Shanks looked at Kushina, his expression calm but attentive. "It seems you're completely fine now. How are you feeling?"
Kushina answered without hesitation. "Onii-san, I'm feeling absolutely fine." Her expression tightened almost imdiately as another thought surfaced. "How is Naruto? I an… my son?" She assud Shanks wouldn't know the na of her child—the na that Minato and she had decided upon even before Naruto's birth.
Shanks replied smoothly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "He's absolutely fine. He's under the care of his father, so you don't need to worry about anything. Everything is all right."
The mont Kushina heard this, the tension left her body. Relief washed over her, and she reached out, holding Shanks' hands. "Thank you, Onii-san, for coming to my help at that mont—when I was completely helpless and didn't know what was going to happen. I had already given up on the thought that I would ever be able to see my son again. But thanks to you… I'll be able to see my son once more."
Shanks nodded slowly. "This is how it should be. After all, we're family. Even if you live in Konoha, so what? That doesn't an you're not one of us. You're an Uzumaki." His tone shifted slightly as he continued. "As for other matters, there's sothing you need to know. You are no longer a Jinchuriki."
As soon as Kushina heard this, confusion flashed across her face. Instinctively—just as she always did—she tried to enter her spiritual space. But this ti, she couldn't. There was no presence there. No vast chakra. No familiar, oppressive presence.
Her eyes widened in shock. Looking back at Shanks, her voice trembled. "Then… how am I even alive if the Nine-Tails isn't inside ? If Nine-Tails isn't there… how can I still be alive?"
As soon as Shanks heard this, he smiled gently and said, "Because I healed you."
He then went on to explain everything that had happened after he sealed Kushina's vitality—how he had asked for Minato's permission, and how, later on, he had divided the Nine-Tails into two parts. One part was sealed inside Minato, and the second was sealed into Naruto.
The mont Kushina heard the second part—that the Nine-Tails had also been sealed inside her son—panic imdiately overtook her. She sat up straighter, her voice sharp with fear. "How could Minato permit that? He's just a newborn child! If the Nine-Tails is sealed inside him and sothing goes wrong, then what?"
Kushina's anger was completely natural. Any mother would worry about her child, especially when it involved a tailed beast like the Nine-Tails being sealed inside her son. Shanks understood her outburst perfectly. He answered calmly, his voice steady and reassuring.
"You don't have to worry. I made sure that nothing will happen to your son. On the contrary, after so adjustnts, your son will continue to grow stronger and stronger in the future. And Minato is an extrely capable man with exceptional knowledge of sealing techniques. He can manage the seal on Naruto. Your son will be absolutely fine." He looked at her directly. "Have so faith in —and in your husband, okay?"
As Kushina listened, she slowly realized that there was no going back. Arguing further would change nothing. Naruto is already carrying the seal. She took a breath and accepted it, even if her heart still felt tight.
After a brief pause, Kushina spoke again. "Onii-san… I want to see my son imdiately, if possible. Can you take back to Konoha?"
Shanks nodded without hesitation. "Yes, you can return to Konoha. Guy will take you there personally. Until then, stay here for a while. Everyone was worried about you—go ahead and et them. After an hour or so, I'll have Guy take you to Konoha. It won't take long, and you'll be able to see your son very soon."
Hearing this, Kushina felt a surge of joy rush through her. "Thank you very much, Onii-san."
Shanks stepped forward and hugged her lightly. "No worries—and there's no need to thank at all. We're family."
Kushina nodded, her eyes slightly moist. Soon after, the other Uzumaki siblings present in the room—Guy and Antares—began talking with her. One by one, more Uzumaki siblings arrived, filling the ward with familiar voices and warmth. Mikoto also ca running in after receiving the ssage that Kushina was completely fine, her relief clear the mont she saw Kushina awake.
After the brief reunion, once everyone understood that Kushina was safe and truly fine, a sense of relief settled over them all. Laughter and quiet conversations faded into calm smiles. An hour later, Kushina was finally ready to leave Uzushiogakure and return to Konoha.
Before she departed, however, Shanks needed to tell her sothing important. He looked at her seriously and said, "Kushina, before you leave, there's sothing you need to know. Although I was able to heal you, the damage to your body was severe due to the Nine-Tails being extracted—especially to your chakra pathways. I repaired things in a way that ensures you won't suffer stiffness or physical limitations in your movents, but you won't be able to manipulate chakra anymore. That ans you won't be able to perform ninjutsu or work as a ninja. Technically, you'll beco an ordinary woman. I hope you understand."
As soon as Kushina heard this, she smiled softly. There was no shock in her expression—only calm acceptance. "Onii-san, there's no need to worry," she replied. "I know what you did was necessary for my safety. You thought of and chose what you believed was best for , so please don't take any tension over it." She paused briefly, then continued, her smile widening. "As for becoming an ordinary woman, I don't mind at all. Even before the Nine-Tails was extracted, I was already living like one—just not freely. I was more like a hostage than anything else. Everyone was always watching . ANBU were constantly keeping an eye on . I was never truly free."
Her gaze softened. "Now that the Nine-Tails is gone, I can finally live as a normal woman. I can live a normal life—with my son and my husband. You know."
Shanks nodded after hearing her words. "You will," he said firmly. "And it will be a happy life."
After that, the Uzumaki siblings one by one bid their farewells to Kushina. Warm words were exchanged, quiet promises made. Soon, Kushina stood side by side with Guy. Guy placed a steady hand on her back, and in the next instant, both of them disappeared.
They reappeared just outside Konoha's barrier and proceeded inside the village. Since Guy entered through proper ans—passing through the Konoha gates—there was no alarm raised. When the guards recognized Kushina returning with Guy, they imdiately inford their superiors. Minato had already instructed them to stay alert for her return, and within monts, the news reached him.
Before Minato could co to Kushina himself, Guy placed a hand on her shoulder once more. After sensing Minato's location—the Hokage's office—they disappeared again and reappeared directly inside it.
Minato looked at Kushina, standing there completely fine, and relief washed over him instantly. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight embrace. "I'm so glad to see you like this," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "I'm sorry… because I wasn't capable enough, you had to suffer so much."
Guy did not interrupt their reunion. He quietly walked out of the Hokage office and waited outside, giving them the space they needed. He couldn't leave just yet—he still had sothing important to convey to Minato, a ssage directly from Shanks—but that could wait until their reunion was over.
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