The next morning, Uchiha Gen, Mikoto, and little Sasuke made their way to the hotel together.
The night before, Mikoto had already spoken with Kushina. Instead of waiting, Kushina had simply told her to bring Anna and Karin straight to her home.
As for Sasuke, since Itachi was already off to the Academy and Fugaku was busy with Police Force matters, Mikoto brought her youngest along. Gen, having just returned from the frontlines, was still on leave for a few days.
The moment the door opened, Anna Uzumaki welcomed them warmly.
"Anna," Gen introduced with a smile, "this is Mikoto-nee, wife of our clan head and Kushina-nee's closest friend. And this little one is her son, Sasuke."
Anna bowed politely. Karin shyly clutched her mother's sleeve before piping up, "Auntie!"
Mikoto returned the greeting with her usual gentle smile, coaxing Sasuke to greet Anna and Karin as well. With the pleasantries done and checkout handled, they all headed toward Kushina's place.
Ten minutes later, they were at the familiar apartment building.
The door swung open almost instantly. Kushina stood there in a light red house dress, her smile as bright as the sun.
"Mikoto, Gen, Sasuke—you're here!" she beamed. Her gaze shifted to Anna and Karin, and at the sight of their unmistakable crimson hair, her heart trembled with joy.
"You… it's so good to meet you."
She stepped forward at once, taking Anna's hand with both of hers. Her expression overflowed with warmth and sincerity.
Anna, already overwhelmed to see someone of her own bloodline, could hardly contain herself. Her grip trembled as she clung back, voice choked with emotion. "Kushina-sama… Kushina-sama…"
"There's no 'sama,'" Kushina said firmly, shaking her head with tears brimming in her eyes. "The Uzumaki may have fallen, but we are still family. From today on, we're sisters."
Her gaze softened as she crouched slightly to look at Karin. "And this must be Karin. Such a beautiful, adorable girl! Right, Mikoto?"
"Yes," Mikoto agreed with a warm laugh.
Sasuke, barely two years old, just nodded when prompted.
Mikoto chuckled. "Though strictly speaking, Karin's the older one, she was born before both Sasuke and Naruto."
"Oh? Then I'll correct myself," Kushina smiled. "But older sister or little sister, it makes no difference. What matters is, she'll be cared for."
Anna stroked Karin's head. "Go on, dear, greet everyone properly."
Karin gave a sweet, childish smile. "Auntie Kushina."
"Good girl. Now, everyone, come inside."
The apartment was modest but lively. On the floor, two-year-old Naruto sat in yellow pajamas, surrounded by scattered toys. He looked up with bright, curious eyes at the sudden crowd.
Naruto's surname, of course, was Uzumaki—not Namikaze. Even if Minato had been alive, that would never have changed. Marrying Kushina had been a bond between a rising elite and the remnants of a noble clan, and though the Uzumaki had fallen, their name still carried weight.
"Come here, Naruto, greet them," Kushina urged.
Naruto scrambled up. "Auntie Mikoto… Sasuke…" Then he hesitated, eyes flicking between Gen, Anna, and Karin.
Mikoto clicked her tongue lightly at her friend. "Kushina, you didn't even introduce them. How's Naruto supposed to know what to call them?"
"Haha, you're right, I forgot!" Kushina rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "Naruto, this is Gen-oniisan, that's Auntie Anna, and that's Big Sister Karin."
Naruto bowed his head politely, his little voice piping out greetings one by one. Karin blushed but smiled back, and Anna's expression softened at the warmth.
Once everyone settled in, Kushina poured tea while Naruto dragged Sasuke and Karin off to play in the other room. That left only the four adults in the living room.
Kushina raised her teacup. "Gen, thank you. For finding them—for bringing them here. I'll toast you with tea instead of wine."
Gen lifted his own cup with a smile. "There's no need, Kushina-nee. I just happened to meet them. Anyone else would've done the same."
"No." Kushina shook her head, her voice firm. "You gave Anna and Karin a future. For someone who's lived through the fall of a clan, that means everything. For me, too… it means everything."
She drank deeply, and Gen followed suit.
After a quiet moment, Gen set his cup down. His expression grew more serious. "There's something I need to tell you, Kushina-nee. But you have to promise to stay calm."
Kushina arched an eyebrow, half-smiling. "I'll try."
Gen hesitated only a beat. "On the way back to the village, Danzo intercepted me. He ordered me to hand over Anna and Karin. He wanted them absorbed into Root."
The words had barely left his mouth when Kushina's chakra flared. Her red hair whipped upward, as though alive, her eyes narrowing dangerously. The air in the room thickened.
"How dare he—"
Her voice trembled with fury. To target her kin? He might as well have spit on her face.
"Anna carries the Uzumaki vitality," Gen continued gravely. "And she awakened an ability. If someone bites her skin, they can recover their chakra and even heal injuries."
"What?!" Kushina slammed her teacup down, trembling with rage.
Anna and Karin shrank slightly at the sudden intensity. Mikoto quickly placed a hand on Anna's shoulder and explained softly, "Root is… Konoha's shadow. Its operatives are stripped of emotions, conditioned only to obey orders and carry out missions. It's not a place for people—it's a place for weapons."
Anna shivered. She didn't fully understand, but that alone was enough to terrify her.
"Kushina-nee," Gen said calmly, "don't let anger cloud your judgment. Danzo is dangerous. He's Hokage's advisor, with real power. You can't confront him head-on."
Kushina closed her eyes for a long moment, forcing her breathing to steady. Then, in a low voice, she asked, "Did Hokage-sama approve this?"
"No," Gen replied. "So I ignored Danzo's order and refused outright."
Kushina's shoulders loosened slightly, but the fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed. "Good. If Hiruzen didn't agree, then Danzo's just acting on his own again. That man needs to be taught a lesson."
Her gaze hardened. If he dares to go after Anna and Karin today, then what's to stop him from going after me and Naruto tomorrow?
That line must never be crossed. Not now. Not ever.
"Gen," she said at last, "thank you. If you hadn't stood your ground, their future would've been ruined before it even began."
Gen waved dismissively, though a faint smile tugged at his lips. "I've already offended Danzo more than once. What's one more? Between my teacher, my clan, and now Kushina-nee herself standing behind me, I don't exactly feel afraid."
"Hah! That's the spirit!" Kushina laughed loudly, hands on her hips. "Don't worry, I'll back you up anytime."
Then her tone shifted, brisk and decisive. "Mikoto, could you look after Naruto for me? I need to step out."
Mikoto blinked, then nodded. "Of course."
Gen's eyes narrowed slightly. She's going to Danzo… right now.