The Hokage, having traveled here, of course he'd unify the ninja world!

Chapter 233 Transformation

"Okay, stop crying. It's your birthday today, cheer up."

Kushina comforted Naruto for a while before he finally let go of her, still sobbing.

"Mom, why didn't you acknowledge me sooner? I thought... I thought..."

Naruto couldn't continue; he had been wondering if his parents were dead.

But now that his mother is alive and well right next to Naruto, he is still in a daze.

Kushina stroked Naruto's face: "Did you think I was dead?"

Naruto nodded blankly: "Yeah."

Kushina had no intention of hiding it from Naruto:

"Your mother is indeed dead. She was just existing in your body as chakra before."

"That's why I can communicate with you and the Nine-Tails."

Naruto pinched Kushina's arm in surprise.

Is it elastic and warm?

"So, has Mom come back to life now?"

Kushina patted Naruto's head: "This body of yours is a special clone that Chiyo lent me."

"It's like a shadow clone."

"Senyou?" Naruto was taken aback.

"Oh, is that the principal!?"

Kushina smiled and nodded: "Yes, he is Sasuke's master, your principal, Uchiha Chiyo."

"Remember when I told you last time that it was Qianyao who helped you expose your identity?"

Naruto had no idea that the principal had done so much for him behind the scenes.

"The principal is so kind, how can I possibly thank him enough?"

Naruto felt deeply grateful to Chiyo.

Kushina was already well aware of the Uchiha clan's rise to power.

Hearing Naruto's words, he instructed, "Just remember to listen to Chiyo from now on."

"Yes, Mom, I understand!"

"If Mom is a shadow clone, how long can it last?"

Although Naruto was a little reluctant, he had just finished his lesson and knew that the Shadow Clone Technique had a limited duration.

Kushina shook her head: "Chiyo's is special. As long as I replenish my chakra, I can exist for a long time."

"Oh! Really! Mom!"

Naruto was both surprised and delighted. He had thought he would only be able to see his mother for a short while, but he never expected that his mother could stay forever.

Kushina smiled and said, "Of course it's true."

Naruto scratched his head, seemingly lost in thought.

"But can't Mommy appear in public?"

Kushina smiled slightly, and then half of her body sank into the shadows.

“I used to follow you like this.”

"Hehe, that's great."

Naruto's face was filled with a silly grin as he repeatedly agreed.

"Okay, the food's all cold. Let's heat it up in the microwave."

Kushina gave the instructions, and Naruto quickly took the dishes his mother had made and put them in the microwave.

Naruto felt like he was the happiest person in the world right now.

While the meal was being heated, Kushina took out a large pile of gifts she had bought and pushed them towards Naruto.

"Naruto, here, this is a belated birthday present for you."

"This is your first birthday, your second birthday, your third birthday... your seventh birthday."

Naruto felt a lump in his throat as he looked at the gifts, and tears welled up in his eyes again.

He couldn't help but hug Kushina again: "Thank you, Mom."

Kushina gently patted Naruto's back: "From now on, I will celebrate every birthday with you."

……

Konoha Hospital.

Kakashi made an excuse about some discomfort in his eyes and went to the hospital for a checkup.

Unfortunately, the hospital had no medical records regarding the Sharingan.

Naturally, nothing could be detected during the monitoring.

Kakashi has been going in and out of the hospital a lot lately.

No one knew that he was actually looking for Baiyun Zaojian's wife.

That means he has always worked in the shadows.

Otherwise, he really wouldn't know about some of the hospital's areas that are not open to the public.

There is an isolation area in the hospital, which, as the name suggests, is prepared for patients with infectious diseases.

However, the hygiene conditions in Konoha are relatively good.

There have been virtually no major epidemics.

This area is basically vacant.

However, Kakashi noticed movement inside the drawn curtains.

The rest is simple.

Kakashi returned to his old ways and infiltrated, but this time the enemy was the ANBU guards.

Kakashi's current strength is not yet at its peak, but he is still not someone that ordinary Anbu members can deal with.

After Kakashi infiltrated the area, he found more than one patient there.

Despite being labeled as patients, these people were not treated.

It's more like they're being held under house arrest here.

One of the women caught his attention.

That person is Shirakumo Sakaeko, Shirakumo Sakaeko's wife.

Kakashi saw it when he was little.

That's why Kakashi has been able to recognize him at a glance all these years.

It is a red birthmark on Shirakumo Saeko's face, which takes up a third of her face.

Although her face had aged considerably, Kakashi was certain that this was Saeko Shirakumo.

When Kakashi looked through the window on the outer wall, he saw Shirakumo Saeko staring blankly at a photo of her and Shirakumo from earlier that morning. It goes without saying what she was thinking.

Kakashi's face showed regret and self-blame, which then turned into determination.

No matter what, he was determined to rescue Aunt Saeko.

He walked around the area many times.

There are quite a few secret agents guarding this place.

It will be difficult to rescue Shirakumo Saeko, and if we alert her, the others might be moved.

Although Kakashi didn't know the identities of the other people, he still wanted to save them as soon as possible.

Fearing discovery, Kakashi retreated after gathering enough information.

……

After Kakashi left the hospital, he began to think.

How can we successfully rescue Shirakumo Saeko and, ideally, destroy this place?

The recent series of setbacks has also allowed Kakashi to grow rapidly.

In particular, Qianyao's words made him realize that dwelling too much on the past would cause him to lose many things in the present.

He had no time to think about Obito's affairs right now. Shiraku had died in front of him that morning, and he had to rescue Shiraku Saeko no matter what.

He hadn't eaten for a long time while he was searching for clues.

I'm going to grab a bite to eat first, and maybe think of something else to do while I'm at it.

It was a little after 8 p.m. at the time.

The commercial street was bustling with activity, filled with the constant clamor of vendors calling out their wares.

There are stalls selling taiyaki and takoyaki next door.

The games of popping balloons and scooping goldfish filled the place with a lively, everyday atmosphere.

Kakashi stared blankly at the streetlights on both sides, feeling the atmosphere as if he were in another world.

In the past, aside from missions, he would only visit the memorial stone.

But his once-closed world was destroyed by Qianyao.

Kakashi now realizes that there are still many things in this world worth understanding and staying for.

……