Konoha: The Man Who Became the Fourth Hokage

"Kyūsei, don't move. Let me lean on you for a bit…

Just for a moment…"

If there was anyone who could truly understand the pain in Kushina's heart right now, it wasn't Kaoru , nor was it Minato.

The only person who could understand it was the silent Kyūsei standing here.

Because they were counterparts, Kyūsei could clearly feel the confusion, helplessness, and the crushing sense of powerlessness in Kushina's heart—knowing the situation could no longer be salvaged.

After an unknown amount of time, Kushina slowly lifted her head and looked at the seventeen-year-old counterpart before her.

Suddenly, she smiled. It was a smile mixed with tears and a strange sense of relief.

"Well… this is my own matter after all."

"I'll handle everything myself."

"Kyūsei, you've already done more than enough just by watching over Menma for me."

Seeing Kushina putting on a brave front, Kyūsei hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Sister Kushina… do you want to leave that Konoha?"

"Together with Namikaze Minato."

With Kyūsei's current strength, storming into Konoha alone and forcibly rescuing Minato from Konoha Prison wouldn't be difficult.

Kushina shook her head.

She looked out at the countless lights of Konoha.

It was as if she could see the Konoha from her own world through the view before her.

"Kyūsei, thank you for the offer."

"But if we really did that…"

"Minato would die."

Kushina knew her husband too well.

Although he valued his family deeply, Konoha was just as irreplaceable in his heart.

When Menma attacked Konoha, Minato had already exhausted all his connections and pleaded with the Fifth Hokage to show mercy.

With the crimes Menma committed, even dying ten times wouldn't have been enough to atone.

Yet the Fifth Hokage spared Menma's life out of respect for Minato, imprisoning him instead.

But later, unable to bear seeing his son suffer, Minato released Menma from prison.

He took Menma's罪 upon himself.

Now he sat alone in Konoha's prison.

Voluntarily imprisoned.

If Minato wanted to leave, no one in Konoha could stop him.

But if Kyūsei broke into Konoha and rescued him…

It would not bring hope.

It would bring death.

Minato would never accept the title of rogue ninja.

For the legendary Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato, to become a Konoha S-rank traitor?

That was something he could never allow.

Minato was the direct disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin. Kushina herself was one of the few remaining members of the Uzumaki clan. The Fifth Hokage had always treated her kindly.

Lady Uzumaki Mito had even entrusted the Nine-Tails to their family.

Now that things had ended up like this, Minato was drowning in guilt.

If Kyūsei tried to take him out of prison, Minato would refuse.

And if Kyūsei forced the matter…

Minato would most likely take his own life on the spot.

Looking at Kushina's expression, Kyūsei understood.

"What can I do to help you?"

Kushina instinctively wanted to shake her head.

But Minato's words echoed in her mind.

For our child…

Never let Menma come back.

Minato must have made that decision in unbearable pain.

"Kyūsei…"

"For the time being… please look after Menma for me."

"I'm begging you…"

"The sins he created… Minato and I will bear them ourselves."

Kyūsei stared at Kushina.

A bad premonition rose in his heart.

"You mean…"

As if she knew what he was thinking, Kushina nodded slightly.

"Yes."

"I don't plan on taking Menma back."

"If he returns to Konoha, death will be unavoidable."

"But the crimes Menma committed are too severe. The only reason he was spared before was because the village respected Minato and me."

"Now Minato released him from prison. The consequences are far too heavy for Menma to bear."

"As parents… how can we watch our child die?"

"So please, Kyūsei."

"I know this request is unfair to you. You have no obligation to shoulder Menma's responsibility."

"But right now… I can't find any other way for him to live."

"This is the only request I will make in my lifetime."

Looking at Kushina's resolute expression, Kyūsei didn't know what to say.

She and Minato were undoubtedly devoted parents.

But they were not devoted shinobi.

Still, she was his counterpart.

Kyūsei could hardly criticize her.

"Alright."

He could only nod.

When Kyūsei and Kushina went downstairs, Kaoru had already prepared a bowl of ramen and placed it on the dining table.

"Thank you for your hard work, Kaoru ."

Kushina looked warmly at the gentle girl.

She had always liked Kaoru .

In her eyes, Kyūsei and Kaoru felt like her own children.

"Hmph."

Menma continued slurping noodles beside them with a blank expression.

The moment Kushina sat down, Menma suddenly slammed his chopsticks on the table.

"I'm done eating."

"Then wash your bowl."

Kyūsei glanced at him.

"Tch. Yeah, I know."

Menma unwillingly picked up his bowl and walked into the kitchen.

Kushina sighed softly as she watched her son's back.

She picked up her chopsticks and was about to place a slice of narutomaki into her mouth.

Suddenly—

A wave of nausea surged up.

Kushina clutched her chest and bent forward, retching.

"W–What's wrong?!"

Kaoru panicked.

She hadn't put anything strange in the ramen.

"Should we ask Lady Tsunade to take a look?"

Kyūsei asked with concern.

"Ugh… i-it's fine…"

Kushina accepted the cup of water Kaoru handed her and drank slowly, easing the discomfort.

"No need to trouble the Fifth Hok—"

She stopped mid-sentence.

The Tsunade here was not the Tsunade from her world.

"No need to trouble Lady Tsunade…"

"You should still get checked."

Kyūsei said.

"You look like this—how are you supposed to deal with what comes next?"

He was referring to Kushina's upcoming negotiation with Hiruzen.

Although Kushina had already decided to leave Menma here, the formalities still needed to be handled.

After all, Sakura's squad would likely arrive soon.

Seeing the concern on Kyūsei and Kaoru 's faces, Kushina hesitated before finally nodding.

Kyūsei and Kaoru quickly put on their coats and escorted Kushina outside.

Before leaving, Kyūsei shouted toward the kitchen:

"Menma! Watch the house!"

Menma, who had just finished washing the dishes, stared silently at the three figures disappearing into the night.

He said nothing.

Kyūsei and Kaoru quickly brought Kushina to the Senju residence.

Now that only Tsunade remained of the Senju clan, she disliked the lifeless Senju compound and had bought a house elsewhere.

The door opened.

A handsome man with pale silver hair appeared.

"Uh… Dan."

Kyūsei looked slightly surprised.

Kato Dan.

Tsunade's lover.

This time, he had not been sent to the battlefield by Hiruzen, and thus survived.

"Kyūsei? Kaoru ? What's going on?"

Dan looked at the two younger ninjas with surprise.

They were famous prodigies in Konoha's shinobi circles.

"And this is…?"

Dan glanced at Kushina curiously.

"Is Lady Tsunade home?"

Kyūsei skipped explaining and asked directly.

Tsunade knew Kushina. As long as she checked her condition, that would be enough.

"Oh, she's inside. Come in."

Dan scratched his head and let them enter.

Tsunade had always been fond of Kyūsei.

If she found out he made Kyūsei wait outside, she'd probably punch him again.

"Tsunade-nee!"

Kyūsei shouted the moment he stepped inside.

"Coming, coming! You brat, always yelling."

Tsunade walked down the stairs.

But the familiar red-haired figure beside Kyūsei made her pause.

Uzumaki Kushina.

Just two days ago, Kyūsei had told those visitors from the other Konoha to bring Kushina here.

That fast?

"Lady Tsunade. It's been a long time."

Kushina nodded respectfully.

"Yeah… it has."

Tsunade nodded lightly and approached them.

"You insisted Kushina come here, and now that she's here, why did you bring her to me?"

She could understand Kyūsei not wanting to get involved in the issue of the second Nine-Tails.

One side was the man who raised him.

The other was his counterpart.

No choice would be easy.

"It's like this, Tsunade-nee…"

Kyūsei quickly explained the situation.

"I see. Sit down first."

Tsunade led them to the living room sofa.

Dan brought tea and placed it on the table.

"Give me your hand."

Tsunade said.

Kushina extended her wrist without hesitation.

Tsunade placed two fingers on it.

Less than five seconds later—

Her eyes narrowed.

"W-What's wrong, Lady Tsunade?"

Kushina asked nervously.

"Have you been experiencing severe nausea lately?"

As someone who had already been through pregnancy before, Kushina's heart jolted.

Could it be…

"…Yes."

She nodded stiffly.

"It's been about two months already. Didn't you notice?"

Two months…

Kushina's mind raced.

The last time Minato visited her before going to the prison…

The timing matched.

She was pregnant.

"So… what should I do, Lady Tsunade?"

Kushina asked helplessly.

"What should you do?"

"Obviously give birth."

Tsunade replied matter-of-factly.

In the shinobi world, where wars were constant, abortion medicine was extremely rare.

Population meant strength.

Unless the pregnancy endangered the mother, termination was almost never considered.

And even those rare medicines were restricted items.

Surgery required endless approvals.

Too troublesome.

"W-What do you mean give birth?"

Kaoru asked in confusion.

Kyūsei leaned close to her ear and quietly explained.

"Eh?!"

Kaoru 's face immediately turned bright red.

If that was the case…

She and Kyūsei had already done that too…

Could she get pregnant as well?

"Lady Tsunade…"

Kushina spoke with difficulty.

"This child… can we… not keep it…?"

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