Kushina’s Curse Mark

"Are you saying someone was deliberately guiding Naruto and reshaping his thoughts?"

Uzumaki Kushina’s expression turned frightening, though she tried her best to keep her voice calm as she asked. Even though she did not have many days left to live, she could still unleash her final strength for Naruto’s sake.

After carefully recalling Naruto’s condition, Kushina did feel that something was strange. The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

Even Namikaze Minato had his limits. When something crossed his bottom line, the expression on his face would become terrifying. As for her, there was no need to mention it. She had been fighting ever since school—after fighting her classmates, she fought Genin—earning herself the nickname Bloody Red Pepper.

Naruto’s temper and personality resembled neither of them. If Hyuga Mirai had not probed and reminded her, Kushina would not have noticed it herself. Now that she thought about it, Naruto’s personality seemed a little too sunny. Had he ever gotten angry?

"Was it the Third Hokage?"

With an unfriendly look in her eyes, Kushina thought of Sarutobi Hiruzen. He seemed to be the only one who constantly talked about dedication and the Will of Fire. Besides, she had been busy training and had rarely paid much attention to Naruto.

Hyuga Mirai shook his head. "He doesn’t have that kind of ability. To influence someone so subtly without anyone noticing, only Asura’s Chakra can do it. That is Naruto’s greatest treasure—far more precious than the Nine-Tails."

"Asura?"

It was the first time Kushina had heard that name, but since it concerned Naruto, she had to get to the bottom of it.

"Who is Asura? When did he put Chakra into Naruto’s body?"

"That has nothing to do with you, Mrs. Kushina." Hyuga Mirai glanced at her and shook his head. "You don’t have long to live anyway. Thinking about this won’t solve anything. Just pretend you never heard it and enjoy your final days properly."

"How can I pretend I never heard that?"

Uzumaki Kushina angrily reached out to grab Hyuga Mirai by the collar, but halfway through, Uzumaki Ayaka stopped her.

"Kushina, if you dare disrespect Lord Mirai again, don’t blame me for teaching you a lesson!"

Uzumaki Ayaka’s eyes were full of warning. Like a lion protecting its food, her entire body radiated menace.

"Ayaka, do you like this guy?"

"What are you talking about?! Lord Mirai is my benefactor, Kushina!"

Uzumaki Ayaka immediately raised her voice to conceal the blush on her face. Fortunately, there was a Barrier Technique in place. Otherwise, that shout alone could have woken four or five nearby households.

Hyuga Mirai lightly rubbed his ear. If he did not steer the conversation back on track soon, these two would eventually take it completely off course.

"Let’s get back to the point."

After hearing that, Kushina remembered that she should be focusing on Naruto’s condition. Her expression turned solemn as she spoke to Hyuga Mirai. "Please, Mirai-kun. Tell me how to deal with Naruto’s problem."

"I refuse. I won’t do anything that offers me no benefit, Mrs. Kushina. Rather than making dry, useless requests like that, you should think carefully about what you can offer me. After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch."

Hyuga Mirai shook his head at Kushina pragmatically. He had no particular relationship with her, so there was no way he would agree just because she bluntly asked him to.

"And don’t think about asking Tsunade for help. Only I know about Asura’s Chakra. Tsunade’s Medical Ninjutsu can’t help you, and she’s currently in my Laboratory, researching a groundbreaking field of ninjutsu."

Hyuga Mirai did not hide the news of Tsunade joining the organization from Kushina. Tsunade had been one of Kushina’s few remaining lifelines, but now Hyuga Mirai had snapped it.

"Even Tsunade-sama… Katsuyu, do you know about this?"

"I don’t know, Lady Kushina. Tsunade-sama hasn’t summoned me for a long time. Unless the contractor actively uses the Summoning Technique, I have no way of knowing about Tsunade-sama’s affairs." Katsuyu spoke gently to Kushina. Although it had not dispelled the Summoning Technique and returned to Shikkotsu Forest, it had remained quietly by Kushina’s side.

The one who had suggested that Kushina learn Shikkotsu Forest Sage Art was Katsuyu’s true body, the Slug Sage. Since it had given the wrong advice and nearly caused the contractor’s death, this Katsuyu clone did not dare make a sound, afraid that the matter would be brought up again.

Kushina’s expression changed slightly, becoming far more downcast.

The few people she could ask for help had all gone over to the other side. Thinking about it that way, she had nothing useful to offer at all.

"The Uzumaki Clan’s Sealing Technique."

"I already found all the Sealing Technique inheritances in the Secret Chamber of Whirlpool Country, Kushina." Uzumaki Ayaka interrupted before Kushina could finish.

Even the only thing she had that held any value was beneath their notice.

Seeing Kushina rack her brains, Hyuga Mirai could not help but shake his head. "Mrs. Kushina, think carefully. Haven’t you overlooked your greatest bargaining chip? You yourself are the most valuable thing."

"W-What?!"

Kushina’s eyes suddenly widened. But before any images could form in her mind, Hyuga Mirai continued.

"The only thing I’m interested in is Asura’s Chakra within Naruto. And to Naruto, you are his greatest and final support. If Konoha becomes a place you can no longer stay, then take Naruto somewhere else."

Hyuga Mirai’s words plunged Kushina into silence. Though she had all kinds of grievances against Konoha, she had never considered leaving.

The most important reason was that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. If they left, Konoha would definitely send people to hunt them down. And people elsewhere would surely covet the Nine-Tails within Naruto. Perhaps after capturing him, they would immediately extract the Nine-Tails. After all, Naruto was merely an outsider to them, and they would certainly feel safer with someone from their own village.

Right now, Kushina only cared about Naruto. To Naruto, the other Ninja Villages were not as safe as Konoha.

"Mrs. Kushina, it seems your feelings for Konoha are no longer that deep. Are you worried about Naruto’s safety? I can’t speak for the other Ninja Villages, but the Saudi Federation will absolutely not allow the kind of thing you imagine to happen."

Hyuga Mirai smiled as he spoke, then slowly rose to his feet.

"When the time comes, you’ll make your decision. But please forgive what I do today, Mrs. Kushina. Although you’ll survive, Konoha may not trust you as much anymore."

Upon hearing Hyuga Mirai’s words, Kushina froze. Before she could understand why he had said that, Uzumaki Ayaka suddenly bound her tightly with Adamantine Sealing Chains.

"Ayaka, what are you doing?!"

Uzumaki Ayaka curled her lips. "Save your strength and scream later, Kushina. Lord Mirai is saving your life!"

After saying that, Uzumaki Ayaka dispelled the Barrier Technique.

At that moment, Hyuga Mirai stepped behind Uzumaki Kushina and directly entered Tenseigan Chakra Mode. In this state, his control over Yin-Yang Release was greatly enhanced.

He then placed his hand on Uzumaki Kushina’s neck. Yang Release Chakra and Sage Chakra surged into Kushina’s body together, circulating through her body before being preserved in the form of a Curse Mark.

"Ahhh!!"

The moment the Curse Mark was planted, the intense pain made Kushina cry out. The sound-isolating Barrier Technique had already been removed, so the Anbu outside immediately heard her scream.

"Something has happened to the Jinchuriki!"

After giving a signal, the surrounding Anbu immediately rushed into Kushina’s house. Their first priority was to find Uzumaki Naruto. When the Anbu reached the second-floor room, they saw Uzumaki Naruto about to rush downstairs.

Since they did not know what was happening on the first floor, the Anbu chose to ensure the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s safety first. They directly picked Naruto up and left the house.

"Let me go! My mom is still inside—"

Boom!

Uzumaki Naruto struggled only a few times before the Anbu knocked him unconscious. Their mission was to ensure the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s safety; Uzumaki Kushina came second.

After one Anbu took Uzumaki Naruto away, the remaining Anbu cautiously approached the first floor.

Through the window, they could see Uzumaki Kushina lying weakly on the ground as though she had been attacked. Two people stood beside her. One was a red-haired woman, while the other was… Hyuga Mirai.

"Send the signal, it’s Hyuga—"

Before the Anbu could finish speaking, several Adamantine Sealing Chains suddenly smashed through the wall and shot toward them.

"Move!"

The Anbu swiftly leaped away, evading the first wave of attacks. But the Adamantine Sealing Chains followed close behind, wrapping around several Anbu in midair at incredible speed before slamming them into the ground, knocking them unconscious.

Uzumaki Ayaka asked, "Lord Mirai, is this enough?"

"It’s enough. Let Konoha investigate on its own from here. Let’s go." After speaking, Hyuga Mirai walked outside without paying any attention to the unconscious Uzumaki Kushina.

After Hyuga Mirai planted the Curse Mark in her, Kushina no longer had to worry about her dwindling lifespan. Although alerting the Anbu was somewhat of a way to pressure Kushina, he could not let her take all the benefits for herself. Since he had solved her problem of impending death, she had to pay something in return.

As for the Anbu tracing the matter back to the Uchiha Clan, honestly, if Uchiha Fugaku had not kept asking questions and probing around without showing the slightest intention of forming an alliance, Hyuga Mirai would not have resorted to this method.

He had personally come to Konoha with sincere intentions to discuss matters with Uchiha Fugaku, and he had even made many promises on Pakura’s behalf. But Uchiha Fugaku only wanted to use him as an outside force to resolve the Uchiha Clan’s situation. To put it plainly, he was using Hyuga Mirai.

Since they were both using each other, it came down to whose methods were more skillful. Now that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki’s residence had been infiltrated again, the Anbu would trace the matter all the way back to the Uchiha Clan. At that point, even if Uchiha Fugaku grew three mouths, he would not be able to explain himself.

Just like on the night of the Nine-Tails’ Rampage, unless the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails’ eyes was explained, the Uchiha Clan would never gain anyone’s trust.

After leaving Kushina’s residence, Hyuga Mirai and Uzumaki Ayaka departed from another route.

There was no need to return to the Uchiha Clan. Android 18 would handle the rest properly.

So they only needed to leave Konoha now. Though this trip to Konoha had not been entirely satisfying, they had still achieved their goal.

Uzumaki Ayaka watched a cherry blossom petal drift down and could not help but daydream aloud. "The cherry blossoms are so beautiful, Lord Mirai. Let’s plant a few cherry trees at the base when we get back."

Hyuga Mirai reached out and heavily knocked Uzumaki Ayaka on the head. "Plant cherry trees? You don’t even realize you’ve been caught in an Illusion Technique. When we get back, train properly."

As soon as Hyuga Mirai finished speaking, cherry blossom petals suddenly appeared before them like a torrential downpour, falling from the sky in endless waves.

There are still 3,000 words coming up. Sleep first if you’re tired, brothers!