Chapter 53 (Patreon)

When Kushina finished getting ready and stepped out of the tent, every shinobi who saw her looked at her with unmistakable admiration.

From the conversations around the camp, it was clear that many of them already regarded her as being on the same level as Minato.

After all, Minato had been the one to stop Kumogakure the last time, and Kushina had been his wife. Now that Minato had sacrificed his life, it seemed only natural to them that Kushina would be the one to take his place.

One shinobi even whispered to his companion, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if Lady Kushina became Hokage?”

Realizing how inappropriate that might sound, he hurriedly added, “I’m not saying anything bad about the Third Hokage. It’s just... he’s already getting old. He only took up the position again because something happened to the Fourth Hokage.”

Listening to the conversations around her, Kushina couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from rising.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Roy, who was walking beside her.

Several ANBU following behind them exchanged looks before their gazes simultaneously settled on their captain, Flame.

Ordinary shinobi might not know the identities hidden beneath the ANBU masks, but the members of the same squad naturally knew one another very well.

Flame was the captain of the Hokage’s personal guard, one of the ANBU’s deputy commanders, and was currently serving as acting commander after the position had been left vacant by the death of Konoha’s White Fang.

His identity outside the ANBU was none other than Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the eldest son of the Third Hokage.

Had the Hokage not changed a year ago, Shinnosuke would likely have secured the position of ANBU commander by now.

After hearing someone gossip about the Third Hokage right in front of his son, the ANBU couldn’t help worrying that Flame might lose his temper.

“Why are all of you looking at me?”

Flame didn’t even turn his head.

“Don’t let your guard down just because we’re inside the base camp. Stay alert. We can’t allow anyone to attack Lady Kushina.”

“Kushina, are you all right?”

The moment Kushina lifted the tent flap and entered, Shikaku quickly placed the letter in his hand onto the table and rose to his feet.

Shikaku understood better than most just how terrifying the Raikage and Kumogakure’s jinchūriki were.

He had witnessed their strength firsthand while fighting alongside Minato during the Third Shinobi World War.

Kushina had faced three of them alone and had even managed to capture two prisoners. There was no possible way the battle had been as effortless as she made it appear.

Shikaku had already concluded that Kushina must have cleaned herself up before returning with the prisoners so that the sight of her injuries wouldn’t affect the troops’ morale.

She was a member of the Uzumaki Clan, yet despite going to rest early the previous night, she had slept until noon.

Even now, she seemed unsteady on her feet.

She had to be seriously injured.

“I’m fine,” Kushina replied. “What terms did you agree on?”

Realizing that she had no intention of discussing her condition, Shikaku chose not to press the matter and quickly explained the terms they had settled upon.

“As for Kumogakure...”

“Their main force has already begun withdrawing. They only left a few squads behind to wait until the reparations are delivered and their jinchūriki are released.”

“That’s good.”

Kushina nodded.

“This afternoon, I’ll take the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki back to the village. I haven’t seen my son in several days. I really miss him.”

Shikaku’s mouth twitched slightly, but he understood her feelings.

Naruto was only a few months old.

Even Kushina was struggling to bear being away from her child for so long, and Shikaku himself had already begun missing his own son.

He had been away from home even longer than she had.

“Then what about the Eight-Tails’ jinchūriki?”

“I’ll leave behind a scroll containing the sealing formula. Once Kumogakure delivers the reparations, you can use the scroll to release the seal.”

After leaving Shikaku’s tent, Kushina turned and entered the tent beside it.

Inside, she found Yugito and Killer Bee.

The two of them had already learned the outcome of the peace negotiations.

Even after hearing that Yugito would have to remain in Konoha as a hostage for three years, neither of them appeared particularly troubled.

They believed Konoha would not dare violate the agreement and threaten Yugito’s life.

If Konoha broke its word and the pretense of peace collapsed, Kumogakure’s next offensive would not be as restrained as the current one.

Furthermore, after taking proper precautions, they would never allow the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki to launch another surprise attack so easily.

Since Yugito’s life would not be in danger and she would receive half of her training resources without having to do anything in return, she might as well treat the experience as a long trip away from the village.

To be honest, Killer Bee wished he could take her place.

He wanted to become Konoha’s prisoner far more than Yugito did.

Every nation had its own customs and way of life. Experiencing them firsthand would undoubtedly give him more inspiration and help him create even better rhymes.

However, both Yugito and Killer Bee understood that no matter how many times the two villages renegotiated, Yugito would always be the one chosen as the hostage.

Killer Bee wasn’t merely Kumogakure’s Eight-Tails jinchūriki.

He was also the sworn brother of A, the Raikage.

Because of that relationship alone, the Raikage would never abandon Killer Bee, regardless of who else he had to sacrifice.

Everyone in Kumogakure understood that, so Yugito held no resentment over the decision.

In fact, becoming a hostage in Konoha would allow her to escape Killer Bee’s constant rapping.

Not only would Yugito finally enjoy some peace, but even Matatabi, the Two-Tails sealed inside her, would be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The instant Killer Bee saw Kushina, he raised both hands.

Kushina had complete confidence in her sealing techniques, so she wasn’t worried that he might try anything and made no move to retreat.

Flame and the other ANBU, however, immediately stepped between them.

Their gazes locked onto Killer Bee, their bodies ready to attack at the slightest sign of danger.

Roy quietly moved behind Kushina and covered both of her ears with his hands.

Kushina blinked in confusion.

“Yo—”

The moment Killer Bee opened his mouth, Yugito reached over with a pained expression and covered it.

“You’re here to take me back to Konoha, right?” Yugito asked. “Please hurry. I don’t want to spend another minute trapped in here with him.”

With Killer Bee’s rap successfully stopped before it could begin, Roy released a quiet sigh of relief and naturally rested his hands on Kushina’s shoulders.

“What exactly is going on here...?”

Kushina stared at the two Kumogakure jinchūriki in confusion.

This was the first time she had ever seen someone so eager to become a hostage.

Still, it was better than having Yugito resist.

Judging by her current attitude, there might even be a chance of convincing her to remain in Konoha permanently.

Kumogakure only had itself to blame for failing to maintain a good relationship between its jinchūriki.

Otherwise, why would Yugito dislike Killer Bee so much when they came from the same village?

Roy leaned close to Kushina’s ear and quietly explained why he had covered her ears and why Yugito had reacted so quickly.

After hearing his explanation, the corners of Kushina’s mouth twitched.

Now she was almost tempted to hear Killer Bee’s rap for herself, just to find out how terrible it truly was.

“None of you understand the soul of rap.”

Discouraged by everyone’s reaction, Killer Bee looked even more dejected than he had when he was first captured.

He turned his back on them, pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen, and decided to write all of them into his next set of lyrics.

Kushina’s group wasn’t the only one preparing to return to Konoha.

The Uchiha Clan and many of the other shinobi stationed along the border would also be returning with them.

Now that a ceasefire had been established with Kumogakure and Konoha had secured a hostage, there was no longer any reason to keep such a large force stationed there.

Aside from the shinobi required to maintain the border defenses, keeping everyone else at the camp would only waste valuable supplies.

Because of that, Shikaku arranged for the main force to return to Konoha together.

It would also allow them to protect the supposedly “injured” Kushina during the journey.

Kushina did not refuse his consideration.

However, traveling with such a large force slowed their return considerably.

Had Kushina traveled at full speed, the journey would have taken little more than a day.

Instead, it took them two and a half days to reach Konoha.

The instant the village gates came into view, Kushina’s longing for Naruto erupted all at once.

After handing Yugito over to Flame and the other ANBU, Kushina immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and rushed toward her home.

There was no helping it.

Yugito still had to be brought before the Hokage first, and any arrangements concerning her stay in Konoha would be the Hokage’s responsibility.

Fortunately, Hiruzen had already received Shikaku’s report before their arrival.

Otherwise, had Kumogakure’s Two-Tails jinchūriki suddenly appeared before him without warning, even the Third Hokage might not have been able to remain calm.