The sun was beginning to dip beyond the rooftops of Konoha as Kushina stood at the corner near the entrance of the academy. Her crimson hair flowed gently in the evening breeze, her sharp eyes searching the crowd of children walking home. Then, she spotted him.
Naruto Uzumaki.
The moment she saw her son exiting the academy gates, a soft warmth touched her heart. He was smiling brightly, walking with a spring in his step. Kushina felt a flicker of joy. Despite everything, he still smiled like that.
But then, her smile faded.
Naruto's pace quickened as he moved towards a pink-haired girl standing nearby. It was Sakura Haruno.
Kushina watched as her son eagerly tried to speak with her, but the girl barely turned her head. Her expression was indifferent. She stepped away without a word and walked directly toward Sasuke Uchiha, standing coolly beside the school wall. Naruto stood there, smile frozen.
Kushina frowned.
"Why is my son acting like a simp... for that pink-haired girl?" she muttered, clearly annoyed. "He's the son of the Fourth Hokage. With his status, many would line up for him. Why chase someone who doesn't even look back at him?"
A sharp laugh echoed beside her.
"Hmph. That's your son for you," Indra Uchiha said with a faint grin. His arms crossed, leaning against the tree nearby, golden Sharingan glinting in amusement.
Kushina turned sharply, scowling at him.
"Don't mock my son, Indra."
"Tch, calm down," Indra said nonchalantly. Then, in a sudden bold motion, he slapped her buttocks hard.
The sound cracked the air.
Kushina gasped, her cheeks flooding red. She clenched her fists but didn't retaliate. She glared at him, jaw tight.
"Know your place," Indra said smoothly, walking away as if nothing had happened.
Kushina turned her eyes back to Naruto.
Despite her rage, she followed her son, deciding to see what his day was really like. Her instincts whispered that there was more beneath that smile.
Naruto walked through the village, humming to himself, completely unaware that he was being followed. His pace slowed as he passed a small stall filled with traditional festival masks. One, in particular, caught his attention—a red fox mask with black outlines, slightly cracked at the edges but uniquely shaped.
He stopped and gazed at it.
"Wow… this one looks kinda cool," he said aloud.
From behind, Kushina observed. A small smile formed on her lips.
"That mask suits him," she murmured quietly.
Indra, standing behind her with arms folded, grinned.
"Now the show begins," he whispered to himself.
Inside the shop, the stall owner heard a voice. He turned, half-expecting a paying customer. But when he saw who it was—blond hair, blue eyes, whisker-like marks on the cheeks—his expression twisted.
His smile vanished.
"What do you want?" the man asked sharply.
Naruto, oblivious to the hostility, kept his bright smile.
"Hi! I really like that fox mask. How much is it?"
The shopkeeper scoffed.
"It's not for sale."
Naruto tilted his head. "Even if I pay extra? I really want it—"
"I said it's not for sale!" the man snapped. His voice rose. "Not to someone like you."
Naruto's smile faded slightly, but he still tried.
"Please—"
"Get lost, damn fox brat!"
The shopkeeper suddenly grabbed the mask and hurled it at Naruto. It hit him square in the chest and dropped to the ground.
"Don't touch anything! Go away!"
Naruto stumbled back, picking up the cracked mask. His eyes trembled, but he forced a smile. He turned to leave, clutching the mask.
Outside, Kushina had not heard the exchange but saw the commotion. Her brows furrowed.
"Why did the shopkeeper act like that? Naruto didn't even get the mask."
Before she could think more, it escalated.
A woman nearby pointed at Naruto.
"There he is again! That fox demon brat!"
"Why's he still allowed to walk around freely?!" another man shouted.
More voices joined in. A crowd began to gather. Curses flew from their mouths.
"Get out of here! You shouldn't be alive!"
"Filthy monster!"
Naruto froze. His body stiffened as people began yelling at him. Some children nearby—egged on by their parents—picked up stones. One boy hurled a rock.
It hit Naruto's arm.
Then another struck his head.
He fell to his knees.
Blood trickled down his cheek.
Kushina's eyes widened. Her heart thudded painfully as the mob began to scream louder, throwing more stones. Naruto curled into himself, trying to protect his face.
She clenched her fists. Her nails dug into her palms.
She couldn't take it anymore.
In a flash, she dashed forward.
Even with her chakra sealed, Kushina's Uzumaki physique was far superior to the average shinobi. With sheer physical strength alone, she burst through the crowd and stood over Naruto.
Her eyes burned with fury.
"Enough!" she growled.
With one hand, she shielded Naruto, while her other hand punched away the stones mid-air. She grabbed the nearest man and threw him to the ground with a powerful arc. The others who tried to push closer were knocked back with precise punches and kicks.
"He's a child!" she yelled. "You people are disgusting!"
Naruto looked up, confused. His eyes blinked through the pain. "Sister...?"
He smiled faintly.
"You're... helping me?"
The crowd began to murmur.
Suddenly, several masked ANBU appeared on the rooftops and landed around them.
Their tone was stern, their presence sharp.
"Who are you, and why are you attacking villagers?" the leader asked in a deep, accusing voice.
Kushina scoffed.
"Where were you when they attacked him? You're ANBU, and you can't even protect a child properly? Shameful."
The leader narrowed his eyes.
"He'll survive. He's the Nine-Tails."
The words hit Kushina like ice.
"He's a child! How can you say that?!"
The ANBU members moved in.
"You're suspicious. Possibly a spy. We're arresting you."
They lunged.
Kushina's chakra was still sealed. She struggled to defend herself against the skilled elite. The ANBU seized her arms, pushing her to the ground.
Naruto cried out, "Uncle! Don't hurt her! She helped me! She's not bad!"
Tears rolled down Kushina's cheeks.
She was powerless.
Naruto… was defending her.
The ANBU ignored him. One restrained Naruto, while another raised a kunai at Kushina.
But suddenly—
"That's enough."
A cold voice sliced through the chaos.
Indra stepped forward, his black hair swaying gently. His eyes spun—golden Sharingan, three tomoe glimmering ominously.
"Since when did ANBU start deciding village law by force?"
The leader turned and growled.
"You're an Uchiha. Don't get involved. We act on the Third Hokage's authority."
Indra's expression didn't change.
In a flash, his leg struck the ANBU squarely in the chest, sending him flying backwards.
Gasps filled the street.
"Mind repeating that again?" Indra said in a low, icy tone.
The other ANBU drew their weapons, stunned.
"You... you attacked ANBU? Are you mad? You're doomed!"
But Indra didn't flinch.
He rushed them.
In moments, all the ANBU were knocked out cold.
Uchiha guards nearby, alerted by the noise, arrived on the scene.
Indra pointed to the fallen ANBU.
"Take them. Interrogate and restrain them. They've overstepped their authority."
The guards hesitated—then followed his order.
Silence fell.
Kushina bent down and hugged Naruto tightly. Her tears dampened his blond hair.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Naruto, dazed but comforted, clung to her.
From behind, Indra watched with cold eyes.
He grabbed Kushina.
"Let's go."
Before Naruto could say anything, they vanished.
Naruto blinked.
She was gone.
He stood up slowly, mask in hand, and walked home.
His small figure, bloodied and bruised, disappeared into the shadowed alley.
Far away, in Indra's arms, Kushina watched her son enter a shabby apartment, its door barely holding on its hinges.
Her shoulders trembled.
She wept silently.
Indra pulled her close.
She leaned into him.
And he smiled.
"We'll sever that bond soon enough. And once that hope dies… she's mine. Completely."
Kushina remained in Indra's arms, her gaze locked on the shadow of the apartment Naruto had just entered. Her fingers trembled against Indra's sleeve, and her chest ached with a mixture of anguish and guilt.
"That's where he lives...? That broken... little place?"
Her voice was hoarse.
Indra didn't respond. His eyes remained cold, unmoved.
Kushina leaned forward slightly, her arms slowly wrapping around herself.
"How... how could this be allowed to happen to my son?"
Indra exhaled slowly and guided her away from the crowded street. They moved into the quiet shadows of the inner Uchiha district. No one followed. No one questioned.
She looked back once more, eyes lingering on the flickering candlelight from the cracked window of Naruto's apartment.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Indra stopped beside a stone wall and set her down gently. Kushina slid to the ground, her arms wrapping around her knees, her head lowered.
Indra watched her silently.
Her entire body shook.
He sat beside her, resting one arm along the back of the stone edge.
"So," he began in a flat tone, "did you enjoy your little journey into the real world today?"
Kushina didn't answer.
Her voice cracked.
"That boy… he still smiled through it all. Even after being insulted, cursed at, stoned—he still smiled."
Indra raised a brow.
"That's not strength. That's blindness."
Kushina turned her face to him, eyes narrowed.
"You don't understand—"
"No," Indra interrupted, leaning closer. "You're the one who doesn't understand. He's still holding onto a hope that doesn't exist. Just like you."
Kushina flinched.
Indra's eyes glinted.
"You can't save him. Not the way you are."
Kushina wiped her tears, trying to steady herself.
"He needs someone. Anyone."
Indra leaned closer, his breath brushing her cheek.
"Then be that 'someone' without being his mother."
Kushina turned sharply.
"What are you saying?"
"Cut your ties. Let go. He doesn't need you. You'll only suffer watching him from afar. He's not your responsibility anymore."
Kushina shook her head.
"No. I can't. I gave birth to him. I died protecting him. How can I—"
Indra cut her off with a cold smile.
"And where did that get you? Look where he is now. Beaten. Hated. Alone. Living in a broken building without a single hand reaching out."
Kushina's lips parted, but no words came.
Indra leaned back.
"He will survive. He's strong. You said it yourself. He has a will to smile. Then let him keep smiling. Alone."
Kushina looked down again, her hands gripping her skirt tightly.
"You're cruel."
"I'm honest."
She closed her eyes. Her shoulders trembled, but no more tears fell.
Indra stood up, extending his hand.
She hesitated.
But she took it.
He pulled her to her feet and guided her back toward the Uchiha residence. Silence hung between them until Kushina spoke softly.
"He called me sister. He looked at me like... like I was his light."
Indra didn't reply.
They reached his house. He opened the door and let her in.
Kushina sat quietly by the window, looking up at the stars. Her mind still swam with the image of Naruto's bloodied smile.
"He's not like others," she whispered. "He's kind. Like Minato."
Indra turned his back.
"Minato is dead."
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
Kushina clenched her fists.
"I want to stay by his side... but I can't let him know. If I do, they'll target him more."
"So give up," Indra said again. "You already lost everything. Let me rebuild you from the ashes."
She turned her eyes to him. They were tired. Hollow.
"And what will I become then?"
Indra's gaze was unwavering.
"Mine."
Kushina stared at him.
For a long while, she said nothing.
She looked down again, voice faint.
"You want to use me."
"No," Indra said firmly. "I want to break you. Then shape you into something greater. Something that can survive in this world. Not as Naruto's mother. But as a force beside me."
Her breath caught.
She didn't argue.
She didn't speak.
But she didn't leave.
Indra walked over and sat beside her.
His arm slid around her shoulders.
She leaned in—trembling, broken, quiet.
He whispered in her ear.
"Naruto will grow. He'll become strong. He doesn't need you. And soon, he won't even remember the warmth he lost."
Kushina bit her lip.
Her heart cried out.
But her body leaned closer.
She rested her head on Indra's shoulder.
And he smiled coldly.
"We'll sever that bond soon enough. And once that hope dies… she's mine. Completely."
The stars twinkled above.
But in that quiet Uchiha room, darkness settled in deeply.
And Naruto… walked alone in his small apartment, wiping blood from his cheek and placing the cracked mask gently on the table.
Unaware.
That his mother had already begun slipping away.
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End of Chapter
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