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Konoha.
Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage's hand, holding his pipe, trembled slightly.
He was greatly shocked to see the red-haired figure on the screen.
Uzumaki Kushina!
Naruto's mother!!
He couldn't help but recall Minato's figure that had appeared on the screen earlier.
The Third Hokage let out a soft breath.
Sure enough, if Minato had made preparations for himself,
how could he not have made preparations for Kushina?
His bond with Kushina was so strong that, to a certain extent, it made him willing to abandon the position of Hokage!
After all, if it weren't for Kushina's idea,
Minato would never have thought of becoming Hokage.
The Third Hokage seemed to recall that memory again.
A red-haired girl from another Village rushed onto the stage in a Ninja Academy classroom.
'I'm going to be the first female Hokage of this Village!'
This voice had also reached the Third Hokage's ears.
Such an ambitious girl was very rare!
Looking at Kushina's gentle appearance on the screen now,
it seemed she had only slowly become like this after marriage.
Before that, she had always given the impression of a fiery red pepper...
Ninja Academy.
Observation Deck.
Jiraiya's nonchalant face, upon seeing the red-haired figure on the screen,
slightly darkened.
He seemed lost in thought.
That last memory was a painful one.
Minato Namikaze, Uzumaki Kushina, a couple he had thought so highly of.
Yet, on the night of the Nine-Tails, both met their demise.
Jiraiya, upon hearing the news, was despondent for a long time.
It wasn't just his regret for Minato, his most prized student.
It was also his regret for Uzumaki Kushina.
Even though Jiraiya was often 'disliked' by Kushina, who worried he would lead her Minato Namikaze astray,
as Minato's teacher,
Kushina also treated Jiraiya with the care of a student.
It was merely her constant nagging.
Hot meals would be served in advance.
Gifts would be carefully prepared.
Jiraiya looked up again, smiling at the screen.
A hint of relief showed in his eyes.
This reunion between Kushina and Naruto also made up for one of Kushina's regrets...
Naruto stared blankly at the red-haired woman on the screen.
He felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
He turned, about to ask his master Jiraiya about the situation,
but saw Jiraiya in a state of reminiscence.
Naruto scratched his head, unsure of what was happening.
Who exactly was this red-haired woman...
Outside Hidden Rain Village.
Cave entrance.
The Masked Man's exposed single eye was bloodshot.
When he saw that figure,
the calm lake in his heart was like a giant rock had been dropped into it,
stirring up colossal waves of emotion.
Endless pain seemed to engulf him.
All the memories of the red-haired woman in his mind
were beautiful memories from his time as a Genin.
But now, they had all turned into pain.
The more beautiful, the more painful.
He had eaten meals cooked by his master's wife.
His master had trusted him so much...
[Kushina's Consciousness Space]
["What's going on? Why is there someone here!"]
[Naruto was stunned once again.]
["And they even know my name!"]
[Red-haired woman: "Oh, I see. But it makes sense."]
[Kushina smiled, staring at Naruto, with an amused look in her eyes.]
["Then, try to guess who I am, Naruto!"]
[Naruto's eyes were focused, staring intently at the red-haired woman.]
She looks very gentle on the surface!
She keeps smiling at me!
I remember being enveloped by the Nine-Tails' dark red hatred earlier!
Red hair, dark red!!
[The red-haired woman looked at Naruto's dazed expression and couldn't help but lower her head and chuckle twice.]
["Could it be!"]
[Kushina looked up joyfully and said, "You already know?"]
[Naruto angrily pointed a finger at the red-haired woman.]
["You, you are the Nine-Tailed's true form!!"]
[Kushina: "Eh!"]
[Then she burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.]
["Hahahahaha, hahahaha!!"]
[Her laughter was very loud, completely lacking the gentle demeanor of the woman from before.]
["What a crude laugh!"]
["It seems you want to turn into a woman to deceive me, Nine-Tailed--"]
[Seeing Naruto becoming increasingly outlandish,]
[Kushina also stopped trying to maintain her caring demeanor.]
[She angrily clenched her fist and fiercely punched Naruto on the head.]
What an impolite little guy!
["That's not right, ya know!"]
[Her red hair flared up, like the Nine-Tails.]
[Naruto clutched his head and cried out in pain: "It hurts--"]
[Suddenly, he heard the red-haired woman chuckle again.]
["Ya know."]
[Naruto looked at her blankly.]
One moment she's irritable, the next she's gentle.
What does she want to do, ya know!
["Ha, I got a little excited just now."]
["My innate short temper, coupled with speaking fast, led to a strange verbal tic."]
["Although I try my best to control myself, I can't help it when I get excited."]
["Are you alright?"]
[Uzumaki Kushina smiled with narrowed eyes, gently explaining to Naruto.]
["Just don't pick up a strange verbal tic like mine, ya know!"]
[Naruto felt a sense of familiarity looking at her smile.]
That way she smiles!
That gentle feeling!!
That kind attitude!!!
["Then--"]
["It seems Minato didn't say anything."]
["Honestly."]
[In that instant,]
[Naruto understood everything.]
[He pursed his lips tightly, his face twitching involuntarily.]
[A primal sense of grievance and weakness spread from the depths of his heart.]
["That's right, I'm your--"]
[Naruto rushed forward without another thought.]
[He hugged her tightly.]
Afraid she would disappear.
Afraid it was all an illusion.
[He also desperately wanted to receive her embrace.]
["I've always, always wanted to see you, ya know, Mom..."]
[A half-sobbing voice reached Kushina's ears.]
["Ya know, huh? You really are my child..."]
[In an instant,]
Having felt Kushina's still-warm embrace,
[Naruto left this 'harbor'.]
[He smiled brightly at Kushina.]
The joy at this moment
was like the fist bump between Killer Bee and Motoi he had seen earlier!
It was like doodling on the Konoha Wall when he was a child!
It seemed to surpass everything!
In front of his mother,
he couldn't show weakness anymore!
This precious time!
Must be the most beautiful memory!
Naruto thought this at the moment, and he acted accordingly.
He had grown up.
["Now that I've seen Mom, there are so many things I want to ask, ya know!"]
[Naruto's eager tone]
was just like Killer Bee's!
["Hmm, then I'll listen to you slowly!"]
[Kushina at this moment was also gentle.]
["Before that, we still need to make the Nine-Tailed behave!"]
[Kushina turned her gaze towards the outside of the warm, wheat-colored space.]
[Naruto's Consciousness Space]
[The Nine-Tailed was firmly bound by chains, unable to stir up even a ripple.]
["This Chakra, is it Kushina!"]
[The Nine-Tailed's voice carried hatred and shock.]
The next scene
was the initial moment when the Nine-Tailed excitedly devoured a screen full of dumplings.
At this moment,
when the people of the Ninja World looked at that previously shocking scene again, they had a completely different perception.
Nine-Tails' Power.
First, one had to go through the Waterfall of Truth.
Although the screen didn't reveal how Naruto ultimately passed through it,
everyone could more or less grasp the key points involved.
The specific process of passing through was actually no longer necessary.
The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's proactive attitude had shown everything!
Then, unlocking the seal!
Facing the Nine-Tailed directly in battle!
Naruto even gained the upper hand at one point!
Only the final step of absorbing Chakra remained!
Unfortunately, the Nine-Tailed's 'hatred' was a millennium of hatred.
Even Naruto at this moment, in the Nine-Tailed's eyes, was merely a part of it.
He would eventually fall into hatred.
As a result,
extremes lead to reversals.
At Naruto's most critical moment, the person he needed most appeared before him!
Uzumaki Kushina!