A Familiar Feeling

Kurama extended a strand of Chakra straight into the depths of that Nine-Tails' consciousness.

What had happened in that other world was practically an ethical tragedy. It nearly fried his brain!

Kurama flicked his huge tail and decided to stop thinking about this mind-melting mess.

He was just a fox, after all. Don't expect him to take the blame for the disaster his other self had caused.

Following the Chakra link, he crammed that melodramatic memory straight into Kushina's mind.

"I've seen it all. Now I'm going to sleep, so don't bother me unless it's important!"

The great fox let out a howl inside the Sealing Water Prison, then promptly shut his eyes and played dead.

Better than letting the fire started by his other self burn him too.

Once Kushina received those memories, her eyes instantly reddened, and her chest felt so tight she could barely breathe.

She knew she couldn't blame her own Fox for this. After all, those were debts from another time and space.

"Kurama, you really worked hard this time. Go get some rest."

She replied in her mind, then turned all her attention to the blond boy before her.

"You silly kid... how much suffering have you endured alone all these years?"

Her tears fell in heavy drops, splashing onto Naruto's hand, scorching hot.

"Big sis, are you really my mom?"

Kushina smacked him across the forehead. Tears still hung from her chin, but she laughed and scolded him.

"Who are you calling big sis? I'm your real mother, Kushina Uzumaki, genuine and guaranteed!"

Naruto covered his head, his heart aching faintly as his gaze drifted toward the blond man beside him.

"Naruto, I'm sorry. I made you bear so much all alone."

Naruto's eyes burned, but there was still a thorn lodged in