Shiraha (The False Protagonist), Kushina (The True Protagonist)

Watching Kushina stare blankly into space, Shiraha ruthlessly said:

"Nothing is impossible!

Lady Mito should know all the Sealing Jutsu mastered by the Uzumaki Clan.

As long as there are any surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan, Sealing Jutsu will not be lost.

There might even already be a candidate for the next Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki."

"Actually, there's a fourth possibility—that Konoha's response was simply too slow."

Shiraha added.

From the perspective of Konoha High-Level, thinking rationally, the third option was the best choice.

"Shiraha..." All sorts of complicated emotions intertwined within Kushina. Thinking of how she had come to Konoha, Mito's warnings, and the long-term surveillance, fear rose in her heart.

Sensing a distinct fluctuation in Kushina's Chakra and seeing signs of her pupils turning red, Shiraha was startled.

The energy radiation around her instantly intensified severalfold.

Is this Kurama's power?! So strong!

Shiraha hurried forward to soothe Kushina.

"Kushina, don't get worked up. Calm down. This is only one possibility, not an absolute certainty!"

Shiraha stepped forward, hugged Kushina, and gently patted her back.

Feeling the reassuring aura around Shiraha, Kushina's emotions eased somewhat. She tilted her face up at him, looking utterly helpless. "Shiraha, what should I do?"

Shiraha said softly, "Kushina, perhaps before Lady Mito warned you and before I told you about these possibilities, you thought the Third Hokage treated you rather well and was a good person.

But now, you may feel completely differently. You might even think the Third Hokage is a bad person, right?"

Kushina nodded.

Shiraha released Kushina. "No matter which answer you lean toward in your heart, I hope you remember this.

Things are not unchanging. At different times and in different situations, the face a person shows may be completely different.

Many things have two sides. They are not simply black or white.

Everything I just said is only for your reference. Just because something sounds more reasonable does not mean it is absolutely correct.

I hope you can develop the ability to think independently.

Do you... understand?"

"Mm." Kushina answered, though she still seemed only half to understand.

"You need to use your own abilities to seek out the answers!

Before then, you must calm down and make yourself as strong as possible.

Only then can you deal with all the changes in the outside world in the future."

Shiraha continued.

In truth, he could have used this opportunity to brainwash Kushina and gradually deepen his control over her.

But he would not do that.

Because Kushina was his friend!

Twenty years of life as a Wizard in his previous life had taught Shiraha the cost of naivety.

After coming to this Naruto World, he had put on a mask of being "optimistic, cheerful, and friendly," but perhaps he had merely removed the mask of his second life and revealed the face he had originally possessed in his first.

Kushina treated him sincerely, and Shiraha felt that he should at least return that sincerity.

What he wanted was not a numb, obedient Kushina, but for her to be herself.

A proper worldview could often properly guide people's practical actions toward success.

Shiraha was merely reshaping Kushina's worldview and teaching her to think for herself.

That way, she could stand on her own in the future instead of becoming a tool.

"..." Kushina fell silent.

No one had ever said anything like that to her before.

Whether in her clan or after coming to Konoha, the adults and elders had only told her what to do and how to do it.

No one had ever told her, like Shiraha did, to think for herself about why.

"You can think over what I said slowly. When things happen in the future, think more before rushing to a conclusion." Seeing Kushina's blank expression, Shiraha lightly poked her forehead. She did not look very smart.

"Mm!" Kushina temporarily tucked Shiraha's words away in her heart and stopped dwelling on them. She immediately became full of energy again. "Come on, Shiraha, let's continue training."

"?" Shiraha looked utterly bewildered.

He did not have Kushina's recovery ability. After hours of close-quarters sparring with her, his waist was aching, his back sore, and his legs cramping. At the very least, he needed a big meal, then a medicinal bath at home and a round of the Breathing Technique to dispel the fatigue.

"Shiraha, what's wrong?" Seeing Shiraha slump on the ground without getting up, Kushina asked in confusion.

"I... I haven't rested enough yet." Shiraha replied irritably.

"You said that you had to make yourself stronger to deal with every situation! Hurry up and train with me!"

"What I meant was—" Before Shiraha could finish, Kushina pulled him to his feet.

Seriously!

Was this how she repaid kindness with ingratitude?

And so, Kushina tormented Shiraha until nightfall.

On the way down the mountain, his whole body had gone limp.

He was a dignified Second-Class Apprentice, not even ten years old and already approaching the level of a Formal Knight, yet a little girl had crushed him in terms of stamina.

Kushina was the one who was truly cheating!

She said that no matter how intense her training was, after one night's sleep, her body would recover completely. She did not need any of that fancy stuff like medicinal baths at all.

On the way down the mountain, Shiraha grew a little nervous when he saw that Kushina still wanted more.

"Shiraha, do you think there's any way to speed up my training progress?" Kushina suddenly asked.

"Are you dissatisfied with your current training progress?" Shiraha asked in return. Seemingly casually, he rubbed his earlobe with his thumb and forefinger as though scratching an itch.

Kushina immediately understood. Indifferently, she said, "I just want to become stronger. Is that not allowed?"

"Training needs to be steady and grounded. How could there be any method that makes you stronger immediately? If I made you repeat high-intensity physical training every day until you were covered in smelly sweat, would you be willing?" Shiraha retorted.

"Of course I would! If you don't believe me, starting tomorrow, I'll do morning training with you. We'll run... fifty laps around Konoha!"

Kushina proposed.

Hearing that, Shiraha's legs went weak. He stumbled and nearly fell.

It was only an act for the Third Hokage to see. Why was she risking her life over it?!

Although Shiraha's physique, strengthened through the Meditation Method and Breathing Technique, was no weaker than an adult's, his recovery ability was still within normal human limits. Today's intensity had already nearly overwhelmed him.

Judging by Kushina's expression, she clearly was not joking. She truly thought so in her heart, which was why she could give such a natural performance.

To ensure Kushina would act naturally when the Third Hokage was spying on them, Shiraha had told her in advance that whenever she needed to change the subject, she should simply say whatever she wanted, as long as she avoided their secrets.

"Shiraha, don't tell me you can't handle it?" Kushina looked at Shiraha with a puzzled expression.

Shiraha felt his chest tighten. Agitated, he said, "Can't handle it? Tomorrow, I'll go to your house and call for you. Whoever can't run is a dog!"

"Okay! It's a deal!" Kushina readily agreed.

Damn it, he had fallen for it!

Such an obvious provocation!

How could he have agreed?