Chapter 303: Confession
"...Partners?"
Kushina blankly repeated the word, her tone full of questioning. Who? The Nine-Tails? What's Kurama?
Based on Naruto's words, it sounded almost like he was saying he and that Nine-Tails demon fox who hated all humans had become friends.
But how was that possible? The Nine-Tails had been sealed within her body for over ten years. Though they'd "spent every day together," their relationship could be described as abysmal.
Every time they met in the seal space, the Nine-Tails would try every means with malicious whispers to tempt her, attempting to find openings to seize her mind and gain freedom. Kushina's response had always been simple and brutal—directly using Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind it like a dumpling, then forcibly extracting its chakra for use.
Befriend the Nine-Tails? This child's thinking is really too...
Watching his mother's completely uncomprehending expression, as though hearing an Arabian Nights tale, Naruto felt this was understandable. He decided to explain using the most direct method.
"Like this," he said easily, standing up. "We're partners, two-in-one."
As his will stirred slightly, warm and brilliant golden chakra instantly surged from within him, forming that sun-like dazzling Nine-Tails Chakra Mode radiating powerful yet peaceful waves.
"!!!"
However, the instant she felt this chakra wave whose color was completely different yet whose essence was incomparably familiar, Kushina shot up from her chair! Her face full of terror, almost instinctively about to mobilize chakra and summon Adamantine Sealing Chains!
"Wait! Don't be impulsive!" Seeing his mother's reaction, Naruto hurriedly lifted his shirt before those golden chain phantoms could appear, exposing his abdomen's intact Eight Trigrams Seal.
"The Nine-Tails hasn't gone berserk! The seal hasn't broken either!" He explained at rapid speed, showing no signs of being controlled. "This is power Kurama willingly lent me! It's the result of our cooperation!"
The anticipated roar full of hatred and violent chakra impact from the Nine-Tails didn't appear. Kushina forcibly suppressed the impulse to activate sealing jutsu.
However, at Naruto's current speed, if he wanted, Kushina couldn't catch him at all. But even just the aftershock of Nine-Tails Chakra Mode's movements would probably instantly require this small apartment's complete renovation.
Kushina reached out uncertainly, touching the seal on Naruto's abdomen. What she first felt was that gentle yet tremendous Nine-Tails chakra.
Previously, when forcibly borrowing Nine-Tails chakra, each time felt like controlling violent magma. The violent will contained within would continuously erode her spirit, consuming her life force. Moreover, merely touching the Tailed Beast cloak would instantly burn or even carbonize an ordinary ninja's palm.
But this golden chakra cloak on Naruto was completely different. Though she could clearly sense it was massive energy from the Nine-Tails, internally there were no violent, hateful negative emotions whatsoever—as docile as hot springs, full of vitality and life.
Indeed, the seal was intact, even... optimized multiple times? As a sealing technique master, Kushina perceived changes in the seal formula. Had Naruto modified it himself?
She raised her head, looking at her son before her enveloped in warm golden light like a small sun. Minato's hope... had it truly... been realized in Naruto?
Though this idea sounded so impossible, reality was vividly displayed before her eyes. Right—Naruto had saved Konoha using precisely this power, even... successfully sealing her controlled self.
When initial shock and wariness gradually faded and she relaxed, besides tremendous comfort and pride surging in Kushina's heart, even deeper guilt entangled her.
Her own child... as a child... exactly how lonely had he been...? To actually... only be able to interact and communicate with that fox full of hatred?
Beyond this guilt-ridden thought that pained her heart, a doubt also simultaneously surfaced. The Nine-Tails... that Tailed Beast that had resented humans for hundreds of years, could actually truly listen to Naruto's words?
Based on her understanding of the Nine-Tails, during that period it should have been thinking only about how to tempt the jinchuriki, seeking opportunities to seize freedom.
---
"Ninja Academy teacher? Very caring toward Naruto?"
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded forcefully. "Iruka-sensei is really amazing! At school, every time he heard someone mock me or speak badly about me, he'd immediately stand up and scold those guys until their heads spun, you know!"
"Then we really must thank him properly." Kushina relaxed with relief. "I knew it—even in this place, there would definitely be people who could discover Naruto's merits and proactively show Naruto friendliness. After all, our Naruto is so adorable."
"Saying that is a bit embarrassing..."
"Really? I don't think so at all!" Kushina immediately retorted. "Little Satsuki, what do you think?"
Immediately followed Satsuki's unhesitating, crazy nodding motion.
"Haha, right!" Kushina laughed proudly, then looked at Naruto with slight apology. "However, though your personality is more like Minato's, you inherited my somewhat strange verbal tic. Sorry about that."
"No need to apologize at all! I think it's great! Moreover, being able to grow up like this, this face is also thanks to you two."
"Yes," Kushina's gaze gently traced Naruto's outline. "Good thing your hair inherited Dad's."
"Eh?" Naruto was somewhat puzzled. "But I think Mom's red hair is also extremely beautiful."
"Mom doesn't dislike her own hair," Kushina explained. "Just, if you had red hair, in this village it might attract more unnecessary, strange gazes. Moreover... you are the second man to praise my red hair as beautiful."
"Then the first..."
"That's right, it's your dad. That was a very, very long time ago..."
---
"Naruto your ooking skills look really impressive, preparing so much. However, tomorrow, let me prepare lunch boxes for you! Satsuki gets one too! This is after all a mother's duty."
As she spoke, bitterness rose in her heart. Not knowing when the jutsu would be released, before then, she really wanted to do more for this child.
"...Mom, are you still feeling guilty about previous matters?"
"...Uh," Kushina froze momentarily, then somewhat awkwardly averted her gaze. "Is it that obvious?"
"Yeah." Naruto nodded affirmatively.
"...Sorry, thinking about what I heard from Satsuki... about what you experienced as a child, my mood just ... can't calm down, you know..."
"Seriously, there's really no need to be so guilty! Even though I'm a jinchuriki, my previous days, because I met many good people, were quite happy! Of course... now that Mom can be here, staying by my side, is even better."
Naruto spoke softly as Kushina quietly listened, her gaze involuntarily falling on Satsuki across from her again, eyes growing increasingly affectionate and grateful. "Yeah... really must thank her properly..." she murmured in a low voice. "Oh right, and you too, little Zacian. Thank you so much... for always staying by Naruto's side."
Then Kushina bent down, stroking little Zacian's fluffy head as it lay quietly nearby. Naruto very tactfully didn't mention this little one had actually just hatched today.
Zacian? What a nice name. Kushina thought inwardly, secretly relieved.
She'd originally worried a bit that Naruto might give his pet some strange name like "Super Spiral Blue-Furred Dog Zero Model"...
Fortunately, in naming taste, Naruto completely hadn't inherited his dad's tasteless naming talent...
She raised her head, glancing at the night scene outside the window. "It's already quite late... Naruto, Mom still has so very many things she wants to tell you... When sleeping in a bit, let's continue talking, okay? Sorry... I can only now accomplish something as simple as sleeping together... and this body is still cold..."
"..." Naruto fell silent, seemingly both longing for yet somewhat embarrassed by this proposal.
Meanwhile, Satsuki beside them showed undisguised envy in her eyes.
Kushina took in both their reactions completely. Though she'd confirmed Satsuki held romantic feelings for Naruto... but this child's dependence on Naruto—wasn't it a bit... excessively intense?
A thought flashed through. She smiled toward Satsuki, proposing in a seemingly casual tone: "Oh right, Satsuki should stay over tonight too! I see Naruto's bed is quite large. Moreover, I also have many things about Naruto's childhood I want to ask little Satsuki about."
By normal reasoning, an adolescent girl hearing such a proposal—the normal reaction should be blushing, stammering excuses to refuse.
However, Satsuki's reaction was this—
Her eyes instantly lit up, almost immediately responding, tone containing not the slightest shyness, only full longing and impatience.
"Really? Is that okay?"