Chapter 153: The Guilt

Even after some time passed, most of them still wore expressions of disbelief. The air felt heavier than a genjutsu field.

Then, breaking the silence—

"Mom, I'm hungry. Got anything to eat?" Naruto asked casually, stretching his arms with a yawn.

Everyone slowly turned to him, blinking in unison. Their expressions were like: Bro... right now?

Hinata muttered under her breath, "Naruto-kun, now's really not the time…"

Karin facepalmed. "We just found out Mikoto-san and Fugaku-san are alive, or something close to it… and you're thinking about dinner?"

"I mean," Naruto shrugged, "we've got guests. Talking's easier with food. Stomachs full, minds calm. That's what Jiraiya-sensei always said—well, something like that."

Kushina let out a tired sigh but nodded. "Alright, alright. I'll bring out the dinner. Everyone, help me set the table."

As the girls moved to help Kushina, Naruto leaned back lazily, hands behind his head.

"By the way, Mom—where's Haku? Haven't seen her since morning."

"She left early for training," Kushina's voice echoed from the kitchen. "Still hasn't returned."

Naruto nodded silently, his expression thoughtful for a moment.

As plates clinked and food was laid out, Mikoto glanced up from where she was helping. "Naruto, where's Sasuke? Why isn't he with you?"

Fugaku's eyes sharpened with the same question. "He's not the type to skip important moments."

Naruto let out a small sigh. "He left right after the preliminaries. Said he needed time alone… training, mostly."

Mikoto frowned, but nodded. "Typical."

Fugaku closed his eyes for a moment, arms crossed. "That boy… always chasing strength. Just like I used to."

Naruto didn't reply. But his smile had faded, and a quiet shadow passed through his gaze.

As everyone gathered around the table, there was still a lingering caution in the air. Despite Fugaku and Mikoto's lighthearted antics, most of the group still eyed them like they might poof into chakra smoke at any moment.

Just then, the front door creaked open again.

Two more figures entered—Haku and Sasuke, back from their intense training session. Haku's long hair was slightly messy, cheeks flushed from exertion, and Sasuke followed close behind, silent and composed as ever.

The moment Haku spotted Naruto at the dinner table, a rush of emotions overtook her. She bolted forward without hesitation and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Naruto… you're okay," she whispered, burying her face into his back.

Naruto smiled and looked over his shoulder. "Haku, you're back. Come sit down—there's food for everyone."

Mikoto tilted her head curiously. "Oh? Who's this lovely young woman?"

Sasuke, hearing her voice, froze mid-step. His eyes widened. That voice… It was impossible. It couldn't be.

Naruto, still calm, gestured toward Haku. "This is Haku Yuki. She's from the Yuki clan. And—yeah—she's my girlfriend."

Haku bowed politely, even though confusion flickered in her eyes. She didn't recognize Mikoto and Fugaku, but she could feel the air tighten around them. If Naruto respected them, so would she.

"Hmph," Mikoto pouted playfully. "You've got all the girls, Naruto. Couldn't you introduce even one to Sasuke?"

Before anyone could chuckle, Sasuke took another step forward. His eyes locked onto Mikoto and Fugaku. His voice came out as a whisper—fragile, trembling.

"…Mom? …Dad?"

His legs gave out.

Sasuke collapsed to the floor, unconscious, tears still streaming down his face.

Mikoto and Fugaku shot up from their seats the instant Sasuke collapsed.

Their son—the boy they left behind five long years ago—was right there, unconscious on the floor, overwhelmed by the sight of them.

Mikoto's hands trembled as she reached for him, her eyes glistening with emotion. Fugaku, ever the composed Uchiha patriarch, bent down and gently lifted Sasuke into his arms, the guilt in his eyes deeper than words could express.

They knew Naruto and Kushina had protected Sasuke, nurtured him, helped him grow in their absence. But even so—parents are irreplaceable. No one knows your heartbeat like the ones who gave it to you.

Fugaku laid Sasuke gently on the couch, brushing a few strands of hair from his son's face.

Tsunade, already walking over, pressed her fingers to Sasuke's pulse, her chakra flowing subtly. "He's okay," she said softly. "His chakra network is strained from training, and seeing you both just overwhelmed his mental reserves. He'll wake up soon."

Both Mikoto and Fugaku exhaled in unison, relief loosening their shoulders.

Then Kushina stepped forward, arms folded, her expression serious. "Alright. You've had your laughs, your jump scares, and your reunions. Now, it's time to explain. How are you two alive?"

Before Mikoto could answer, Naruto held up a hand. "Wait, Mom."

Everyone turned toward him.

"I want all our family and close friends to hear this. If something big is going on—something that brought back Mikoto-obasan and Fugaku-ossan from the dead—then everyone needs to know."

Kushina blinked. And then… she smiled.

"Stubborn, huh?" she said under her breath. "Like mother, like son."

As everyone gathered near the dining table, a quiet voice tugged at the room's attention.

"Mom… don't leave…" Sasuke murmured in his sleep, his hand gently clutching Mikoto's.

Mikoto's eyes softened, her lips curved into a quiet smile. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Looks like I'll be staying right here," she said. "You all go ahead and eat."

Naruto gave her a nod, "Alright," and turned back to the table with the others.

Fugaku sat beside Mikoto without a word. He didn't need one. His gaze lingered on Sasuke's sleeping face, tracing the changes that five years had carved into his son's features.

"He really grew up," Fugaku murmured, voice low. "The last time I saw him, he was just a boy—carefree, loud, always running around the compound with Itachi or clinging to your kimono…"

Mikoto nodded, her fingers brushing through Sasuke's hair. "He's strong now. But he's still our little boy."

Fugaku's throat tightened, but he held back the emotion. It wasn't weakness—it was pride, grief, and everything in between.

In that moment, the quiet of the living room felt warmer than it had in years.

While one side of the house glowed with long-lost warmth, the other side? Pure, unfiltered chaos.

Naruto was wolfing down food like he'd just survived a week in the Forest of Death with only bark and chakra fumes.

"I got it covered, okay?" he said, mouth half-full of rice. "I sent my clones to fetch everyone important. Once they're here, we're laying it all out—what happened back then, what's happening now, and what we need to do next."

The others exchanged glances and nodded. They trusted him. Sort of. They'd at least learned to trust Naruto's chaos.

Meanwhile, poof!

His clones completed their mission, tapping on shoulders and vanishing, teleporting the summoned crowd straight into the middle of the house's living room like a surprise stage entrance.

The newly arrived—Kakashi, Kurenai, Anko, and Yugao—blinked at the scene in front of them.

There sat Mikoto Uchiha. Next to her, Fugaku Uchiha. Alive. Real. Not genjutsu. Not Edo Tensei.

Even Kakashi, ever the cool-headed shinobi, had his visible eye widen like Jiraiya just declared Icha Icha paraside was cancelled forever.

"…Naruto," Kurenai said, voice sharp but laced with concern. "What in the world is going on here?"

Naruto waved them over casually like he was calling friends over for party night. "Kurenai-sensei! Anko! Yugao-sensei! Kakashi! Come here to the dining room—we've got food, and trust me, we've got stories."