Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Miyuki
Chi Yu had originally planned to accompany Orochimaru to Kusagakure, but a message from his summoning beast changed everything.
Mitō Uzumaki was dying.
Without hesitation, Chi Yu sought out Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sensei, I can't go to Kusagakure with you. I need to return to Konoha."
Orochimaru raised a brow, clearly surprised. "Why?"
Chi Yu was not one to abandon a mission once he had accepted it. This sudden change was unprecedented.
"I just received word," Chi Yu said solemnly. "Mitō-sama doesn't have much time left."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. "You're concerned about Kushina, aren't you? Though I doubt there will be complications regarding the next Jinchūriki, your mind would be elsewhere. You'd be a liability in Kusagakure."
He paused, then added, "Very well. Return to Konoha. We'll manage here."
Chi Yu nodded. "Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei."
Indeed, Chi Yu's unease was not unfounded. He would not feel at ease until he confirmed with his own eyes that Kushina Uzumaki was not the one selected to become the new Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Additionally, Chi Yu hoped to gain something else—Mitō Uzumaki's final recognition.
He immediately departed for Konoha.
Halfway through his journey, a letter arrived from Hiruzen Sarutobi himself. The Hokage had also summoned Chi Yu back to the village, likely due to similar concerns.
Hiruzen, never one to take chances with the Nine-Tails, likely wanted Chi Yu's Mangekyō Sharingan close at hand as a contingency.
When Chi Yu arrived in Konoha, he went straight to the Uzumaki residence.
Kushina was home, and her surprise at his sudden return was evident. Normally, Chi Yu would have written ahead.
"Chi Yu? Why are you back so suddenly?"
"Mitō-sama... only has a few days left," Chi Yu replied gravely.
Kushina froze. Her face paled, and her hands trembled slightly.
Though she had been brought to Konoha with a purpose, and she knew it, Mitō had shown her kindness. Kushina had spent years under her care. The thought of losing her cut deep.
Chi Yu stepped forward and gently embraced her.
"I'll take you to see her. Otherwise, you might not get the chance."
He was right. The sealing process surrounding a Jinchūriki was bound to be heavily restricted. And now that Kushina was no longer the candidate, she would likely be barred from seeing Mitō at the end.
Kushina nodded silently, still processing the news.
She still believed she was the chosen one. She had no idea that the title of Jinchūriki had already passed to someone else—Miyuki Uzumaki.
Trying to keep her spirits up, Kushina forced a smile.
"Chi Yu, it's okay. No matter what happens, I can accept it. Being a Jinchūriki isn't all bad. With a tailed beast inside me, no one would dare to bully me!"
She clenched her small fist with mock bravado, trying to lighten the mood.
Chi Yu looked away, his voice low.
"Actually... it's already been decided."
Kushina blinked. "What do you mean?"
Chi Yu took her hand. "Come with me. After we see Mitō-sama, you'll understand everything."
They headed to Mitō Uzumaki's mansion. ANBU were stationed at the entrance—expected, given the circumstances. Using his heightened perception, Chi Yu sensed at least fifteen more hidden ANBU positioned around the estate.
What surprised him, though, were two familiar chakras inside the house.
The ANBU recognized him immediately and stepped aside without protest. It was as if they'd been expecting him and Kushina.
Chi Yu knocked on the door of Mitō's private chamber.
"Mitō-sama, it's Chi Yu and Kushina. We've come to see you."
The door opened swiftly.
To Kushina's astonishment, it was Namikaze Minato who answered.
Her brows furrowed.
"Minato? What are you doing here?"
Minato scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"Ah... I came to visit Mitō-sama with Miyuki."
Inside, Miyuki Uzumaki stood silently near Mitō's bedside.
Kushina's confusion deepened. Why would Minato accompany Miyuki here of all places?
Chi Yu, on the other hand, felt a strange sense of clarity.
After meeting Miyuki, he had begun to suspect that the future "Naruto" might actually be her child—not Kushina's. After all, Chi Yu was with Kushina now, and he would never allow his child to become the vessel for the Nine-Tails.
It was only logical that Minato and Miyuki were the ones fated to become Naruto's parents.
So seeing Minato standing beside Miyuki in such an intimate way didn't surprise Chi Yu. In fact, it confirmed what he had already suspected.
Chi Yu and Kushina stepped inside.
Minato naturally stood next to Miyuki, the two of them visibly close. The implication was obvious, even if no one spoke it aloud.
Kushina's eyes fell on Mitō Uzumaki, lying weakly in bed. Her skin was pale, her breathing shallow—she looked like a candle flickering in the wind.
She managed a faint smile as she saw them.
"Chi Yu... Kushina... I'm glad you came."
Kushina's voice cracked.
"Mitō-grandma..."
Mitō gently shook her head.
"Don't cry, Kushina. Birth, aging, illness, and death... they come for us all. This is natural."
Her gaze shifted to Chi Yu.
"I didn't expect Hiruzen to call you back. But it's good. I don't have much strength left. Still, my Yin Seal has enough chakra to handle the sealing. There's nothing to worry about. The decision has been made."
She turned to Miyuki.
"Miyuki, I leave everything to you now."
Miyuki nodded solemnly.
"I'll do my duty for Konoha, Mitō-sama. Please rest easy."
"Wait!" Kushina suddenly exclaimed, looking between them with wide eyes.
"Miyuki? You? Why you? Aren't I supposed to be the Jinchūriki?"
The room fell silent. Mitō, Miyuki, and Minato all looked to Chi Yu.
And in that moment, Kushina finally understood what Chi Yu meant earlier when he said, "I succeeded."
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