Night.
Inside a small courtyard located in Konoha Village, two figures appeared out of thin air without any warning.
"Having the Flying Thunder God Technique is really convenient, husband, your space ninjutsu is becoming more and more stable." Kushina did not hold back her words of praise, but the only response she received was a cold snort.
Seeing that Ryun still maintained his icy demeanor, Kushina, seeing that no one else was around, decided she was not going to indulge him any longer. "You keep trying to give me that stinky face."
Kushina put her hands on her hips and stared directly at the man in front of her. Before long, Ryun could no longer maintain his cold posture.
"I'm telling you, if you make me unhappy again, I won't go back to the Shadow Mansion with you. I'll just live in the old house with Nanaise from now on." Kushina pinched Ryun's ear and pointed towards their small house as a threat.
"Hurry up and go over. They might be going to sleep soon." Ryun let out a sigh and spoke.
"Then use the technique. What are you standing there like a big fool for?" Kushina scolded with a stern face.
"Uh."
Ryun forcefully threw out a Flying Thunder God kunai. After waiting a few seconds, their figures whooshed and vanished from the spot. When they reappeared, they were already at the entrance of a certain large compound.
The lights were on inside the compound, clearly indicating that the people inside had not yet gone to sleep.
"Maybe I should not go in." Ryun said in a negotiating tone.
Seemingly perceiving her man's awkwardness, Kushina ultimately did not force him to stay. "You go home first. I'll come back to find you later."
"Okay." Ryun nodded. With a Body Flicker, he quietly disappeared from Kushina's sight.
He did not actually go home. Instead, he went to the roof of the large house, and he could clearly hear the sound of a woman crying inside.
Kushina took a deep breath and then knocked on the main gate of the compound. "Is Mikoto home?"
When the person inside heard this familiar voice, the sound of sobbing instantly stopped abruptly. Mikoto immediately ran to the door.
When Mikoto saw Kushina, she instantly burst into tears. The two hugged each other tightly after the door opened.
Sasuke's eyes were also red, clearly having cried not long ago, but in front of others, he actively hid his tears.
Ryun, concealing all his presence, sat casually on the roof. He fused the Mangekyō pupil power while listening to the movements inside the house.
The sound of crying and sobbing continued for a long time. Kushina for a moment did not know how to comfort her. The misfortune of her ill fated close friend made her feel great sympathy and sadness.
Kushina explained to Mikoto and her son the cause of Uchiha Itachi's death, and the 'I'm sorry' that Itachi wanted to convey before his death.
"Itachi. Itachi actually committed suicide. Why did Uncle Ryun. not explain clearly at the time?" Sasuke's emotions seemed somewhat agitated.
Though he would probably never forget that sentence that chilled him to the bone.
A single phrase, 'Those who comply prosper, those who resist. perish,' had scared the young Sasuke into turning and running away. The image of Ryun in his heart transformed from a righteous Dragon God into a terrifying Demon God that made his blood run cold.
Within the ninja world, evaluations of Ryun were always mixed. Some said he was the Dragon God representing peace, others said he was the Demon God bringing chaos to the world. Sasuke knew these evaluations, but he had always believed the Dragon God was righteous. Yet today. he had personally witnessed Ryun's dominance and malevolence.
Fortunately, now hearing Aunt Kushina's explanation, the suspicion and resentment towards Ryun in Sasuke's heart were dispelled. Recalling his own misunderstanding and questioning at the time, Sasuke now felt some regret. Perhaps it was because he had been too unrestrained and disrespectful that he caused Uncle Ryun to say those words.
"He did not explain it clearly then? That bastard really deserves to die. How could he not make such a thing clear to you? Just wait until I get home and deal with him."
Hearing his wife cursing him inside the house, Ryun's originally cold face twitched slightly.
"No. that is not it. It was my misunderstanding of Uncle Ryun at the time, and my attitude was particularly bad. It is not Uncle Ryun's fault for not explaining it clearly to me." Sasuke proactively stepped forward to take the blame.
"I had psychological preparation for Itachi's death for a long time. We do not blame Ryun for this matter." Mikoto said as she wiped away her tears.
She had learned much about the situation on the battlefield in the Land of Rain. Itachi had not held back in killing people from Otogakure. Owing so many lives, it was inevitable that the debt would have to be repaid someday. Being given a chance to commit suicide to atone for his crimes could already be considered merciful from Otogakure.
"Sasuke, come here."
Mikoto called out. Sasuke instinctively came before his mother.
But the next moment, his mother slapped him hard across the face.
Slap.
This slap was very heavy. A very clear handprint instantly appeared on Sasuke's face. He was stunned by this slap for a while, but in the end, Sasuke figured out the reason why his mother hit him.
He had left the Shadow Mansion without a proper goodbye, and after returning home, he told his mother that his brother died at Ryun's hands. This act of not distinguishing right from wrong had undoubtedly angered her.
In front of Kushina, Mikoto felt it was necessary to give Ryun an explanation.
She had sent a letter, and Ryun's family had taken Sasuke into the Shadow Mansion. Not only did they provide him with good food and drink every day, but they also tirelessly taught him skills. Mikoto never expected her child to be so impulsive and immature. At this moment, she was utterly disappointed in Sasuke.
Thinking of this, Mikoto raised her hand high again.
But before the heavy second slap could fall, and before Kushina could stop her, a figure used the Flying Thunder God mark on Kushina and suddenly appeared in front of Mikoto, grabbing her wrist.
"Sorry Mikoto. It was my fault for not explaining the course of events clearly to Sasuke. This matter cannot be blamed on him."
That first slap had ultimately moved him enough to appear.
Ryun's sudden appearance shocked Mikoto, making her cover her mouth with her hand. Even Sasuke took several panicked steps back the next moment.
The previous psychological shadow remained. His fear of Ryun had not completely faded.
"It was also my lack of consideration. I did not take your feelings into account. I did not leave a path to life for Itachi."
"I am sorry."
Faced with Ryun's first apology, Mikoto still seemed a bit at a loss. But when Ryun's second sincere apology was spoken, Mikoto's tears instantly fell uncontrollably.
Remembering that cheerful, smiling girl from back then, and seeing Mikoto's current thin, crying, and haggard appearance, Ryun could not help but feel some sympathy arise in his heart. His hand unconsciously reached out and gently wiped away her tears.
This action instantly caused strong emotional fluctuations within Mikoto.
The next moment, as if guided by a ghost, she threw herself into Ryun's embrace.
Everyone present was surprised by this action of hers, but they simply attributed it to her emotional state being out of control and did not find it inappropriate.
Ryun glanced secretly at Kushina and saw her give a slight nod, clearly not minding this matter. Instead, she seemed to be encouraging him to comfort Mikoto.
And so, the next sentence Ryun spoke caused Mikoto to break down crying loudly, and even Kushina's emotions were strongly stirred.
"It has been years since we last met, yet you have grown much thinner."
A gentle whisper completely detonated all the grievances Mikoto had buried deep in her heart over the years.
"Waaah."
The sound of Mikoto's wailing cries instantly rang out within the room.
Sasuke felt that his mother's crying this time was louder than any time before. This scene felt like a child who had been wronged finding their father to cry to.
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