Drip. Drip…
Kaoru's tears fell like pearls from a broken string, splashing into the water beneath her feet and sending ripples spreading outward.
"Kyusei… why… why did it turn out like this…?"
"I don't understand. I really don't understand. Why?"
Kyusei looked at Kaoru in silence.
Her azure eyes were filled with pain—and fury.
Naruko slowly opened her eyes.
She had seen it all.
How Kyusei and Kaoru met.
How they grew up together.
The little incidents along the way—the laughter, the trouble, the quiet days.
His arrogance.
Her resilience.
His recklessness.
Her gentleness.
Naruko looked at Kaoru, who was crying silently, and spoke calmly:
"Let's go. The Nine-Tails is up ahead."
"Naruko…"
Kaoru called out instinctively.
She wanted to say something—but when she opened her mouth, she realized that no matter what she said, it would be meaningless given her position and identity.
Naruko stopped, but didn't turn around.
With her back to Kyusei and Kaoru, she spoke in a deliberately light tone:
"Seriously… that's all in the past now."
"I have Sasuke now. I have Sakura. I have Kakashi-sensei."
"I also have Pervy Sage and Granny Tsunade."
"Granny Tsunade is the Hokage now, you know. No one dares bully me anymore."
"And if anyone does try, Granny Tsunade will beat them half to death…"
"So… so…"
"Don't cry anymore…"
"Okay…?"
Her voice started out forced and cheerful, but gradually began to tremble.
She was hurting too.
But even so—
She was strong.
Kyusei watched Naruko—who was clearly in pain herself, yet still trying to comfort Kaoru.
Inside the cage, the Nine-Tails stared at the three figures in the distance with his massive eyes.
He had witnessed everything that happened.
That chakra…
It was identical to Kyusei's.
Even though he knew this Kyusei was not the one he remembered, that familiar chakra still made him instinctively think of his previous jinchūriki.
Tap. Tap. Tap…
Kyusei, Kaoru, and Naruko stepped out of the shadows and appeared before the Nine-Tails.
The Nine-Tails stared intently at the red-haired boy.
No mistake. Absolutely no mistake.
This was Uzumaki Kyusei.
The same face as in his memories.
The same chakra.
And even that—
"Yo, Little Nine. Long time no see."
Kyusei raised his hand with a smile and greeted the Nine-Tails inside Naruko.
"Hmph. Even though you're not the Kyusei I knew, that nasty personality of yours is exactly the same."
To Naruko's surprise, the Nine-Tails was actually chatting calmly with Kyusei.
"Looks like the version of me from your world got along pretty well with you."
"I was planning to have my Little Nine talk to you, but it seems unnecessary now."
Kyusei smiled faintly.
"Hmph. Who knows."
The Nine-Tails lay on the ground, glancing sideways at that familiar figure.
Naruko watched this scene, feeling inexplicably sour.
The Nine-Tails who was always so fierce toward her was actually getting along with her young father so naturally.
…Even though I was the one first—
No.
I came later.
"Then, Little Nine," Kyusei said, getting straight to the point,
"you should know what happened sixteen years ago in your world, right?"
"Can you tell me?"
"That question…"
A gentle, warm voice suddenly echoed through the sewer-like sealing space.
"…should be answered by me."
"Just as I thought. There's no way you'd die that easily."
The Nine-Tails' tone shifted slightly as he looked at the man who had appeared.
The newcomer was tall, with broken crimson hair draped over his shoulders.
Sharp brows, bright eyes, well-defined features.
His gray-brown eyes were deep enough to look straight into one's heart.
Clad in a Konoha jōnin uniform, he stood there with a heroic presence.
"Little Nine. Long time no see."
The man smiled as he greeted the Nine-Tails, then turned toward Naruko, his eyes overflowing with pain and tenderness.
"Naruko… I can't believe that in the blink of an eye, you've already…"
Before he could finish—
A golden blur slammed into his arms.
"Dad…"
Naruko clung to him tightly, her voice trembling, choked with sobs.
"Naruko… I'm sorry."
"I made you suffer."
The man wrapped his arms around his daughter, holding her close.
His deep eyes were filled with guilt.
Kyusei watched the tall man calmly.
As expected.
If it were him, there was no way he'd die so easily.
He would definitely leave chakra behind in Naruko's body—just like Uzumaki Mito or Namikaze Minato—to help her control the Nine-Tails.
And since he himself was a sealing expert and an Uzumaki, the chakra he left behind would be even more substantial—enough to help Naruko multiple times.
The older Kyusei gently patted Naruko's head and said softly:
"Be good. Every bit of chakra I use now is permanently consumed."
"So I need to quickly tell you everything that happened sixteen years ago."
He glanced in Kyusei's direction, pausing for just a moment before skipping over his twelve-year-old self entirely.
Instead, his gaze settled on Kaoru, whose face was still streaked with tears.
His eyes were filled with warmth, affection—and a trace of nostalgia.
Kyusei twitched at the corner of his eye.
Then he stepped directly in front of Kaoru, blocking that gaze without hesitation.
Kaoru, meanwhile, looked curiously at the older Kyusei.
So… this was what Kyusei would look like when he grew up.
"Hey," Kyusei snapped irritably,
"have you stared long enough?"
"Of course not," the older Kyusei replied with a grin so irritating it could kill.
"She's my wife. I'll look at her as much as I want."
"You bastard!"
"She's my wife!"
A vein popped on Kyusei's forehead as he declared his sovereignty.
"Kyusei~"
Kaoru blushed bright red and shyly poked the boy standing in front of her.
Just now… what did Kyusei call her?
W-wife…?
Inside the cage, the Nine-Tails watched his former jinchūriki in silence.
…It really is you.
Even arguing with yourself now.
"Enough nonsense," the older Kyusei said lazily.
"Don't you want to know what happened back then?"
He extended his hand toward Kaoru.
Just as Kaoru was about to place her hand in his—
Kyusei cut in, slapped his own hand onto it instead, and then firmly grabbed Kaoru's hand as well.
"Tch…"
The older Kyusei clicked his tongue, clearly displeased.
"Naruko, give me your hand."
"Yes, Dad."
Naruko obediently placed her hand in his.
Holding Naruko's hand, the older Kyusei spoke again:
"Before we start, I have to say one thing."
"Kaoru is my wife."
"Bastard!"
"She's my wife!!"
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