Kushina eventually forgave the Third Hokage.
After all, everyone was already dead, and Hiruzen had admitted his mistakes sincerely. With both the First Hokage and the Second Hokage present, Kushina had already scolded the Third to his face in front of the village's founders. There was no point in continuing to press the issue.
So, Minato took Kushina's hand, and the two quietly left.
Naruto lingered behind for a moment. He walked up to Hiruzen and said softly:
"Grandpa Third, my mom can be a little too outspoken sometimes. Please don't take her words too much to heart."
Hiruzen gave a weary but gentle smile. "Naruto, Kushina is right. I did not take proper care of you when you were young. The fact that you don't resent me is already more than I deserve. For that alone, I'm grateful."
Naruto simply nodded, saying nothing more. He had already made his peace with the past.
At that moment, Hashirama approached Naruto. His warm and charismatic presence filled the room as always. He studied Naruto seriously before speaking.
"Naruto, I plan to take Madara, Tobirama, Izuna, and Hiruzen with me to visit the other hidden villages. It will be both a diplomatic gesture and a chance to see how much the shinobi world has changed. What do you think?"
Naruto thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "No problem, Shodai. You can decide on this matter. I trust your judgment."
Hashirama laughed in his hearty way and clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "Good! Then it's settled."
With that, Hashirama turned to gather the others and prepared to head toward the Hokage's office. He gave Tsunade a quick explanation before leaving.
Meanwhile, Naruto went to catch up with his parents.
Kushina's Complaints
The moment he found them, Kushina was still scolding Minato.
"Look at you, Minato! You didn't even have the courage to speak up about how miserable your son's childhood was. You sacrificed your life for the village, fine, but to let your own child suffer like that? You're supposed to be Hokage, yet you couldn't even protect your son!"
Minato gave a bitter smile and rubbed the back of his head. "I… I already explained, Kushina. I'm sorry. But the Third also admitted his mistakes. Please, calm down."
Kushina rolled her eyes and huffed. "Hmph! Both you and Naruto are the same—too forgiving, always willing to let things go so easily."
Naruto, seeing the rising tension, quickly jumped in with a grin.
"Mom, let's not talk about unhappy things anymore. We should be preparing to go to Hinata's house, remember?"
As expected, Kushina's fiery temper cooled instantly at the mention of Hinata. Her eyes lit up like a child's and she snapped her fingers.
"That's right! Marrying a daughter-in-law is the most important thing right now. Come on—you two, follow me. We're going shopping!"
Without waiting for an answer, Kushina grabbed Naruto by the arm and pulled Minato along, dragging both men toward the bustling streets of Konoha.
Strolling Through Modern Konoha
"Wow!" Kushina gasped as her eyes sparkled in wonder.
She truly hadn't expected Konoha's commercial district to have become so lively and prosperous.
Back in her era, most of the streets had been made of packed earth, with only a few central roads paved with stone that led toward the Hokage Tower. Shops had been few, and most goods were necessities rather than luxuries.
But now? Everywhere she looked, the streets were paved with polished stone, and the bustling crowd filled every corner. Shops of all kinds lined both sides: barbecue restaurants, fried chicken stands, bookstores, jewelry shops, general stores, even clothing boutiques. There were more products, more people, and a vibrancy that far surpassed her memories.
Kushina's face was filled with surprise. "I never imagined that today's Konoha would look like this."
Minato gave her hand a gentle squeeze and smiled. "Of course. After all, we've been gone for nearly twenty years."
The words made Kushina's smile falter slightly. Her expression softened with sadness.
She turned back to look at Naruto, her eyes full of emotion. "Naruto… when I think about how I never got to attend your birthdays, your graduation, or see you grow up… it breaks my heart. I can't forgive myself for not being there for you."
Naruto's throat tightened, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes. "Mom… even though you weren't by my side, I've always felt your love. As I said before—I was filled with love before I even became a Jinchūriki. That love has carried me through every storm and every hardship."
Kushina's heart swelled with pride and relief. "Naruto!" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Thank Kami her son had not turned bitter or hateful. Otherwise, she would have fought against the Third Hokage herself, regardless of the village's needs.
For her, the village was important—but her child came first.
She also understood why Minato hadn't scolded Hiruzen earlier. His role as Hokage had forced him to prioritize the village's safety above even his own son. It was precisely why, in the face of Obito's attack, Minato had chosen to seal the Yang half of Kurama into Naruto. He had to protect Konoha and prevent future disasters.
Seeing Kushina start to drift into self-blame again, Minato quickly took her hand and said with a smile, "Alright, no more sad thoughts. Come on, let's hurry and buy everything we need. We'll visit the Hyūga tomorrow."
Naruto nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Mom. Help me figure out what to buy."
That brought Kushina's attention back to the present.
Shopping Frenzy
The three of them walked through the crowded street. Wherever they went, villagers greeted them warmly.
"Fourth Hokage-sama!"
"Lord Naruto!"
Everyone recognized Minato—the Fourth Hokage who had once given his life to save the village. And everyone recognized Naruto—the hero who ended the Fourth Shinobi War.
The greetings and admiration came endlessly.
Kushina couldn't hide her pride. Her face practically glowed as she held her head high.
When they arrived at a gift shop, the store owner greeted them warmly.
"Welcome, miss, what would you like to—"
The man's eyes widened when he spotted Minato and Naruto behind her. He immediately rushed forward in excitement. "Fourth Hokage-sama! Lord Naruto! Please, come in, come in!"
Minato chuckled awkwardly and pointed to Kushina. "Actually, we're with her."
The shopkeeper blinked, then hurriedly bowed toward Kushina with a sheepish grin. "Ah! Forgive me, madam, I didn't realize. Please, right this way."
Kushina smirked, clearly satisfied. At least this shopkeeper knew how to treat people properly—much better than how Hiruzen once did.
Inside, she began browsing the shelves with sharp eyes.
After picking out several things, she suddenly frowned. "By the way, do you two even have money?"
Minato looked embarrassed. "I… don't."
Naruto laughed and pulled out a sleek black card. "Don't worry, Mom. I've got it covered. You can spend as much as you want—it's all on me."
This card was no ordinary bank card. It was valid in all five great nations, tied to a banking network that extended across the shinobi world. Konan had given it to him when she entrusted Akatsuki's remaining assets to him. It was essentially the accumulated fortune of Akatsuki.
Also known as… Kakuzu's tears.
The wealth stored within it was enough to buy all of Konoha several times over.
Kushina's jaw dropped slightly. "Naruto… you're this rich?"
Naruto scratched his cheek and offered a vague explanation. "Well, I've made a lot of friends. Sometimes, friends… leave money behind."
Kushina didn't question it further. She assumed it had to do with Naruto's past involvement with Akatsuki. Accepting the card without hesitation, she immediately began ordering.
"Ten roots of ginseng. The freshest ones that will last the longest."
"Ten crates of sake."
"Ten boxes of cigars."
"And these health supplements—ten boxes as well."
The shopkeeper's eyes nearly popped out of his head, but Kushina wasn't done.
"Oh, and do you carry Soldier Pills?"
"Yes, but not in bulk quantities like ten boxes…" the owner stammered.
"Then give me as many as you have. Every ninja loves Soldier Pills."
The man nearly cried with joy. This was a once-in-a-lifetime customer. He immediately ordered all his assistants to start packing.
Boxes were being carried out left and right, and Minato and Naruto had to summon Shadow Clones just to haul everything.
Kushina's Logic
When they finally stepped out, Kushina's arms were still crossed as she surveyed the haul critically.
"Is that enough?" Minato asked, exhausted from carrying crates.
Kushina gave him a glare. "What do you know? The Hyūga are one of the wealthiest clans in Konoha. If we show up without proper gifts, it will be embarrassing!"
Naruto looked at the army of Shadow Clones carrying their massive load, then at his mother. "Mom… do we really need this much? It's just my first time visiting them."
Kushina flicked his forehead. "Naruto, you should always listen to your mother. It's your first visit—better to bring more and show respect. Hinata is the Hyūga clan's heiress, and her uncles and the clan elders will be there. You must prepare gifts for all of them."
Naruto sighed, then chuckled. "Well… you're probably right."
Kushina nodded triumphantly. "Exactly! Besides, you've got so much money in that card—what's the point of hoarding it? Spend it on something meaningful!"
Naruto gave her a wry smile, but deep down, he couldn't help feeling warm.
This was what it felt like to have a mother—someone who fussed, scolded, and over-prepared, but always out of love.
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