Kushina

Biodata

Background / History

Kushina is married to Minato Namikaze, Konoha’s Fourth Hokage. When the Light Screen first appears, she rushes to his office to make sure he is unharmed. She is then eight months pregnant with their son, Naruto 1.

Kushina is close to Minato’s students. She brings meals to their training sessions, praises Rin, and scolds Obito while worrying about his safety. Before the Kannabi Bridge mission, Obito promises her that he will bring the team home safely. Watching those memories on the Light Screen later leaves Kushina grieving for Obito and Rin 6 7 13.

The broadcasts show a lonely blond boy named Naruto Uzumaki. Kushina initially believes he is her son, then struggles to reconcile that belief with the abuse and hunger shown in his childhood. The vision of Naruto’s birth confirms his identity—and shows Kushina and Minato fatally wounded while shielding him from the Nine-Tails 14 15 18 32 33.

In that future, Kushina spends her remaining moments giving Naruto advice and asking Hiruzen Sarutobi to care for him. In the present, seeing her death and Naruto’s suffering causes her to cough blood and faint. Medical ninjas determine that her life is not in danger, but she needs rest. Minato subsequently leaves Konoha with the still-unconscious Kushina, choosing to protect their family rather than continue as Hokage 33 34 36.

Appearance

Kushina has red hair and is visibly pregnant during the present-day broadcasts 1 14.

• Red hair — shown scattered on the ground in the vision of the Nine-Tails attack 32.
• Expressive reactions — a memory depicts her hair rising as she angrily scolds Obito 7.

Personality

Kushina is affectionate and direct with Minato’s students. She cooks for the team, openly fusses over Rin, and pairs her sharp scolding of Obito with genuine concern for him 6 7. When Kakashi breaks down over Obito and Rin, she embraces him and tells him he does not have to hide his grief 6.

Her concern for Naruto is immediate, even before his birth. She hopes he will grow up cheerful and true to his convictions, and the visions of his lonely childhood deeply distress her. In the future shown by the screen, her final words focus on how he should live rather than on her own injuries 7 18 33.

Relationships

• Minato Namikaze — her husband. They disagree in the projected future over sealing the Nine-Tails in Naruto, but shield their son together. After seeing that future, Minato leaves Konoha with Kushina 1 32 36.
• Naruto Uzumaki — her son. Kushina speaks to him while pregnant and, in the projected future, gives him a tearful farewell before she dies 14 33.
• Kakashi Hatake — one of Minato’s students. Kushina comforts him when memories of Obito and Rin overwhelm him 6.
• Obito Uchiha — one of Minato’s students. Kushina teases and scolds him, worries about him before the Kannabi Bridge mission, and hopes Naruto will share his cheerfulness and convictions 6 7.
• Rin Nohara — one of Minato’s students. Rin enjoys Kushina’s cooking, and Kushina treats her affectionately 6.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — in the projected future, Kushina asks him to care for Naruto; he promises that he will 33.

Notable Quotes

“If you want to cry, just cry your heart out boldly. Don’t hold it in, okay?” 6

“Naruto... you’ll face heartache and pain in the years ahead. You’ll go through a lot. Stay true to yourself.” 33