“Hand that Uzumaki woman over to me.”
“Give me six months, and I’ll train her into a weapon capable of dealing with Kumogakure’s Jinchūriki.”
Danzo got straight to the point.
He believed Hiruzen was just as dissatisfied with the current stalemate against the Hidden Cloud Village.
“She’s staying with Kushina.”
“If you think you can take her, then go ask her yourself.”
Without even looking up, Hiruzen answered in an unreadable tone.
Deep down, perhaps a small part of him hoped Danzo would actually succeed.
If Kaorui could be trained into someone capable of ending the war…
Then perhaps the sacrifice would be worthwhile.
As long as she survived, the Uzumaki bloodline would continue.
However, Hiruzen simply didn’t have the time or energy to argue with Danzo.
Konoha’s inability to drive back the Hidden Cloud Village had already reached the ears of the Fire Daimyō.
A formal letter of reprimand had arrived that morning.
If the war wasn’t resolved soon…
The Land of Fire would reduce Konoha’s military budget for the following year.
Like every major hidden village, Konoha relied not only on mission income but also on financial support from the Fire Daimyō.
A reduced budget would affect everything.
Training.
Equipment.
Supplies.
The village’s overall strength.
And once its strength declined, even greater budget cuts would inevitably follow.
A vicious cycle.
Hiruzen wanted to end the war as quickly as anyone else.
Unfortunately, Konoha simply lacked the strength to force Kumogakure to retreat.
For now, his only option was to persuade the Fire Daimyō to reconsider his decision.
Meanwhile…
Kushina finally met the woman Kakashi had rescued.
Kaorui.
The joy Kushina initially felt upon seeing another member of the Uzumaki Clan quickly faded into sorrow.
Beneath Kaorui’s clothing…
She occasionally caught glimpses of countless bite marks covering her body.
She immediately understood what those scars represented.
Sensing the atmosphere, Kakashi quietly excused himself.
Although Kushina was Kaorui’s clanswoman…
The person she trusted most at the moment was still Kakashi—the man who had rescued her from living hell.
Now that he had left, Kaorui instinctively became nervous again.
More importantly…
She constantly felt as though an unseen gaze was watching her from behind Kushina.
At the same time…
The terrifying presence sealed within Kushina’s body silently observed her as well.
Noticing her uneasiness, Kushina smiled gently.
“Don’t be nervous.”
“You’re safe now.”
“No one will hurt you here.”
She looked toward the infant sleeping peacefully in Kaorui’s arms.
“This is your daughter, isn’t she?”
“What’s her name?”
The question immediately shifted Kaorui’s attention.
“Her name is Karin.”
“Uzumaki Karin.”
“Karin?”
“That’s such a beautiful name.”
“She’s just as adorable as Naruto.”
“Oh, Naruto is my son.”
“I’m sure the two of them will become good friends.”
Starting with their children, the two mothers quickly found common ground.
Kaorui’s nervousness gradually disappeared.
Before long, they naturally began talking about their parents.
Both had left the Land of Whirlpools while they were still very young.
Perhaps…
Their families had known one another.
As it turned out…
They had.
Although everyone from the Land of Whirlpools bore the Uzumaki surname, there had still been distinctions between noble and ordinary families.
Kushina belonged to one of the noble branches.
While she wasn’t a direct descendant of Lady Mito, they were still related.
Kaorui’s father, meanwhile, had once served as one of Kushina’s father’s guards.
That unexpected connection instantly brought them much closer together.
“From now on…”
“You and Karin will stay in the room on the left.”
“No one will disturb you there.”
Kaorui immediately wanted to refuse.
She already felt incredibly fortunate simply to have found shelter in Konoha.
How could she possibly accept living together with the young lady of the Uzumaki Clan?
But Kushina firmly shook her head.
“The Land of Whirlpools no longer exists.”
“Neither does the distinction between nobles and commoners.”
“Besides…”
“You and Karin may be the only family I have left.”
“I won’t let you struggle alone.”
Unable to refuse Kushina’s sincerity, Kaorui finally agreed.
Kushina smiled warmly.
“Give Karin to me.”
“Go take a relaxing bath.”
“You’ve traveled a long way.”
“You must be exhausted.”
After hesitating briefly, Kaorui carefully handed her daughter over.
“Thank you…”
“Lady Kushina.”
She slowly walked toward the bathroom, glancing back every few steps to make sure Karin was alright.
Watching her leave, Kushina quietly sighed.
“She’s suffered so much…”
Then she softly whispered,
“Ming-kun…”
“Why can’t people simply live together in peace?”
Sima Ming understood she wasn’t truly expecting an answer.
She was merely expressing the sadness in her heart.
After a brief silence, Kushina smiled gently.
“Thank you, Ming-kun.”
“If it weren’t for you…”
“I never would’ve known Kaorui and Karin were suffering in Kusagakure.”
Inside the bathroom…
Kaorui couldn’t relax.
She hurriedly rinsed herself beneath the shower while continuously using her Kagura Shingan sensory ability to monitor everything around her.
When she heard Kushina mention “Ming-kun,” she instinctively connected the name with the mysterious invisible presence she had sensed earlier.
Kakashi had already told her that Kushina had somehow known about her existence in Kusagakure.
She had wondered how that was possible.
Now…
Everything suddenly made sense.
Focusing carefully with Kagura Shingan, she barely managed to sense Sima Ming’s existence.
What shocked her most wasn’t his presence.
It was what he lacked.
He had no chakra whatsoever.
Only pure spiritual energy.
As far as Kaorui knew…
Only legendary divine beings could exist without chakra.
Even ordinary civilians possessed chakra.
Every living person did.
Without exception.
A kind-hearted god…
Unable to bear watching her suffering…
Had guided Kushina to rescue her.
That was the only explanation she could think of.
Silently lowering her head, Kaorui expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you…”
“Ming-kun-sama.”
Suddenly…
Karin began crying.
Startled, Kaorui instinctively reached for a towel, preparing to rush outside.
Before she could move, however, Kagura Shingan showed her exactly what was happening.
Kushina calmly checked Karin’s swaddling clothes.
Then…
She unbuttoned her own clothing and began breastfeeding the hungry infant.
Only then did Kaorui completely believe that Kushina truly had a newborn child of her own.
A little later…
Yakushi Nono returned carrying Naruto.
The moment she noticed another red-haired baby resting in Kushina’s arms, she froze.
If she hadn’t personally carried Naruto the entire time…
She might have wondered whether she’d somehow brought home the wrong child.
“Lady Kushina…”
“This child is…”
Kushina gently laid Karin on the sofa before placing Naruto beside her.
“This is my clanswoman Kaorui’s daughter.”
“Her name is Karin.”
“Look…”
“Naruto already seems to like her.”
The two infants quietly turned their heads toward each other.
Still carrying Kushina’s scent from moments earlier, Naruto instinctively wriggled toward Karin, searching for milk.
Realizing what he was trying to do, Nono almost laughed.
Before she could say anything, she heard footsteps behind her.
Turning around, she saw another red-haired woman walking out of the bathroom.
“Lady Kaorui.”
“My name is Yakushi Nono.”
Embarrassed by the formal greeting, Kaorui hurriedly waved her hands.
“Please…”
“Just call me Kaorui.”
Nono smiled warmly.
“Then you must call me Nono.”
“We’re family now.”
“There’s no need to be so formal.”
Watching the two women awkwardly insist on being polite to each other, Kushina couldn’t help covering her mouth as she laughed softly.
After dinner…
Nono suddenly looked apologetic.
“Lady Kushina…”
“One of the children at the orphanage has fallen ill.”
“I’ll need to spend the night there taking care of them, so…”