Chapter 265: Could It Be That Naruto and Sasuke Truly Are Fated?
"So now we've even reached 'pooping in someone's hand'… but at least this proves Naruto likes girls. That's a relief."
After a moment of speechlessness, Kushina finally let out a long sigh.
"You're relieved too early."
Tobirama stood behind her, watching coldly.
"Huh?"
Kushina froze at the Second Hokage's words.
"You mean Naruto is pretending? That he's deliberately acting like he likes girls so he can continue pursuing Sasuke? Impossible. Naruto doesn't possess that level of intelligence!"
She ran through her own analysis, then immediately rejected it.
"That's not what I meant."
"Think carefully about the people in the Limited Tsukuyomi world. Those who were drawn by the pull of fate."
"Of course, the real shinobi world doesn't have that kind of overwhelming 'fate gravity.'
"However, there are two exceptions."
"Do you remember the story of the Sage of Six Paths' family?"
Tobirama's voice remained calm.
"Indra swore that he would reincarnate endlessly to destroy Ninshū, to prove that the Sage of Six Paths had chosen the wrong successor."
"Asura, meanwhile, resolved to reincarnate repeatedly to stop Indra."
"That is why my brother and Uchiha Madara existed and why Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke exist now."
Kushina listened, stunned.
"Do you see the issue?"
"Because of the vows made by Indra and Asura, those who inherit their chakra through reincarnation are destined to become entangled with one another."
"It produces something similar to how people in the Limited Tsukuyomi world were drawn toward the tailed beasts."
"The difference is that those people were attracted to the tailed beasts in a one-sided manner. The tailed beasts were not drawn to them. They were simply indiscriminate."
"But Indra and Asura…"
Tobirama paused briefly.
"They are drawn to each other."
This explanation completely overwhelmed Kushina.
She had always assumed that talk of 'fate gravity' in the Limited Tsukuyomi world was just nonsense someone made up.
Who would have thought there was actually a real-world parallel?
"Could it be…"
Kushina stared blankly at the sky.
"Could Naruto and Sasuke truly be bound by destiny?"
Indra's and Asura's chakra were essentially Naruto's and Sasuke's easiest path toward Six Paths–level power.
Even if there were a way to erase those two forces…
Doing so would be unthinkable.
It would not only restrict their futures, but would also rob the shinobi world of two crucial weapons against the Ōtsutsuki.
"There's no need to worry excessively."
Tobirama placed a hand on Kushina's shoulder.
"While Uchiha Sasuke will undoubtedly remain Uzumaki Naruto's most important person, that does not prevent him from marrying and having children like a normal man."
"Just as it was with my brother and Uchiha Madara."
Tobirama's comparison suddenly made Kushina realize something.
Wasn't Mito-sama, the grandmother closest to her, effectively that third person?
Not caught between them…
No, rather, pushed aside from Hashirama and Madara's bond.
Yet Mito-sama had never harbored resentment.
As a jinchūriki, she remained optimistic and lived a long life.
"Right…"
Kushina murmured.
"If Mito-sama hadn't been happy, she would've fallen into despair long ago."
"How could she have lived long enough to meet me and teach me about filling the emptiness of a jinchūriki's heart?"
Thinking this through, Kushina relaxed slightly.
"Exactly."
Tobirama nodded faintly.
"I merely said the situation resembles the Limited Tsukuyomi world, not that it is identical."
"Looking at my brother and Madara, there was indeed a pull between them, but nothing nearly as absolute. That pull serves only as guidance. In the end, they still made their own choices. If destiny were truly irresistible, Madara would never have left the village."
"Nor would Izuna's death have driven such a wedge between them."
"Likewise, if Naruto and Sasuke were governed by that kind of force, Sasuke would never have abandoned the village for power."
Tobirama felt faintly satisfied seeing Kushina grasp the nuance.
Not everything in life was black and white.
"Wait."
Kushina's expression suddenly shifted.
A look of horror crept onto her face, the unmistakable expression of someone who believed they had uncovered a shocking truth.
"That's not it at all!"
She clenched her fists.
"Maybe Mito-sama really was on the verge of depression!"
"Then she suddenly received news that Madara had died at the Valley of the End, and instantly cheered up!"
"And not long after, the First Hokage died too, which made her even happier!"
"'Those two finally kicked the bucket, how wonderful!' Her heart was soothed, so she lived long enough to see me arrive in Konoha!"
"Uzumaki Kushina!"
Tobirama barked sharply.
"Mito is your elder. Show some respect!"
Yet internally…
Even Tobirama found himself momentarily unsettled.
…Now that she mentioned it…
Hashirama had not died of old age. By shinobi standards, his death could even be considered premature.
So why had Mito shown no signs of collapse?
Had she truly become that detached from life and death?
That didn't quite add up either.
Their father, despite speaking proudly of fallen sons, had still grieved deeply.
"Oh… sorry. You're right. That was my mistake."
Kushina hurriedly covered her mouth.
She realized she had gone too far.
Speculating so crudely about someone who had treated her kindly was indeed inappropriate.
"But still…"
Kushina's worry resurfaced.
"Perhaps Mito-sama was simply morally extraordinary, someone far above ordinary emotions. Not everyone can possess such noble selflessness."
"For Naruto and Sasuke…"
"if their wives are not the most important people in their hearts…"
Her voice grew uneasy.
"…wouldn't that be terribly unfair to those women?"
Tobirama's patience finally wore thin.
"And why are you so convinced they must have wives in the first place?"
"I never married. Did that diminish my reputation?"
"Huh?"
Kushina blinked.
That was true.
The Second Hokage had remained unmarried his entire life.
No descendants.
But… Why?
Could it be that Tobirama-sama was secretly….
"…What is that look?"
Tobirama immediately sensed danger.
Kushina's gaze had become profoundly disrespectful.
"Second Hokage-sama…"
Kushina asked cautiously.
"Did you perhaps lose the love of your life during the Warring States era?"
That would certainly explain everything.
"What 'love of my life'? I am thoroughly exhausted by you people who think only of romance!"
"I devoted my entire existence to the village…"
"The village was your lover? …Wait, isn't that the Fourth Raikage's line?"
Kushina interrupted with impressive reflexes.
Tobirama's face became completely expressionless.
"I will advise Tsunade to implement that 'intellectual property fee' Shiromo mentioned."
"From now on, anyone who uses Flying Thunder God or the Multi Shadow Clone Technique…"
"…will pay me royalties per usage."
"Ah?! No, please don't! I was wrong, Second Hokage-sama!"
Kushina clutched her head in panic.
"No need to apologize."
Tobirama's eyes shifted toward Naruto below.
"There is something I intend to do now."
"Just don't interfere."
(End of this chapter)