Chat Group Escanor 16 (Patreon)

Escanor turned to Minato, speaking in a casual tone, "Speaking of which, I actually do have a small matter and might need you to do me a small favor."

Hearing this, Minato's just-relaxed heartstrings tightened slightly.

Facing such an unfathomable powerhouse who suppressed Nine-Tails with a mere gesture, the "small favor" proposed by the other party was probably anything but simple.

He cautiously replied, "Please speak, Pride-san. As long as it is within our power, Konoha will definitely do its utmost."

Escaron saw his tension and didn't beat around the bush, stating directly, "I need a batch of food and water."

"Ah?"

Minato was stunned for a moment, as if he hadn't expected the other party's request to be so... down-to-earth?

Given the power displayed by the other party, he had originally thought it would be demanding some secret technique, forbidden ninjutsu, rare materials, or even intelligence regarding Tailed Beasts or Kekkei Genkai.

As a result, they only wanted food and water?

But quickly, Minato reacted, and his heart relaxed. Food was easy to talk about, and water went without saying.

He hurriedly nodded, his tone lightening up a bit. "So it's just food and water. That's no problem. The Land of Fire is rich in products, and Konoha also has its own reserve granary and logistics system. How much do you need? What kind of categories approximately? I can immediately begin arranging and allocating them."

Seeing Minato be so straightforward, Escanor showed a slight smile. "I will discuss the specific quantity with you in detail later. How about this, the transaction details can be communicated through Kushina-san's Chat Group. You can also make a list to see what you have a surplus of over there, or what specialty products you have, and let me take a look first."

"Alright." Minato readily agreed.

Being able to use supplies to repay this life-saving grace was, for him and Konoha, the best possible choice. This was far more reassuring than owing an immeasurable favor or handing over core secrets.

Just at this moment, a loud baby crying sound came from beside them.

It turned out that little Naruto, protected in the swaddling clothes to the side by Minato with a simple barrier, had woken up.

Although Kushina was still weak and pale, upon hearing her child's cry, she struggled to sit up.

Minato hurriedly went over to support her and carefully held the swaddled baby into her arms.

Kushina looked down at the wrinkled little face in her arms that made her heart melt.

She softly hummed a tune, wiping away the tear stains on the child's face with her finger.

Naruto's crying gradually turned into soft whimpers, and he opened his blue eyes, looking curiously at his mother.

Escaron walked over, standing a bit further away, watching this scene.

Escanor's tone carried a trace of imperceptible playfulness, "Yellow hair... it's very similar to a boy I know."

He was referring to Naruto in the Chat Group, but Minato and Kushina at this moment naturally did not know.

Hearing this, Minato and Kushina exchanged a smile, full of relief from surviving a catastrophe, the joy brought by new life, and the pride and love of being parents.

Minato laughed, lowering his head to gently look at the child in his wife's arms.

Escaron asked as if making casual conversation, "Have you chosen a name for the child yet?"

Minato and Kushina locked eyes, their eyes filled with tacit understanding and love.

Minato smiled, saying solemnly, "Our child is related to a book written by my teacher."

Kushina leaned in his arms, looking at Uzumaki Naruto's avatar in the Chat Group interface.

Unless one specifically concentrated and clicked on the avatar, or saw the ID when joining the group, under normal circumstances only the avatar could be seen. Kushina still didn't know the ID of the blond boy in the group.

Kushina parted her lips slightly, announcing, "His name is—"

At the same time, the Chat Group captured and synchronously transmitted it.

Far away in Konoha on another timeline, a blonde boy curled up alone in his apartment, nervously staring at the Chat Group interface.

Naruto saw the latest message sent by "Red-Hot Habanero" in the group.

"Naruto."

Five-year-old Naruto sat blankly on the cold floor, his eyes wide open.

The same name as mine.

Red-Hot Habanero... Could she be my mom?

Fourth Hokage... Is he my dad?!

They are my parents?! Did they survive in that world?!

Confusion, shock, ecstasy, grievance, disbelief...

Countless emotions breached his mental defenses like a tsunami.

He wanted to rush into that world to ask Red-Hot Habanero clearly, wanting to tell them... Tell them what?

His throat felt as if it was blocked by something, and his fingers trembled as they hovered above the virtual input box, unable to type a single word. Tears welled up uncontrollably, pattering down onto the cold floor.

In the year 48 of Konoha, the atmosphere was similarly subtle.

After hearing that name, Escanor appropriately revealed a hint of surprise on his face, as if he had just realized some interesting connection.

"This name..."

He raised his eyebrows slightly, looking at Minato and Kushina, his tone carrying a trace of playfulness. "It's identical to the name of a boy I know. He's called Uzumaki Naruto, and he's an orphan."

"Uzumaki... Orphan..."

The smiles on Minato's and Kushina's faces instantly froze.

Kushina's surname, the same name, yet... an orphan?

The little baby beside them, the newborn child was named Namikaze Naruto, but that child had the surname Uzumaki. This definitely couldn't be a coincidence.

Kushina's body trembled visibly to the naked eye. She tightly hugged the warm body of the little Naruto in her arms, as if trying to draw strength from this real touch to fight against those terrifying words.

Her eyes turned to Escanor, filled with eager verification and a trace of fear she hadn't even noticed herself. "You... You went to his place before, I remember. He... That child... How is he doing? Please tell me."

Minato's brows furrowed tightly.

If he were dead, logically the Third Hokage should properly take care of their child.

Was there some change, or had he failed to see the Third Hokage clearly from the very beginning?

Facing their anxious and earnest gazes, Escanor stated calmly, "He lives a relatively tight life, living in a small apartment and surviving on some money given by the Third Hokage, though it's not abundant. He also doesn't know the identity of his parents. He doesn't have many friends, and the looks most villagers give him carry alienation and malice. Oh right!"

He seemed to remember something and added, "He is also being watched, with eyes always in the dark."

"However, I left him some money, so his life shouldn't have too many problems recently."

Every single sentence was like a knife cutting into Minato's and Kushina's hearts.

Hard-pressed, an orphan, not knowing his parents, having no friends, the villagers' malice, being watched...

Kushina couldn't imagine that her child in another world, who was enthusiastic and cheerful in the Chat Group and worried about them, was living such a helpless and hostility-filled life in another world.

That child was just like the child in her arms—they were both her Naruto!

Minato's expression sank, his face covered with a layer of frost.

Imagining his own passing, he could understand a part of Naruto's current situation, but... living conditions this harsh?

Disliked by the villagers?

This was definitely not what he and Kushina had hoped to see when they sacrificed themselves. This deviated from their original intention of protecting the village and protecting the future.

"How could this be..." Minato's voice carried suppressed anger and deep disappointment.

"Is this... the Third Hokage's decision?"

Escanor shrugged, "I wouldn't know that. That's a matter of your world, another timeline. Perhaps..."

He gave Minato a meaningful look. "You should have a chance to go and see for yourself."

Go and see for yourself.

Looking at little Naruto in their arms who was giggling and completely oblivious to his parents' conversation, and thinking of the "Uzumaki Naruto" in the Chat Group who cried alone and bore everything that shouldn't have belonged to him, a strong urge grew within their hearts—they had to know the truth!

They had to change that child's destiny!

They had to do something!

Kushina bit her lower lip to keep herself from choking out a sob. She lowered her head, kissing little Naruto's forehead over and over again, as if trying to convey all her love and apologies over to that son on another timeline whom she could not reach at this moment.

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Escanor timely proposed to take his leave.

"Matters here are concluded, I'll be leaving first. Remember the trade we agreed upon, prepare the material list as soon as possible."

This reminder temporarily pulled the couple's thoughts back to reality.

"As for that Naruto in the group chat, communicate with him however you see fit. That's a matter between you two."

Finished speaking, he communicated with the Chat Group via his mind, confirmed the task was complete, and chose to return.

A white-gold radiance enveloped him. His figure rapidly faded and disappeared.

Minato and Kushina had too many things to ask, too many things to do, but first, they needed to talk to that child.