"Grandfather!?"
Gengetsu Hōzuki examined the young man before him, who clearly bore the characteristics of the Hōzuki clan, and asked in surprise, "So, you're from Angetsu's..."
Suigetsu replied, "Hōzuki Angetsu was my father. I'm your grandson, Suigetsu!"
Gengetsu inquired, "I died early. How did Angetsu die?"
Suigetsu said somberly, "Father sacrificed himself for the village, leaving me and my brother behind."
Gengetsu was astonished, "You have a brother?"
Suigetsu nodded sadly, "Yes, Mangetsu Hōzuki, one of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, but he died early on."
Hearing this, Gengetsu felt a pang of sorrow, "Ah, my poor grandson..."
Suigetsu said with a hint of pity, "Grandfather, it's so good to see you."
Strictly speaking, relatives separated by a generation and having never met wouldn't have deep feelings for each other. While elders might feel differently, for juniors, it's practically a rule.
Indeed, Suigetsu, being such a smart boy, had his own plans!
In this dangerous ninja world, having Grandfather Gengetsu around meant having a powerful backing. On top of that, if he could maintain a good relationship with Naruto Uzumaki, he could surely rise to prominence. He thought himself very clever.
Gengetsu, who never expected to meet his never-before-seen grandson after death, was moved to tears, "I have no regrets now, truly no regrets. Suigetsu, it's so good to see you. Now, I can finally rest in peace."
Whoosh!!
A white soul light enveloped Gengetsu's body!
Suigetsu was shocked, "Wait, wait!"
Whoosh!!
Gengetsu's soul detached from the living sacrifice and ascended to the heavens!
"Suigetsu, take care of yourself. Grandfather will go ahead."
"Grandfather, why, why are you leaving just like that!!!"
Suigetsu was left stomping in frustration.
How could this be? My major support disappeared in the blink of an eye. Didn't you want to stay and protect your grandson? The ninja world is so dangerous, how could you leave me alone!
Clatter!
The dust-covered living sacrifice fell to the ground, and the deed was done.
Losing a powerful ally was certainly a regret for Naruto, but he thought: The one most saddened by this must be Suigetsu.
Naruto consoled, "Suigetsu, don't be sad. Gengetsu-sensei left with a smile."
Suigetsu, with a mournful face, said, "I know, I know. I'm happy for Grandfather!"
Naruto smiled, "Alright then, why don't you unseal the next one?"
"Okay, let's go with that one," Suigetsu pointed randomly.
"Alright!"
Naruto raised his hand, and with a snap, the bandage flew up, the sealing tag disappeared, and a young man with sky-blue hair, bearing a resemblance to Suigetsu, landed before them!
Suigetsu's eyes widened, "No way? This is a joke, right?"
It was Mangetsu Hōzuki, his brother!!
Mangetsu, with a complex expression, said, "Suigetsu, you've grown."
"Brother!" Suigetsu rushed forward, hugging Mangetsu's leg tightly, "You're not going to leave, right? You'll stay, won't you?"
During Mangetsu's active years, it was the Bloody Mist era of Kirigakure. Not wanting his young brother to grow up in such a place, he sent Suigetsu to be raised outside the village when he was still a child.
Because of this, Suigetsu had a relatively peaceful childhood and didn't develop a bloodthirsty nature. As for being valued by Orochimaru later as a test subject, that's another story.
Mangetsu, with a doting tone, said, "I won't leave. Brother will stay."
Orochimaru, watching this scene, smiled sincerely, "Suigetsu, when you joined me, you hoped that one day you could meet your brother again, didn't you?"
Thus, with Gengetsu gone and Mangetsu reunited with Suigetsu, another karmic cycle was concluded.
Naruto continued the unsealing.
Chiyo appeared!
Sakura Haruno trembled in surprise, "Lady Chiyo!"
Chiyo, looking at the Edo TenseiSakura, was filled with regret, "Sakura, such an excellent ninja, how did you end up..."
Sakura replied, "It's a long story. I lost myself for a while, hurt everyone, and ended up like this. Maybe it's karma."
Chiyo sighed, "In youth, who hasn't taken a wrong turn? Everyone has the right to make mistakes. Sadly, some never find their way back even in death."
At this moment, Sasori of the Red Sand stepped forward, "Yo, old lady, are you insinuating about me?"
"Sasori?" Chiyo said calmly, "Perhaps recognizing oneself after death is the true meaning of Edo Tensei."
Sasori retorted, "Recognizing myself? I have no regrets about almost killing you~"
Chiyo laughed, "Didn't you hold back in the end?"
After a moment of silence, Sasori said, "You knew I held back, yet you still died. You didn't take your life seriously enough."
Chiyo flicked her hair, "Leaving hope for the next generation, that's what I learned from the young."
Sasori shrugged, "Ah~ I really can't stand you, old lady. You should free yourself from this Edo Tensei and return your soul to the Pure Land!"
Hearing this, Naruto suddenly felt tense!
But Chiyo playfully said, "No~ The more you say that, the more I want to stay and see what kind of trouble my grandson will get into~"
Sasori smirked, "Hmph, suit yourself then~!"
Whew, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly thinking: Could Sasori have predicted Chiyo's character and said that on purpose?
Perhaps the answer is known only to Sasori of the Red Sand himself!
Swish!
Naruto raised his hand again!
Snap!!
The bandage broke, revealing a handsome young man with white hair, wearing an ethereal gray robe, appearing before them!
Jūgo, with a calm expression that suddenly wavered violently, exclaimed, "Kimimaro!?"
Kimimaro gazed at Naruto and said, "Seeing you now, I realize how time flies. Compared to you, Sasuke's growth speed is insignificant."
Naruto noncommittally replied, "Kimimaro, you must have many things you want to say to those behind me."
Kimimaro approached and greeted with a smile, "Jūgo, long time no see. Have you found your chains?"
Jūgo lamented, "I tried to find them, but those chains couldn't bind me in the end."
Nearby, Karin Uzumaki looked downcast.
Kimimaro patted Jūgo's shoulder, "Then let me continue to be your chains."
Jūgo's eyes trembled, "Can you?"
Kimimaro smiled, "This Edo Tensei body won't suffer from illness. I'll stay by your side."
Jūgo sighed with relief, "That's wonderful!"
Kimimaro looked at Orochimaru, standing behind Naruto, feeling a sense of longing, "People always desire to be needed by others, just as Jūgo needs me, I need Lord Orochimaru, and even Lord Orochimaru is no exception."
Kimimaro turned his gaze to Naruto, "I want to see where someone needed by Lord Orochimaru will go."
Naruto used today's second Kotoamatsukami on Troy, the Kumogakure ninja with Magnet Release who emerged next. Today's mystery box unsealing came to a temporary halt, and as the leader of Amegakure, Naruto arranged for the Edo Tensei individuals he had subdued. Later, using the Mirror Attacker Technique, he defeated his own self of the day, and after dinner, he began developing the puppet of the Asura Path with Sasori, making for an incredibly fulfilling and busy day.
Coincidentally, at night, on a remote island far from the ninja world!
"Yo, Obito, you've become quite skilled, making it hard for me to find you~"
"Madara, at this point, why appear before me like a stray dog~!"
Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha, the two prodigies of the Uchiha clan, met, and a new storm was inevitable!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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