So much had changed in Konoha since Minato and Kushina's death that the conversation between Naruto and his mother was slow and awkward. Some topics were just difficult to navigate.
"Who would have thought the Uchiha clan would suffer such a drastic change!" Minato's face grew more serious. He rubbed his brow and said, "That Itachi kid… he was always a deep thinker, even as a child. He wouldn't do this. There must be a hidden reason..."
As he spoke, Minato's expression shifted. He thought of the old man in Konoha's upper echelons who was so hostile to the Uchiha. "Could it be... because of Danzo Shimura?"
The Nine-Tails: "..."
Naruto Uzumaki: "..."
That one-eyed old man sure is coming up a lot today, Naruto thought. Still, Minato had guessed right twice out of three times. Danzo really wasn't a good person.
"Don't mention him," Kushina pouted. She also disliked Danzo because of what happened with Granny Biwako in the past. The man was nothing but trouble.
"He sent people to attack me twice before," Naruto said, spreading his hands. "Even though the Fourth Hokage knew what he was up to, he chose not to deal with him… I was fine, but Kakashi-sensei almost died both times."
Minato Namikaze: "..."
"That little brat Kakashi has grown up, too..." Kushina's attention was on something else. She sighed softly. "That kid has become a reliable Jonin leader!"
He was the only remaining disciple of Team Minato... no, the only remaining ninja from their team.
Barely reliable, I guess... Naruto silently criticized his Jonin leader. It's just that every time we're in danger, Kakashi-sensei's performance is always so underwhelming. He never gives off that 'overwhelmingly strong Jonin' vibe.
Minato shook his head and said gently, "Kakashi must be carrying a lot of pain... Naruto, you should pay more attention to your Jonin teacher. He has a very heavy past."
As Kakashi's own Jonin leader, Minato knew his subordinate well. Kakashi was always losing the people around him.
"..."
Naruto wasn't sure how to react. While he knew Kakashi's past was painful, his own life hadn't been much better. Besides Sakura, every member of Team 7 had a painful past, but they were all trying to look toward the future.
"I understand."
Naruto's expression finally softened toward his father. After agreeing with Minato, he looked at his mother. "Then... can you tell me why you sealed Kurama inside me, and why you left me to live all alone in Konoha?"
"Because that night, you were the only one who could survive," Kushina said calmly, lowering her head to stroke her son's hair. "On the day you were born, someone took advantage of my weakened state during childbirth. They attacked us and released the Nine-Tails from my body... After we finally stopped its rampage in Konoha, my own life was fading..."
She paused, then suddenly broke into a smile. "Actually, your father could have lived! But this idiot wanted me to be able to see you grow up, so he gave his life, splitting the Nine-Tails seal in two. He sealed one half in you so that I could leave some of my chakra behind to see the you of today!"
Kushina spoke of the heavy topic with a surprisingly light, almost sweet tone, though she was clearly fighting back tears.
Naruto looked up at his father. "So..."
"So don't resent your father," Kushina said, grabbing her son's hand. "Naruto, don't be harsh on him. He's always been clumsy with words, but he loves you very much! Minato's expectations for you are high. He hopes you can become the son he imagined, but the Naruto you are now is already outstanding!"
"Sorry."
"Sorry."
Father and son spoke the word in unison. They glanced at each other, then both looked down.
Kushina covered her mouth and chuckled. She squatted down again, placing her hands on Naruto's shoulders and looking at him seriously. "We have always loved you. No matter what you want to do in the future, no matter what you become, you will always be our child."
"I know." Naruto hugged his mother's shoulders, and for the first time in his life, he softly called out, "Mom..."
Kushina's tears slowly streamed down her face. Minato sadly put his arm around them both.
This family, which had endured so much hardship, was finally reunited. But it might also be their last reunion, because Kushina and Minato were just souls made of chakra.
After they had let their emotions out, Kushina looked up at the huge fox beside her. "The Nine-Tails seems so well-behaved this time. In the past, whenever I tied it up, it always looked like it wanted to kill me... This feels a bit strange!"
"...You witch," the Nine-Tails growled from between its teeth. No matter when, this woman was always so annoying. If she hadn't given birth to such a good son, Kurama would have exposed all of Kushina's embarrassing secrets right then and there. He had all the material!
"Kurama has been very good to me recently," Naruto said, looking up at the Nine-Tails. "Maybe I should thank Dad. I've actually been hesitating and haven't made up my mind to open the seal..."
Minato's eyes narrowed into a smile. "It's okay. Before we disappear, I can help you repair the seal again."
"No need," Naruto said, shaking his head to stop his father's plan. "I choose to believe that Kurama can help me. Besides, even if he wanted to take over my body now, I could easily subdue him."
The current Naruto had mastered two powerful techniques, the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Absorption Seal—both ultimate weapons against Tailed Beasts.
Kushina withdrew the chains she had released and smiled at her son. "The Naruto right now can already use the Nine-Tails' full power, can't he?"
As a former jinchuriki, she could tell. After Minato released the seal, the Nine-Tails had already handed over control of its chakra to Naruto. He was now a true, perfect jinchuriki.
Naruto felt the chakra flowing through him and opened his palm to look at his arm. "I can feel that there isn't a trace of malice in this chakra. I can completely use Kurama's power..."
Kushina looked at the Nine-Tails with emotion and nodded in satisfaction. "In that case, we can leave in peace..."
They had been talking for a long time. At this point, Minato and Kushina's chakra could no longer sustain itself.
-----
Bonus:
Nine-Tails: You knew he was fine, and you still used the Adamantine Sealing Chains?
Kushina: Well, I'm not used to it being so docile, am I? Besides, it looks better this way...
Nine-Tails: Are you even making sense?
Kushina: Yes! And I'm acting like a proper human, too!
Nine-Tails: If you're going to talk like that, then I have a story to tell! It's about a certain master's wife and her idiot disciple...