Of course, Kushina Uzumaki didn't give her three genin a full week off just because they had "done too many D-rank missions." That was only half the truth. The real reason… was far more serious.
Kushina was about to embark on an S-rank mission. An important one. A secret one.
And for that, she needed time. Not just because it was difficult—but because her target was a territory not to be underestimated.
But before leaving the village, there was something more important than the mission itself: Naruto's safety.
While she was gone, she couldn't leave her son with just anyone. Naruto was a jinchūriki, host of the Kyūbi, and more than that—he was her child. The last piece of her heart since losing Minato.
She had thought it through carefully. And her choice fell on the three clans that had long stood by the Hokage: the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi—the Ino-Shika-Cho formation.
They weren't professional babysitters, but Kushina knew one thing: they were loyal to the village, to the system, and to the harmony of Konoha. And if Naruto truly wished to become Hokage one day, the support of these influential clans would mean a great deal.
Leave Naruto with her old friend, Mikoto Uchiha?
Kushina scoffed just thinking about it.
'If I actually handed Naruto over to the Uchiha right now, the village elders would start foaming at the mouth in a council meeting.'
The Uchiha... yes, Kushina knew.
Her friend Mikoto was a gentle, wise woman.
But Mikoto was also part of a family now buried under suspicion and political pressure from the village's top brass.
Giving Naruto—a three-year-old jinchūriki—to the "red-eyed rabbit clan"? That would only fan the flames.
'If they knew I entrusted Naruto to the Uchiha, they'd probably think I was backing a coup,' she thought grimly.
Kushina wasn't naive. If time had been kinder to her, if she had reincarnated into this world before Minato's death, maybe she could've done something—maybe even helped bridge the growing conflict between the Uchiha and the village council. But not now. Not today.
Today, only one thing mattered:
Naruto.
Naruto was her world's axis. Her sole reason to stay alive, and the only one who gave her the strength to face the chaos around her.
"If it's for Naruto... I wouldn't hesitate to burn half the Shinobi world to the ground."
She took a deep breath. Thinking about the Uchiha situation made her uneasy.
But Kushina wasn't some holy mother.
She wasn't a savior to all of mankind. She knew her limits. Until she was strong enough to change the system, all she could do was survive—and protect what mattered most.
Two Days Without Rest — Arrival in the Land of Water
The journey from Konoha to the Land of Water normally took nearly a week, even for seasoned ninja. But Kushina Uzumaki wasn't an ordinary ninja. In just two days, she reached the outskirts of one of the major port cities of that land.
Such speed could only be achieved through two things: iron will and seemingly infinite chakra reserves.
Her own massive chakra, combined with Kurama's stored within her, created an endless stream of energy. She barely needed rest, stopping only to drink, eat military rations, and catch her breath. The rest—running, leaping, moving—she did like a crimson shadow cutting through forest and fog.
When she finally reached the city plains, the sun had just dipped below the horizon. A violet sky cast silhouettes over the distant buildings, and the port shimmered with lantern light and ongoing activity.
Standing outside the city gate, Kushina took a moment to adjust her appearance. She tied her now-black hair neatly behind her head, dusted a little powder beneath her eyes, and checked that her blue contacts were still in place.
Her new identity as a quiet young man from a rural village had to remain perfect.
A Small Tavern —
Among the many places to visit in the city, Kushina chose a small tavern tucked away from the main road. Not for the food or sake, but because places like this... often held unspoken information.
The door creaked as she stepped inside. The scent of alcohol, smoke, and soy sauce welcomed her—a signature mixture that oddly made her feel nostalgic.
She approached the bar and offered a subtle nod.
"One bottle of sake. Light kind," she said, her voice low and soft from training.
The tavern owner nodded and poured her order. Kushina poured herself a cup with graceful but casual motions.
The sake was light. Almost sweet on the tongue.
"Not as strong as I'm used to... but acceptable," she mused. 'Maybe I've just grown used to stronger drinks... in a previous life.'
Sitting alone in a corner seat, she looked like any ordinary guest. But beneath her calm expression, her perception spread across the room.
Thanks to her shinobi training and her jinchūriki senses, she picked up every murmur, every change in tone, even the faintest tremor behind wooden curtains.
But after over an hour, all she heard were boastful merchants and drunk sailors with stories of conquest and glory.
No useful information.
She let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head, ready to leave—
Until—
The voices of two middle-aged men caught her attention.
The conversation wasn't loud, but it carried concern.
"What do you think is going on with the Hidden Mist lately? They're rejecting all mission requests. I've got goods to send to the Land of Fire."
"Forget it. I don't know what's happening with Yagura—the Fourth Mizukage. Ever since he started his 'bloody mist' policy, the village has become hell. People call it... the Bloody Mist Village now."
Kushina glanced sideways, eyes calm but mind racing.
"If this continues, how can the Water Country defend itself from outside attacks?"
One of them lowered his voice, eyes scanning the room.
"Listen, this is confidential. A few days ago, a young ninja... Momochi Zabuza. He tried to assassinate the Mizukage. Failed. Now he's on the run, but... they say he won't last long."
"What?! Someone really tried to kill the Mizukage?!"
"Shhh! Keep your voice down! This isn't something to be discussed in public. I heard it from my brother—he's a ninja in the village. He said it when he was drunk... so don't go spreading it."
"Damn... I didn't know you had those kinds of connections."
"Heh... just a little."
After that, their conversation shifted to mundane topics: cigarette prices, sake preferences, and complaints about their wives. But Kushina had stopped listening. Her gaze sharpened, and the sake cup in her hand grew still.
A dangerous glint sparked in her eyes.
'So that's it... Momochi Zabuza. That kid's already trying to resist the Mist's rotten system...'
She replayed all the reports she'd ever read about the 'Bloody Mist,' about the brutal graduation system that forced genin to kill teammates to pass.
'No wonder... this village is rotting from within. And it seems... it's true. Yagura is under Obito's control.'
She stared at the sake's surface.
Soon... she would be stepping into the snake's nest.