Kushina Leaves the Village

Kushina's Sealing Space.

Minato Namikaze looked at Kushina Uzumaki with an excited expression. "See? The Third Hokage still doesn't hold anything against you, Kushina."

Anju opened his eyes as well. "Kushina, is the mission the Third gave you difficult?"

"Not really. It's only a Rank A Mission. There might be jonin from some minor shinobi village involved, but I don't think it'll be too hard."

Kushina Uzumaki wore an indifferent expression.

Minato Namikaze added, "Lord Hokage will still entrust Kushina with important duties. Anju, what you said before about the Third Hokage suppressing Kushina has fallen apart!"

After Kushina became a candidate for Hokage, Anju had explained that she might face suppression from the Third Hokage. Minato Namikaze, who was also in Kushina's Sealing Space, naturally could not stand hearing Anju speak ill of the Third.

However, the Third had later assigned Kushina nothing but low-difficulty minor missions, which did indeed carry the implication that he was suppressing her. Now that the Third had once again given Kushina a high-level Rank A mission, Minato Namikaze could not help feeling smug.

"Kushina, will there be anyone assisting with this mission?" Anju asked. Kushina froze for a moment and carefully recalled the mission details.

"No. It's only a Rank A Mission, and all the village's jonin are out on missions, so they're having me complete it alone."

"Kushina, let Minato help you with this mission."

"Why?" Kushina was puzzled. "Can't I even complete a little Rank A Mission on my own?"

"No. It's because you're a Jinchuriki. It's strange for you to go on a solo mission, so I'm asking Minato Namikaze to help you."

Anju glanced at Minato Namikaze.

He noticed that Minato Namikaze's expression was somewhat strange.

Perhaps Minato Namikaze had noticed the oddity too, but he did not bring it up.

"Relax, relax. What could possibly go wrong with a Rank A Mission?"

Kushina did not take it seriously. She felt that Anju was looking down on her.

Minato Namikaze raised his hand. "Kushina, listen to Anju. I'll provide support from behind you. If anything seems off, I can take you away immediately."

"Are you two looking down on me?"

Kushina was a little angry. At that moment, Minato Namikaze said again, "Kushina, I want to protect you. It's not that I don't trust you."

Kushina looked at Minato Namikaze and felt that her husband still cared so much about her.

"Fine, fine. But don't show yourself during my mission unless necessary, or you'll regret it!"

Kushina agreed to let Minato Namikaze come along, and Anju also let out a sigh of relief.

The mission the Third had assigned this time seemed to have no issues whatsoever. If it had been given to any jonin, it would most likely have been perfectly reasonable. But giving it to Kushina made no sense.

Because Kushina was a Jinchuriki. What shinobi village would send its own Jinchuriki out to complete a mission alone?

After Kushina left the Sealing Space, Anju glanced at Minato Namikaze. "So? Do you still dare say the Third Hokage hasn't been suppressing Kushina?"

"Lord Third would never suppress the younger generation!"

"Fine, fine, you're right about everything!" Anju did not want to argue anymore. There was no point. Why could he never change this habit of his?

Uchiha Clan Residence.

"Aunt Mikoto, Sasuke ate the dango Izumi-nee gave to Brother Itachi again!" (Actually, Sasuke just didn't share any with Naruto.)

Naruto went to complain to Mikoto Uchiha with an unhappy expression, only to see his own mother leisurely drinking tea with Mikoto Uchiha.

"Mom! Do you have any awareness at all of being a mother? You dump your son at Auntie's house every day!"

Kushina Uzumaki looked embarrassed after being called out by Naruto, then immediately snapped back in displeasure.

"Hey! Watch how you talk, brat! Your mother is only twenty-nine. How am I old?"

"Then explain what you're doing right now!?"

"Drinking tea."

"Your son is being bullied, and you don't care?"

"Who would dare bully you? I'll go get revenge on their parents!"

Naruto pointed with one hand. Kushina turned her head. "What Sasuke did doesn't count as bullying you. Didn't you come here to complain too?"

"Brother Itachi originally gave us two skewers, but Sasuke licked them all! He's awful!"

Kushina became a little embarrassed too. Why were children these days so devious?

"Naruto, your mother needs to leave the village to complete a small mission. It might take several months, so..."

"Fine, whatever. You always have something to do anyway!"

"How about I increase your Pocket Money?" As soon as Kushina said that, Mikoto Uchiha became anxious. "No!"

Table flip!

Mikoto Uchiha's objection left Kushina confused. "What's wrong?"

"If you raise Naruto's Pocket Money, Sasuke will ask me to raise his too."

"Hahaha, all right. Then I'll give the money to you. However much Naruto's Pocket Money increases, Sasuke's will increase by the same amount."

Not long after the Jinchuriki mother and son had reunited, they were about to be separated once again because of Kushina's mission.

"Mom! Make sure you bring me back a present!"

Naruto was becoming more and more like a little adult, already asking Kushina to bring him gifts.

"Alright, alright, I will!"

Root had long since taken care of Kushina's paperwork for leaving the village, so she left Konoha with ease.

On the road to River Country, Kushina strolled along at a leisurely pace.

Ever since becoming a Jinchuriki, this was her first time leaving Konoha alone.

Now that she had finally gotten out, and the mission was not urgent, she naturally wanted to relax a little.

Inside the Sealing Space, she asked Anju for some sightseeing recommendations.

How would Anju know anything about that?

He was an outsider himself.

"Kushina, you should go to River Country first. The scenery there might be different from the Land of Fire, and you can look for a gift for Naruto while you're there."

After Anju finished speaking, Minato Namikaze chimed in as well. "Kushina, Naruto is almost old enough for the Jonin Academy. I think the best gift for him would be a fine kunai."

"You're far too utilitarian as a father. Why are you always thinking of giving your son weapons?"

"Hmph, what would a fox like you know? A ninja should receive whatever helps them grow stronger."

"Kushina, think about that once you reach River Country. You'd better find a town to rest in today, and let Minato out while you're at it. I'm getting sick of seeing him."

After saying that, Anju closed his eyes and went to find Kurama.

Anju had gradually mastered the Nine-Tails Magnetic Explosion Stream that Kurama had demonstrated for him last time.

However, Anju's Magnetic Explosion Stream was Yin Lightning, something he had never expected. After all, Anju had been completely unable to master the Flame Sun Courage that Kurama had developed before.

But this Magnetic Explosion Stream was different. Anju could master it, which meant that he now had his own Chakra Ninjutsu!

This was a breakthrough from zero to one!

Naturally, Anju looked forward even more to Kurama developing new ninjutsu.

But recently, Kurama had been playing a little too wildly with Naruto, acting as Ultraman every day and beating up little Monsters.

Most importantly, those little Monsters were all made by Anju out of chakra.

They were basically just punching bags.

Kurama was already considering developing suitable ninjutsu for those little Monsters and equipping them with it. Otherwise, the fights would only become more and more boring.