Konoha: A golden flash from the tomb

The people who chose to take Kaguya's surname out of the mountain hiding place came to a small village not far away under Minato's arrangement, where there was a house for them to stay temporarily.

Wait until early tomorrow morning, the Konoha ninjas led by Ding Zao and Shisui will come here to escort them to Konoha.

However, the Minazuki clan is not that easy to find. Most of the clan members were wiped out by Yagura half a year ago. They were forced to hide in every corner of the Kingdom of Water. They did not trust Kirikage, and it was difficult for Minato to find him accurately. to each of their positions.

But this matter can be done slowly. Soon Konoha's caravan will establish an interoperable trade route with the Kingdom of Water. Explain that Minato can spread the news to every corner of the Kingdom of Water.

That would be a strong proof for the Kaguya clan that has been incorporated into Konoha. Instead of hiding carefully in the Kingdom of Water, why not find a place where you can relax and live again?

People who have experienced war have a desire for peace and stability deep in their hearts. In today's ninja world, leaning against the big tree of Konoha is definitely an excellent choice.

Minato, who temporarily bid farewell to the Kaguya tribe, continued to walk on the land of the Water Country. The traces left by Kimimaro when he left were quite obvious. He had not received any ninja training, because he had hidden in his body a power far beyond that of other Kaguya tribe members. With such terrifying power, even within the Kaguya clan, Kimimaro is treated as a monster.

The prison is his residence, and loneliness is his playmate. If the Kaguya clan had not been tortured by the blood inheritance disease, maybe Kimimaro would have become a genius that the Kaguya clan is proud of. He can be proud of the blood inheritance, but he also hates it. Kaguya, with the cursed blood in her body, dared not let Kimimaro get out of the cage.

They were afraid that this young but terrifyingly powerful monster would suddenly wake up. Once he could not suppress the madness caused by the cursed bloodline, not only the Kaguya clan would be destroyed, but the entire Kirigakure Village would turn into a purgatory of bones.

Kimimaro, who has always been used by the Kaguya clan as a 'weapon' representing the last hope, is confused inside. He has never felt the company of his relatives, and no one has taught him how to look at the world and kill the people of Kirikage Village when necessary. The idea of ​​being a ninja was instilled in him by his clan, but this was also not what Kimimaro wanted.

"What exactly does it mean to be alive?"

Sitting by the stream, Kimimaro looked at the reflection in the water and talked to himself.

He didn't feel lost for Kaguya's demise, but after losing even his previous 'value', he fell into confusion and didn't know how to continue living.

Kimimaro, who doesn't know what a goal is or what a dream is, has nothing in his heart, wandering like a zombie in the mountain forest covered with thin mist, going around and around in this maze. , stepping on a circle with no exit.

"Finally found you, Kimimaro."

Minato's figure appeared not far from Kimimaro's side, and his opening woke up the white-haired boy who was holding the water in a daze.

"who are you?"

There was no panic that a child should have, nor was he uneasy about being frightened. Kimimaro spoke calmly, with a trace of doubt in his eyes.

"Is it Kirikage's ninja?"

Kimimaro stared at Minato's forehead protector, but that was not the emblem of Kirigakure Village.

"I'm from Konoha and I'm here to take you home."

"Home?" Kimimaro tilted his head, as if he was a little confused about this. Last night he witnessed the death of the Kaguya clan, and saw those clansmen who burned everything they had and then exploded with astonishing lethality. , although he doesn't like the place he once was, but the place he can call home is probably no longer there.

Kimimaro was a little dazed and didn't move. He didn't have a clear goal for where he would go next. It didn't hurt to follow Minato. Anyway, no matter how bad it was, it wouldn't be any worse than the life he had in the clan.

But after leaving the village, Kimimaro had a doubt that he wanted to be solved.

"What exactly is living?"

He repeated his previous soliloquy and looked into Minato's blue eyes with a gentle smile.

Minato is different from Orochimaru. Although Orochimaru is a man who is cold on the inside and as cold as a snake on the outside, he can always understand what the human form needs and wants.

There is a delicate heart hidden in Uncle Snake's pale body. It is probably this delicacy that allows Orochimaru to control the current body well regardless of whether he is a man or a woman. He who can understand people's hearts with this delicacy is naturally It can easily capture the loyalty of orphans who are confused and at a loss.

But Minato is not good at this. No matter before or now, he is more accustomed to telling everyone his thoughts through his own actions. His emotional enthusiasm is directed at a few people close to him. Behind the gentle smile, there is There is a layer of polite refusal.

"This answer may need to be explored by yourself, but for me, living is not about 'something'. I want to repay the warmth that others have given me, and I also want to bring warmth to the people I love deeply. I want To see smiles on their faces, to see happy expressions.”

"I want Naruto to grow up healthy, happy and safe, I want the village to become prosperous and wealthy because of me, and I want the world to stop becoming a mess for those ridiculous reasons."

"This should be what I want to do in my life."

Minato approached Kimimaro and reached out to rub his long white hair.

"I'm sorry, I can't give you an accurate answer, but I believe that as long as we choose to face it, we will find our own answer sooner or later."

"Find the things we want to protect and the people we want to protect."

Minato held Kimimaro's hand. Although there was still a trace of doubt in Kimimaro's eyes, he no longer resisted and followed Minato away.

"Come on, let's go home."

"Ah."

The mountain forest filled with thin mist receded behind them, and they walked on the path and gradually moved away from Kirigakure Village.

On the other side of the sea ahead, Konoha Village in the Land of Fire will become their new home, where there is a brand new picture waiting for them to paint.