The next day.
Mitsuki rarely allowed himself the luxury of sleeping in.
He had come back yesterday, tidied up his home a little, and planned to rest, but Konoha's celebrations had lasted until midnight.
Shukaku, after napping through the day, saw the lively festival stalls outside at night and wouldn't stop pestering to go out and play.
Helpless, Mitsuki had no choice but to take him out, wandering through the various stalls until the villagers dispersed and only then returning home to sleep.
With the year's end approaching, the wars on the Iwag and Kiri fronts had also quieted down somewhat.
For those like Mitsuki, who had just returned from the battlefields of the Land of Rivers, it meant a short but well-deserved break.
After making himself a simple breakfast and finishing his meal, Mitsuki left home with Shukaku in tow.
Today, Minato had invited him over for a meal, saying it was also time to fulfill his promise and teach him a sealing technique.
Though Mitsuki felt there was no need for such formality between them, he didn't refuse.
Since it was still early, he first went to the grave of Kento, placing a bouquet of fresh white chrysanthemums he had just bought at a flower shop.
This world did have a Pure Land, and although Mitsuki knew Kento wouldn't hear his words, he still spoke softly about what he had seen and experienced during the war.
"…The Land of Rivers actually has some very beautiful scenery, it's just that the war has left the people there…"
He shared many things—mostly trivial details.
Shukaku listened quietly and, lowering his voice to sound more solemn, asked,
"Is this your family, partner?"
Mitsuki nodded gently.
"Yes. His name was Shimizu Kento — he was my father in this life."
Shukaku tilted his head curiously.
"What does it feel like… to have a family?"
Mitsuki's solemn expression faltered for a moment. In the shinobi world, many couldn't answer that question. Fortunately, he wasn't one of them.
"Family, huh… I suppose it's like the bond between you tailed beasts and the Sage of Six Paths."
He answered after some thought.
Shukaku reflected on his days with the Sage. Yes… family must be something precious, yet destined to be lost sooner or later.
Meanwhile, at the Namikaze household—
"Kushina, don't you think you're making a bit too much…?"
Minato looked at the endless stream of dishes Kushina was bringing out of the kitchen and couldn't help but ask.
But Kushina shot him a glare, and Minato immediately shut his mouth and sat obediently.
"I already know. Mitsuki's mother passed away when he was very young, and his father gave his life in the war."
Her eyes narrowed, glaring at Minato once more before she continued.
"Yet even so, he relied on his own strength to become a hero in the war against Suna! How could I possibly restrain myself from cooking a little extra for such a good child?"
Minato suddenly felt his conscience stabbed, freezing him in place on the sofa. Then it struck him—
"Kushina… how do you know all that?"
She gave him a puzzled look, then clapped her hands as if remembering.
"Oh, you just got back, so you don't know yet. Lord Third has been using Mitsuki's deeds as a classic example of the Will of Fire. He mentions him often in speeches these days."
With that, Kushina ignored Minato and hurried back into the kitchen.
...
After paying his respects to Kento, Mitsuki judged the time was right. Using the little map Minato had scribbled for him, he easily found the Namikaze residence.
He knocked.
Click.
It was Minato who opened the door.
"Kushina, it's Mitsuki" Minato called. "Let him in."
"Bring him inside!" Kushina's cheerful voice floated from within.
After changing into guest slippers and saying, "Sorry for intruding" Mitsuki stepped into the house.
The Namikaze home was warm and cozy. Every piece of furniture seemed carefully chosen, the warm colors radiating the sense of a happy family.
Kushina had just about finished cooking. Still wearing her apron, she wasted no time pulling Mitsuki into a hug the moment she saw him, ruffling his snowy white hair.
"Yoshi, yoshi! What a cute kid. Minato said you wanted to learn sealing jutsu — honestly, you should've come to me directly! Other than the dangerous ones, you can learn any you'd like."
Minato could only laugh helplessly at the side.
Mitsuki had always been curious about what Kushina was like in real life. Now that he saw her, he felt she was a lot like Tsunade-nee.
"This scent… it's that stinky fox" Shukaku whispered to Mitsuki.
Kushina finally noticed the little tanuki.
"Oh? What's this? How cute! Is it your pet, Mitsuki? It can even talk! Is it some kind of summoning beast?"
"I am not a summoning beast, you insolent human! I am the great Shukaku!" the tanuki bellowed.
Mitsuki never hid things from those he trusted. He told Kushina directly that this was the One-Tailed Beast.
"Ehh?!"
Kushina was dumbstruck. Weren't tailed beasts supposed to be ferocious, terrifying monsters? Or was it just the Nine-Tails that was like that…?
Inside the seal space, the Kyūbi could no longer remain still.
"That scent… is that stupid tanuki?"
The fox's massive eyes opened as it tried to leak a sliver of chakra through the seal to sense outside.
Kushina immediately felt it stir and was about to activate the sealing formula when the Nine-Tails quickly spoke.
"Wait, Uzumaki Kushina. Is there a tailed beast outside? The One-Tail, perhaps? If so, I can give you my chakra. With it, that tanuki would be nothing before you."
Having lived so long, the Nine-Tails assumed a fight must be happening. If Kushina accepted its chakra, it might finally have a chance to weaken the seal.
But Kushina scoffed.
"Stop dreaming, Nine-Tails. There's no battle outside — and besides, Shukaku is such a cute little tanuki. And you want me to fight it? You really are evil."
Without hesitation, she activated the sealing formula. The chains of Adamantine Sealing Chains tightened, binding the sliver of chakra the fox had tried to release.
Unlike the grand cage inside Naruto, here in Kushina the Nine-Tails was always bound by chains, barely able to twitch its tails.
But it didn't care about that now—its mind was spinning on what Kushina had just said.
The One-Tail… cute? That stupid tanuki?
What had the world come to? Was it only the Nine-Tails left in chains?
After silently reinforcing the seal, Kushina returned, all smiles, to host Mitsuki warmly.
...
"This scroll records the Four Symbols Seal."
Mitsuki accepted the scroll Minato handed him.
"The Four Symbols Seal is an S-Rank fūinjutsu" Minato explained.
"It's very difficult to master, but with your talent, I'm sure you'll learn it quickly."
Kushina chimed in,
"If there's anything you don't understand, you can always come ask me. And if there are any other sealing jutsu you want to learn, you're welcome here too."
Mitsuki bowed politely in thanks, then took his leave of the Namikaze household.