Naruto, my father's name is Uchiha Madara.

Page 190

Chapter 214 I will tell him myself later.

Within the Uchiha clan, towering clan crests and round fans are ubiquitous, and the architectural style is simple yet solemn, exuding a profound sense of history.

Most of the tribespeople walking on the streets wore dark clothing bearing their tribal emblem.

His expression carried the unique restraint of the Uchiha clan and a hint of barely perceptible pride.

Compared to the hustle and bustle of other areas of the village, this place appears exceptionally quiet and orderly.

Sasuke carried Naruto on his back and skillfully navigated through several alleys until they arrived at a spacious and elegant mansion.

This is his home.

He had just unlocked the door with his key, preparing to carry Naruto into the guest room, when two familiar voices came from the doorway.

"Sasuke, we're back!"

A gentle, calm male voice rang out; it was the older brother, Uchiha Itachi.

He had just finished a short mission, and his face showed signs of travel fatigue, but his eyes remained clear and deep.

"Sasuke! I've come to see you!"

The other is a clear and lively female voice.

Sasuke turned around and saw a girl with a neat ponytail, a bright smile, and wearing dark clothing commonly seen in the Uchiha clan.

It was Uchiha Izumi, Itachi's classmate during his time at the Ninja Academy, and also one of the best among the younger generation of the Uchiha clan.

Izumi has a cheerful and warm personality, and to Sasuke, she's like having a kind older sister.

"Sister Izumi." Sasuke nodded, as if to say hello.

"Oh dear, Sasuke, is that... Naruto-kun you're carrying?"

Izumi curiously leaned closer, and when she saw the face of the blond boy on Sasuke's back, she asked in surprise, "What happened to him? Is he injured?"

His tone was filled with genuine concern.

"Yes, I overexerted myself during the mission and am resting."

Sasuke spoke succinctly, carrying Naruto towards the guest room: "Brother, please open the guest room door for me."

Itachi nodded and quickly stepped forward to help.

The two of them worked together to carefully place Naruto on the bed in the guest room and covered him with a blanket.

Naruto was sleeping soundly, breathing evenly, but his face was still a little pale.

After settling Naruto in, the three returned to the living room. Izumi slapped his forehead in annoyance: "Ah! Speaking of which, even Shisui came to your family's gathering last time, but I had to take on an escort mission out of the village, so I completely missed it!"

"What a pity!"

She felt a pang of heartache when she thought about the lively gathering she missed last time, especially the delicious food that Aunt Mikoto cooked.

Seeing the regretful look on Izumi's face, Itachi smiled gently and said, "In that case, you can eat here today."

"My mission is finished now, and Mom will be happy to have you here."

"Really? Itachi! You're so kind!"

Quan's eyes lit up instantly, as happy as a child who had received candy.

She instinctively grabbed Itachi's arm and shook it, her face beaming with undisguised joy.

Sasuke watched silently from the side.

Izumi's affection for her older brother is hardly a secret within the Uchiha clan.

Itachi was also very kind to Izumi, gentle and polite, patiently answering her questions about ninjutsu and offering help when she encountered difficulties.

However, Sasuke keenly noticed that the way Itachi looked at Izumi was very similar to the way Itachi looked at him.

It was a brother's tolerance, care, and gentle doting towards his sister.

But what it lacks is the thrill and special feelings that lovers should have.

Izumi gave him a warm hug, but Itachi simply smiled and patted her shoulder naturally.

He gestured for her to let go, then turned and went to the kitchen to help.

Izumi watched Itachi's retreating figure, her smile still bright, but a hint of barely perceptible disappointment seemed to flicker deep in her eyes.

Sasuke couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Sigh... I wonder when my blockhead brother will realize Izumi-neechan's feelings."

He felt that Sister Quan's journey might still be very long.

Meanwhile, inside the huge Japanese-style room inside Naruto's body,

Crimson chakra flowed slowly through the space like lava, exuding a violent yet warm aura.

The enormous body of the nine-tailed creature lay lazily behind the iron gate, its nine tails swaying unconsciously.

Minato Namikaze's soul sat cross-legged near Naruto's consciousness, eyes closed and focused, seemingly guarding him.

Suddenly, the nine-tailed fox's enormous ears twitched, and its crimson beast eyes opened.

Looking into the depths of space at the illusory soul of Uchiha Madara, suspended in the air.

Ban remained in a pensive posture with his arms crossed, like an unchanging statue.

But at this moment, his tightly furrowed brows seemed to twitch slightly, and his tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

"Old man, you're finally awake!"

Nine-Tails' voice, like muffled thunder, echoed in the space, carrying a hint of...concern?

Ban's ethereal soul seemed somewhat stagnant. He shook his head, as if trying to dispel a sense of heaviness.

Her voice was slightly hoarse and confused, as if she had just woken up: "Did I...sleep for a long time?"

Minato, who was standing to the side, also opened his eyes and replied gently, "It hasn't been long. It's only been two days since we last met with the First Hokage in the consciousness space."

"What?! Two days?!"

Ban's voice suddenly rose, filled with disbelief and shock.

He clearly remembered that after his last conversation with Hashirama, he felt an unprecedented spiritual exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

But he thought only a few hours had passed at most!

This was simply unbelievable to him!

Given the strength of his soul and willpower, he had almost never experienced such a long period of deep sleep!

The nine-tailed creature's enormous head drew closer, its beastly eyes flashing with a serious light: "What happened to you?"

"Naruto had a pretty good fight with that rascal snake halfway through, and it was quite a commotion. How come you didn't even wake up? That's not like you."

He raised his soul arm, staring at the slightly illusory fingers, his brows furrowed.

A deep sense of weariness lingered in his soul like a maggot clinging to his bones.

It felt even heavier than before I fell asleep.

This feeling of weakness was extremely unfamiliar to him and...unsettling.

"……I have no idea."

Ban's voice lowered, filled with deep confusion and a hint of weakness that even he himself was unwilling to admit.

"I just feel... very tired, extremely tired."

"Ever since the last time... when I controlled Naruto's body to fight that Otsutsuki, I've always felt..."

He recalled that in the Land of Snow, he had temporarily taken control of Naruto's body in order to eliminate Urashiki, and ever since then he had felt very tired.

Minato astutely grasped the key point in Madara's words: "Madara-senpai, are you saying that you used the power of your soul's origin to interfere with Naruto's body?"

Madara didn't answer directly, which was tantamount to admitting it. He waved his hand irritably: "Perhaps the burden on Naruto's soul caused by repeatedly controlling his body exceeded my expectations."

"This fatigue is getting worse, which is why I need this... damn sleep to recover."

He loathed this uncontrolled state of weakness.

Nine-Tails' crimson eyes were fixed on Madara's illusory soul, and an unprecedented solemnity appeared on its enormous beast face.

As the most powerful tailed beast, it has an extremely keen sense of soul and chakra.

It could see the originally solid and powerful phantom of Ban's soul.

The edges seemed even more blurred than before, and the mental fluctuations emanating from it carried a lingering weariness.

"You..." Nine-Tails' voice was low and serious, "Your soul... is being consumed?"

Madara abruptly looked up, his sharp Mangekyou Sharingan staring directly at Kurama, a warning in his eyes: "Don't tell Naruto about this!"

His tone was firm and unquestionable: "That kid... is deep-seated and prone to overthinking."

"If he knew that I helped him... he'd probably feel so guilty, crying and sobbing, it'd be so annoying!"

He tried to mask what lay beneath his words with his usual indifference and disdain.

Nine-Tails remained silent.

Its enormous beastly eyes met Ban's soul-eye.

It knew Madara was right. Naruto, though seemingly carefree, was more loyal and righteous than anyone else, and cherished those he respected.

If he knew that Madara's soul might be damaged or even dissipated because of him, he would definitely be plunged into immense self-blame and pain.

"What are you going to do?"

Nine-Tails' voice carried a hint of helplessness: "It's impossible to keep it a secret forever."

"This kind of exhaustion... doesn't seem to be temporary. You can't hide your condition for long. Naruto may be slow to react, but he's not stupid. He'll realize something's wrong sooner or later."

Ban's illusory soul fell silent once more. He looked out of the sealed space, as if he could see the sleeping blond boy outside.

He slowly closed his eyes, as if sensing Naruto's steady breathing and the vibrant life force within him.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying an almost ethereal calm: "Let's leave it at that for now, I'll... figure something out."

"At least, before we see him grow up..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Minato and Kurama both sensed the unfulfilled determination in his words.