"So, your father, Souji, is also your classmate?" Kushina asked after Naruto explained who Souji was and why he called him Dad.
"Yes." Naruto nodded enthusiastically.
"Do you know, Mom? Dad is very kind to me." He continued, "He cooks for me, makes my lunch, and teaches and trains me."
"Oh, and Dad gave me a story he wrote. The ending was sad, but it was a good story. Dad promised to give me another story he wrote with a happy ending." Naruto explained happily.
"..."
Seeing her son so happy and cheerful, Kushina could only smile and perhaps, thank Souji about that. After that, Kushina continued her story about when she was kidnapped and saved by Naruto's father, Minato.
Naruto, who heard the story about his father, didn't feel interested, happy, or sad.
He was confused by this and surprised when his mother said that his father was the Fourth Hokage. However, besides that surprise, he didn't feel anything. Kushina realized this too, but no matter how much she told Naruto how great and kind Minato was, he didn't show any meaningful expression other than nodding his head.
"..."
'Haa... Minato... Your son doesn't have any feelings for you...' Kushina thought sadly. Maybe it was because Naruto already had a father, so when he heard the story about his biological father, he didn't care much.
Of course, Kushina had to admit that Souji was a true father figure to Naruto. Kushina became even more curious about Souji.
Then, Kushina told the story of when she gave birth and was attacked by a masked man with a Sharingan. The man released the Kyubi and controlled it to destroy Konohagakure. Minato stopped the masked man, took the Kyubi far from the village, and sealed it in Naruto. Then, they both tried to protect Naruto from the Kyubi's attack and died after that.
"Didn't Old Man Hokage tell you?" Kushina asked.
Naruto shook his head. "No."
Twitch
"That old geezer! If I could, I'd beat him up!" Kushina said angrily, her red hair moving like a tail.
"..."
'Mom... scary...'
Naruto calmed Kushina down. Afterwards, she wanted to hear Naruto's story. He told her about his life.
"..."
"M-mom?"
Kushina hugged Naruto tightly from behind and cried, regretting that she and Minato made Naruto a jinchuriki.
Her heart ached when she thought about her child being hated and shunned, not being allowed to buy anything, and having no one at home.
Kushina thought that if she or Minato were alive, Naruto wouldn't have experienced all this. She was annoyed with the people who hated Naruto but couldn't entirely blame them. Their friends and families must have also been victims because of the Kyubi. Still, she wanted to beat them up at least once.
"..."
However, Kushina was grateful that at least Naruto had people who didn't hate him. She also wanted to beat up Hiruzen, but at least he cared. Then there were Teuchi and Ayame, and finally, Souji. Kushina really wanted to meet Souji, even though it was impossible.
"..."
"Mom, what's wrong?" Naruto called to his silent mother.
"..."
Kushina gently stroked her child's head. "Naruto, I'm so happy to meet you."
For some reason, Naruto felt sad and scared when he heard that.
"Mom, are you going to leave?" He asked fearfully. He was happy to meet his mother, but the thought of being separated from her was unbearable.
He didn't want to imagine it at all. "Naruto, I also want to stay with you, but I can't." Kushina continued, "I'm just a chakra and a consciousness that was sealed by your father."
"No, Mom, please! I beg you, don't leave me." Naruto started to cry and held Kushina's hand tightly. Hearing this, Kushina hugged Naruto tightly and cried. She also wanted to stay with Naruto, but she really couldn't.
"..."
Naruto could only cry, holding his mother's hand tightly. Not even the story written by his Dad had made him this sad.
Wait, his Dad?
If his Dad were here, maybe he could help Naruto. But he wasn't.
"..."
Naruto thought and tried to remember if there was anything useful in his memories.
"..."
'THAT'S IT!' Naruto thought hopefully.
"Mom, you said you are chakra, right?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, the current me, is just a chakra and a consciousness." Kushina replied. She saw her son suddenly become happy. 'Wait, happy?'
Naruto showed her the necklace he had. "Mom, this is a gift from Dad. He said this necklace can store chakra. Can I store yours?"
Kushina smiled and said, "Of course."
"Etto...how do I use it?" Naruto asked, confused.
Kushina tried to touch the necklace, and then she was absorbed into it.
"Mom!?" Naruto said, worriedly. Then, he saw Souji and Kurama who were still lying down.
"Dad!" Naruto shouted. "Mom suddenly disappeared when she touched my necklace."
Souji nodded his head and said, "Let me see."
Souji asked Akebi for help to putting his consciousness into Naruto's necklace.
Akebi was fortunate enough to be able to do it.
"..."
Souji then found himself in a vast, bright place.
'So this is what it's like inside the Life-Seeking Ball.'
"Hm..."
Souji heard someone's voice behind him. He turned around and saw a long-haired woman with red hair.
"Beautiful..." Souji muttered.
Kushina, who had overheard him, blushed for some reason and said, "Eh? Mm... thank you."
[Ding.]
[Target harem detected.]
"..."
[Do you want to add Uzumaki Kushina to the list?]
[Yes / No]
"..."
'YES!'
[Target registered.]
[Uzumaki Kushina:
Heart: 30%
Mood: Confused and embarrassed.
Thoughts: What? Is he Souji?
Lust: (Special condition canceled.) 50%
Satisfaction: 0%]
[Ding.]
[Special condition found.]
[Increase Heart and Satisfaction to reach 100% and get the exclusive skill: Love, Life, and Death.]
[Love, Life, and Death: Love, life, and death are important parts of human existence. However, a lover defies the commands of Heaven just to be with the person he loves. General bonus: Loved by Life and Death. Special bonus: Users can revive the person who love him.]
"..."
'Motherf...'
'Another OP skill?!' Souji thought happily, 'The general bonus... loved by Life and death? Courting death, huh?'
"..."
'And the special bonus...:
"..."
'System, I love you.'
"..."
'So, I just need to get Kushina's heart to reach 100% to revive her. Of course, I have to get the exclusive skill first.'
"..."
"Kushina-san?" Souji asked.
"Yes, that's me. Are you Souji?" Kushina asked.
"Yes, I'm Souji. I'm Naruto's father. Nice to meet you, Kushina-san." Souji introduced himself proudly.
Cough
Kushina choked when she heard that. 'How can he say that with such confidence?' she wondered.
Kushina was embarrassed to hear that, because if Souji was Naruto's father, then Kushina, Naruto's mother, must be Souji's wife, right?
[Thoughts: Me, Souji's wife?]
'Of course not!' Kushina thought. 'Kushina, what's wrong with your head?'
[Heart: 35%]
"Nice to meet you too, Souji." Kushina replied with a smile.
Souji nodded and smiled. "I've heard the story from Naruto." That's a lie, he even hadn't heard any stories from Naruto other than Naruto explaining that his mother had suddenly disappeared when she touched his necklace.
"Kushina-san, thank you for giving birth to a good, strong child like Naruto." Souji said, bowing his head.
"Huh? Souji, it's nothing. Besides, Naruto is my child. Of course I had to give birth to him." Kushina said this, not expecting Souji to thank her. Now Kushina knew, why Naruto felt so-so when he heard the story about his biological father. With Souji acting like this toward her, it was clear that he loved Naruto as his own child. It was a bit strange, though, considering Souji was Naruto's classmate.
"So, Kushina-san is just a chakra now?" Souji asked.
Kushina nodded.
Souji looked around, then clapped his hands once.
Clap!
Suddenly, the place changed. They were now in a fairly spacious living room with a sofa, a table, a vase of flowers, a TV, and other furniture.
"Eh? Where are we?" Kushina asked, surprised and confused.
"We're not going anywhere. It's just that I've made this place our home." Souji said.
"Oh...? Our home?" Kushina asked, making sure she hadn't heard wrong.
Souji nodded. "Yes, me, Kushina-san, Naruto, and Akebi."
"Ah..."
"..."
"Wait, who's Akebi?" Kushina asked. She then realized there was someone else besides them.
"Oh? She's my daughter, which makes her your daughter too, Kushina-san."
"Huh?"
"..."
"Look at that." Souji pointed to a large photo displayed behind the sofa. Kushina looked at the photo. There she was with Naruto, Souji, and...a snake?
"Snake?" Kushina asked.
"That's Akebi."
"Wait, our daughter—I mean, your daughter—is a snake?" Kushina asked. She was a little embarrassed because she had accidentally said "our daughter."
"Actually, Akebi can change her form." Souji continued. "Akebi, can you hear me?"
"Sss..." A hissing sound was then heard in Souji's ear.
"Oh, you're here, too?"
"Sss..."
"All right, Akebi. Can you change into a small, nine-tailed fox?" Souji asked.
"Ss..."
Akebi, who was in the form of a snake, then turned into a small red fox with nine tails.
"Kya!!! How cute!" Kushina exclaimed as she took Akebi from Souji's shoulder and hugged her.
"Kyu..." Akebi made a sound and curled up in Kushina's arms.
"Oh? It seems Akebi likes you, Kushina-san."
"Really? That's great...." Kushina said, still hugging Akebi and stroking her hair.
The photo on the wall changed to show Kushina sitting in the middle of Naruto and Souji with Akebi in her lap.
Souji invited Kushina to look around their house and explained the purpose of some of the objects, such as the TV in the living room. The TV allowed them to see the outside world through Naruto's necklace. Even when the necklace was blocked by Naruto's clothes, Kushina could clearly see the scenery around him.
There was also a phone that could be used to contact Naruto or Souji directly through their necklaces.
Souji himself had a life-seeking ball in the form of a ring on his finger. Souji too arranged for Naruto's consciousness to enter the life-seeking ball.
After finishing the tour and explaining how to use the equipment, Souji said goodbye and left Kushina and Akebi there.
"..."
When Souji returned to his body, he saw Naruto looking at him with fear and worry.
"Don't worry. Your mother is in your necklace, and she's safe." Souji said, then stroked Naruto's hair.
"Thank goodness... thank you, Dad!" Naruto said, relieved, and thanked Souji.
"There's no need to think about it. As your dad, I'm responsible for your mother too." Souji said with a smile.
[Uzumaki Kushina: Heart: 45%]
"..."
"Now... can you withdraw all of Kurama's chakra?"
"Of course." Naruto replied, and then withdrew Kurama's chakra as quickly and powerfully as possible.
"..."
"Done, Dad." Naruto said.
"Good. Let's go."
"Uh, don't we need to ask Kurama?" Naruto asked Souji.
"Hasn't your mother told you everything?"
"Oh, that's right." Naruto said, having just remembered.
"Let's just let Kurama rest. We'll visit him next time."
"Un." Naruto nodded his head. Then, Souji locked the gate again through Naruto's stomach.
Then, they left.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
When they returned to consciousness, Souji explained the other uses of his necklace to Naruto. This made Naruto very happy, and he wanted to immediately meet his mother.
However, Souji forbade him to do that before brushing his teeth and going to bed because his consciousness would enter his Life-Seeking Ball and his body would resemble a sleeping person. For this reason, Souji suggested that Naruto lie down. Naruto did so quickly and went to meet his mother. Of course, he said goodnight to Souji first.
"..."
Souji looked outside the window and saw a tree. However, he knew that someone was there. The question was, who?
Maybe it was the usual Anbu, and today, Souji was curious to know if he knew the Anbu who was watching them.
'All right, I'll check it out.'
'Astral projection.'
Souji's soul came out of his body and headed toward the tree. He could see that the Anbu was using a Transformation Jutsu.
"..."
'If it's like this, I won't know.' Souji thought. 'Well... let's just get back.'
He then returned to his body.
"..."
"..."