novelraw Chapter 498 The Temptation of the Zhang Family
Chapter 498 The Temptation of the Zhang Family
Chapter 498 The Temptation of Going Home
Late at night, in the East District of Xingzhidu, at Mikoto's home.
Warm lighting enveloped the spacious living room, bathing the beige walls, natural wood furniture, and the few silent figures on the sofa in a soft, warm yellow hue.
The night outside the window was deep and quiet, with only the occasional faint sound of a patrol car passing by in the distance.
Sasuke sat somewhat blankly on one side of the soft sofa, his back straight, his hands unconsciously resting on his knees, his fingertips slightly curled. His black hair was a little messy, and the redness and swelling on his left cheek from Gaara's punch had faded a lot, but a faint red mark could still be seen upon closer inspection.
He lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on the cup of tea on the coffee table in front of him, which had long since gone cold but remained untouched. The water reflected the light from the ceiling and also the lingering bitterness in his eyes.
Mikoto sat on the single sofa diagonally opposite him, her long hair loosely draped over her shoulders, her eyes still red from crying, but when she looked at Sasuke, the tenderness, guilt, and preciousness of what she had lost and found were so intense that they almost overflowed.
She didn't get too close, as if afraid of disturbing her son who had just been found. She simply looked at him quietly with her beautiful black eyes, as if she wanted to make up for every minute and second that had been lost in the past six years.
Temari and Kankuro sat on a short sofa on the other side, both appearing somewhat reserved and silent, trying to minimize their presence.
Gaara sat alone in a chair near the balcony, his back to the room and his face to the deep night outside the window, leaving everyone with a lonely figure that seemed out of place with the atmosphere around him.
After delivering Sasuke, Toneri quietly left.
The air was so quiet you could hear someone breathing.
In the end, it was Mikoto who spoke first, beginning to recount what exactly happened that night.
"That night—I waited for your father to come home in the living room, as usual." Mikoto's gaze became somewhat distant, traversing time and space, returning to that bloody night that changed everything.
"He came back very late, smelling strongly of blood, and his face looked terrible."
"He told me that Itachi—has returned. He said that Itachi chose the village, he chose 'righteousness.'"
Her voice trembled slightly, then she sighed.
"Your father—though angry and in pain, ultimately—chose to respect Itachi's decision."
"He said it was the Uchiha's destiny, a choice that he, as the clan head and father, had to make."
Mikoto's eyes filled with tears again, but she held them back.
Sasuke's body tensed up suddenly, and his hands, which were resting on his knees, clenched into fists.
He seemed to see that night again, hear the screams, smell the pungent stench of blood, see his father and mother lying in pools of blood, and see his brother's Mangekyou Sharingan, its eyes brimming with bloody tears—
"Since your father chose this path, as his wife, I should have followed him. It's just a pity for you—" Mikoto took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, and continued.
"But right after Itachi killed your father, I, who was supposed to die with him, was saved by Kushina and Minato."
"Minato? Kushina?" Sasuke subconsciously raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
As a member of the Anbu, Sasuke knew at least some basic information about the Hokage of each generation, such as that the Fourth Hokage's name was Minato Namikaze, who died during the Nine-Tails attack, and that his wife, Kushina, also died on the same day.
But judging from what my mother said, they actually survived back then? And they even saved her?
"Mm." Mikoto nodded, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
"I only gradually figured out the specific details later. It seems that Minato and Kushina used some kind of forbidden technique to survive in a special state. They have been secretly watching Konoha and the special situation of the Uchiha clan."
"I know you may be confused, but what happened that night really had nothing to do with Minato and the Land of Stars. As someone directly involved, Shisui knows better what happened back then, and I think Shisui will explain to you why Itachi made that choice."
She paused, looked at Sasuke, her eyes filled with guilt: "Later, I came to the Land of Stars. Shisui became the new Uchiha clan leader, and he worked hard to help the clansmen start a new life here. He repeatedly urged me to go to the new Uchiha territory and live with the clansmen, so we could look after each other. But—I—"
"I—I can't do it." Mikoto's voice lowered, filled with deep self-blame and pain.
"I have failed them. As the clan leader, Fugaku failed to protect everyone. Itachi became a traitor and an executioner, while I—survived—I cannot face those clan members who lost their loved ones and hate Itachi to the core."
"And when I think of you—when I think of how I left you alone in Konoha, when I think of the scorn and suffering you might have endured in Konoha—I just—" She choked up again, unable to continue.
"So, I rented a very small house near the Star Capital Ninja Academy, which is quite far from the Uchiha clan's new territory, and settled down there." Mikoto tried to catch her breath.
"Normally, I rely on some skills I learned before to make simple snacks like sushi, rice balls, and oden. I set up a small stall at the ninja academy gate after school to sell them, barely making ends meet. Occasionally—I also work part-time at the ninja academy to help train the new students. Days—just like that, passing by peacefully and numbly."
Her description was plain, but Sasuke could hear the hardship and loneliness his mother had endured over the years, as well as her deliberate self-imposed exile from her clan and the past.
She is not here to enjoy a new life; she is here to atone for her sins, to wait, and to suffer.
"Until—about five years ago." Mikoto's gaze slowly turned to Gaara's silent back by the window, her eyes filled with a touch of maternal tenderness and pity.
"A war broke out between the Land of Stars and the Land of Wind, and the Sand Village was defeated. Many Sand Village ninjas and civilians assimilated into the Land of Stars."
"At that time, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, the three siblings, were in a very delicate situation as the Kazekage of the defeated side."
"Kushina has always been very interested in these things, and she told me about Gaara's background."
Mikoto's voice became even softer, as if afraid of disturbing the red-haired boy who had his back to them.
"She said that Gaara's mother, Karura, died in childbirth. His father, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, not only failed to give him fatherly love, but instead raised and controlled him as a mere jinchūriki weapon. Even—to test and stimulate Shukaku within him, Rasa ordered Gaara's closest uncle, Yashamaru, to assassinate him—"
"!" Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply, and he subconsciously looked at Gaara's back.
Gaara of the Sand, who displayed overwhelming power and ruthlessness in the Forest of Death and the Chunin Exams, actually had such a painful and twisted past?
Used as a weapon by her own father, betrayed and hated by her closest relatives —
Temari and Kankuro also lowered their heads, their eyes reddening.
Gaara, standing by the window, seemed to stiffen almost imperceptibly, but he didn't turn around. Only his hand on the armrest tightened slightly.
"Kushina said that the child—like Naruto, was treated as a monster from a young age and grew up in hurt and loneliness." Mikoto's eyes welled up with tears again.
"Her words reminded me of what kind of life you must be living alone in Konoha—it breaks my heart. So, I took the initiative to suggest to Kushina that we adopt them."
She looked at Gaara and his two siblings with eyes full of tenderness.
As Mikoto recounted her story, Sasuke gradually came to understand how his mother had survived in the Land of Stars all these years, and a complex warmth welled up in his heart.
It turns out that his mother not only did not "abandon" him, but also used her own way to warm and save other equally wounded and lonely souls.
He looked at Temari and Kankuro on the opposite sofa. The two of them felt his gaze and lowered their heads somewhat embarrassedly.
He glanced again at Gaara's figure by the window, his back always turned to everyone. The lingering resentment and jealousy he felt earlier had largely dissipated, replaced by a complex emotion of shared suffering and understanding of Gaara's punch.
A brief silence fell over the room.
As Sasuke processed this information, the iceberg in his heart was slowly melting.
He hesitated for a moment, then looked up at his mother and asked, "By the way, Mom—you're quite close to this Fourth Hokage's wife, aren't you?"
"Yes." Mikoto nodded, a warm yet melancholic smile on her face: "Yes, Kushina was my best friend."
"We met back in the Ninja Academy and we were inseparable. It's a pity—during the Nine-Tails' attack, she and the Fourth Hokage both perished."
"After that, the Konoha leadership's suspicion and rejection of the Uchiha reached its peak, and our clan's situation in the village became increasingly difficult. As the clan leader's wife, I was barely able to protect myself, and had no way or ability to help or take care of little Naruto who was still in swaddling clothes."
This matter has always been the biggest regret and pain in Kushina's and my hearts.
Sasuke was stunned.
Naruto's mother — is she his mother's best friend?
He suddenly remembered when he was a child, about four or five years old, by the river in Konoha, he first met that blond kid with a strange beard.
For some reason, the two couldn't stand each other as soon as they met, and they started arguing over a small matter, almost coming to blows.
He stormed home and complained to his mother, who was arranging flowers, about encountering an "annoying blond fox brat."
When his mother heard this, she paused for a moment, her smile froze slightly, and a complex emotion that he couldn't understand flashed in her eyes.
She gently patted his head and said softly, "Sasuke, don't call others foxes so easily. That child—he might just be a little lonely."
It turns out that back then, his mother already knew Naruto's identity, that he was the orphan of his best friend, and that he was all alone in Konoha.
That's why she made that expression, said those things, and didn't even tell herself to stay away from Naruto like other parents do.
After arriving in the Star Kingdom, her mother was not in control of her own destiny and felt ashamed towards her people.
The survivors of the Uchiha clan, like Uchiha Taichi, probably harbored deep hatred for the executioner's younger brother and also for her, their mother.
Unable to face them, the mother chose to leave the clan's territory and live alone.
But—there was still one question, like a block of ice, looming over his mind.
Sasuke pursed his lips, his dark eyes fixed on Mikoto, his voice stubborn as he pressed, "But Mother—even if you were forced to be rescued back then and didn't have time to take me with you, what happened afterward? In these past few years, with Kushina and Minato's help in the Land of Stars, and considering you were a Jonin yourself—why—did you never try to come and take me away from Konoha? Or—come and see me?"
This is the deepest thorn in his heart.
Why has his mother been missing for six years, leaving him to wallow in the coldness and hatred of Konoha?
In his view, living in the Land of Stars with the help of the former Hokage and his wife, there should be some way to make a living.
Looking at the aggrieved and confused look in her son's eyes, Mikoto felt as if her heart had been pricked by a needle, and the pain spread.
She slowly shook her head.
"I've thought about it, Sasuke, I think about it all the time."
Her voice was soft, yet carried a heavy sense of powerlessness: "I've mentioned it to Kushina countless times, and even begged Minato."
"But—" Mikoto paused.
"Kushina and Minato told me very seriously that your situation is very special."
"Special?" Sasuke frowned.
He instinctively assumed that it referred to him as Itachi Uchiha's younger brother, and that he might face hatred or even assassination from the surviving members of his clan.
"Hmm, very special." Mikoto's gaze became even more distant.
"Kushina said that you are connected to the legendary Sage of Six Paths. You are connected to the origin of Ninjutsu, and—some ancient destiny about chakra and fate that spans a thousand years."
"You and Naruto—the two of you are the crucial 'key' to this destiny."
"Six Paths—the Sage?" Sasuke was completely stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief.
That legendary figure who only exists at the very beginning of ninja school textbooks, revered as the founder of ninjutsu and the creator of the Ninja School?
Yourself?
And that loser Naruto?
Does it relate to that kind of mythical existence?
"Yes." Mikoto nodded firmly, and seeing the disbelief and confusion on her son's face, she sighed.
"I'm not entirely clear on the specifics either. Kushina and Minato didn't go into too much detail, but they told me very definitively that before everything becomes clear, you and Naruto absolutely cannot act rashly or forcibly change your environment and experiences, otherwise—it might trigger an unpredictable chain reaction."
"This is one of the reasons why they were able to save me and take away some of the Uchiha clan members, but they never went to Konoha to take you away, or even interfered too much in Naruto's life."
She looked at Sasuke, her eyes filled with apology and helplessness.
"So, Sasuke, it's not that Mom doesn't want to find you, it's not that Mom doesn't love you—it's just that—Mom can't. Mom is afraid that her own impulsiveness and longing will harm you instead."
"Kushina said that once you and Naruto arrive in the Land of Stars, and the time is right, Menma will tell you the whole truth."
"Menma—" Sasuke repeated the name in a low voice.
It's him again.
That guy who's always been one step ahead of me since the Ninja Academy!
Just how many secrets does he know?!
The sheer volume of information and the completely unexpected explanations left Sasuke utterly bewildered.
The ice of resentment and grievance melted further as the mother spoke candidly and helplessly, but what remained was a deeper sense of confusion and a vague unease.
What exactly are I carrying on my shoulders?
What is Naruto carrying this time?
That guy, Menma!
Just how many secrets are hidden?!
He remained silent for a long time, and finally, he simply nodded slowly and said in a low voice, "I—understand."
He neither expressed understanding nor forgiveness.
Looking at her son, Mikoto felt as if the heavy weight that had been pressing on her heart for six years had finally eased a little.
She dared not expect her son to forgive and understand her pain immediately. She would be content as long as he was willing to listen, stay here, and give her time and opportunity to make amends.
"Tomorrow," Sasuke looked up at his mother's gentle, expectant eyes and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I want to see Naruto and Menma."
"And—Shisui and the others."
What must be faced will eventually have to be faced.
What needs to be clarified must be clarified.
The next morning, at the Minato family home.
The morning sunlight slanted into the room through the gaps in the beige curtains that weren't fully drawn, landing directly on Naruto's tightly closed eyelids.
"Ugh————"
Naruto mumbled something indistinctly, then instinctively rolled over, burying his face in the soft, fluffy pillow, trying to escape the annoying light.
However, what lingered around his nose was not the familiar faint musty smell and instant noodle seasoning packet scent from his cramped apartment, but rather the aroma of soft cotton fabric with the scent of sunshine, and a very delicate fragrance of lavender.
The pleasant, unfamiliar scent gradually awakened his drowsy senses.
He wrinkled his nose, took a deep breath, and then, as if suddenly realizing something, abruptly opened his eyes!
His azure eyes widened in a moment of clarity and bewilderment.
What came into view was not the cheap apartment in Konoha, yellowed from years of neglect and with visible fine cracks—
The ceiling.
Instead, it was a soft, off-white ceiling.
"?"
Naruto was stunned for a moment.
He kept half his face buried in the pillow, blinked his eyes several times, then closed them again, and then suddenly opened them again.
The ceiling hasn't changed.
Not a dream.
He slowly turned his neck and looked around.
The room was at least twice the size of his bedroom in Konoha.
Beside the bed is a floor-to-ceiling white wardrobe against the wall, its doors as smooth as a mirror.
On the other side against the wall is a large, light-colored wooden desk, which is empty except for a small succulent plant.
At the far end of the room is an open balcony, where beige curtains flutter gently in the morning breeze, offering glimpses of the azure sky and the silhouettes of distant buildings.
Everything was unfamiliar, yet it carried a strange feeling that made his heart race.
Memories from last night flooded my mind like a tide: my mother's embrace, my father's smile, my brother's stories, the gifts scattered on the floor, and this room that belonged to him—
He really went home.
The memories of last night instantly dispelled any lingering sleepiness and dazedness.
Naruto couldn't help but shrink into himself under the covers, burying his face deeper into the soft pillow that smelled of sunshine and lavender, and taking a deep, greedy breath.
This is the bed that Mom made by hand yesterday.
It's a quilt that Mom aired out.
It was a pillow that Mom picked out.
It tastes like home.
The sunlight outside the window was already quite bright, filtering through the thin white gauze curtain on the balcony and spilling into the room, spreading a warm patch of light across the floor.
The air was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread and the sizzling sound of eggs cooking in a pan.
Just as he was immersed in a great sense of happiness and even wanted to stay in bed all day,
A woman's voice rang out from downstairs: "Naruto! Get up and have breakfast! If you don't get up soon, all the good food will be gone!"
It was my mother's voice.
Almost as a reflex, Naruto sprang up from the bed!
The movement was so large that it almost knocked the blanket off to the floor.
He looked down at his brand-new blue striped pajamas, then at the unfamiliar surroundings, and paused for two seconds before finally snapping out of his blissful dizziness.
"Coming, coming!" Naruto shouted excitedly towards the door.
Wearing brand new blue striped pajamas, she hurriedly jumped out of bed and put on her slippers.
I rushed down the stairs in two strides and arrived at the restaurant and open kitchen area on the first floor.
The morning sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, filling the entire space with brightness and warmth.
Kushina, wearing a green apron, was busy at the semi-open kitchen stove with her back to him, flipping the fried eggs in the pan with a spatula, making a pleasant sizzling sound.
The air was filled with the mouthwatering aromas of various foods.
"Ahhh, it's too late!!" Ziyanghua grabbed two slices of toast from the table, one in her mouth and a briefcase slung over her shoulder that wasn't yet fastened, and ran frantically toward the entrance.
"I forgot we had early classes today!!" She ran right up to Naruto as he came rushing down the stairs. With her mouth full of toast, she could only mumble, "Good morning, Naruto!"
Then, still wearing her shoes with the heels off, she opened the door and ran out.
The entryway door made a soft thud behind her, and the wind chimes on the door frame jingled a few times.
"Good morning—Hydrangea—" Naruto hadn't even finished saying good morning to the doorway where Hydrangea had left.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, several sets of tableware were already set on the table.
Minato was sitting in the main seat, holding a morning newspaper in his hand, glancing at it with his head slightly lowered.
Hearing the noise, Minato looked up at Naruto, whose hair was still a little messy, who was wearing pajamas and looked confused yet excited. He smiled gently and put down the newspaper in his hand.
Good morning, Naruto. Did you sleep well?
"Good morning, Dad!" Naruto scratched his sleep-curled blond hair, smiled a little embarrassedly, then glanced around the dining room and asked curiously, "Dad, where are Menma and Hikari?"
"They're very busy people." Minato folded the newspaper in half and placed it beside him, picked up the milk on the table and took a sip, explaining, "Menma went out last night, apparently there's some urgent experiment that requires his personal supervision, and he hasn't come back yet. Koko went to the General Staff before dawn; the military has been quite busy lately."
"? Are you that busy?" Naruto pulled out a chair and sat down.
He looked down at the golden-brown, crispy toast, the tender fried eggs, the fresh fruit salad, and the large pitcher of steaming milk on the table, and couldn't help but gasp in amazement.
In his memory, although ninjas had many missions, it seemed too much for them to be so busy early in the morning that they couldn't even go home.
At that moment, Kushina came over carrying two steaming, fragrant bowls of ramen. She placed one bowl in front of Minato and the other on the table in front of Naruto.
Hearing Naruto's words, she smiled and explained, "Let's not talk about the two of them. Your dad was also drafted by that Menma kid and is often busy at the General Political Office until the wee hours of the morning, processing all kinds of documents, presiding over meetings, and receiving officials from all over the country. The fact that he can have a peaceful breakfast at home today is all thanks to you. I managed to get your dad a day off so he can get some rest and spend time with you."
Upon hearing this, Minato gave a helpless, bitter smile and shook his head: "There's no way around it, Naruto. Managing a large country like the Land of Stars, with a population of over 60 million, a vast territory, and undergoing rapid development and transformation, requires far more consideration and coordination than managing Konoha Village, which had only 100,000 people back then."
"Any decision could affect the lives and future of hundreds of millions of people, and I dare not slack off in the slightest."
"However, the administrative system of the Star Kingdom is becoming more and more perfect now, and the operation of each department is gradually becoming more and more orderly. Most of the things that I need to handle and make decisions on personally are strategic matters or major events involving multiple interests that require coordination at the highest level. Compared to the early days of the founding, when I had to worry about everything, it is much easier now."
Naruto nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
He had absolutely no concept of "managing a country." To him, the Hokage of Konoha was already a supreme and incredibly busy figure, while his father was now managing a country far larger and more complex than the Land of Fire combined with Konoha.
He felt dizzy just imagining it.
However, Naruto's gaze involuntarily fell on the bowl of ramen in front of him.
The milky white, rich, and mellow pork bone broth sways gently in the bowl, emitting an incredibly enticing aroma.
On the soup noodles, two large slices of glistening, tempting char siu pork, marbled with fat and lean meat, a soft-boiled egg with golden yolk running through it, a few crisp bamboo shoots and naruto rolls, and a small handful of bright green scallions are neatly arranged.
What Naruto couldn't take his eyes off was the Naruto roll, his favorite, floating slightly on the soup.
It's his favorite tonkotsu ramen.
My mom made it.
Kushina sat down opposite Naruto, resting her chin on her hands, a satisfied and expectant smile on her face. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Naruto and said softly, "Eat up, Naruto. Try it, is it your favorite flavor?"
Naruto picked up the chopsticks placed on the side of the bowl, his fingers trembling slightly.
He picked up a mouthful of chewy noodles, blew on it to cool it down, and then put it in his mouth.
The rich and savory bone broth explodes in your mouth!
The noodles were cooked to the perfect firmness, with a wonderfully chewy texture, and they absorbed the delicious flavor of the broth perfectly.
"Mmm—it's delicious!" Naruto nodded vigorously, his eyes instantly welling up with tears. He quickly lowered his head and began to eat again, as if he wanted to greedily make up for all the "taste of mom" he had missed over the past twelve years.
Minato watched his son wolf down his food, so moved he was almost in tears, and his eyes were filled with tenderness and emotion.
He picked up his chopsticks, but didn't start eating immediately. Instead, he looked at Kushina with a mischievous yet tender smile on his face and said to Naruto, "Your mother has secretly practiced her cooking skills for twelve years, hoping that one day when you come home, she can cook for you herself."
Kushina blushed slightly at Minato's words, giving him a reproachful glare, but her eyes were full of happy smiles.