Kushina's Declaration

Kushina Uzumaki heard Mito Uzumaki say that she knew where Chiyu was.

Kushina Uzumaki hurriedly asked, "Grandma Mito, where is Chiyu?"

"At the Ninja Hospital. It seems he was injured while training and has been unconscious for several days. You can..."

Before Mito Uzumaki could finish speaking, Kushina Uzumaki impatiently rushed out of the room.

"Grandma Mito, I'm heading out! I'll be back soon!"

Mito Uzumaki watched Kushina Uzumaki leave with an indulgent smile.

Yesterday, Hiruzen Sarutobi had come to visit and ask about Kushina Uzumaki's condition. Mito Uzumaki had specifically asked him about Chiyu.

When she learned that Chiyu might have injured himself during training, fallen unconscious, and been admitted to the Ninja Hospital for several days, Mito Uzumaki was shocked beyond words.

To train so hard that he ended up in the hospital—just how intensely had he been training to remain unconscious for days?

However, Mito Uzumaki could clearly sense that Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude had changed somewhat.

Previously, whenever Hiruzen Sarutobi mentioned Chiyu, he had acted as though Chiyu were insignificant.

But when he spoke of Chiyu yesterday, Mito Uzumaki felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi had begun to take him seriously.

Though she did not know what had happened, Mito Uzumaki considered it a good thing.

Deep down, Mito Uzumaki felt that she owed Kushina Uzumaki.

After all, Kushina Uzumaki had been brought to Konoha to become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Mito Uzumaki also felt somewhat guilty toward Chiyu.

After all, half of Chiyu's bloodline came from the Senju Clan.

As the wife of the former head of the Senju Clan, she was unable to protect Chiyu.

Mito Uzumaki also understood perfectly why Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged for Kushina Uzumaki to transfer into Chiyu's class.

There was a genius ninja in that class: Minato Namikaze.

Minato Namikaze was a civilian ninja with a clean background. Mito Uzumaki had heard that one of Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciples, Jiraiya, intended to take Minato Namikaze as his own disciple after Minato graduated.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had once told Mito Uzumaki that he wanted Kushina Uzumaki to form bonds with Konoha, identify with Konoha, and become part of it.

And Minato Namikaze was the person Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen to become Kushina Uzumaki's bond, someone who would make her identify with Konoha.

As a civilian ninja, Minato Namikaze did not belong to any of Konoha's ninja clans. In other words, Minato Namikaze belonged to the Hokage faction.

This would also prevent any ninja clan from developing certain designs on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Mito Uzumaki had no reason to stop Hiruzen Sarutobi's plans, nor did she have any way to do so.

Because Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage, while she was merely the First Hokage's wife.

But compared to Minato Namikaze, Mito Uzumaki thought more highly of Chiyu.

There was no other reason. Chiyu was a descendant of the Senju Clan, and Mito Uzumaki could be considered his elder.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi came to value Chiyu, then if Kushina Uzumaki and Chiyu ended up together someday, there would be less resistance.

Chiyu, who was not acknowledged by the Uchiha Clan, likewise did not belong to any of Konoha's ninja clan factions.

A trace of determination flashed through Mito Uzumaki's eyes.

Her time was nearing its end, but she would at least live to see Kushina Uzumaki reach adulthood.

If Kushina Uzumaki and Chiyu truly could end up together, then she would be willing to lend them a hand.

Kushina Uzumaki eagerly ran to the Ninja Hospital.

Since she did not know which ward Chiyu was in, Kushina Uzumaki asked one of the busy Medical Ninja.

Asking about Chiyu's ward went unexpectedly smoothly, but the Medical Ninja's attitude made Kushina Uzumaki feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Ah, that little Two-Five-Boy? He's in the ward at the very end of the corridor ahead."

That disgusted expression and tone made Kushina Uzumaki feel stifled inside.

Kushina Uzumaki walked up to the ward at the very end.

Since Chiyu was unconscious, Kushina Uzumaki simply opened the door and walked in.

Kushina Uzumaki saw Chiyu lying flat on the hospital bed, his hands and feet all wrapped in bandages. Forget flowers or fruit—there was not even a cup of water on the bedside table.

Only the machines were beeping away.

Seeing Chiyu like that made Kushina Uzumaki feel a little sad.

Kushina Uzumaki forced a smile. "I came to see you, Chiyu."

Naturally, the unconscious Chiyu did not respond.

Kushina Uzumaki immediately ran out of the ward, intending to buy a bouquet of flowers from a flower shop.

Though Chiyu was unconscious, his mind was perfectly clear. He simply could not control his body.

The system had taken over his body to simulate the form transformation and nature transformation of Lightning Release Chakra, as well as Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form. The burden on his body was far beyond Chiyu's imagination.

For the first time, Chiyu experienced what it meant to be worse than death.

Every inch of muscle and every organ in his body hurt without exception.

But the power of Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form made Chiyu feel that the pain was not entirely unbearable.

Chiyu was only nine years old now. At nine, with his amount of Chakra, he could already use Thunder Breathing with such incredible power. Once he became an adult, how powerful would it be?

Chiyu's consciousness had already returned yesterday. He kept reliving the sensation of using Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form in his mind, wishing he could move immediately and try Thunder Breathing himself.

However, what Chiyu never expected was that Kushina Uzumaki would actually come to the Ninja Hospital to see him. He was stunned beyond measure.

He and Kushina Uzumaki had only briefly been desk mates for one day, and after school that day, he had clearly but tactfully declined her offer of friendship.

Logically speaking, Kushina Uzumaki should not have had any further contact with him. Why had she come to the Ninja Hospital to visit him?

And judging by the look of it, Kushina Uzumaki had come specifically to see him.

Chiyu could not make sense of it no matter how hard he thought.

Just as Chiyu was about to continue reliving Thunder Breathing, the ward door opened again.

Kushina Uzumaki came in holding a bouquet of lilies. She found a vase and arranged the lilies inside.

After arranging the lilies, Kushina Uzumaki sat in a chair. Looking at Chiyu's sleeping face, she muttered to herself, "I didn't know what flowers to buy for someone in the hospital, so I told the flower shop owner that my friend was injured and staying at the Ninja Hospital, and that I wanted to buy a bouquet to visit him.

The flower shop owner recommended lilies. They represent blessings, purity, and good luck. They're pretty too, aren't they?

Grandma Mito said that if I wanted to be friends with you, many people might hate me, and that I should be prepared for that.

I'm already prepared. I want to be friends with you because, back then, you were the only one who didn't laugh at me. You even helped knock away that awful guy's hand when he grabbed my hair.

Grandma Mito said that you, Chiyu, are a sacrifice between two ninja clans. I don't understand any of that, but as good friends, we shouldn't change our minds because of what other people think, right?"

Kushina Uzumaki gathered her courage and declared, "I'll work hard to make you my friend! Just wait and see!"

Hearing Kushina Uzumaki's declaration, Chiyu suddenly felt his heart pounding fiercely. It was as though he had felt a warmth he had never experienced in his five years in Konoha.