The Talk

Arriving at a small compound, Kushina and his his uncle entered. The wooden walls were filled with designs with a small emblem on its edges. One maid approached towards them as she bowed her head.

"Patriach Uzumaki, Mito-sama is already waiting at the hall."

Kushina's uncle, Tadashi, nodded lightly before shifting his gaze to his niece, Kushina.

"Baby girl, Let's go."

"Un."

They entered the hall as they were greeted by the members of the Senju Clan. They have smiles on their faces seeing the Uzumaki Clan visiting their compound.

'It's a pity, the Wood Style is gone.'

Tadashi sighed knowing that the wood style would probably be forever gone as the Senju genes get thinner and thinner. Hopefully, Tsunade can grow stronger or else the Senju Clan will be pushed off the corner just like those small clans.

"Mito-sama is waiting inside Patriach Uzumaki."

After they entered the hall, the servant bowed lightly before exiting the hall. Tadashi gaze swept around the area before bowing to Mito, who's sitting in a small tatami. She was old now, far from the pretty face in her younger days. Her hair had grown much longer some of which she allowed to hang into her back though she still maintained the two buns on her hair.

"Grandma Mito!!"

Before Tadashi could even greet the elderly woman, Kushina already made a move. After seeing her grandmother figure, Kushina immediately run towards her and gave her a big hug.

"I miss you Grandma Mito." Kushina said giggling as she gave pecks to Mito.

Mito looks at the young girl, which was somewhat identical to her younger appearance.

"I miss you too, Kushina. Your hair is still beautiful than ever."

Hearing her grandma's praises, Kushina chuckled before pulling a paper from her pocket.

"This is a seal I made with uncle Tadashi, dattebane. Open it! Open it."

After handing the paper to Mito, Kushina yelled excitedly. She has been training Fuinjutsu since she unlocked her chakra, preparing for this moment.

Seeing Kushina's ecstatic expression, Mito couldn't help but smile. She looked down at the paper she received which had calligraphy written on it.

Shring—

After transferring her chakra, the paper made a sound. It expanded shortly before exploding.

Plum—

It exploded into bunch of small flowers which littered the room. Mito looked at Tadashi with a bitter smile before she stroked Kushina's hair with her fingers.

"Kushina, Uncle Tadashi and I have something to talk first. You can go outside first and play okay?"

"Why can't you just talk now?" Kushina grumbled pouting.

Tadashi couldn't help but shook his head due to Kushina's stubbornness. Not only was she's stubborn, she also beats her classmate back in Uzushio.

After explaining to Kushina, she eventually left the hall leaving Mito and Tadashi. They both have serious expression as they looked at each other.

"Tadashi, I will die soon…"

.........…

.........…

He was bored in class. The lessons were all about the foundation of the village and how it was maintained for many years.

'I really want to train right now.'

He still have much to do. His plan is to train to Prime Minato in an even shorter time. There are so many events he can prevent if he played his cards right or if he has overwhelming power.

"Hey, Minato do you want to join us later?" Chouza asked while handing him a bag of chips which was probably an unusual behavior for an Akimichi.

"Where?"

"Training ground 44."

"Huh? But it's dangerous in there. We aren't even a Genin yet."

"It's Inoichi's idea."

Minato scratches his head. In fact, he has many things to do but this is also an opportunity to further enhance his combat ability. He was quite lacking in that aspect after all.

"Then, count me in."

Swish—

Perhaps it was because of his increase reflex that he quickly evaded the chalk thrown towards him. Minato looked at Teacher Hodaka who's looking at him with frown.

"Namikaze Minato and Akimichi Chouza, don't talk to my class."

Teacher Hodaka said before giving Minato a final look. He was perplexed as to how Minato managed to avoid the chalk he threw. He made sure Minato was unaware before it happens and that thought bothered him before he shook his head and continued the class.

Minato, on the hand, was smiling. He didn't know how he did it. It's as if someone is telling him to dodge at that time.

'It's like Observation Haki.'

Come to think of it, the OG Minato is a sensor type as well. Could it be that his sensory abilities have already manifested? Just thinking about made his head hurts.

'Right, I really need to train.'

.........….

...........

"Tadashi, I will die soon."

Tadashi didn't answer and just nod as he allowed the elderly woman to continue.

"Probably 2 years is my limit…"

"Is this related to Kushina?"

Mito sighed deeply as he looked at the photo beside her. It was her wedding photo of her with her husband, Hashirama.

"Hashirama just wants to live in peace and protect his loved ones from harm."

Mito slowly explained with a hint of nostalgia.

"He captured all the tail beast because it was causing incidents and sold it to other village to protect the peace he had created. Using this method, the other villages wouldn't need to fear him because of his power, and to also maintain the balance of power of each village."

Mito took the photo as she held it up close. Stroking the photo of her husband, she made a bitter smile.

"As for the Nine Tails, it remained in Konoha after Madara's demise but seeing there is no place to cage the massive fox, I propose to seal it to my body eventually making me the first jinchuriki which the other villages copied as well."

Tadashi listened carefully, afraid of missing even a single detail.

"… thus the Five Great Shinobi Countries were established."

Mito put the photo back down and stared at Tadashi with serious expression.

"I'm telling you this because once I died, the Nine tails would die as well."

"Then, that means—?"

"Yes, I want to transfer the Nine Tails to Kushina before I die."

Tadashi sighed, his gaze towards the ground, before shifting it back to Mito.

"But my sister wouldn't agree, and the fate of a jinchuriki is… "

"I know, that's why I picked Kushina as the next vessel of the Nine Tails. She's a strong girl after all."

"Then I need to inform my sister first after I visited the 3rd Hokage."

Mito nodded slowly before continuing their conversation.

...........

"Hey do you want to play with me?" Kushina asked a civilian girl who's playing in the slides.

The girl looked at Kushina, specifically her hair, before turning back to her other friends and whispered something and laugh.

"Her hair is so red, it looks like tomato!"

"T-tomato Head? Hahaha!!"

Hearing the other kids laugh at her, Kushina couldn't help but fight back.

"So what if I have a red hair? How about you? You're so ugly, that when your mom dropped you at the academy, she got fined for littering!"

"Ohhhh."

The girl looked at Kushina with hatred and then replied back.

"Heh, Too bad I don't have a Mom."

"… "

"…"

Crying—

.........…

Going to the Training Ground 44, is basically death for these kids. Minato turned his head towards his friends who'll join in the suicid—training.

"Minato, why so serious? I heard my father said that the forest is not that dangerous. We'll be fine."

Chouza broke the silence as he stare towards Minato. In fact, Shikadai and him only join because they were curios . Minato looked back at Chouza before shaking his head as he shifted his gaze towards another member of the team.

He has dark, bushy, brown hairs and dark sharp eyes. Shibi also wears the same style his clan wore which consists of dark round sunglasses and a brown trench coat with a high, upturned collar. In the anime, he was the future head of the Aburame Clan and the father of Shino.

His name is Shibi Aburame. Though, not much as close as those three, he was still befriended by Minato.

Swish—

Few moments later, they arrived at the Training Ground 44 which gave them creepy and dangerous vibes.

"Sigh, Let's go."

.........…

"Lord Third, Patriarch Uzumaki is already waiting at the Sarutobi residence." One of the Anbu reported.

Groaning, the 3rd Hokage stood up in his seat and picked up the cigarette from the table. He looked at the photo frame of the 1st Hokage before he left from his office.

Arriving at the Sarutobi Clan Compound, the 3rd Hokage walk hurriedly as he went inside the hall. Sitting in a small tatami, Tadashi raised his head after seeing the 3rd Hokage enter.

"Lord Third."

"Oh Tadashi."

Hiruzen sat on the opposite side of Tadashi as the servant filled their cup with tea.

"Its been a long time since we last met, tell me, how's Uzushio?"

"The Clan is doing better, Lord Third."

"Good, good! By the way Tadashi why did you come to Konoha?"

"Am I not allowed to, Lord Third?"

Coughing, the 3rd Hokage wave his right hand indicating that it was not what he meant. Tadashi seeing this smiled briefly before turning into serious expression again.

"In fact, I visited you because Mito-sama is already nearing her death and she needed a new vessel for the Nine Tails. In the end, she picked my niece, Kushina. If ever my sister agreed, I just want one request Lord 3rd. I hope Kushina will be safe here in Konoha by then."

Nodding his head, The 3rd Hokage gave a soft sigh. He already knew all of this. Once the Nine Tails was transferred, Mito would die as well. As for the new Nine Tails Jinchuriki, he can do one thing.

"Very well, I'll protect her safety Tadashi. You don't have to worry." And as if thinking something, the 3rd Hokage continued, "How about enrolling her in the Academy?"

Tadashi eyes swept towards the 3rd Hokage. This old fox already have the thought of keeping Kushina to Konoha. But considering the growing unrest back at the clan, Tadashi came to a decision.

"… sigh, then I'll leave to you Lord 3rd."

Hearing Tadashi words, Hiruzen nearly jumped in excitement. As long as he played his cards right, the Konoha can have Uzumaki Clan of their own.

' Minato is a good candidate.'

The 3rd Hokage and Patriach Uzumaki continued their conversation not noticing the shadow lurking in the dark watching their chat.