Kushina Goes to the Hokage's Office...

Kushina covered her mouth and chuckled softly when she saw Kurama's reaction.

Even without a seal,

Kurama looked quite lively.

And Kurama had not attacked Naruto.

It seemed Naruto and Kurama had already become good friends.

Kushina was completely relieved now.

She was a Jinchuriki too, and she knew what kind of treatment Jinchuriki received in the village.

Fortunately, Naruto's identity was special. People should not mind it, nor would they call Naruto a monster, right?

Although Kurama and Naruto got along quite well,

there were still some things Kushina needed to ask.

Kushina took Naruto's hand and asked, "Little Naruto, I'm your mother~"

She bent down and reached out to squeeze Naruto's cheeks. "You really look like Minato~"

Naruto felt a little awkward, but he did not resist.

Whether in his previous life or after transmigrating,

Naruto had been an orphan.

He had never experienced familial affection.

When the Fourth Hokage's Chakra appeared last time, there had been no time to "catch up."

Kushina's appearance this time left Naruto somewhat at a loss.

Kushina sensed Naruto's feelings and could not help feeling sad.

She was not a qualified mother.

But the circumstances back then had not been something Kushina could control.

Kushina did not press Naruto too hard.

As long as she knew Naruto was living well and had become friends with Kurama, that was enough.

She was satisfied.

Kushina asked Naruto, "Little Naruto, why did you undo Little Nine's seal?"

Kurama roared, "I... this old man has said it before, my name is not Little Nine!"

Kushina raised a finger to her lips at Kurama.

Kurama: "..."

Damn humans!

Naruto then explained what had happened to Kushina.

After hearing it, Kushina gave Kurama a kind smile. "Thank you, Little Nine."

"I said, don't call me... forget it..." Kurama lay on the ground in utter despair.

But Kushina's next words stirred Kurama up.

Kushina said, "Little Naruto, although Kurama helped you and earned your trust, Mom still thinks this is not safe enough."

"What?!" Kurama became agitated. "Are you saying this old man will kill Naruto?"

Never mind that Naruto might be the reincarnation of Asura's Chakra.

Naruto had trusted him almost unconditionally.

Kurama could never disgrace the tailed beasts by doing something so ungrateful.

Kushina shook her head slightly and patiently explained to Kurama, "Little Nine, since Little Naruto can trust you, why can't you trust Little Naruto?"

"If you trust Little Naruto, you won't care about the seal."

"When the time comes, Little Naruto will naturally let you out."

Although she did not know the details of what had happened between Naruto and Kurama,

Kushina also did not know how much Kurama trusted Naruto.

But what Kushina did know was this:

Kurama had the ability to kill Naruto.

That was something Kushina, as a mother, could not tolerate.

Even if the chance of that happening was close to zero, so what?

When Naruto heard Kushina's words, he understood what she meant.

His heart warmed slightly, and he felt a little embarrassed about having found things awkward just now.

Naruto also said to Kurama, "That's right, Kurama. Do you still not trust me?"

Even if you don't, you have to.

In any case, you must have this seal.

Naruto had already made his plans.

He still did not have the ability to deal with Kurama.

While Kushina was here, he would seal Kurama first.

That would also ease one of his worries.

At the same time, he could gain Kurama's trust.

Of course, when it truly came time to part ways, Naruto would not keep Kurama.

After all, he still had an entire Nine-Tails in his System Backpack!

Kurama's expression shifted unpredictably.

Before him

were Naruto's "innocent" expression and Kushina's earnest words.

Should he trust Naruto?

Perhaps he should.

After all, Naruto had just trusted him without reservation!

But...

If he was sealed, Kurama still felt deeply stifled.

"Little Nine, aren't you and Naruto friends?" Kushina persuaded him. "Since you're friends, you should think about each other."

Kurama gave a hollow laugh. "This is the last time this old man will trust humans."

Even Kurama himself could not believe it.

He was actually going to let a human seal him without resisting at all.

Then, under Kushina's watchful gaze,

Naruto used the Eight Trigrams Sealing on Kurama...

And it was an enhanced version of the Eight Trigrams Sealing.

Feeling the heavy sealing power, Kurama immediately howled, "Loosen it a little! This old man can't even see what's happening outside!"

"Alright, alright~" Naruto nodded repeatedly and apologized to Kurama. "It's my fault, but don't worry, Kurama. When the time comes, you'll be free."

Kushina had originally intended to seal the Nine-Tails herself.

But when she saw Naruto use the Eight Trigrams Sealing from the side,

she felt even more relieved!

Kushina had far more Chakra than Minato.

So there was also a great deal of Chakra remaining inside Naruto.

Kushina walked over, hugged Naruto, and chattered on about many things.

Looking at this gentle woman, Naruto did not want her to know what he had gone through.

But Kushina eventually suggested going outside to take a look...

Naruto said guiltily, "Um... Mom... maybe we shouldn't?"

Calling her Mom made Naruto feel somewhat awkward.

Kushina keenly noticed something and asked Naruto, "Naruto, have people been bullying you?"

"Don't worry. Mom will stand up for you."

There was no other way.

Naruto could not exactly seal Kushina inside the Sealing Space too, could he?

After leaving the Sealing Space, Kushina used the Transformation Jutsu to take on another appearance.

When Naruto and Kushina returned to the main group,

the Ninja Academy students had already assembled.

"Ah~ Are you having a Survival Exercise?" Kushina said nostalgically. "I remember back then..."

But she only got halfway through before falling into reminiscence, as though she had remembered something.

When Iruka saw Naruto appear, he immediately ran over. "Naruto, why are you running around everywhere? Don't you know what just happened? What if you ran into danger?"

Seeing how concerned Iruka was about Naruto, Kushina felt greatly comforted.

Iruka also looked at Kushina.

Kushina had taken on the appearance of her younger self.

Iruka frowned, feeling that this little girl looked somewhat familiar.

But she was definitely not a Ninja Academy student.

"Naruto, where did you find this little girl?" Iruka asked curiously.

Kushina casually made up an excuse, intending to brush the matter aside.

But Iruka saw through her.

Then Naruto and Kushina were taken to the Hokage's office for questioning.

Along the way, Kushina's expression became increasingly stiff.

Because she had already noticed the villagers' attitude toward Naruto.

Unless someone had deliberately hidden Naruto's identity,

these people would never have shown such hostility toward Naruto.

Could Hiruzen Sarutobi be behind this?

At that thought, Kushina's brow furrowed deeper and deeper...