But then, thinking how Obito had taken her to see Naruto, fulfilling the wish she had always longed for, and how he had said things in front of her like "Naruto is the coolest," making her so happy.
She laughed and said, "Well then, since you're so sincere this time, when we get back home, I'll cook for you myself, make something delicious for you."
"This is a brand-new super-invincible delicious rice ball I just developed."
Obito couldn't help but shiver. Normally, Big Sis's cooking was pretty tasty, but the scary part was when she suddenly got the urge to 'innovate.' That could definitely kill someone.
He hesitated and said.
"Big Sis, maybe… don't innovate? With your good intentions alone, I'm already satisfied, hahaha."
But Kushina wasn't pleased, "What, you think my cooking tastes bad? Let me tell you, even Naruto hasn't eaten this one yet…"
Just then, Kushina stopped talking, because Naruto had already arrived, bringing Kurama with him.
The enormous, fierce-looking Nine-Tails suddenly went "poof" and shrank into a palm-sized little fox, hopping straight onto Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto smiled.
"Mom, and Obito, I know Kurama will always go back with you to your original world, but Kurama is my friend. From now on, can you both let go of your grudges and get along?"
Kushina looked at the suddenly cutesy Nine-Tails and felt this little thing was actually kind of adorable.
If only it had been this cute when it was inside her, she never could have mistreated it.
She said, "If this big fox hadn't gone berserk all the time and threatened me and Minato's safety, I wouldn't have treated it that way either."
Kurama snorted from Naruto's shoulder, "If you humans hadn't shamelessly captured me, used me, imprisoned me, who would have gone berserk all the time for no reason?"
Because its body was smaller, Kurama's voice now sounded soft and childish, which instantly stirred Kushina's maternal instincts.
She pressed her palms together and said to Kurama, "Sorry, it was my fault before. Let's live in peace from now on."
Then she added, grumbling, "Honestly though, this wasn't really my fault. It was the mess left by the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara."
Obito chimed in, "That's right. One enslaved you, the other slapped a big label of 'very dangerous' on you without distinguishing right from wrong, misleading later generations. Kurama, grievances have sources, debts have owners. If you've got complaints, go find them."
Kurama snorted again. Go find Madara and Hashirama? Forget it. It decided to follow its heart instead and let bygones be bygones.
Naruto saw how Mom, Obito, and Kurama were all bickering with words but without real conflict, and finally felt relieved.
"Mom, I talked with Kurama. It will continue to stay with you, and when needed, lend you its power to protect your safety."
Kushina instantly grew suspicious.
After all the way she had treated the Nine-Tails, it was still willing to stay with her?
Kurama glanced at her, "Woman, don't flatter yourself. I only want to protect Naruto."
"You humans are fragile creatures; you could die any day. If you die, Naruto won't be born properly. That's something I cannot accept. So, when necessary, I'll allow you to synchronize with me and enter that mode."
Kushina froze, 'That mode?'
Then joy filled her face. Did he mean the Kurama Mode Obito had mentioned?
That was the one Obito had rated as the strongest mode beneath only Madara and Hashirama.
She smiled and held out her hand to Kurama. She couldn't be as pure as Naruto, but she wasn't one to dither either.
"Then from now on, we're companions."
Kurama couldn't be bothered to reply. It just hopped from Naruto's shoulder to Kushina's.
"Though this mind-linking thing feels weird, but… a jinchuriki really can bring out my power better."
"So, you need to adapt to that mode quickly."
At that, Obito perked up.
"Kurama, actually, Big Sis is pretty safe in Konoha, hardly ever in danger. Why not occasionally follow one of my comrades?"
If possible, Obito really wanted Kurama to follow Kakashi. With that, Kakashi's strength would skyrocket.
But Kurama said in deep displeasure, "Brat, don't push your luck. No matter what, this woman is Naruto's mom. Who do you think you are?"
"If you want to borrow my power, forget it."
Obito's plan instantly fell apart. Kurama wasn't like a weapon you could just pick up and use.
You can't be too greedy. With Kurama following Big Sis, that already meant one more super-Kage-level fighter for Konoha, which was quite good.
Seeing the main purpose of this trip already achieved, Obito turned to Kushina, "Big Sis, since Naruko's birth no longer has any risk, should we head back?"
But Kushina was reluctant, "We've only just come out. Anyway, with Tsunade holding things together, we can still play a while longer…"
After that, she turned to Naruto, "Naruto, where's Mikoto's child? How about letting me see him once?"
Naruto froze. If this were the past, he wouldn't have figured it out, but now, with just a little thought, he understood.
"Mom, you mean Sasuke?"
"Actually, Sasuke is also… in Konoha right now."
Kushina's eyes lit up, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Naruto, however, grew embarrassed and said hesitantly, "Mom, maybe… let's wait a bit, see how things go?"
Kushina was puzzled, "See what?"
Naruto said sheepishly, "Maybe Sasuke will come to meet us soon."
Obito almost laughed out loud.
With the sensing of Six Paths–level beings, Naruto and Sasuke were both in Konoha, how could they not sense each other?
Such a short distance, and they still hadn't met. Was that reasonable?
Were they playing some weird game like, "Whoever makes the first move loses"?
Two childish brats. After chasing and running from each other for so long, now that they could finally meet, they were sulking like kids.
Obito didn't want to become part of their strange friendship game. He immediately said, "Big Sis, Sasuke's location should be impossible to hide from you."
Kushina instinctively closed her eyes to sense, and at once felt three unhidden chakra signatures.
She opened her eyes and smiled, "So, at the Uchiha compound. Naruto, let's go."
Naruto said, both expectant and awkward, "Mom, you're the one insisting on going. I'm just following you, not making the first move…"
Kushina really couldn't figure out Naruto's thought process, so she just said, "Then just follow me."
And without hesitation, she headed toward the Uchiha compound.
Before long, they arrived at the tightly closed Uchiha clan gate.
Before they could knock, the door opened from inside. A girl with red hair like Kushina's and glasses had already been waiting. She waved at them, "Finally you're here. I thought I'd be stuck waiting at the door all day."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.