Fire Country.
After parting ways with Juugo and Suigetsu, Sheng Hua arrived near Konohagakure. He wished to see the village where Sasuke once lived.
Coincidentally, a green-haired girl was slowly walking towards him. The girl wore a smile, which brightened Sheng Hua's mood considerably.
"Big brother, why are you here so late?"
"Little sister, where do you want to go so late? It's not very peaceful outside these days!" Sheng Hua lowered his head, looking at the girl before him, and spoke in a gentle tone.
Molly pointed her finger towards the direction of the battlefield. "I want to go there. I'm going to see my brother and father. My heart senses that father will die, so I'm going to have my brother save him."
"Big brother, are you troubled? I can feel it. I was born unable to see, so I have a special ability. Only when I met my brother could I see this world."
Upon hearing Molly's words, Sheng Hua spoke of something that had troubled him since birth.
"When I was born, my life force was insufficient to survive, so I absorbed my mother's life. But before she died, she still wore a smile, as if to say, 'I'm so glad you can live.'"
"I don't understand why. Sacrificing one's life to save another, what is the meaning of that? One life for another, and eventually, one will still die. Father also blames me for killing mother and threw me into the river. I survived by absorbing the life of fish."
"I've always felt that sacrificing one life to save another is unfair to the life that died. I've been troubled by this question lately."
The meaning of life was still a bit too complex for Molly, but she clearly understood why Sheng Hua's mother had smiled.
"Big brother, I don't quite understand what you're talking about either, but I know your mother did it out of love. Sacrificing herself for someone else, all because of love or bonds. The beauty of the world is precisely because it is full of love. If you truly come to love or bond with someone, perhaps you too would sacrifice yourself."
Sheng Hua looked ahead, contemplating. "Love and bonds? I've never been loved since birth. Lord Orochimaru only wanted to study me, and Sasuke only used me."
"Big brother, your mother loved you very much! I don't know the other two you mentioned, but if you had shared life-and-death experiences, you would have built deep bonds. And if I could sacrifice myself to save my family, I think I would be very happy. At that moment, I would probably understand the troubles you mentioned."
Sheng Hua pondered Molly's words thoughtfully. Though not entirely clear, he knew he would understand one day.
"Thank you, little girl. I feel much better. It's dangerous outside, you should go back quickly!" Sheng Hua then flew towards the battlefield, thinking that perhaps he could find an answer there.
Molly smiled and, ignoring Sheng Hua's words, continued walking towards the battlefield, heading in the direction where Li Xing was.
...
"Minato Namikaze, wake up!" Li Xing clapped his hands gently, and Minato Namikaze's consciousness suddenly cleared. He saw a white-haired youth before him and a white-haired man lying down.
"This is... It seems you've revived me!" Minato Namikaze sensed his surroundings and felt the Nine-Tails' chakra in the distance, realizing he must be in the real world.
"No, no, this isn't revival, it's the Impure World Reincarnation. I'm your son's friend, Li Xing. Do you know how your son has been living in Konoha?" Li Xing waved his hand and then spoke of Naruto's childhood experiences: being isolated, being despised. Although it wouldn't happen now, the experiences would forever leave a scar on his soul.
"Is that so? Naruto went through so much! It's good that Naruto has grown now." Minato Namikaze didn't blame the Konoha villagers. He was only proud of his son, who had grown into a remarkable hero in adversity.
Li Xing rubbed his forehead, speechless. With such an optimistic mindset, it was no wonder Naruto was also so positive and upward-looking.
"Hey, don't you think the villagers of Konoha owe you and Naruto?"
"No, if anyone is to blame, it's me, for sealing the Nine-Tails within Naruto, failing to give him a perfect childhood. The Nine-Tails incident actually had a mastermind behind it. A masked man controlled the Nine-Tails. Kushina and I entrusted our hopes to Naruto. We both believed in Naruto, because he is our son."
"Damn it, you're truly impenetrable!" Li Xing slapped his thigh. Minato's character was too good! He didn't have a hint of resentment. This kind of gentleness could probably only be matched by that kid Tanjiro.
"I won't talk to you anymore. Let's switch."
Saying that, Li Xing took out Kushina's remains and began the Impure World Reincarnation in front of Minato. Soon, Kushina appeared before the two.
However, as soon as Kushina saw Minato, she rushed into his arms. They spoke at length before finally discussing Naruto.
Minato recounted everything Li Xing had told him to Kushina. Upon hearing it, Kushina's face darkened.
"That damn Third Hokage, letting Naruto drink expired milk! Naruto still needs to grow, and he can't just eat ramen every day, he needs to eat more meat and vegetables! And Naruto couldn't make friends, it's all your fault, Minato, for sealing the Nine-Tails into Naruto!"
Listening to Kushina's tirade, Li Xing was a bit envious. If only someone would talk to him like that.
Minato awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Perhaps Naruto was trying to save money and didn't finish the milk early. Maybe we're overthinking things..."
"Ah, sorry, we were so busy talking that we forgot about you. Thank you for bringing us back to the world, but we need to see our son now. Can we?" Kushina apologized to Li Xing and requested to see Naruto.
Li Xing naturally couldn't refuse such a request. He immediately explained that there was a war going on and Naruto was fighting on the battlefield.
After hearing this, Minato and Kushina's expressions became very serious. Both were worried about their son, and Minato was also concerned about the war.
"If you want to go, go soon. Your bodies are from the Impure World Reincarnation, and although you won't die, be very careful not to touch the Truth-Seeking Orbs. Otherwise, your souls will dissipate. They are like this." Saying so, Li Xing formed a Truth-Seeking Orb and showed it to them, so they wouldn't accidentally get their heads blown off during battle.
"Oh, wait, there's this too. Your son hasn't seen his parents since birth. You should give Naruto some gifts, right? This is for you."
Li Xing took out the scarf that Karura had given him. It carried a mother's love, and it would be most fitting for Kushina to give it to Naruto.
Kushina immediately recognized that the scarf was a gift from a mother to Li Xing. She refused to accept it and pushed it back.
"Was this scarf given to you by your mother? You should keep it. We'll prepare gifts for Naruto. You take good care of it! Never underestimate a mother!"
Li Xing was stunned. Kushina said the same words as Karura. Then, Li Xing couldn't help but shed tears and softly said, "Mom..."
Hearing Li Xing's whisper, audible only to ants, Kushina immediately understood Li Xing's experience. He looked about Naruto's age and was a child who had lost his mother. She immediately hugged Li Xing and gently patted his back.
"There, there..."
Li Xing suddenly came to his senses, got up abruptly, and wiped away his tears. "I'm sorry, I lost my composure. Please go to the battlefield quickly, Naruto is still fighting."
"Thank you, Li Xing." Minato embraced Kushina and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to travel. Finally, Li Xing saw Kushina's gentle smile.
"It's so good to have such loving parents."
"Stars..."