246. Reunion

"Sensei!"

Kakashi has tears in his eyes as he stares at Minato and Kushina.

"You have grown well, Kakashi!"

Kushina ruffles Kakashi's hairs.

"YOUTH!! This is YOUTH!!"

Tears stream down from Guy's eyes as he clutches his fists.

"You too, Guy!"

Minato sweat drops at Guy's antics.

"Move aside for a while; let me check their body."

Tsunade pushes everyone aside and inspects Minato and Kushina.

Guy and Kakashi obediently move aside as there is a hint of worry on their face.

After inspecting for a while,

Hmm…

Tsunade's expression turns grim. The others notice her expression and Minato asks her.

"Tsunade-san! What's the matter? … Is there something wrong with our body?"

"No!"

Tsunade shakes her head.

"On the opposite, both of your bodies are brimming with vitality. It's like… like… both of you have been reborn."

Tsunade has a conflicted expression on her face.

"Wow!"

Kushina checks her complexion, which is as smooth and healthy as a baby.

"It looks like I have reverted to my teen years."

Kushina happily pinches her skin.

Ziiiiii…

Mei intensely stares at Kushina's skin as envy appears in her eyes.

"Oh!"

Izuna notices the envy in her eyes. He takes out a bottle from his pocket and passes it to her.

Ahem…

"I got this souvenir from my recent journey to Land of Valleys. This is a special lotion filled with vitality. It nourishes skin and helps retain youth. I brought it especially for you."

"Really!"

Mei immediately grabs the bottle and a smile blooms on her face.

Hah…

Izuna heaves a sigh of relief and snuggles into Mei's bosom.

Eh!

He feels an intense stare on his face. The stare is almost penetrating, as if it wants to burrow holes in his body.

Izuna lifts his head and notices Tsunade, who is glaring at him with a murderous gaze.

Humph…

Tsunade harrumphs and cups her hands in front of her chest.

Boing…

Her massive chest shakes with her momentum.

Gulp…

Izuna gulps his saliva and takes out another bottle from his pocket.

"Ehto! Tsunade Sensei! This is for you."

Hmph…

Tsunade snorts and grabs the bottle. There is a slight hint of joy in her expression, but she hides it quickly and a stern expression appears on her face.

"…"

The atmosphere turns awkward and silence descends on the surroundings.

'It's a good thing that the vitality of that tree has condensed in this liquid. I will gift the remaining liquid to my parents and relatives to slow down their aging. Tsunade is using her transformation Jutsu to maintain her appearance."

Suddenly, it reminds him of Mito Uzumaki who maintained a youthful look through her middle-age. It was only during her later years that she aged rapidly.

Cough… cough…

Sakumo coughs slightly to break the ice.

"Lord Fourth! We have already heard about Izuna's narration of the event. We would also like to hear your part of the story. Izuna withheld most of the information of the incident."

Sakumo glares at Izuna and turns to Minato.

"Enough!"

Tsunade's shout calms everybody down.

"Escort them to Konoha Hospital. I need to do a thorough check-up. Your questions can wait for a while."

----------------

Later in the hospital,

"All the preliminary procedures are complete. Now we have to just wait for the Blood Sample Report."

Tsunade heaves a sigh of relief after the check-up. She turns to Minato and Kushina.

"Let's talk now."

"Alright!"

Minato nods his head.

"Wait!"

Izuna makes some hand signs and creates a barrier around the room.

"It's to prevent someone from eavesdropping. The things we talk about today can prove detrimental for Konoha's safety if words get out."

"Then shall I leave?"

Mei asks him.

"It's alright! Just stay here." Izuna holds her hand.

"Ok!" Mei nods her head.

Kushina notices this, and a mischievous grin appears on her face.

Izuna notices the grin and grimaces.

'Looks like this prankster is up to no good. Ayaka will get along well with Kushina Nee-san.'

"Alright!!"

Minato adopts a serious expression and narrates.

"A few months before the Nine-tails attack, Kushina and I sent Izuna-kun on a secret mission to Uzushiogakure to investigate the remains of the Uzumaki clan.

However, the investigation took longer than expected and Izuna-kun didn't make it on time; otherwise, I would have entrusted him to protect Kushina."

Mm…

Izuna nods his head.

"About that mission…"

Izuna rummages through his storage and takes out a scroll and passes it to Minato.

"This is the report of that mission."

Minato takes the scroll from Izuna. Izuna turns to Kushina and reports.

"Kushina Nee-san! I found the origin and the heritage of the Uzumaki clan. Nee-san… you should pay a visit to the heritage with Naruto."

"Really?!"

Kushina curiously asks him.

"I thought the elders of the clan destroyed the heritage."

"No! What they destroyed are just the superficial things. The real heritage is hidden deep down in the village."

Whoosh…

Izuna takes out the Shinigami Onii-mask.

"This mask is the key to the seal. The other mask is in the Noh Mask Hall."

Izuna passes the mask to Kushina.

'I have already checked the Uzumaki secret chamber for dangers. It's safe for Kushina and Naruto.'

"Alright!"

Kushina grabs the mask and keeps it.

Meanwhile, Minato briefs the entire incident to the rest of the group.

Minato's eyes turn to Izuna.

Previously, while being sealed with Kurama for ten years; both Minato and Kushina have picked a bunch of skills from Kurama. Kurama's years of experience in the Shinobi world had led him to develop a plethora of skills.

Telepathic communication, long-distance chakra transfer, creating chakra constructs, knowledge of unique Fuinjutsus are few among them.

When Izuna asked him why he never used these skills?

Kurama rolls his eyes and replies.

"I can easily smash everything with my size and chakra. As for other times, I was suppressed or controlled before I could do anything."

Minato establishes a telepathic connection.

'Izuna-kun! Should I reveal about the other cloaked figure who attacked us that night?'

'Umm… Let's put it on hold for now. We will talk about it later. Also, another powerful enemy will visit us soon. We have to prioritize him first.'

Minato withholds the information about the other cloaked figure.

"So, that's what happened?!" the group exclaims.

"Izuna's account of the incident is similar to yours." Tsunade nods her head.

"But?! Do you a clue about the identity of the perpetrator? The Nine-tails was under a Sharingan Genjutsu, so it has to be a member of the Uchiha clan or someone who possesses a powerful Sharingan."

The group turns to Uchiha clan members and Kakashi.

"If we exclude the Uchiha clan members and Kakashi, then our only suspect is Danzo and Orochimaru." Sakumo speculates.

"Danzo and Orochimaru! Both of them are dead." Shisui remarks.

"Then who else it can be?" Kakashi frowns.

Izuna slowly stands up from his bed and walks towards Minato's bed.

"Minato-san, I think it's about time you reveal the truth to Kakashi."

Minato and Kushina's expression turn sour. Kushina bites her lip, and a tear appears in her eyes.

"Yes! eventually, Kakashi will learn the truth." Minato sighs and turns to Kakashi.

"Kakashi! You have grown enough to not be overwhelmed by your emotions and sentiments. Still, you must promise me to not take any reckless action."

Kakashi senses a feeling of foreboding. He clutches his fists and nods his head.

"I am ready, Sensei!"

"The person who attacked and killed the wife of the Lord Third, the person who released Nine-tails seal and controlled it to attack the village, the person who attempted to kill Naruto and almost killed us is…"

Kakashi takes a deep breath and steadies his nerves.

"OBITO!"

OBITO…

OBITO…

OBITO…

These words resound in Kakashi's ears. His eyes widen to the extreme as he stands rooted on the ground.

"O… Ob… Obito?! How could this be? It can't be! Obito is dead!"

Kakashi incoherently murmurs as his body shivers incoherently.

"Wake up, KAKASHI!"

Izuna pats Kakashi's shoulder.

"Wake up to reality! Face the truth!"

Izuna infuses chakra in his voice to disrupt Kakashi's sense of mind.

Bam…

Kakashi falls on the ground, his body covered in a layer of cold sweat.

Sigh…

Sakumo sighs to himself and silently pats Kakashi's head.

'Once I too was fallen into such a state. This is the life of a shinobi. Blood, hatred, and betrayal plague this land.'

"Son! I won't say much. But keep in mind, your father always has your back." Sakumo pats Kakashi's back.

A few minutes later,

Sigh…

Kakashi takes a deep breath and calms his nerves.

"I am sorry, Dad! Sensei! I was overwhelmed by emotions. I am fine now."

"Good!" Sakumo nods his head.

"Here!"

Izuna extends his hand to Kakashi, who grabs it and stands up.

"This is the reason why I never told you about the killer. If I did, you would recklessly chase after Obito, abandoning everything. I won't stop you now, but I suppose you will be able to figure everything on your own."

"I will." Kakashi nods his head.

"Still, how did Obito get this strong? He was an average chunnin, but how did he turn into such a powerful shinobi capable of fighting toe-to-toe with Sensei in just under one and half year." Kakashi turns to Izuna for answers.

"Well, about that… why don't we talk later? For now, we have a birthday party to attend."

----------------

A/N:- Bonus chapter in the morning! It's night here.