A Mother's Most Ordinary Thought

For the sake of her husband.

For the sake of the village.

Kushina Uzumaki had already given everything.

Including her own life and her own son.

But what had she received in return?

Kushina did not want to dwell on that anymore.

This was the first time in twelve years, and it would likely be the last, that she would see her son.

Kushina simply wanted to have a normal, heartfelt conversation with him. Hearing about his growth over the last twelve years and the small, unknown details of the life Naruto had led would be enough. Because she had been unable to be by her son's side, she hoped that in this way, she could at least make Naruto understand that she loved him.

Even if it was only in the smallest of ways.

As for the series of things she had prepared to say, Kushina would naturally discuss them with her son. She wasn't sure how much information Naruto possessed, though it seemed to be quite a lot. She intended to offer a few final reminders, and that would be enough; as for the rest, it had nothing to do with her, as she was already residing in the Pure Land.

That was Kushina's perspective.

Right now, she was just an ordinary mother.

Naruto looked at his mother with a slightly "dazed" expression. This turn of events didn't seem to align with his expectations, as, considering the behavior of his father, Namikaze Minato, he had assumed his mother would also be deeply devoted to Konoha.

But this was a direct reflection of Naruto's lack of understanding regarding "Kushina Uzumaki."

She was a bold woman who preferred things to be straightforward.

Never mind that she was currently in a "deceased" state.

Even when she was alive, Kushina wouldn't necessarily