Blinding light dissolved into shadow, and when Raven opened her eyes again she found herself lying among the broken remains of Konoha. Buildings lay shattered in every direction, smoke rising in dark plumes that stung her newborn lungs. She tried to move, expecting the familiar weight of her old body, but nothing obeyed her. Her arms and legs twitched weakly, and panic coursed through her until she realized the horrifying truth—she was in the body of an infant.
Beside her stretched the elegant form of a nine-tailed white fox. Its shimmering fur glowed softly against the ruins, and when it lifted its head, luminous blue eyes fixed upon her. A voice, playful and melodic, filled her mind without sound. "Kushina Uzumaki, it's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to your new body and your new life inside Konoha. You may be wondering why you can't move right now. That's because you're in the body of an infant. The Outsider didn't bring you back in your original form because that would have caused trouble. But don't worry—I'm here to guide and protect you on your journey."
Her infant eyes struggled to focus on the creature, her thoughts trembling. "You… you can hear me in my mind?"
A ripple of amusement filled her skull as the fox's tails swayed behind it. "Yes, yes, Kushina, I can hear you."
She lay silent for a long moment, her gaze hardening even in her helpless state. Her thoughts sharpened into resolve. "I'm not Kushina anymore. I can't go by that name. It's tied to weakness, to pain, to regrets… my failures as a wife, as a mother, and as an Uzumaki. From now on… call me Raven."
The fox tilted its head, studying her with warmth that surprised her. "Very well, Raven. Welcome to your new life."
Raven shifted her tiny fingers in front of her eyes, shock rolling through her. "Oh my goodness… I don't even know what to do right now. I'm a baby."
The fox's voice came again, smooth and soothing. "Worry not, Raven. The Outsider has arranged for a couple to stumble upon this place in a few minutes. They will take you in and raise you as their own daughter. You shall grow up alongside your son, Naruto, and protect him as you wished. And through your own efforts, you shall revive the Uzumaki clan."
Her infant body trembled with exasperation, her thoughts dry. "First of all, I'd be happy if I didn't just poop my pants like a couple-month-old infant… like Naruto."
The fox erupted into laughter, its tails shaking with delight. "Oh, don't worry, you'll be fine, Raven. After all, children grow quickly in this world."
A small telepathic chuckle slipped from her mind, soft but genuine. "I suppose so, Yumi."
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