Kushina heard footsteps rapidly approaching from behind her, and then she was embraced.
"Mom, is that you, Mom?"
Kushina turned her head slightly, unable to see Naruto's face, but she had no doubt; Kushina knew this was her son.
He's already grown so tall!
"Naruto, it's Mom. Look up, let Mom see your face."
Naruto obediently looked up. Ever since he met Minato in the sealing space last time, Naruto had wondered if he could also meet his mother there.
Running into the sealing space for no reason, besides Naruto wanting to 'PY' with the Nine-Tailed, he also vaguely hoped to see his mother.
Kushina saw Naruto with tears streaming from both eyes, which made Kushina happy and heartbroken at the same time.
"Naruto, don't cry. It's not handsome at all. Come on, give me a smile."
Obediently wiping away his tears, Naruto spoke as he wiped.
"I'm just so happy! I knew it, if I could see Dad here, I could definitely see Mom too!"
Before he could finish speaking, Naruto had wiped away his tears. The excitement of seeing his family at that moment made Naruto's true emotions pour out. While still caught up in the moment, Kushina only wanted Naruto to smile, so Naruto had to produce an expression he had practiced for a long time.
With lingering sparkling tears in his eyes, Naruto flashed a brilliant smile.
"Thump!"
What greeted Naruto was a critical hit; Kushina's fist landed squarely on top of Naruto's head.
The child had gone bad, acting just like the Third Hokage, that old geezer.
Following another warm interaction between mother and son, Kushina, having understood the whole story, looked at Shisui with an icy expression.
To Kushina, Konoha was never a good place. It was only because there was someone who could fill the void in her heart, and that person happened to become the Hokage, that Kushina developed a hint of affection for Konoha.
This hint of affection completely vanished after she learned that Shisui had opened the seal.
Especially after seeing the Sharingan in Shisui's eyes, which reminded Kushina of the mysterious person with the Sharingan on the night of her death, her expression grew even colder.
"Naruto, you're still young and easily deceived. Stand behind me. After I chase this fellow away, I'll reseal the Nine-Tailed for you."
"Mom, Shisui-niisan isn't a bad person. He's here to help me master the Nine-Tailed's power!"
Naruto, seeing the tense atmosphere, quickly explained, but this only made Kushina more wary of Shisui.
"Kushina-senpai, we are here by the Hokage's order, in this unique space. As long as we can seize the Nine-Tailed Chakra, Naruto can master the Nine-Tailed Chakra without any future troubles."
After speaking, Shisui also conjured a scroll, which contained information about Turtle Island, and tried to hand it to Kushina.
Before he could get close, a chain emerged from Kushina's body and slapped the scroll away.
"Don't call me senpai. The Hokage? If it weren't for Minato, I would have defected from Konoha long ago. Naruto is still so young, and you're already so impatient? As for mastering the Nine-Tailed? I never knew that mastering the Nine-Tailed's power required breaking the seal!"
In Kushina's eyes, not a single word from Shisui's mouth was true. Naruto wasn't even an adult yet, and they were already so eager to turn him into a war machine, using such a ridiculous excuse.
"Kushina-senpai, please..."
"Shut up!"
Kushina's red hair behind her began to flutter, and a chilling aura emanated from her entire body.
"You have two choices: either leave on your own, or I'll beat you to a pulp!"
Knowing that this suddenly appearing person was Kushina, Shisui did not want to resort to force, especially in front of Naruto.
Shisui couldn't bring himself to beat up a mother in front of her child.
He wanted to explain, but was mercilessly rejected. Shisui felt like a scholar encountering a soldier.
In fact, even if Shisui had explained, it wouldn't have changed the outcome. Even if Kushina truly believed in the wonders of Turtle Island, she wouldn't have been willing to take the risk.
Making Naruto a Jinchuriki was Minato Namikaze's choice; Kushina had only half-heartedly agreed.
No mother wants her child to become a Jinchuriki, a war machine for the Village. Rather than Naruto gaining power, Kushina would prefer Naruto to live a normal life like an ordinary person.
But as things stood, the Nine-Tailed was already inside Naruto. Kushina only wanted to set up a stable seal.
Whether Naruto mastered the Nine-Tailed's power or not was irrelevant; it was even better if he didn't.
Kushina's own experience taught her that if Naruto couldn't master the Nine-Tailed's power well, he would only be confined in the Village. Forget about going to the Battlefield; even opportunities to leave the Village for missions would be extremely rare.
Kushina had intensely resisted that kind of unfree life back then, but undeniably, it was incredibly safe.
As long as Naruto could grow up safely, losing his freedom was acceptable.
No mother doesn't wish for her child to live well, but Kushina knew she would soon disappear. All she could do was ensure Naruto's safety, and nothing more.
Seeing Kushina's eagerness, as if she would immediately make a move if he didn't disappear soon.
Shisui's face showed a bitter smile. Was it truly impossible to do it himself?
With a bitter smile, Shisui gently caressed his right eye.
"[Transcription Seal: Open!]."
Following a ripple of ocular power, a figure dressed in a white-based, gold and red patterned Hokage robe appeared, a refreshing smile on his handsome face.
Upon standing still, Tomoki, who had taken in the entire situation, spoke.
"Allow me to introduce myself, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, Uchiha Tomoki!"
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