157DeathAI Model: gemini-2.5-flashChapter 157: Death
"Then the children in my world must have suffered quite a bit too."
In Naruto's home, Uzumaki Kushina listened to Boruto speak of the future, feeling a touch of emotion.
Hinata's face was completely flushed the entire time, feeling lightheaded as if she were drunk.
Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina looked at Hinata with loving eyes.
It was fortunate that the future Naruto had Hinata's companionship.
"Ah, it's time for us to go."
After a long while,
Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina stood up.
The few of them exchanged glances.
There was no sorrow, only a faint blessing.
They were already dead; the future of the Ninja World belonged to Naruto, to these young people.
Naruto was living very well now, and he even knew some things about the future.
Even if it couldn't be used as a direct reference due to different worlds, there were always commonalities, and the Naruto of this world would only live better.
Knowing this, they felt at ease.
"Naruto, see you in the Pure Land."
Minato Namikaze waved his hand.
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Uzumaki Kushina slapped Minato Namikaze's shoulder, smiling at Naruto: "Study hard, eat well, and train hard."
"Okay!"
Naruto nodded, and he silently went to the battlefield.
Watching Naruto leave, Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina exchanged a smile.
For them, there were no longer any regrets in life.
As for the Pure Land, Minato had never been there, and Kushina couldn't describe how it felt.
"I'm here to accompany you."
"The other half of the Nine-Tailed has also merged with that Nine-Tailed, so the Nine-Tailed inside Naruto is now the complete version of the Nine-Tailed. I have nothing to regret either."
"Mm."
The two held hands tightly, waiting quietly.
Behind them, Boruto and Hinata looked at each other, and Hinata showed a loving smile.
Boruto: "…"
Scratching his head, this feeling was truly strange.
…
"Naruto, you're back."
Nara Shikaku, who was cleaning up the battlefield, was startled to see Naruto approaching and quickly went to his side.
"What should we do about the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Rain?"
"We'll take over the Land of Rain!"
Hearing Naruto's question, Nara Shikaku had already thought it through and quickly said, "As for the Daimyō of the Land of Wind, someone else can temporarily take over. For the Land of Earth, it depends on the Daimyō's wishes."
He and Naruto both knew that the Daimyō of the Land of Wind was a scoundrel. Since they dared to unite with the Land of Rain to attack Konoha Village, they had to be prepared to be crushed.
"Who would be a good temporary Daimyō? Give me a recommendation."
"Kakashi, perhaps."
Nara Shikaku thought for a moment: "At present, it seems only he has the ability and qualification for it."
"Tsunade and Jiraiya simply don't have that idea."
"What about the Land of Rain then?"
"We'll directly incorporate the Land of Rain into the territory of the Land of Fire."
"That works!"
Naruto thought about it for a moment and nodded.
This matter was happily decided. Clapping his hands, Naruto said with a chuckle, "I'll leave this to you. I trust you."
"I knew it!"
Nara Shikaku was expressionless, his heart completely calm.
Having gotten used to Naruto's operations, he didn't feel surprised in the slightest.
"Looks like I'll have to work overtime again."
"Don't worry, the rewards will be plentiful, and there will be medicinal material rewards too."
Medicinal materials!?
Nara Shikaku's eyes lit up, and he immediately became excited.
These were good things.
He had seen them at Naruto's house last time and was amazed.
Their Nara Clan's business involved medicinal materials, and he could tell at a glance that those medicinal materials were extraordinary.
He had wanted to get some for a long time, but Naruto controlled the medicinal materials very strictly, and none had circulated outside until now.
Was Naruto starting to gradually open up now?
Hiss!
Nara Shikaku immediately became excited: "Compete, we must outcompete them to death."
He said with a solemn expression to Naruto, "No problem, you can rest assured and be your lazy Daimyō. Leave the rest to me, and I guarantee it will be completed perfectly!"
"You handle the military and government; daily life and policy adjustments will be left to us."
"Alright then, you work hard. I'll go for a stroll first."
Naruto chuckled, with his hands clasped behind his back, he ambled off to the side.
"Naruto!"
Future Sasuke stood nearby, looking at the smoke of the battlefield.
Seeing Naruto approach, he nodded, which counted as a greeting.
"What are you looking at?"
"I seemed to sense a surge of malice just now, not far from here."
"Here?"
Naruto frowned.
Future Sasuke wouldn't speak idly, and he was also battle-hardened, so he wouldn't be mistaken.
It seemed someone here had harbored ill will towards them earlier. Who could it be?
"I'm very curious, who in the current Ninja Worldcould see your strength and remain unmoved, still having the inclination to harbor killing intent towards us?"
"I'm curious too."
Naruto pondered for a moment but couldn't think of anyone else.
The Ninja World was indeed very deep.
But if it came to enemies, it would probably be those few, the so-called Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Oh!
And also Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, who hadn't broken free from her seal yet.
"Sasuke, you said Zetsu is already dead, and Uchiha Madara has also given up on his plan. So, will Ōtsutsuki Kaguya still appear?"
"I really haven't thought about that."
Sasuke was startled at the words, then hesitated as if to speak.
"Say whatever you want to say. We're practically old friends."
Nine-Tailed: "…"
Sasuke: '…'
Future Sasuke smiled faintly: "Actually, you can go ask the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku about this."
"Although he was intimidated by you, you didn't actually do anything to him. He's lived for so many years, he should have some knowledge, shouldn't he?"
"You're right. I'll go ask him later."
The two walked together through the Land of Rain, and they saw Nagato struggling, leaning against a tree trunk, not yet dead.
"Nagato!"
Standing beside Nagato, Naruto remained silent.
Nagato struggled to get up: "It's you, Uzumaki Naruto. It seems we have failed after all."
"You plotted so deeply."
Nagato gave a tragic smile, his eye sockets empty, his vision completely dark with no light whatsoever.
"What did I plot?"
Naruto sneered: 'Hasn't it always been your Akatsuki Organization plotting against me?'
After a moment of silence, Naruto waved his hand: "For Jiraiya's sake, I won't kill you."
Nagato was expressionless: "You might as well kill me. The victor is king, the loser is bandit. I have nothing to say."
"My life has been a tragedy."
Nagato fell into memories:
"When I was young, my family was destroyed. After being taught by Jiraiya for half a year, I decided to fight for my ideals, but I ended up in an even greater deception."
"Rinnegan, I was truly blinded by power. I never thought that this Rinnegan appeared so abruptly."
"I'm sorry, Yahiko. I really wasn't suited to be a leader."
When a man is about to die, his words are good.
Nagato softly said, "Uzumaki Naruto, I see hope in you. World peace might be achieved in your hands."
"Keep going!"
Naruto quietly watched the serene Nagato, then suddenly spoke…