“W-What? Mr. Sima, I didn’t…”
Kushina looked completely bewildered.
She had forgotten about Sima Ming’s existence only moments ago, so there was no way she could have secretly placed a sealing technique on him.
Besides, if she truly intended to seal him, why would she allow him to cling to her whenever he wanted?
That made no sense at all.
“If it wasn’t you,” Sima Ming asked suspiciously, “then why can’t I leave?”
He clearly didn’t believe her.
Anxious to explain herself, Kushina instinctively tried to turn around.
Unfortunately, Sima Ming tightened his grip around her, afraid that moving too far away would cause him to be pulled back or thrown off.
“It really wasn’t me,” she insisted desperately.
“I swear I never used any sealing technique on you, Mr. Sima.”
She was so flustered that she was nearly in tears.
The more she thought about it, the more suspicious Sima Ming’s behavior became.
Perhaps…
He had only saved her because he wanted something in return.
Maybe he had deliberately made up such a ridiculous excuse just so he could keep holding onto her.
After all, a mysterious man had suddenly appeared in her home during the most chaotic night of her life.
If someone claimed he had no hidden motives, that alone was suspicious enough.
The thought suddenly struck her.
Maybe he wasn’t trying to save her out of kindness…
Maybe he simply desired her.
Taking a deep breath, Kushina decided it was better to be direct.
“Mr.
Sima,” she said seriously, “if you’re looking for a woman, I can introduce you to plenty of girls in the village.”
“I already have a husband…”
“And a child.”
“I’m not worth wasting your time on.”
“…What kind of nonsense are you talking about?”
Sima Ming stared at her in disbelief.
Yes, Kushina was undeniably beautiful.
Even after giving birth, her figure remained stunning, and no one would have guessed she had just gone through labor.
But was he really that kind of man?
Back in Soul Society, there were countless beautiful female Shinigami.
If that wasn’t enough, Hueco Mundo had women like Nel and Harribel.
Yet in Sima Ming’s eyes…
They were nothing more than distractions that slowed down his sword.
Strength came before everything else.
As long as he possessed overwhelming power, his appearance and talent alone would allow him to win anyone’s affection.
Why would he resort to taking advantage of a grieving widow?
Unfortunately…
Kushina didn’t believe a single word he said.
Likewise, Sima Ming refused to believe her explanation.
The two of them continued arguing, each defending themselves while completely ignoring the other’s reasoning.
Only when Hiruzen Sarutobi finished examining the battlefield and approached with several Anbu did they finally stop.
“I’ll assume you’re telling the truth for now,” Sima Ming said with a sigh.
“But until we figure out what’s happening, I can only move within about ten meters behind you.”
“We’ll just have to live with it.”
Kushina wanted to refuse immediately.
Unfortunately…
She had no way to get rid of him.
Earlier, she had even used her Adamantine Sealing Chains in an attempt to push him away.
The chains had simply passed through his body as though he didn’t physically exist.
They couldn’t touch him at all.
Instead, every failed attempt only caused Sima Ming to grab her even tighter.
From Kushina’s perspective, that merely confirmed her growing suspicion that he harbored improper intentions.
Not wanting to provoke him any further, she reluctantly agreed to let him follow her.
“Kushina…”
“What happened?”
Hiruzen looked at her with concern.
From a distance, he had seen her speaking to someone, her expressions constantly shifting between anger, frustration, and grief.
Meanwhile, Minato’s body lay on the ground while Naruto remained cradled in her arms.
“It’s nothing.”
Kushina answered coldly.
Without another word, she lifted Minato’s body once more and began walking toward Konoha.
Watching her leave, Hiruzen let out a weary sigh.
He couldn’t help but suspect that Minato’s death had dealt such a devastating blow that Kushina’s mental state had become unstable.
“Hokage-sama…”
An Anbu stepped forward to speak.
Hiruzen raised a hand, silently stopping him.
“After we return,” he ordered, “inform the wife of the Uchiha Clan Head to visit Kushina.”
At a time like this, he didn’t want unnecessary contact with the Uchiha Clan.
However…
Among everyone in Konoha, the only person who could truly comfort Kushina now was Uchiha Mikoto.
Although the wives of the Ino-Shika-Chō clan leaders frequently attended Kushina’s gatherings, many of those relationships had been built around political convenience.
Getting close to the Hokage’s family naturally benefited their clans.
Hiruzen never objected to such arrangements.
As long as everyone remained loyal to Konoha, those personal interests were acceptable.
After all…
Absolute purity rarely existed in politics.
The Anbu captain wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent.
He simply acknowledged the order before disappearing in a Body Flicker to carry it out.
“Sandaime-sama!”
Another masked Anbu suddenly appeared and knelt before Hiruzen.
“The Barrier Team has been completely wiped out.”
“…Lady Biwako has also passed away.”
The news struck Hiruzen like a heavy blow.
In that instant…
He seemed to age ten years.
His voice became hoarse.
“…Have their bodies been recovered?”
Biwako Sarutobi was Hiruzen’s wife.
A highly skilled Konoha Jonin and medical ninja, she had personally overseen Kushina’s childbirth that night.
He had never imagined that only hours later…
They would be separated forever.
“The Medical Team has already returned the bodies to the village.”
Hiruzen silently waved his hand, dismissing the messenger.
“Sandaime-sama…”
Even the Anbu captain’s voice trembled with emotion.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally spoke.
“Let’s return.”
“Kushina’s childbirth was one of Konoha’s highest-level secrets.”
“Very few people knew the location.”
“Yet the enemy found it with absolute precision.”
He turned toward the Anbu captain.
“Yan.”
“Once we’re back, gather a team.”
“Keep a close watch on Danzo’s people.”
Back at the Hokage Residence, Kushina firmly refused to hand Minato’s body over to the Anbu.
On the journey home, Sima Ming had told her about a forbidden technique created by the Second Hokage.
The Edo Tensei.
A jutsu capable of summoning the souls of the dead back from the Pure Land by sacrificing a living body.
Although Minato’s soul had already been claimed by the Shinigami and could never be revived through Edo Tensei…
No one else knew that.
Kushina refused to let anyone disturb Minato’s eternal rest.
Compared to burying him in Konoha Cemetery, she believed it was far safer to preserve and seal his body herself.
The Anbu assigned to retrieve the Hokage’s remains scratched his head helplessly.
If Minato wasn’t buried in the village cemetery, how would the villagers react?
More importantly…
How was he supposed to complete his mission?
Unfortunately, the person refusing him wasn’t just anyone.
She was Kushina Uzumaki.
The widow of the Fourth Hokage.
The Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki.
Even if an entire Anbu squad arrived, they still wouldn’t be able to force her.
Realizing persuasion was impossible, the Anbu decided to report the matter to the Third Hokage and the village elders instead.
Before he left, Kushina tossed him two items.
The white Hokage cloak Minato had worn during his lifetime.
And one of his Flying Thunder God kunai engraved with its sealing formula.
After the Anbu departed, Kushina looked down at the sleeping Naruto in her arms.
Her exhausted eyes slowly turned toward Sima Ming.
“…Mr. Sima.”
“What do you think I should do now?”
Sima Ming answered without hesitation.
“You’re the widow of the Fourth Hokage.”
“And you’re also the Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki.”
“Use those advantages.”
Kushina looked at him in surprise.
“…Are you telling me to seize power?”
“Only by gaining influence within Konoha can you hope to change the village’s declining state.”
“And only then can you create a better future for Naruto.”
“I’m sure Minato wanted to do the same.”
“It’s just unfortunate…”
“He never had the chance to fulfill that dream.”
The mention of Minato and Naruto strengthened Kushina’s resolve.
Yet…
She quickly became uncertain again.
She had always stood beside Minato as his wife.
She had never been interested in politics.
Power struggles.
Negotiations.
Leadership.
She knew almost nothing about any of it.
Sima Ming wasn’t much of a politician either.
But he understood one simple truth.
Overwhelming strength could solve countless problems.
Minato had sacrificed his life protecting Konoha.
At this moment, his reputation had reached its highest point.
Combined with the fact that both Kushina and Naruto were now Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, she possessed a strong foundation from which to gain influence.
Still…
That alone wasn’t enough.
Once a person dies, even the hottest tea eventually grows cold.
Minato’s legacy would not be enough to keep every ninja clan standing behind her forever.
And if nothing changed…
Hiruzen Sarutobi would soon return as Hokage.
With Hiruzen back in power, moving against Danzo would become nearly impossible.
As long as Danzo remained alive…
He would continue to pose a threat to both the Jinchūriki…
And to Konoha itself.