Kushina and the Nine-Tails were old acquaintances. Ever since Mito Uzumaki grew too old to bear the burden of being a jinchūriki and sealed the Nine-Tails within Kushina, the two had coexisted for decades.
Their relationship couldn't be described as harmonious, but it wasn't exactly hostile either.
The Nine-Tails constantly sought opportunities to take control of Kushina by releasing its chakra, while Kushina relied on Uzumaki sealing techniques to resist its influence.
That was until one day when Konoha faced a threat from Iwagakure.
After Jiraiya and Minato were forced to retreat from the Four-Tails and Five-Tails jinchūriki, Minato invented the Rasengan by mimicking the Tailed Beast Ball. Using Rasengan's power, Kushina and Minato managed to subdue the Nine-Tails together.
This allowed Kushina to barely harness the Nine-Tails' power.
In her view, to use the Nine-Tails' power, one had to demonstrate strength that even the Nine-Tails would respect. Despite its long life in the ninja world, the Nine-Tails was, at its core, still a beast.
To coexist peacefully with a beast, one had to show sufficient strength. When Kushina entered the mental space, the Nine-Tails immediately sensed her presence. Having lived with Kushina for so long, it quickly recognized her chakra.
Opening its eyes, the Nine-Tails looked at Kushina and said with a hint of confusion, "Kushina, aren't you supposed to be dead?"
Hearing this, Kushina remained calm, but Naruto, standing beside her, widened his eyes in shock.
He turned to Kushina, his expression filled with disbelief. "Kushina… you're my mom?"
Kushina frowned. She did plan to keep her identity hidden from Naruto for a while longer.
However, she didn't expect the Nine-Tails to reveal it so bluntly. What surprised her even more was that Naruto knew her name. Byakuya had told her that the Third Hokage had kept Naruto's heritage a secret.
Seeing the shocked expressions on both mother and son, the Nine-Tails chuckled. "Kushina, it seems you and your son aren't very close. He's reacting this strongly just from hearing your name."
Ignoring the Nine-Tails' taunt, Kushina focused on how to respond to Naruto.
After a moment of thought, she said, "Yes, I'm your mother. I've heard about what you've been through in Konoha. Once we return, I promise you won't be mistreated anymore."
Naruto was stunned. He wasn't sure how to react. Years of isolation had made it difficult for him to express his emotions. His heart told him to hug his mother and pour out all the hardships he'd endured, but his mind reminded him to keep his distance.
After a pause, Naruto asked, "Where have you been all these years?! If you're alive, why didn't you return to the village?"
Kushina's expression turned awkward. She sighed softly and said, "I've either been unconscious or recovering from injuries. I've been… restricted from returning to the village."
Naruto looked puzzled, unable to fully grasp what had happened to Kushina. Still, the fact that his mother, whom he thought was dead, was now standing before him was a good thing. He was no longer alone.
This also explained why he hadn't sensed any hostility from Kushina.
After an awkward conversation between mother and son, Kushina coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject. "We can talk more later. Right now, I'll help you subdue the Nine-Tails so you can control its power."
Naruto nodded. He was so embarrassed that he was trembling. Therefore, this was a good way to shift his focus. Hearing Kushina's words, the Nine-Tails, who had been watching the scene like a spectator, narrowed his gaze and bared its fangs.
"Kushina, are you saying you can handle me now? I lost to you back then, but that was because of Minato. I never considered you a threat!"
Before the words had fully left its mouth, the Nine-Tails swung its nine massive tails, unleashing a surge of powerful chakra. Even through the seal's barrier, the chakra affected Kushina and Naruto standing outside the cage.
Kushina was fine, she was used to the Nine-Tails' chakra. But Naruto was overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of it. He could feel the negative emotions embedded within the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Seeing this, Kushina snorted and formed hand seals, activating a sealing technique. As the seals took effect, the Nine-Tails' chakra was significantly weakened, no longer able to influence Naruto's emotions.
After suppressing the Nine-Tails, Kushina turned to Naruto and asked, "Naruto, do you have the confidence to enter the cage and defeat the Nine-Tails? If you can beat it, you'll gain its power."
Naruto glanced at the Nine-Tails, then at his own hands. Gritting his teeth, he said, "I can try."
Summoning his courage, Naruto stepped into the cage, only to be immediately swatted away by the Nine-Tails, nearly getting ejected from the mental space again.
Getting up from the ground, Naruto tried again, only to be sent flying once more.
After several failed attempts, Naruto gave up. He realized that, at his current level, he was no match for the Nine-Tails. Defeating it and earning its recognition was nothing but a pipe dream.
Kushina also realized this and said awkwardly, "Maybe we should call it quits for now. Let's go back and train some more. You'll need to reach jonin-level strength first."
Naruto nodded, and the two left the mental space.
After Naruto left, Kushina, who remained in the mental space, turned to the Nine-Tails and said, "Kurama, considering our long history, how about lending some chakra to Naruto?"
The Nine-Tails glanced at Kushina, surprised by her audacity.
Just moments ago, she had been boasting about defeating it and taking its power in front of Naruto. Now, she was acting as if they were old friends, asking for a favor.
After a moment of thought, the Nine-Tails spoke, "Giving that brat Naruto some chakra isn't impossible, but I'm not some pushover fox. Either he earns my respect, or he becomes my subordinate."
Hearing this, Kushina's expression darkened, and she threatened, "Don't forget, Naruto is your jinchūriki. If he dies, you'll die too."
The Nine-Tails sneered, "Death is temporary for me. Once I revive, I'll be free."
Kushina's expression shifted as she fell into deep thought.
The Nine-Tails was right. Humans, made of flesh and blood, truly died when killed. But tailed beasts were different, they were beings of pure chakra. Even if they were killed, their chakra would eventually reform, allowing them to revive over time.
After a pause, Kushina said slowly, "Is that so? I've heard that tailed beasts have their own fears."
The Nine-Tails looked disdainful, but a sense of unease crept into its mind. Did Kushina actually know something?
Tailed beasts did have weaknesses. They truly died when killed, and they had an ultimate fear, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, which could merge them back into the Ten-Tails.
At this moment, Kushina seemed to read the Nine-Tails' thoughts and said, "Kurama, do you remember the masked man who attacked us over a decade ago? He's been active in the ninja world again, and he recently attacked the Six-Tails jinchūriki."
"Attacked the Six-Tails?" The Nine-Tails' expression changed, its sense of foreboding growing stronger.
Kushina nodded. "After the attack, the Six-Tails jinchūriki has gone missing. There have also been records of attacks on the Two-Tails and Three-Tails in recent years. What do you think the masked man is planning, Kurama?"
The Nine-Tails tried to calm itself and said defiantly, "Isn't it just copying Hashirama Senju's method of distributing tailed beasts? I know how you shinobi think. But no matter how you try to balance power, you can't avoid war."
Kushina smiled mysteriously and said, "There's one more thing. The masked man calls himself Madara Uchiha. You're not unfamiliar with Madara Uchiha, are you, Kurama?"
Hearing the name Madara Uchiha, the Nine-Tails' temper flared.
Before Madara Uchiha, no one in the ninja world had treated it like a summoning beast. To this day, it still bore the summoning contract Madara had placed on it.
The battle between Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju at the Valley of the End was something it could never forget.
But after careful consideration, the Nine-Tails quickly realized something was off. Narrowing its eyes, it said, "Kushina, are you trying to deceive me? I've seen Madara's strength. With his power, why would he need to hide in the shadows?"
Kushina shrugged and said, "I'm not sure about that. But according to Byakuya, the masked man does call himself Madara Uchiha, and he possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan. Back then, didn't he use summoning techniques and the Mangekyō Sharingan to control you?"
Mentioning that humiliating chapter of its history, the Nine-Tails began to growl, revealing its beastly side. It then said to Kushina, "Kushina, you've convinced me. But the one who really wants to negotiate with me isn't you, is it? It's that Byakuya you mentioned.
After you were severely injured and fell into a coma, it must have been Byakuya who saved you, right? To rescue you from the grasp of death, this Byakuya doesn't seem ordinary. But why hasn't Byakuya come to see me himself?"
"I don't know…" Kushina shook her head. She couldn't understand her so-called clansman either. His strength and schemes were beyond her comprehension.
"But since the masked man has sent Itachi and Kisame, Byakuya must be dealing with Madara Uchiha in the shadows."
The Nine-Tails scanned its surroundings with its senses but found no notable chakra nearby.
Retracting its senses, it said to Kushina, "Let's talk about our deal. You want me to share my chakra with Naruto, but I can't just give it away for free. Besides, with his current abilities, he can't handle my power."
"Just don't interfere with him. As for his strength…" Kushina continued, "I believe he will soon surpass Minato and become one of the strongest shinobi in the world. After all, he inherited Minato's bloodline and has your power."
The Nine-Tails looked serious as it stared at Kushina. "I've never seen you praise someone so much before. But you're right. If he can truly reach Minato's level and combine it with my power, he might actually have a chance to defeat Madara Uchiha."
Kushina frowned. "Kurama, is Madara Uchiha really that powerful?"
The Nine-Tails nodded. "Madara Uchiha is far stronger than you can imagine. During the Warring States period, he might not have been a match for Hashirama Senju, but there's no Hashirama in this era."
Hearing this, Kushina realized the true extent of Madara's strength.
However, the current "Madara Uchiha" was an imposter, Obito, Minato's former student. They wouldn't have to face the legendary Madara Uchiha.
---
Meanwhile, after buying enough time, Yamato and the ANBU squad chose to retreat.
Yamato had hoped to capture Itachi Uchiha on the spot, but he knew that with his current strength, it was impossible to bring Itachi to justice.
Moreover, judging from the bounty on Itachi's head, the Third Hokage's attitude toward him seemed somewhat ambiguous.
Itachi had indeed slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan, but from the Third Hokage's perspective, the village hadn't suffered much loss.
Back then, rumors of the Uchiha clan's impending rebellion had spread like wildfire throughout the village.
Major clans and ANBU members were all aware that the Uchiha were planning a coup and had prepared to take sides or suppress the rebellion.
Just as everyone expected the coup to begin, Itachi annihilated the Uchiha clan.
Many ANBU members suspected that the Third Hokage had ordered Itachi to carry out the massacre, while others believed it was Danzō Shimura's doing. Only the leader of the Root organization could issue such a ruthless command.
Even after Itachi became a rogue ninja, he didn't cause much harm to the village.
Whenever Leaf shinobi encountered Itachi on missions, as long as they chose to flee, there were no major conflicts. After Yamato and the others left, Itachi didn't pursue them.
He stayed in place for a while before heading to check on Sasuke, making sure he wasn't in danger.
Sasuke was still young. If he couldn't withstand the pressure of the Tsukuyomi and was ambushed while unconscious…
Following the path from his memory, Itachi quickly found the unconscious Sasuke.
Beside Sasuke, Itachi saw a familiar figure. Although the person wore a Root organization mask, Itachi couldn't mistake their build and demeanor.
Just as Itachi was about to speak, the other person said first, "Itachi, didn't you promise not to harm the village's shinobi? What's going on now?"
Hearing this, Itachi's expression changed. He replied, "Shisui, you know I didn't truly attack them. If I had, they'd be dead by now."
Facing his former friend, Itachi remained cold. They had once shared the same ideals, but now they had gone their separate ways.
What was ironic was that the shinobi who had once believed in the village had become a rogue ninja, working under Madara Uchiha to hunt tailed beasts.
Meanwhile, the shinobi who had valued his clan above all else had become the leader of the Root organization, using the Uchiha clan to take over Root and protect the village from the shadows.
Shisui looked at Itachi and tightened his gaze. "I've told you many times, Shisui is dead. I am now Danzō of the Root organization, the Hokage who protects Konoha from the shadows."