Uzumaki Kushina couldn't understand when Sora explained that Namikaze Minato had sealed half of the Kyuubi into Naruto's body because of Jiraiya's prophecy.
Sora paused and asked, "Kushina, do you believe in fate?"
Uzumaki Kushina looked surprised. "Fate? Of course not! Do you believe in it, Sora? When you were talking with Hiashi-sama, it seemed like you hated the idea of predestined fate."
Sora's expression grew slightly serious. "I really do hate fatalism, but I can't deny that some things are bound to happen."
"For example?" Kushina wondered.
"For example," Sora said in a deep voice, "the Kyuubi was definitely going to break free from its seal."
He continued, "It was inevitable that the Kyuubi would escape from Miyuki's body, and it was destined to be sealed into Naruto. The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku was right. Naruto... is indeed the child of prophecy, the future savior of the shinobi world."
Sora hesitated. "What I'm saying might sound unbelievable, Kushina. If you don't believe it, just take it as—"
"I believe you," Kushina suddenly interrupted. "You've never lied to me, Sora, so what you're saying must be true. But tell me, can fate be changed?"
After hearing Kushina's unconditional trust in him, Sora smiled before becoming serious again. "Fate can be changed, but it's very difficult."
Sora had spent more than ten years trying to change Uzumaki Kushina's fate. The conditions required were extremely harsh. He had worked tirelessly to find a replacement, Uzumaki Miyuki, then made a deal with Danzo, and finally managed to convince Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uzumaki Mito to change their minds.
Back then, Sora had thought that if Uzumaki Mito and the others wouldn't change their decision to use Kushina as the Kyuubi Jinchūriki, he would take Kushina away from Konoha.
But thinking about it now, could he really have taken Kushina away at that time?
Sora didn't think so.
He hadn't possessed the absolute strength to overturn the situation back then, and wasn't certain he could protect Kushina during the inevitable pursuit.
Besides, Uzumaki Mito had likely been aware of his intentions all along. She had probably been watching Kushina constantly with her Kagura abilities, guarding her closely.
To Uzumaki Mito, Konoha was always the most important thing, even if the village had completely changed from what it once was. And Kushina had been identified by Mito as the best candidate for the Kyuubi Jinchūriki.
So it would have been extremely difficult for Sora to leave with Kushina.
If he wanted to change Naruto's fate, he would need to find someone who could replace Naruto as the Child of Prophecy, someone else to contain the Kyuubi and become its Jinchūriki.
But this was easier said than done.
As the child of prophecy and the future protagonist of the shinobi world, the conditions for changing Naruto's fate would be far more stringent.
Kushina sighed deeply. "No wonder Miyuki looked so sad and depressed earlier. She seems really hurt this time. What Namikaze Minato did was truly..."
Kushina couldn't even find the words to finish her sentence.
Sora said, "Kushina, I think Miyuki might choose to leave Konoha."
Kushina was stunned. "What? Leave Konoha? Why?"
Sora had made this guess based on what had happened with Namikaze Minato. He felt as if there was some force working to correct any changes made to the original flow of events.
For example, Sora had clearly warned the Kyuubi in advance, but later, this warning seemed to have no effect whatsoever.
Sora had sealed part of the Kyuubi's chakra into Uzumaki Miyuki's body. Miyuki had survived, but she had been forced to use the Shiki Fūjin instead of Namikaze Minato.
And although Minato had survived, he might remain in a coma indefinitely.
According to the original trajectory—where Naruto would grow up without parents—Minato would stay in a coma, which meant that Miyuki, though alive, would likely have to leave Konoha soon.
It seemed necessary to maintain the setting where the protagonist had neither father nor mother.
However, this seemed too far-fetched, so Sora analyzed various pieces of evidence for Kushina: "Miyuki loves Naruto deeply, and she never wanted him to become a Jinchūriki. Yet Minato sealed half of the Kyuubi into Naruto's body. Miyuki must be incredibly disappointed in Minato right now."
"Moreover, Miyuki doesn't have a good impression of Konoha to begin with," he continued. "I'm sure you've heard about how shinobi villages typically treat their Jinchūriki."
"Miyuki has been fortunate so far. The ignorant villagers in Konoha don't know she's a Jinchūriki. Otherwise, even as the Hokage's wife, she would be feared, envied, and discriminated against."
"Maybe this time she'll be lucky enough to keep people from discovering that both she and Naruto are Jinchūriki, but as I said, Miyuki loves Naruto too much to bet on this possibility."
"If their identities as Jinchūriki become known, Naruto will spend his childhood facing endless discrimination in Konoha, and this discrimination might follow him throughout his life."
"Besides, I don't think Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others will be able to hide the fact that Naruto is a Jinchūriki this time."
Kushina frowned. "They can't hide it? Why not?"
Sora continued his analysis: "First, let's consider what happened on the day Naruto was born. From Sakumo-sama's situation, we know that people in Konoha can be very ignorant, and rumors spread like wildfire."
"The day Naruto was born was the same day the Kyuubi broke free. On that day, Naruto was the only child born in the village."
"Some ignorant villagers will naturally associate Naruto with the Kyuubi, and then other villagers will spread rumors. It might evolve into a belief that Naruto is the reincarnation of the Kyuubi itself."
"Second, there's Naruto's identity as the Fourth Hokage's son. Some people in Konoha are unhappy that Minato has held the position of Hokage for so long."
"No one knows when Minato will wake up. Although Sarutobi Hiruzen is the Hokage again now, once Minato wakes up, Hiruzen will have no reason to remain in that position."
"If this becomes known, Minato will become Hokage again after waking up, which will be a blow to those who oppose him."
"The fact that the Hokage's child is a Jinchūriki might initially make the ignorant villagers think Minato is noble and Naruto is a hero, but the problems of being a Jinchūriki remain. People will still fear Naruto."
"They'll worry about what might happen if Naruto loses control, if the Kyuubi appears again. Minato was just unconscious last time, but what if he dies next time?"
As Sora's analysis came to an end, he concluded: "So, as someone who loves Naruto deeply, Miyuki will definitely consider whether staying in Konoha is good for Naruto's growth, especially if his identity as a Jinchūriki is revealed."
"Word will spread that Miyuki couldn't protect Naruto, just like how she couldn't do anything when Minato forcefully took Naruto from her arms."
After hearing all this, Kushina felt deeply troubled. Her face wrinkled with concern, and a sense of helplessness settled in her heart.
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