When Kushina arrived at her home, she slowly opened the wooden door. Before she could even take off her sandals—
"Mamaaa!"
A small, bright, impatient voice greeted her. A little boy with bright blonde hair—about one year old—wobbled toward her with arms raised, asking to be picked up.
"Narutooo~" Kushina cried out with sparkling eyes, quickly crouching down to lift the small child into her arms. She hugged him tightly, swaying his tiny body as she pressed her cheek against his soft one.
"You're getting heavier, huh! But Mama doesn't mind~ Naruto has to grow up big and strong, okay?" she said, showering Naruto's cheeks with kisses.
Naruto giggled, his eyes gleaming brightly as he looked up at her. His little hand reached up and touched her face as if saying, Don't be gone so long again.
After a moment of rolling around playfully on the tatami floor, Kushina stood up and formed a hand seal.
"Kagebunshin no Jutsu!"
In an instant, a clone of her appeared—one that immediately scowled.
"Seriously? Just got back from a mission and now you want me to cook? This me needs a vacation too, you know!" the clone grumbled, frowning deeply.
Kushina chuckled and patted her shoulder. "Well, you weren't the one fighting earlier, so no complaints. Let's go feed this handsome little guy."
The clone clicked her tongue but walked to the kitchen anyway. "Yeah, yeah… No one can resist Naruto's chubby cheeks anyway…"
As the aroma of stir-fried vegetables wafted from the kitchen, Kushina sat on the floor with Naruto in her lap. She gently fixed his hair and began to tell a story.
"Mama went to a place near the Land of Wind today, Naruto. The trees were thinning out, but the sky… oh, it was so blue! And the sand—it looked like a never-ending sea of gold!"
Naruto's eyes widened. Though he couldn't form full sentences yet, he looked captivated. He nodded gently, listening like a devoted little audience.
"Someday, when you're older, we'll go there together, okay? Mama will show you everything," Kushina said, stroking his hair tenderly.
Naruto looked up at her and suddenly declared with a toddler's lisp:"Naru...to wanna be ninja... like Mama! Cool!"
Kushina froze, then her smile blossomed. Her red eyes shimmered with moisture. She hugged Naruto tightly.
"Of course you can, baby. You'll surpass me someday. I know it."
In her heart, Kushina whispered:'In the future… Naruto becomes the Seventh Hokage. But in this world—with me by his side—anything can be better than any version before. If he wants to be Hokage, a hero, or even just a ramen shop owner, I'll support him to the last drop of my blood. Even if it means facing Madara or Kaguya…'
From the kitchen, her clone's voice rang out:
"Oi! Food's ready, boss!"
"Okaaay~!" Kushina answered cheerfully.
They sat at a low table in traditional style. Naruto sat on her lap, playing with a small spoon while Kushina fed him patiently. Simple food—rice, miso soup, and home-cooked side dishes—brought warmth to their little home.
After everything was done, the clone smiled gently before vanishing into a puff of smoke.
"Thanks, lazy me," Kushina said with a soft laugh.
Naruto only hugged her arm, and Kushina stroked his hair.
Inside that small home, far from the chaos of the shinobi world, for Kushina... this simple happiness with Naruto was an unbeatable kind of victory.
------------------------------------------------
That morning, the Forest of Death was shrouded in a thin fog clinging low among towering trees. The birds were silent. Even the wind seemed reluctant to stir. The atmosphere was quiet—but tense.
At the center of a clearing surrounded by darkened trees, a red-haired woman sat cross-legged atop a large stone.
Kushina Uzumaki.
Her face was calm, eyes closed, and breath slow yet steady. She was meditating, her body surrounded by a pulsing aura of red chakra that throbbed like a rhythmic heartbeat. Occasionally, faint waves rippled from her, and from her back, fox ears and three tails began to form—translucent, glowing crimson.
Within her mind, a deep voice echoed—gruff, doubtful, yet curious.
"Are you sure about this, Kushina?" asked Yin-Kurama, his voice growling from behind the mental fog.
Kushina responded quietly in her thoughts:'Honestly… not entirely. But if not now… then when?'
It was the third day of the break Hiruzen had granted her. Instead of relaxing or spending time with Naruto, Kushina had asked the Third Hokage to let her use the time to train in controlling the Nine-Tails' chakra.
A request that had shocked many—especially with Minato, the only person who had once tamed the beast, long gone. But even more surprising... was Danzo.
In the elders' meeting, Danzo Shimura was the first to approve her request.
"If she fails… at least we'll know her limit," he said calmly—though behind those words lay motives impossible to read.
Now, from a safe distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood tall, his Adamantine staff in hand. On the other side, Danzo stood with his cane, flanked by several ROOT members—faces hidden behind masks and shadow.
They all watched Kushina with unblinking eyes.
The red chakra around her thickened. The third tail formed completely, swaying gently like living smoke. Slowly, Kushina opened her eyes.
They were no longer ordinary.
They glowed bright red with vertical slits—Kyūbi's eyes. But what reflected in them wasn't rage… it was clarity and control.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes and asked cautiously:"How do you feel right now, Kushina?"
Kushina stood slowly, her movements graceful yet full of weight. She looked directly at the Third Hokage.
"I'm fine, Grandpa Sandaime," she replied. Her voice was clear—not heavy or emotional like most Jinchuriki overwhelmed by their tailed beast.
Hiruzen gave a small nod.
Danzo, who had been silent, stepped forward slightly."Let the test begin."
With one hand signal, ROOT members sprang to action.
On the other side, Hiruzen gave a subtle nod. Ten ANBU operatives leapt from the tall trees, encircling Kushina alongside ten ROOT—twenty elite shinobi in total. Their expressions were tense, hands near weapons, eyes locked onto her.
Kushina smiled calmly. Though the scene now resembled a battlefield, not a trace of fear appeared on her face.
"Be careful, Kushina," said Hiruzen quietly, filled with unspoken weight. "If you feel yourself slipping, say so immediately. We'll stop everything."
Kushina chuckled softly, her chakra tails flicking in the air.
"Don't worry, Grandpa," she said confidently. "I know myself well enough to know when to stop."
She raised her hand, and the chakra around her flared brighter. Pressure filled the clearing. Leaves fell from the trees. Some ANBU clenched their weapons tighter.
"Alright then… Let's begin!" she shouted and leapt into the center of the formation.
The first clash happened in a flash. A ROOT member struck with a blade, only to be blocked by Kushina's hand, coated in the Nine-Tails' chakra—sharp and firm like a claw. She parried, then kicked back with quick precision.
"Too slow," she muttered.
More ANBU rushed in from the right, but Kushina spun with agile grace, using her tails like chakra whips to knock them aside. One by one, ROOT and ANBU adapted, rotating their attacks in tight coordination.
But Kushina… moved as if she could see every step coming.
Inside her, Kurama watched with a thoughtful gaze."Not bad…"
"Of course," Kushina replied inwardly, dodging three lightning-infused kunai. "I'm Kushina Uzumaki, after all."
From afar, Hiruzen watched the battle unfold with mixed emotions—concern… and pride.
Meanwhile, hidden deeper in the shadows, Danzo narrowed his eyes. His expression was blank, but his mind raced.
"She's stable… If this continues… she may become quite a useful tool."
The clash continued among the old trees and trembling earth, chakra slamming like thunder. But one thing was clear—the morning that began in stillness had erupted into force.
And at the heart of it stood a woman with burning red hair, fox-like eyes, and unshakable resolve.
Kushina Uzumaki.
A Jinchuuriki taming the beast within.
Not for the village.
Not for power.
But for her son's future.