Konoha: The Man Who Became the Fourth Hokage

The sunlight was blinding.

Uzumaki Kushina stood still for a moment, slightly dazed. Minato's words echoed in her ears.

Even if I die… don't let Menma come back.

Minato understood clearly—Menma had only been spared once because of the years he and Kushina had devoted to Konoha.

Now that Menma had escaped, Minato's crime was unforgivable.

If Menma returned—

He would lose the Nine-Tails.

A new jinchūriki would replace him.

"Kushina-senpai, are you ready?"

Haruno Sakura's cool voice sounded behind her.

Kushina wiped the tears from her face and forced a smile.

"Yes. Let's go."

"That child Kyūsei wants to see me. I… want to see him too."

Sakura sighed softly when she noticed the grief Kushina couldn't hide.

"Kushina-san… this is for Konoha."

"I know it hurts. But the village cannot lose the Nine-Tails."

"I know… I know…"

"It's for the village…"

Sakura wasn't good at comforting people. Her words only deepened Kushina's sorrow. Realizing her mistake, she fell silent.

"Sasuke. Karin. We're leaving."

With Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Karin following, the Sakura Squad set out once more—this time with Kushina.

Land of Wind — Ryūmyaku, Loulan

With prior experience using the Dragon Vein, Kushina activated it smoothly. Before Sakura and the others could react, she dissolved into violet light.

"I'll go ahead. We'll meet in Konoha."

She didn't explain the method. In that world, those children hadn't even been born yet. Reckless usage might cause unknown consequences.

More importantly—

She needed to see Kyūsei and Menma alone first.

"Here, Menma. Try it. Tell me if it suits your taste."

Kaoru placed a steaming bowl of ramen before him, smiling gently.

Menma stared at the narutomaki fish cake floating inside.

"I hate narutomaki."

Kaoru blinked, surprised—this was the politest he'd been lately.

She calmly picked up Kyūsei's chopsticks and ate the fish cakes from Menma's bowl.

"There. No more narutomaki."

Like coaxing a stubborn child.

"I'm not eating that. You touched it."

Kyūsei's forehead twitched.

"You're pushing it."

Menma rolled his eyes.

"I don't like it. And I don't want food someone else ate from. Problem?"

"Oh, you want to test me?"

Kyūsei vaulted over the table and tackled him to the floor.

"Are you insane?! You hit people over nothing?!"

Menma struggled helplessly—his chakra sealed, he couldn't resist.

Within seconds—

He was locked in an armbar.

"Hurts—! Let go!"

"Eat the narutomaki?"

"I'll eat it! I'll eat it! Let go!"

Kyūsei snorted.

This brat only responded to force.

"Kyūsei… maybe let him go…"

Before Kaoru could finish—

Purple light erupted beside them.

It condensed.

And Kushina appeared.

She froze.

Her son pinned beneath a boy who looked like her male reflection. A blonde girl standing awkwardly nearby.

"…Did I come at a bad time?"

"Mom! Save me!"

"Now you call her Mom?" Kyūsei yanked his ear. "Where was that energy when you were tricking your father?"

He'd heard the whole story.

Menma had acted well enough to deceive Minato.

That required talent.

"Kaoru …?"

Kushina's voice softened.

"Yes! Kushina-nee!"

"You've grown…"

For the first time that day, Kushina smiled.

"Kyūsei. Let him go. Kushina-nee is here."

He released Menma.

"Menma."

Kushina's voice was calm.

"…Tch."

"You 'tch' what? Call her Mom."

Kyūsei twisted his ear again.

"…Mom."

Menma muttered reluctantly.

Kushina's eyes shimmered.

But she didn't look at him.

Instead—

"Kyūsei. Can we talk?"

"Of course."

The moment she arrived, he had felt it.

Her sorrow.

Heavy. Suffocating.

Rooftop

Kushina stared over the unfamiliar Konoha skyline.

"You've grown, Kyūsei."

"And strong. I'm glad you didn't go astray."

He studied her carefully.

She was only in her forties—

Yet strands of white threaded her red hair.

Fine lines marked her eyes.

Her spirit, once blazing, now carried deep sorrow.

She had suffered.

"A lot's changed for you… Kushina-nee."

She fell silent.

"…I'm sorry."

"I set a bad example."

A tear slipped down.

She used to be strong.

Just like him.

Laughing. Reckless. Bright.

Now—

She cried easily.

Before she could wipe it away—

His hand did.

"Kushina…"

Her forehead pressed weakly against his chest.

She broke.

Her son was hunted.

Her husband imprisoned.

She had fought alone to hold everything together—

And it wasn't enough.

Kyūsei stood still.

He had thought this could be simple.

Let her and Hiruzen negotiate.

He'd step aside.

But her grief—

It bled into him.

Just like when she once felt his pain during his Nine-Tails rampage.

Strength didn't matter here.

He couldn't sever this bond.

"Don't move, Kyūsei."

"Let me lean here… just for a moment."

He said nothing.

And let her cry.

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