After Minato's chakra disappeared, Kushina sensed it and glanced back, sorrow showing in her eyes.
"I didn't get to say goodbye to my husband. It looks like even speaking a single word to my precious son was too much to hope for..."
Kushina gazed forlornly at the figure opposite her.
The one standing before her in that golden form should have been her beloved son, Naruto. They should have been sitting together, pouring their hearts out, embracing each other goodbye!
Yet she showed no resentment at all.
Not even the slightest trace... she did not want her negative emotions to taint Naruto's inner world!
Whoosh! Madara turned into a streak of golden light and flashed in front of Kushina, his hand mercilessly clamping around her throat! "Well done. Never have I, Madara, suffered such a devastating setback!"
As her figure grew increasingly insubstantial, Kushina looked at the sinister face before her and said calmly, "Madara, you've done something terrible to my child, but I won't hate you."
"Oh? So what?" Madara asked.
"Fighting alongside the Nine-Tails this time made me realize that no hatred in this world is beyond reconciliation," Kushina said. "Yesterday's mortal enemies can become tomorrow's comrades..."
"Heh. As far as I'm concerned, your alliance with the Nine-Tails was nothing but weaklings licking each other's wounds," Madara said. "Naruto—I don't know what that brat has been through or what he's done, and it has nothing to do with me. Nor will I ever acknowledge him. Never! Taking my power back is simple. All I have to do is erase that brat's will completely!"
"You... can't do it."
That voice... had come from the Nine-Tails lying on the ground!
Madara glanced over from the corner of his eye. "What did you say?"
The Nine-Tails declared firmly, "No matter how