenten: "..."
Temari: "..."
Karin: "..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Everyone, explain—what are these 'three legs'? And which one got sealed?"
Orochimaru: "Sensei, you seem very eager."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Eager? (In disbelief!) Anyway, I got it right! (Gloating!)"
Orochimaru: "Ahem… actually, the system meant my two legs and tail. The random one sealed is just my right leg!"
After saying this, Orochimaru glanced at Kabuto. Kabuto looked back. Right leg—perfectly fine. Left leg—no issue either! That could only mean…
"Kabuto, step outside first," Orochimaru said kindly.
"If I could move, I'd have gone to retrieve Sasuke long ago, Orochimaru-sama!"
"..."
Orochimaru remembered— right, he could barely move anyway. Especially one particular part—now completely numb. This system… really vicious! Hitting the penalty on a 1-in-3 chance? Ridiculous! Hard not to think it was targeting him on purpose!