20demayo Page 390
Page 390
After complaining, Shikamaru stood up and did something that surprised everyone in the ward.
He very decisively took off his Hokage robe, and without even looking at it, casually tossed it to the adult Naruto who was leaning against the bed.
The white robe unfurled in the air and landed precisely in the arms of the adult Naruto.
The adult Naruto froze, clutching the sacred robe still warm from Shikamaru's body, and hesitated before speaking, "Shikamaru, you...you are now..."
"I'm just an agent."
Shikamaru interrupted him, his tone calm but unquestionable, his hands in his pockets.
His eyes were as languid as ever, yet they revealed unparalleled clarity and determination: "While you were away, I was just temporarily watching the stall for you. Now that you're awake, it's back to its rightful owner."
He looked at Naruto, a faint smile playing on his lips, a smile only an old friend could understand:
"You are the Seventh Hokage of Konoha, aren't you?"
These words are light, yet carry immense weight.
It is not just the return of a robe, but also the return of responsibility, the confirmation of trust, and the unspoken understanding and support between partners.
The adult Naruto looked down at the pure white divine robe in his arms, his fingers gently brushing across the soft fabric, feeling the weight it bore.
Three years of silence, dramatic changes in the world, and an unknown, formidable foe...
Everything foreshadowed a difficult road ahead.
But at this moment, holding this robe, feeling the trusting gazes of my companions, and hearing my children and "another version of myself" beside me...
He took a deep breath and slowly and firmly draped the divine robe over his shoulders.
Although his face was still somewhat pale, when he raised his head again, a familiar, inextinguishable will, like a raging fire, had ignited in his deep blue eyes.
He responded with a steady and powerful voice: "That's right."
"I am back."
Chapter 412 Releasing Sasuke
After confirming that the adult Naruto was physically fine, but his chakra had not fully recovered, the attending physician Sakura finally agreed to allow him to be discharged from the hospital.
However, Hinata's physique is not as strong as Naruto's, so her bodily functions need a longer period of rest and observation before they can recover, and she still needs to stay in the hospital for the time being.
The obedient Himawari volunteered to stay and take care of her mother, and Boruto and Hikaru also said they would come to visit often.
Thus, the two Narutos, Boruto, Hikaru, Kawaki with a complicated expression, and Sakura, who accompanied them as the medical supervisor, were present to observe.
The group temporarily left the noisy hospital and village and came to a relatively quiet area outside the village.
Walking along the forest path, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.
Boruto and Hikaru were talking in hushed tones, seemingly discussing the "Thorn Soul" and the Divine Tree Man.
Kawaki silently followed at the back of the group, his gaze sometimes falling on the back of the adult Naruto, and sometimes flashing with a hint of struggle.
Young Naruto, unable to contain his curiosity, moved closer to adult Naruto.
She nudged him with her elbow, lowered her voice, and wore an incredulous expression:
"Hey! Me from the future!"
He pointed in the direction of Konoha Village and gestured, "How...how did you manage to marry a young lady like Hinata?"
In his teenage mind, Hinata Hyuga was a young lady from a prestigious family in Konoha, and she was introverted and shy.
Although he has the son of the Fourth Hokage, his parents have both passed away, so this identity is dispensable.
Therefore, he still sees himself as a poor boy struggling for money, a status that is worlds apart from Hinata's.
The adult Naruto blushed slightly at the blunt question, scratching his short, blond hair with a somewhat embarrassed expression, his eyes darting around.
With a shy and happy feeling of reminiscing about the past: "Well... to be honest, it's a little embarrassing. Actually... it seems like Hinata has always been the one... more proactive."
"initiative?!"
Young Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had heard a fairy tale: "Her? Taking the initiative? To whom? To me?? How is that possible! She used to be so tongue-tied around me!"
Looking at his own bewildered and ignorant appearance, the adult Naruto couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Hahaha! It seems that you, at this stage of your life, still haven't noticed anything! But then again, you are still me after all!"
"Hey! Don't just tell me half the story! Explain it clearly!"
Young Naruto was even more confused by his laughter, and scratched his head anxiously: "What exactly happened? When did she take the initiative? How did she take the initiative?"
The adult Naruto suppressed his smile, his eyes becoming gentle and profound as he gazed into the distance.
It was as if he had traveled through time and saw the white-clad girl who always watched him silently.
He didn't answer Naruto's question directly, but instead spoke in a serious tone:
"I'll leave the specific process for you to discover and experience. You just need to remember one thing,"
He turned his head and looked earnestly into the eyes of young Naruto: "Hinata is a very good girl, she deserves all the happiness in the world."
"If you... one day in the future, realize something, be sure to cherish her and not let her down."
Young Naruto was completely speechless, his face scrunched up like a bun.
Why does this future version of myself speak in such a cryptic and ambiguous way, like a lecherous immortal?
The key points weren't mentioned at all! Cherish? Sincerity? What exactly is the sincerity?!
He felt like he was listening to a riddle without a riddle, completely baffled.
Sakura, who was standing nearby, heard the conversation between the "father and son" clearly. Seeing the conflicted and bewildered expression on young Naruto's face, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.
Indeed, regardless of the era, Naruto always harbored a deep and enduring love for Hinata.
Their sluggishness is consistent and unchanging throughout history.
Meanwhile, within the consciousness space of young Naruto.
Kushina covered her face with her hands and sighed, "Minato... I feel like our son is completely hopeless when it comes to matters of the heart! He's so ridiculously oblivious!"
Minato maintained a gentle smile, but the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. He could only awkwardly try to smooth things over: "Well... cough cough, Naruto... he's been with the three of us grown men since he was little... you know, it's all because of his environment, it's all because of his environment."
He looked up at the two men beside him and silently added to himself: It would be a miracle if he could understand girls' feelings without being taught, sitting next to two seasoned bachelors.
Ban scoffed at this, letting out a cold snort, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.
Woman? Feelings?
In his view, they were nothing more than stumbling blocks on the path to power and boring pastimes, not worth his time at all.
Nine-Tailed Fox lay down and covered its head with its large tail.
Human emotions? This completely touches on a blind spot in its knowledge.
Tailed beasts are born and raised in nature, surviving on chakra and negative emotions. Reproduce? What are they? Can they be eaten?
Outside, the group did not return to the Hokage's office.
Led by Boruto, they walked through the woods and came to a somewhat desolate clearing.
In the center of the open space, the strangely shaped giant tree that imprisoned Uchiha Sasuke stood there like a silent tombstone.
"Sasuke..."
The adult Naruto stopped in his tracks, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure of his dear friend in the tree trunk. His heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, and he felt a dull pain.
His former comrades, with whom he once fought side by side, laughing and arguing, are now imprisoned here in such a miserable state, devoid of any hope of survival.
Sakura's eyes instantly welled up with tears, which streamed down her face uncontrollably.
She hurried forward, reaching out her trembling hand to touch the cold tree trunk, yet afraid of disturbing something.
That was her husband, the man she loved so deeply!
Young Naruto took a deep breath, turned to Boruto, and asked in a deep voice, "Boruto, how exactly do we use that 'Thorn Soul'?"
Boruto carefully took out the "Thorn Soul," which he had obtained after defeating the corresponding Tree Spirit, from his pocket. The Thorn Soul emitted a faint light.
It looks like a fruit made of black vines.
"I've never used it either,"
Boruto truthfully replied, "But based on the information we received earlier, it seems that all we need to do is bring it close to the corresponding divine tree... and the rest should proceed automatically."
Holding the "Thorn Soul," he slowly walked towards the divine tree that imprisoned Sasuke.
As the distance drew closer, "Thorn Soul" seemed to be drawn in, and began to vibrate slightly, emitting a softer light.
Just as Boruto was about to press the "Thorn Soul" against the tree trunk, it suddenly slipped from his hand.
Like fledglings returning to their nests, they floated up lightly and then silently merged into the dark, hard tree trunk.
The next moment, something unexpected happened!
The area of the tree trunk that was infused with the "Thorn Soul" emitted a soft, warm golden light, like the morning sun.
The light gradually stabilized, eventually leaving a peculiar mark on the tree trunk that was incredibly clear and resembled a simplified sun pattern.
Immediately afterwards, the entire sacred tree began to shake violently!
It was as if something inside it was awakening and struggling!
Click... click...
A chilling cracking sound rang out!
All that could be seen were the thick branches and twisted wooden structures that wrapped around Sasuke's torso.
As if it had come to life, it began to slowly, as if reluctantly, loosen, retreat, and shrink!
They are like a cocoon being unraveled, layer by layer, revealing the tightly wrapped innermost part.
As the last binding branch retracted, Sasuke, having lost his support, lurched forward, about to collapse to the ground—
"Sasuke!!!"
Sakura, who had been waiting for this moment, rushed forward in one stride.
With all her might, she steadily and gently caught her husband's falling body and held him tightly in her arms.
Feeling his faint breathing and cold body temperature, Sakura's tears flowed like a burst dam, dripping onto Sasuke's pale cheeks.
She lowered her head, pressed her face against her husband's forehead, and whispered in his ear in a voice heavy with sobs yet incredibly firm: