That grip is strong!
Kiyosuke smiled.
"You can let go now. I'll take you there."
He led Kushina out of the basement and toward Naruto's room, gently pushing open the door.
In the small room, Naruto was fast asleep on the bed. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on his face. His sleeping posture wasn't exactly graceful—both arms were flung up on either side of his head, and one leg was sticking out from under the blanket.
"Naruto…"
Kushina covered her mouth. Even in a reanimated body, tears still streamed down her face.
She quietly walked to the bedside and sat down. On the nightstand, she saw the photo from her wedding with Minato. Next to it was a baby photo of Naruto taken with Kiyosuke, Kakashi, Rin, Kurenai, and Asuma.
She tucked the blanket around her son and gently stroked his small face. Kiyosuke silently closed the door behind them, leaving mother and son alone.
Kushina gazed at Naruto without blinking. Perhaps sensing someone nearby, Naruto stirred, opening his eyes in a daze. When he saw the red-haired woman, she looked familiar. Glancing at the photo on his nightstand, he hesitated.
"…Mom?"
"Yes! It's me, Naruto!"
Kushina had waited so long to hear him say "Mom." She threw her arms around him and apologized over and over.
"I'm sorry, Naruto! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you!"
As a mother who'd never spent a single day with her child, the pain was unbearable.
To let him grow up without a mother's love… what a failure she had been.
Kushina held Naruto tightly, hoping he wouldn't hate her.
But instead, Naruto, ever so understanding, hugged her back.
"Mom… I missed you so much."
Just those few words broke the dam inside Kushina. She wept.
"I'm sorry, Naruto!"
"It's okay, Mom. Kiyosuke-san takes good care of me. He scolds me when I'm naughty, takes me to the doctor when I'm sick, makes me eat vegetables I don't like, and teaches me ninjutsu seriously…"
Naruto hugged his mother, talking as she quietly listened.
"And Rin-san makes really good food. She always says Kiyosuke-san is lazy. Kurenai-san stops by sometimes too. Mikoto-san bought me lots of clothes…"
Kushina ran her fingers through his hair and smiled at the sunny grin on his face. Her thoughts turned to Minato.
"I'm just glad you're safe," she said warmly. "Naruto… I'm sorry I couldn't stay by your side. But Kiyosuke really has done everything for you."
"Yeah, Kiyosuke-san is amazing! But… he still hasn't gotten married yet."
"Oh?"
"Hey, Mom, I'll tell you a secret—but you can't tell anyone!"
"Okay."
Naruto lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"Rin-san says Kiyosuke-san is stuck between the Fifth Kazekage and some girl from the Land of Water. He doesn't know which one to marry."
"Uh…"
Kushina was at a loss for words. She hadn't met either of them before. She laughed.
"Which one do you like better, Naruto?"
"I like Pakura-san more! She's the Fifth Kazekage now. I've never met the other girl. But Pakura-san always bullies Kiyosuke-san."
"Is that so? Well, that's Kiyosuke's decision to make. I imagine he's having a hard time. Choosing one would hurt the other… maybe it's better not to choose at all."
Kushina smiled as she ruffled his hair.
"What about Dad? What was he like when he was young?"
Kushina's eyes lit up with pride.
"Your father only ever had eyes for your mother!"
"I wanna hear! I wanna hear!"
Naruto cuddled up to her, begging to hear stories of how his parents fell in love.
"Well now, that's a long story…"
...
By midnight, Kushina gently stroked Naruto's hair as he slept peacefully, safe and sound. Her eyes were filled with endless warmth.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. I really want to stay with you… but I can't. The dead belong in the world of the dead. Just treat this like a dream. I love you, my son."
She kissed his forehead, tucked the blanket around him again, and reluctantly walked out of the room after one last look.
Back in the basement, Kiyosuke was still working. When he saw Kushina return, he smiled.
"How was it?"
"Naruto's a good boy."
Kushina gave him a deep bow.
"Thank you, Kiyosuke. You've worked so hard all these years. Minato was right to entrust Naruto to you."
"It's nothing. You're not going to stay with Naruto a little longer?"
"No… I'm already… very satisfied."
Kiyosuke hesitated.
"You really don't want to stay longer? If you want, you can wait here until Naruto grows up."
Kushina shook her head.
"Edo Tensei is still a forbidden technique. Just being able to see Naruto again is enough for me. Thank you, Kiyosuke."
She was, after all, already dead. The longer she lingered in the world of the living, the more likely things would go wrong. The dead had their own place to be.
Even if parting from Naruto hurt more than anything.
"Goodbye, Kiyosuke. I'll leave Naruto to you."
Her body began to glow. A faint, ethereal soul floated upward, leaving behind only a lifeless corpse and a pile of ash.
"I will," Kiyosuke murmured. "But… it's still not perfect."
Just like Orochimaru's Edo Tensei, his version also had flaws.
After seeing Naruto, Kushina had no more regrets. Having fulfilled her final wish, she let go on her own. Since Kiyosuke hadn't used a control seal, she was able to pass on peacefully.
"Looks like there's still room for improvement."
He lit a small flame and easily incinerated the body.
...
The next morning
Naruto rubbed his eyes and got up. After washing up, he walked into the kitchen. Breakfast was already laid out on the table.
As he ate, he said, "Kiyosuke-san, I dreamed about Mom last night."
"Oh?" Kiyosuke replied casually. "What did she say to you?"
"She told me to behave, not to be picky with food, to avoid the three taboos of ninja life, and to find a girlfriend just like her. Oh, and she said to stay away from someone named Jiraiya. Who's that?"
"Just a very powerful old man. Finish your breakfast and head to school. And hey—don't go using Sexy Technique or Harem Technique at school. That kind of ninjutsu's useless on kids. And remember to look after Hinata. She's really shy and gets picked on easily."
"I know! Hinata's super cute!" Naruto replied loudly.
"Mmhmm. Naruto, is there a girl you like at school?"
"Yeah!"
"Who?"
"Hinata, of course!"
"Oh! Then make sure to go pick her up and walk her home after school."
Kiyosuke nodded with satisfaction. All those years of sending Naruto to the Hyūga household hadn't gone to waste.
Gotta start building that ship early!
Kiyosuke burst out laughing and waved Naruto off.
"Finish eating and get going—go pick up Hinata and head to school!"