When Kushina opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling, followed by the sound of loud snoring.
Struggling to sit up, she pulled aside the curtain and found Naruto fast asleep on a small bed nearby. She didn't know what time it was, but given how loudly he was snoring, he must not have slept well.
The door suddenly opened, and when Kushina saw Kimura enter, she relaxed.
"I figured you'd wake up soon, so I came to check. You really are awake, Kushina."
Kimura placed the medicine and medical records aside, then used medical ninjutsu to examine Kushina.
"You're recovering well. After taking the medicine, you can leave the hospital."
Kushina smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Kimura."
"I didn't do much."
Kimura shook his head and sighed. "Your body is almost back to normal health, and the necrosis and aging of your cells have stopped. The issues troubling you are gone—all thanks to that cursed seal on your neck."
Kushina froze for a moment, then subconsciously touched the sore spot on her neck, recalling what had happened before she lost consciousness.
Kimura asked calmly, "That's the same type of seal as Tsunade-sama's. Did you meet him last night, Kushina?"
"Yes, Hyuga Mirai, he..."
Kushina hesitated to recount the events of the previous night. Deep down, she partly agreed with Mirai's suggestion—it could serve as Naruto's last resort—so she didn't want to reveal the details of their conversation.
She had also come to realize that Mirai and Ayaka Uzumaki genuinely didn't care about the Nine-Tails inside Naruto. Otherwise, they could have taken the entire beast away long ago.
"It's fine if you don't want to talk about it. I can't figure that man out either. As long as he didn't intend to harm you, that's enough."
Kimura's mood darkened. "He was once my most promising junior. If he hadn't defected, his talent in medical ninjutsu would have let him inherit Tsunade-sama's role in the village..."
Hearing this, Kushina's expression turned odd. From Mirai's words, she knew Tsunade had already joined his organization.
"Naruto stayed by your side all day. He only fell asleep just now because he couldn't stay awake any longer. The ANBU have already come to check on your condition. Many people treated you yesterday, so expect more questions later. Be prepared."
Kushina frowned, anger flashing in her eyes.
The Konoha higher-ups, including the Third Hokage, had repeatedly tried to persuade her to let them train Naruto, but she had adamantly refused. She insisted on teaching Naruto herself before he entered the Ninja Academy, and even afterward, she didn't let him train outside.
Kushina knew exactly what they wanted—to mold Naruto into a perfect Jinchūriki. Danzo's hostility toward her was barely concealed, and she suspected he was behind the leak of Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails' host.
Her son, the child of a hero who had protected the village, who had even thought of Konoha in his dying moments, was now subjected to hatred within the village.
Though the villagers kept their distance outwardly, their disdain and insults grew in private. Kushina saw the sadness in Naruto's eyes every day when he returned home. Eventually, she made time to stay with him, keeping him indoors.
As a former Jinchūriki, Kushina had never faced the same treatment as Naruto. The hostility against her had come from outsiders who didn't know her identity.
"I understand, Kimura. Don't worry—I'm not the same Kushina who was on the verge of death."
She clenched her fists, radiating vitality. "If they want trouble, I'll punch every last one of those old men into the sky."
Now, she felt strength coursing through her body, the constant weakness of the past completely gone. Through the cursed seal on her neck, she could absorb natural energy at will, entering a unique Sage Mode.
"Do as you see fit. I have other patients to check on."
After a final reminder, Kimura left. Another person had fallen unconscious the previous night—Kurenai Yuhi, a young Jonin who showed no physical injuries but remained unresponsive. The hospital's medical Jonin concluded she was under a genjutsu attack.
Only Tsunade could treat genjutsu-related injuries. Kimura and the others were powerless. She planned to check on Kurenai again. If there was no sign of recovery, she would request the Hokage to summon Tsunade.
As expected, shortly after Kimura left, the Third Hokage, Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado arrived at Kushina's room.
"Kushina—"
Before Hiruzen could finish, she interrupted.
"Let's talk outside. Don't wake Naruto."
With that, she got out of bed and walked past them.
"How rude," Koharu muttered, frowning. As Konoha's elders, they deserved respect, yet Kushina had shown none.
"Let it go, Koharu. We're here for answers."
Hiruzen shook his head and followed. Even if they hadn't moved, he would have had the ANBU relocate Naruto.
Once they were elsewhere, Kushina spoke first. "Third Hokage, why did you let someone infiltrate the village again? Were the ANBU asleep? Why did they only notice after I was attacked?"
Hiruzen coughed awkwardly, then said apologetically, "My apologies, Kushina. I'll reorganize the ANBU and assign an extra squad to protect you."
"Don't bother. More or less, it's the same." Kushina scoffed. "I'd have better luck begging our enemies to spare Naruto and me than relying on your useless ANBU."
Koharu snapped, "You're being disrespectful, Kushina."
"After everything you've done, you expect respect? The Hokage still hasn't explained how Naruto's identity as the Nine-Tails' host was leaked, yet outsiders keep targeting us."
Kushina glared at Danzo.
When she had been the Jinchūriki, her identity was top secret—even the Jonin Commander didn't know. But with Naruto, it had become common knowledge.
Hiruzen awkwardly changed the subject. "Let's discuss that another time. Right now, we need to understand Hyuga Mirai's motives. What did he want? Was he targeting Naruto?"
Kushina snorted. "No. They only came for me. I broke free and shattered their barrier before passing out."
"Is that all?"
Hiruzen pressed. He couldn't believe Mirai would return just to place a seal on Kushina—one that healed her, no less.
"That's all."
Hiruzen was skeptical. From what he knew, Mirai never acted without purpose. To remove the Caged Bird Seal, he had played the role of a devoted Konoha shinobi for years without detection.
Why would he return now, heal Kushina, and leave? And why had he appeared in the Uchiha district?
Someone was lying—either Kushina or Uchiha Fugaku.
Danzo thought the same. He narrowed his eyes, silently resolving to increase surveillance on the Uchiha.
"Hand Naruto over to Root for training. With what's inside him, wasting time at the Academy is pointless," Danzo said suddenly.
"He can return home at night. This way, he'll grow stronger faster, and Root will ensure no enemy gets close to him again."
"Over my dead body!"
Kushina's hair flared as fury overtook her. The cursed seal on her neck spread red markings across her body.
Danzo's Root operatives immediately took defensive stances.
As natural energy surged into her, Kushina's presence grew overwhelming. Two horns sprouted from her head, her skin turned pale, and her chakra spiked dramatically.
Hiruzen was stunned. *What kind of power is this?*
Just as tensions peaked, he barked, "Enough! Stand down! Danzo, withdraw your men!"
His intervention defused the situation. Once the Root operatives left, Hiruzen said slowly, "Kushina, calm down. This was just a suggestion. Danzo is concerned for Naruto's safety. If you refuse, Naruto can continue training with you."
Kushina retracted the markings and glared at Danzo. "If you lay a finger on Naruto, I'll make sure you regret it—even if it costs me my life!"
With that, she stormed off.
Once she was gone, Danzo spoke. "Hiruzen, you saw it yourself. Kushina's distrust of us is clear. Under her guidance, the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki will never obey you. And that seal—how did she master it so quickly? Even Tsunade took years to control hers."
Hiruzen was silent for a long moment before replying, "I know."
(End of Chapter)
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