The Whirlpool

"What is this place?"

Kushina opened her eyes and found herself in a pool of water.

The water was orange-red, almost blood-red. She didn't sink, but stood on its surface as she had when practicing Water Walking.

There was nothing around her. She couldn't see anything—only an endless void.

As if sensing something, the red-haired girl looked behind her.

There was something there.

A huge cage stood before her, its iron bars each as thick as the girl herself.

There was nothing inside the cage. It was pitch-black, and she couldn't see a thing.

Her pitch-black eyes stared at it, peering through the iron bars again and again.

In the darkness, a pair of blood-red eyes appeared—

"Ah!"

Kushina screamed and sat bolt upright.

Her bright red hair was soaked, and sweat had drenched her back and forehead.

"Hah... hah..."

Kushina panted, then wrapped her arms around herself.

In the pitch-black night, the girl hugged herself, feeling hollow inside.

"Yueshu."

For some reason, the girl called out that name.

The boy who always appeared at her side and became her hero—

Time rewound.

It was five days after their first mission. Jiraiya had given everyone a few days off.

Naturally, everyone went home to enjoy a well-deserved break after their difficult mission.

The excitement of their first trip outside the village and the successful completion of their first major mission still lingered.

Kushina was no exception.

After spending a few days happily wandering around with her best friend Mikoto, she went to Yueshu's house. She hadn't expected to find Minato Namikaze, wearing an apron and cooking in Yueshu's kitchen, while the person she'd come to see was napping in the courtyard, looking utterly relaxed.

He was lying in a contraption called a hammock, something Yueshu had set up. He basked in the sun, felt the breeze, and dozed with his eyes half closed.

Could life get any more comfortable?

Especially with someone keeping him company.

That's right—it was Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin.

Kushina and Mikoto were both dumbfounded.

They hadn't expected Yueshu's illness to be contagious enough to infect Lady Tsunade.

"Hey, Kushina, Mikoto. Are you here to see Yueshu?"

Minato Namikaze greeted the two girls with a smile. He and Shizune were cooking in the kitchen.

"Yeah, but why are you here? And why are you dressed like that?"

Kushina looked Minato up and down.

She had to admit, Minato looked surprisingly good in an apron.

"I was wondering the same thing," Mikoto added.

Minato Namikaze scratched his head and chuckled.

"There are a lot of reasons. I'm not sure where to start."

"Minato, are these your teammates? Why don't you join us for a meal?"

Shizune had noticed the commotion and turned around.

"Huh?"

Kushina and Mikoto had no idea what was going on, but somehow they found themselves sitting down and agreeing to have dinner with them.

"Welcome, welcome."

There were two more people at the table in the Senju Residence, but setting out a few extra pairs of chopsticks was no trouble.

After their somewhat bewildering meal, Kushina and Mikoto understood why Minato Namikaze was there. As expected, Yueshu had been behind it.

Kushina and Mikoto were actually all for it.

"You're both welcome to come by whenever you like. Minato will cook up a feast for you."

"So it's me again, huh?"

Yueshu warmly invited Kushina and Mikoto, while Minato Namikaze could only look helpless. After all, he was the one doing the work.

It was a good thing he'd always lived alone and was a decent cook. He still wasn't quite as good as Shizune, but he did pretty well.

"Well, come by whenever you have time. Meals are better when there's a crowd."

Tsunade agreed. The Senju Residence had been growing livelier lately, and it lifted her spirits.

Compared to the lifeless place it had been before, with her alone in such a huge house, it was starting to feel like a home again.

Ever since the war had taken the lives of the people she held dear, the life had been drained from the house. Now, it was finally returning.

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade."

Kushina and Mikoto thanked her and said they'd come by often.

After dinner, Kushina and Mikoto said their goodbyes. Minato Namikaze stayed behind; it seemed he still had to work as the chef that evening.

What Kushina hadn't expected was—

Her own special duty had arrived, too.

"Kushina."

Kushina was summoned to the Hokage's office. Waiting there was her only family—though not her actual grandmother, Mito Uzumaki was like a real grandmother to her.

Several people were in the Hokage's office.

The three elders, the Third Hokage, and Mito.

"Kushina."

There was a trace of pain in Mito's eyes. Her voice sounded weak and drained.

Sadness showed on her face, unlike the Mito Kushina usually saw.

Grandma Mito was always so gentle and so willing to indulge Kushina.

"Grandma Mito, what's wrong?"

A wave of unease rose in Kushina's heart.

"Kushina, you're a strong girl."

Mito walked over and gently stroked Kushina's cheek.

Then—

"Uzumaki Kushina."

"I'm giving you a task that only you can carry out."

The Third Hokage spoke.

"Become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

The Third Hokage's voice was gentle, without the coldness of a Hokage or a man in power, yet Kushina felt not a trace of warmth in his words.

"The Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki?"

Kushina murmured blankly.

Beside her, Mito closed her eyes.

This was a burden Kushina had to bear. Only she, the orphaned child of the Uzumaki Clan—

A princess didn't just enjoy wealth and luxury. She also had to shoulder the responsibilities of a princess.

The same was true of the Uzumaki Clan's princess.

At around nine years old, the red-haired girl learned of the responsibility she would have to bear for the rest of her life.

Kushina lay facedown on her bed, her face buried in the blankets.

She had been like this ever since returning from the Hokage's office.

The sudden turn of events had left her at a loss.

The Nine-Tails, a beast with nine tails, was a harbinger of disaster.

Kushina had heard its story, of course.

It was a wicked Jinchuriki who seemed to exist for no reason other than to cause destruction.

And now Kushina was to become the Jinchuriki of this beast.

Even if it wasn't happening right away, Kushina was still terrified.

No one wanted to coexist with a beast.

A young girl like Kushina was even less willing.

"Yueshu..."

A name slipped from the girl's lips—the name of the hero in her heart.

Perhaps she thought her hero would appear again and save her. The girl called softly for him.

But clearly, her wish didn't come true.

The night was a little chilly. The girl hugged herself, her face buried.

"Kushina."

A voice came from outside the door. It was the voice of the person she loved most, Grandma Mito.

Kushina didn't answer. She sat quietly on the bed, alone.

After a long while, footsteps faded outside the door...

A soft sigh slipped through the door and reached Kushina's ears.

Tonight, the girl was still alone.