Naruto: We Agreed on a Simulation, But They Actually Came to Life?

Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Your Big Sister is Back

The next morning, when Kitahara Kaede woke up, his head felt heavy.

Outside the window, the sky had already brightened. He sat on the edge of his bed, motionless for a long time. He couldn’t remember exactly when he had fallen asleep last night.

Normally, he would have already started his training at the grounds by this time. But today, he just sat there, his mind consumed by questions regarding his memories.

After a moment of reflection, Kaede pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose.

Whether Tsunade had her full memories or not, this was not something that could be solved by avoidance. He stood up, walked into the bathroom, and turned on the faucet. Cold water splashed against his face.

The youth in the mirror looked pale, with faint dark circles under his eyes.

Kaede stared at his reflection. First, he needed to confirm Kato Dan’s marital status. If Dan’s wife really was Tsunade, then he had to suppress every single one of his reactions. No matter how real those years in the simulation felt, he couldn’t let them destroy a relationship that already existed in reality.

After changing his clothes, Kaede stepped outside. After walking through two blocks, he suddenly came to a halt. He stood by the roadside in silence for a few seconds, bringing a hand up to lean against his forehead.

He realized he had no idea where Kato Dan lived.

Under normal circumstances, such a basic mistake would never happen. Kaede lowered his hand and pressed his temple. The situation with Tsunade had already cluttered his mind enough to impair his judgment.

A familiar voice called out from behind him.

"Kaede?"

Kaede turned around. Minato was standing at the street corner, holding several scrolls; it looked like he was on his way to the Hokage Building. He glanced at Kaede, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Did you not sleep well last night?"

Kaede nodded. "A little."

Minato didn’t press further, his tone remaining gentle. "Where are you headed?"

Kaede paused for a beat. "I want to pay a visit to Senior Kato Dan."

Minato looked slightly surprised. "Senior Dan?"

"Yes. Back on the Western Front, it was thanks to his letter of recommendation that I was able to be promoted to Chunin so quickly after returning to the village." Kaede’s voice was steady. "I haven’t had the chance to formally thank him since I got back."

He paused. "However, I just realized that I don’t actually know where his house is."

Minato froze for a second, then smiled. "You have moments like this too?"

Kaede didn’t argue. "Everyone makes mistakes."

Minato’s smile widened. "I ran into Senior Dan during a meeting a few days ago. He’s in the village now. His house is over on East Street. There’s a large locust tree in front, with a red mailbox beside it. You should be able to find it."

Kaede committed the location to memory. "Thank you, Lord Minato."

Minato lifted the scrolls in his hand. "Then go on ahead. I still have to stop by the Hokage Building."

Kaede nodded. "Yes."

The two parted ways at the street corner. After walking a few paces, Kaede looked back. Minato’s silhouette quickly disappeared around the bend.

Kaede’s gaze lingered on those scrolls for a moment. Minato had likely already grasped the leads regarding the Sunagakure anomalies mentioned in the kitchen last night.

Drawing his gaze back, Kaede stopped at a roadside fruit stall and bought a bag of fruit.

On the way to East Street, he repeatedly adjusted his emotions. If the person who opened the door was Tsunade, he would use the excuse of "visiting a former commanding officer" to make his exit. He couldn’t linger; he couldn’t let her notice anything unusual.

East Street wasn’t far. When Kaede found the locust tree, his pace slowed. The red mailbox was right by the door. He stood at the entrance, fruit in hand, but he hesitated to knock.

He suddenly realized that what he truly feared wasn’t that Tsunade didn’t remember him. If she didn’t remember, things would actually be simpler. He could continue to suppress everything.

But what if she did remember? What if she carried those twenty years of memories while simultaneously living another complete life in reality?

What would that make him? Someone who shouldn’t exist.

Kaede lowered his eyes. His grip on the bag of fruit tightened slightly, then slowly relaxed.

’I’ll confirm first, then decide what to do.’

He paused in front of the door for a few seconds before knocking.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Footsteps soon echoed from inside. Kaede’s heart skipped a beat. His exit strategy was already rehearsed in his mind: if Tsunade opened the door, the first sentence would be an apology for the intrusion, the second would explain his purpose, and the third would be leaving the fruit before departing.

The lock turned. The door opened.

The person standing there was Kato Dan.

Kaede felt a surge of relief. Maintaining a neutral expression, he bowed slightly. "Senior Dan, sorry to disturb you."

Dan looked surprised to see him. "Kitahara Kaede?"

"Yes." Kaede held up the fruit. "You took care of me on the Western Front; I haven’t had the chance to thank you properly."

Dan took the fruit, his expression warm. "Come in and sit down. You’re being too polite; I didn’t do much."

Kaede took off his shoes and entered the house. As he sat down, his eyes quickly scanned the living room. The house was simple and tidy. There was nothing that could immediately confirm a specific identity, but a lack of evidence didn’t prove anything either.

Dan poured a glass of water and placed it in front of him. "How have you been lately?"

"I’m doing well." Kaede took the glass. "Since becoming a Chunin, I’ve had a few more missions."

Dan sat opposite him and smiled. "Your promotion was earned through your own merit. I simply wrote down what I saw."

Kaede looked at him. "Your evaluation must have been very high."

Dan shook his head. "I didn’t exaggerate. Your composure and judgment are rare on the battlefield, especially for someone your age."

Kaede took a sip of water and didn’t pursue the topic. He set the glass down and spoke casually. "I’ve always lived alone, and sometimes the house feels a bit too quiet." He looked at Dan. "Do you also live alone, Senior Dan?"

Dan answered naturally. "No, I live with my wife."

Kaede’s grip on the glass lightened for a split second. The surface of the water trembled and then quickly settled. He looked up, his expression unchanged.

"I see."

Dan didn’t notice anything unusual. "She went out this morning for some errands."

Kaede stared at the rim of the glass. "Is she also a shinobi?"

"In a sense." Dan smiled. "She works at the hospital, so these things are quite normal."

The water Kaede had just swallowed went down the wrong pipe. He turned his head and coughed.

Dan immediately stood up. "Are you alright?"

Kaede waved him off. "I’m fine, I just drank too fast."

Dan handed him a tissue. "Your complexion isn’t great today either. Did you not sleep last night?"

Kaede wiped the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, a little."

*Works at the hospital. Went out this morning.*

Tsunade had also mentioned last night that she had surgery this morning.

The timing matched. The profession matched.

Kaede clenched the tissue in his hand. He reminded himself rationally that there was more than one person working at the Konoha Hospital. But that thought couldn’t suppress the suffocating tightness in his chest.

Kaede stood up. "Senior Dan, I won’t disturb you any further."

Dan glanced at the clock on the wall. "Leaving already?"

"Yes, I just came to say thank you."

Dan smiled. "It’s almost noon. Stay for lunch."

Kaede froze.

Dan’s voice was gentle. "She should be back soon. She’s a good cook; you should give her food a try."

Kitahara Kaede gripped the paper in his hand tighter.

It really was quite good. He had already eaten it yesterday.

As that thought flashed through his mind, the heaviness in his chest intensified.

He knew that leaving now would be easy. But if he left, the question would only continue to haunt him, tormenting him indefinitely.

It was better to confirm it with his own eyes today.

Kitahara Kaede sat back down.

"Then, thank you for your hospitality."

Duan nodded. "It’s no trouble at all."

The wait wasn’t long, yet to Kitahara Kaede, it felt more agonizing than a high-risk reconnaissance mission.

Dan tidied the table and began to chat casually about daily life.

"She’s very diligent," Dan remarked. "If the hospital calls her on short notice, she usually drops everything to go."

Kitahara Kaede listened intently.

’Similar.’

’Too similar.’

Duan continued, "Though she’s more impatient than I am. Sometimes she comes home complaining about patients who won’t listen."

Kitahara Kaede’s gaze flickered.

’That’s similar, too.’

Dan gave a small smile. "But she’s soft-hearted. She’ll grumble about the hassle, but when things get serious, she’ll stick with it until the very end."

Kitahara Kaede looked down at the surface of the water in his glass.

Every word spoken was leaning toward the worst possible conclusion. Yet, none of this was proof. It couldn’t provide the final answer.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

Dan looked up. "That should be her."

Dan stood up to open the door. As the hinges creaked softly, a woman’s voice drifted in from outside. It wasn’t loud, and the distance made her words indistinct.

Dan exchanged a few smiling words with her before leading her toward the living room.

The sound of footsteps grew closer.

Kitahara Kaede looked up. Dan entered first and stepped aside to make room.

He spoke with a smile, "Your big sister is back."

Kitahara Kaede looked toward the door.

In that moment, his breath stopped.