Kushina's Fury

"Thank you... Kushina-senpai, Minato-sensei!" Kakashi said, his thoughts drifting back to the past.

A warm yet slightly melancholy atmosphere filled the room. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window, forming narrow beams in which dust motes danced gently.

"By the way, Kakashi, could you tell me about Naruto and Menma?" Kushina warmly invited Kakashi to sit down, her eyes full of anticipation.

"Of course, Kushina-senpai. What would you like to know?" Kakashi replied with a smile and a respectful look in his eyes.

"I want to know whether Naruto and Menma were shunned by the villagers or ostracized." Kushina's voice sounded calm, but carried an unmistakable authority, as if warning Kakashi to tell the truth and hide nothing.

"Well, how should I put it? They were, yes. But ever since the Nine-Tails went berserk last time and Menma told everyone they were Minato-sensei's sons, things have gotten much better in the village. At least, I haven't heard those kinds of rumors again." Kakashi answered honestly, then told Kushina in detail what had happened before and after the Nine-Tails' rampage.

"What was that old man Hiruzen thinking? How could he let Naruto and Menma live like that? They're the sons of a hero—the sons of the Fourth Hokage! What was going through his head? Was it really so hard to suppress a few rumors?" Kushina flew into a rage. Her fiery red hair seemed to come alive, slowly rising like a collection of furious red tails.

Kakashi looked at Kushina nervously. He'd seen her lose her temper plenty of times, and by now, sweat had soaked his back while beads of sweat the size of beans dotted his forehead.

"So if Menma hadn't been smart and forceful enough, my two sons might still be living the way they used to." The more Kushina thought about it, the angrier she became. Her fury burned in her chest, and she wanted nothing more than to storm over to Hiruzen Sarutobi and demand an explanation.

"All right, all right, Kushina-senpai. Please calm down," Kakashi hastily urged, his voice tinged with nervousness.

Upstairs, the two boys were soaking in the bathtub when they heard Kushina's roar.

"Menma, what do you think Auntie Ku is angry about?" Naruto asked curiously, his heart pounding with alarm. Good thing they weren't downstairs, or they would've been caught in the crossfire.

"I don't know. I can't hear very well. Maybe it's because we've been out all day," Menma said. He had a pretty good idea what Kushina might be talking about.

"Listen, big brother, let's get out of the bath and go straight to bed. Otherwise, we might get yelled at too," Menma suggested.

"I think so too. Auntie Ku's so hot-tempered," Naruto agreed, a hint of worry in his eyes.

Downstairs, the two continued their conversation.

"By the way, Kakashi, as Minato's student, why haven't you looked after Naruto and Menma more?" Kushina asked with a frown.

The question he'd been dreading had finally come. Kakashi didn't know how to answer at first. After a long pause, he said, "I'm sorry, senpai. It was wrong of me not to look after Naruto and Menma better. I don't want to make excuses." He apologized sincerely.

"Since it's your birthday today, I'll let it go. By the way, the Root attacked Naruto and Menma last night. Did you know about that?" Kushina continued, fixing her eyes on Kakashi.

"Yes. Menma told me today." Kakashi went on to tell Kushina everything that had happened.

"Hmph. I'll hold off on confronting that old man Hiruzen for now. I'll take Naruto and Menma to see him after their birthday," Kushina said indignantly.

"Please don't do anything rash, or it'll cause us..." Kakashi began, but Kushina impatiently cut him off.

"Kakashi, why are you always taking the other side? Minato treated you well, didn't he? And I treated you well too, didn't I? Why are you always sticking up for other people?" Kushina's temper flared again. She clenched her fists, looking ready to hit someone at any moment.

"It could have a bad impact on the village, especially since he's the Hokage," Kakashi explained.

"So what if he's the Hokage? Wasn't your teacher the Hokage? Now the Fourth Hokage's sons are being bullied. As a student of the Fourth Hokage, shouldn't you be demanding justice for them?" Kushina shouted furiously, her eyes seeming to spit fire.

Kakashi was about to argue further when a voice came from outside. "Auntie Ku, Kakashi-sensei, we're going to bed. Good night." It was Menma. He hoped Kushina would stop arguing soon, before Naruto overheard.

Kakashi and Kushina exchanged a glance at his words. Kushina spoke first.

"Go on home, Kakashi. We'll talk about some things later. And don't tell anyone I was brought back with Impure World Reincarnation, especially Naruto," Kushina reminded him.

"Understood, Kushina-senpai," Kakashi said, then turned and left.

Kakashi walked alone down the street. The night was chilly, and the dim streetlights cast a ghastly white glow. The back of his shirt was soaked with cold sweat. He really couldn't handle Kushina's fiery temper.

"Thank goodness I've been spending time with Naruto and Menma lately." Kakashi let out a long breath. If Kushina found out he hadn't been taking good care of Naruto and Menma, he felt like she really would tear him to pieces.

"Thanks, Guy. You saved my life this time," Kakashi said silently to himself.

Back at Naruto and Menma's house, Kushina tiptoed to Naruto's door and peeked inside. Then she went to Menma's door and looked in. Seeing that they were both safe and sound, she smiled with relief, closed the door, and quietly went downstairs.

She now felt that nothing could be happier than being by her two children's side.

But then she remembered what Kakashi had told her about Naruto and Menma complaining about her cooking, and she couldn't help questioning herself. After all, she was now an Impure World Reincarnation, unable to taste food. She didn't need rest or food either.

"Looks like I'll have to learn how to cook properly." As she thought this, Minato's face came to mind. He had always done the cooking while she helped out.

"Minato, don't worry. I'll always be here to take care of our two children." Kushina looked at the photos on the wall: one of her and Minato, and another of Naruto, Menma, Kakashi, and Might Guy. She murmured softly to herself.

The photo of the four of them had been taken after they finished their literacy lessons, a little over a month ago.

Since she didn't need rest in her Impure World Reincarnation body, she diligently read through a cookbook.

Morning came quickly. Sunlight streamed through the window and brightened the kitchen. Kushina was making breakfast.

Menma got up early that day. After washing up, he headed downstairs slowly, still yawning.

He came to the dining table and said weakly, "Good morning, Auntie Ku."

A sudden killing intent filled the air. "What did you just call me, Menma?" Kushina set down the spatula and started cracking her knuckles, looking ready to beat him up.

"Oh, Mom, didn't we agree to keep it a secret while Naruto's at home?" Menma hurriedly explained, afraid that if he waited a second longer, Kushina would hit him.

Kushina's anger subsided. "Naruto isn't here. Besides, I think telling him now would be a nice surprise." Kushina felt an overwhelming urge to tell Naruto that she was his mother right away.

"Mom, don't do anything rash. Just twenty-four more days. We only have to wait twenty-four more days," Menma hurriedly urged. He knew Kushina too well. If Naruto learned who she was now, Kushina wouldn't need to keep it a secret anymore. She'd take the brothers straight to the Hokage Office and demand answers from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Then Menma would have to make a move against the Root, especially Danzo. Although Menma thought taking Danzo out with Kurama's help would be no trouble, he still didn't want to risk even the slightest chance of failure.

So he wanted to use this time to train hard and gather more evidence of the Root's crimes, so he could take down the entire organization in one fell swoop.

"Good morning, Auntie Ku," Naruto said as he came downstairs.

"Good morning, Naruto. Come and eat breakfast," Kushina called warmly.

Although their faces were full of reluctance, the two went over anyway.

Breakfast today was just two sandwiches and some bacon instead of noodles.

When they saw what was on the table, they immediately relaxed. After all, only the bacon and eggs needed cooking; everything else was ready to eat.

With trepidation, they each ate an egg and some bacon.

As they ate, they realized it wasn't as bad as yesterday's breakfast. At least they could swallow it, even if it was still a little salty. It was better than yesterday's burnt, incredibly salty food.

Seeing that they didn't look nearly as miserable as they had the day before, Kushina knew breakfast hadn't gone too badly. Only then did she relax.

After they finished eating, the two prepared to leave. They said they'd made plans with Kakashi, who would be guiding their training that day.

"Then remember to bring Kakashi over for lunch," Kushina said casually. Naruto and Menma broke into a cold sweat at her words.

Breakfast hadn't required much cooking. If she made lunch, they could barely imagine how it would turn out. They wouldn't be the only ones suffering—they'd have to drag Kakashi into it too.

But under Kushina's imposing presence, they could only agree reluctantly, not daring to protest.