Multiversal Chat Group: The Cultivator

On the side of the street, one man was desperately begging, while the other righteously refused.

But to everyone passing by, Ren Asakura seemed to be talking to himself.

People started whispering, thinking he might be a lunatic.

Eventually, the Fourth Hokage arrived.

"What are you two arguing about?"

Ren Asakura cleared his throat.

"We're discussing your teacher's literary masterpiece."

Hearing that, Namikaze Minato immediately understood.

As Jiraiya's student, he knew exactly what kind of books his sensei wrote.

For many, they were… educational.

How were Naruto and his children conceived?

A significant part of that knowledge could be attributed to Icha Icha Paradise.

In fact, in the Naruto epilogue, Naruto himself continued writing Icha Icha Paradise, successfully preventing a war in the process.

Truly, the student had surpassed the master.

Minato forced a smile.

"You probably don't have a place to stay right now, do you, Ren? Why don't you come to my house? It's not too big, but it's cozy."

Ren thought for a moment. He really didn't have anywhere to stay.

"Sounds good!"

Seeing Minato had joined the conversation, Lu Mingfei decided to drop his request for "resources."

And so, Ren Asakura followed Minato home.

---

It was a simple two-story house—not too big, but warm and inviting.

Minato cherished this little home.

Because this was where his family was.

If only this happiness could last forever…

Ren suddenly recalled Tsunade's Infinite Tsukuyomi dream world.

A world where the Fourth Hokage never died.

Where the Uchiha clan was never massacred.

Where Uzumaki Naruto, though mischievous, lived a happy life.

Minato opened the door and let out a small sigh.

The weight of being Hokage was gone.

Right now, he wasn't the village's leader—he was just a husband.

A gentle and devoted man.

"I'm home!"

"Welcome back, Minato! You must be tired."

A soft voice came from inside.

Uzumaki Kushina emerged from the room, a warm smile on her face, her large pregnant belly showing clearly.

When she wasn't angry, this red-haired beauty had an incredibly gentle side.

Minato's expression softened as he looked at her.

"You shouldn't be moving around so much while pregnant. You need to rest more!"

Kushina rolled her eyes.

"I'm not that fragile!"

"Yes, yes, my Red Hot-Blooded Habanero is the strongest," Minato said playfully, his voice filled with affection.

Kushina blushed slightly and playfully swatted at him.

"Idiot."

Damn it. These two are merciless!

Ren had barely stepped inside when he was bombarded with sickeningly sweet affection.

And it wasn't just a little bit—it was force-fed.

Lu Mingfei took one look at the scene and immediately bailed.

If he stayed any longer, his heart might not be able to take it.

Minato then gently pulled Kushina into an embrace.

The two gazed into each other's eyes, their affection obvious.

Ren coughed awkwardly.

Kushina finally noticed him standing in the doorway.

Without missing a beat, she turned and punched Minato lightly on the head.

Not hard—just a casual, playful hit.

Like a couple teasing each other.

"What do you think you're doing? We have a guest!"

Minato scratched his head awkwardly and turned to Ren Asakura.

"Let me introduce you—this is my friend, Ren Asakura!"

Ren looked at Minato's bright, friendly smile and scoffed.

"Damn it, you finally remembered me. You said you'd invite me for dinner, and instead, the first thing you do is shove a giant mouthful of lovey-dovey nonsense down my throat."

Kushina chuckled, a little embarrassed.

"Sorry about that. Minato's just like this—kind of a goof sometimes."

Ren nodded in understanding.

Kushina, despite her usual temper, was warm and welcoming toward Minato's friends.

"It's been a while since we had a guest over. Go ahead and take a seat."

Since she wasn't in any condition to cook, Minato busied himself in the kitchen.

Feeling a little bored, Kushina gently stroked her belly, smiling as she felt the baby's movement.

"Sorry about this. Normally, I'd be the one making dinner, but with my condition, Minato has to take care of me instead."

Ren waved it off. He understood perfectly well—even if he was single.

Having lived two lifetimes in a world rich with information, he knew a thing or two.

Pregnant women transferred most of their nutrients to their unborn child, which often led to various physical ailments—or even psychological struggles, like prenatal depression.

He looked at her belly and spoke calmly, almost like a blessing.

"I can tell—this child will be strong and healthy. And they'll grow up happy. This time, Minato will protect both of you."

Kushina grinned.

"Yeah! And I'll protect my child too—no matter what!"

Ren smiled faintly.

"You two will make wonderful parents."

Kushina looked down at her belly, her eyes filled with warmth and affection.

Ren thought back to when he first watched Naruto.

Minato and Kushina's deaths had always been one of the most tragic parts of the story.

She suddenly turned to Ren, curiosity in her eyes.

"You don't seem like a ninja… but you don't look like an ordinary villager either."

Ren considered his words before answering.

"I'm not a ninja. Becoming friends with Minato was just a coincidence. But honestly, being a normal person isn't so bad. I'm pretty happy as I am."

Kushina nodded thoughtfully.

"Being an ordinary person isn't bad at all. The ninja world is a mess… always filled with battles that never seem to end."

Ren's voice remained calm, almost distant—like a bystander observing the world from afar.

"As long as people exist, conflict will always follow. The only way to end it is with overwhelming power—like the First Hokage, who used his sheer strength to force peace. But once he died, that peace crumbled.

The other path is revolution and reform… waiting for someone who can truly lead this world into a new era."

Like how Hashirama ended the Warring States period.

But if the world of Naruto was ever going to find true peace, there was still a long road ahead.

After all, fans of Naruto often joked that the entire series was just "Black Zetsu's Mom Rescue Mission."

For a so-called "shonen" anime, the mastermind behind everything—the true villain—was actually Black Zetsu.

A kid who lost his mother.

A kid who would do anything to bring her back.

As long as Black Zetsu was still alive, the ninja world would never know peace.

Kushina sighed.

"Who knows…? You're young, but you sure know a lot. Your parents must be very wise."

Ren thought back to his previous life.

It had been a simple, ordinary life.

And in this life… he had been abandoned as a baby, left at the doorstep of an orphanage.

"I don't have parents. I grew up in an orphanage."

His voice was calm—completely indifferent, as if he were talking about someone else's life.

There was no attachment. No resentment. Just… nothing.

Kushina's expression softened, a trace of sadness in her eyes.

"I'm sorry…"

Ren shook his head.

"It's fine. I don't care either way."

°°°

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