XX-level Hokage

Before heading to Turtle Island, Mashiro told her that Naruto would come into contact with that part of the chakra during his training, and that he would learn her identity as a result.

Now it seems that everything is just as Mashiro predicted.

Taking a deep breath, Kushina's consciousness sent chakra into Naruto's consciousness space. It was a space radiating golden light.

Naruto and Kushina were chatting when Kushina suddenly appeared. Kushina and Kushina's eyes met.

Kushina's eyes widened in surprise at first, then in understanding. At that moment, even the last vestige of doubt she had about Makoto's words vanished.

Kushina Uzumaki's eyes were filled with surprise and confusion. "You, who are you?" Kushina Uzumaki couldn't help but ask.

“I am you, just as you are me. We are both Kushina Uzumaki. The difference is that you are Kushina Uzumaki at the age of twenty-four, while I am Kushina Uzumaki at the age of twenty,” Kushina replied.

"20 years old? Why are you here? I have no memory of that." Kushina Uzumaki said, utterly puzzled. Kushina then began to tell Kushina about Mashiro.

This includes Mashiro's time travel, the Dragon Vein, and how Mashiro took him to the future, where he is now taking care of Naruto, etc.

"Hyuga Mashiro? I don't remember anyone like her. It seems our life experiences are different, at least after the age of 20." After hearing what Kushina said, Uzumaki Kushina was still a little confused, but she roughly understood the reason.

Kushina nodded slightly.

"But since she took you away when you were 20, why do I still exist?" Kushina Uzumaki asked with some confusion after clarifying the relationship.

“According to Mashiro, time should automatically repair itself. After I disappear, a completely identical Kushina will appear,” Kushina said.

"I really envy you, being able to stay by Naruto's side now," Kushina Uzumaki said with a hint of regret.

“I admire you too. You went through marriage, pregnancy, and finally gave birth to Naruto. I don’t have any of those memories,” Kushina said.

The two looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter, their laughter loud and clear. "So, Izumi-nee, you really are..." Naruto said, tears welling in his eyes.

Naruto had a childhood dream of having his mother alive and by his side, a dream he never dared to hope would come true.

Kushina stepped forward, gently hugged Naruto, and said softly, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have kept it from you." "I'm so glad," Naruto said, wiping away his tears.

A moment later, the three sat together and talked about the past. Naruto recounted his experiences.

Kushina talked about how she took care of Naruto. Uzumaki Kushina then recounted some funny stories from her pregnancy.

Just then, Naruto suddenly asked excitedly: "Um, um, I've always thought that if I ever see Mom, I must ask her how you and Dad fell in love?"

Kushina and Uzumaki Kushina reacted somewhat differently to Naruto's question. Kushina touched her hair, her expression somewhat complicated.

Kushina Uzumaki blushed and said with a smile, "I...I feel so shy."

"I already said it, I got excited." Naruto pointed at Kushina Uzumaki and laughed. "That's called being swayed." Kushina Uzumaki said somewhat exasperatedly.

"He said it again." Naruto laughed again. Kushina Uzumaki glanced at Kushina.

Kushina then gave Kushina Uzumaki a look, indicating that she should speak.

"That's right, that was on my first day in Konoha..." (I won't go into details, see Chapter 114 for more)

Chapter 176: Nine-Tails Chakra

"This is my story with Minato," Kushina Uzumaki said softly, looking at Naruto after finishing her story.

"This is amazing! I learned so much about my parents' childhood," Naruto said with a smile, brimming with happiness. Just then, Kushina Uzumaki suddenly asked, "Naruto, do you think our red hair is handsome?"

"It looks good, of course it looks good. I find red very appealing; it's vibrant and passionate, and it suits Mom's personality perfectly," Naruto said with absolute certainty, looking at both Kushina and Uzumaki Kushina.

"I will only offer my precious blessings to the man who praises my red hair, Naruto, would you accept that?" Kushina Uzumaki said with a smile after hearing Naruto's answer, her smile incredibly gentle and bright.

"Mmm!" Naruto swayed slightly and smiled as he listened to Kushina's words. "I love you!" Kushina said softly yet firmly.

At this moment, Kushina's eyes were already slightly red. She knew herself, so she understood the weight of emotion in those words.

When Naruto heard this, he was first incredulous, then at a loss, swaying his body, and slightly nervous. No one had ever said this to him before.

Kushina knew what kind of life Naruto had lived in the past. She reached out and hugged Naruto, whispering, "I love you!"

Kushina Uzumaki watched the two embracing, her past self and her child. To witness this scene was enough for Kushina Uzumaki; she had no other desires.

Just as Kushina was about to say something more, Kurama made another move. All three of them looked outside at the same time.

The Nine-Tails' three tails had broken free of their restraints, and it now wanted to forcefully activate the Tailed Beast Ball.

“It seems I have to go back first. I can’t control the sealing chains here,” Kushina said.

"Although there's still a lot I want to say, let's take care of this guy first," Kushina Uzumaki said softly. "Then, I'm going!" Naruto stood up, raised his fist, and said with unwavering determination.

Just as Kushina was about to return to reality, Uzumaki Kushina gently hugged her and whispered in her ear: "You've experienced things I've never experienced, so you'll have different thoughts than me. Don't hesitate too much, live according to your own ideas. And, I'm entrusting Naruto to you."

Hearing Kushina's words, Kushina was first puzzled, then surprised, and then felt a sense of relief.

Under Mashiro's double offensive, Kushina has basically succumbed, but she still adheres to the principles that belong to "Uzumaki Kushina". Although Mashiro has told her many times that she can live her own life, she still feels burdened.

Now, through her own guidance, she is finally able to face her own life.

"Don't worry, I am you, and you are me. No matter how I change, Naruto will always be our child," Kushina said firmly.

Then, with Kushina watching him go, Naruto disappeared into this space, while Naruto awoke in the spiritual space.

He felt incredibly at ease; at this moment, there was no flaw in his heart.

As Naruto awoke, Kurama accelerated its creation process, but Kushina and Uzumaki Kushina simultaneously exerted their power.

The golden sealing chains struck again, grabbing the Nine-Tails' tail and disrupting the creation of the tailed beast. "Damn Kushina!!" the Nine-Tails roared madly.

The Nine-Tails could barely handle one of Kushina's sealing chains, but for some reason, two Kushina's sealing chains suddenly appeared. "Aaaaaah!" Naruto shouted.

Then, the Nine-Tails' chakra within Naruto began to transform, and his training became gentler. In the real world, Naruto's tailed beast form returned to normal.

"I can't suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra for much longer. Let's end it now," Kushina Uzumaki said to Naruto. She was originally a portion of Minato's chakra left in Naruto's body, and she had already used up half of it.

"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique"

Naruto formed hand seals, and dozens of clones appeared.

"Damn brat!" The Nine-Tails relentlessly tore at the sealing chains binding its body, each chain snapping and rapidly regenerating. "One strike, you bastard!"

Dozens of Narutos charged at Kurama simultaneously, forming pairs and unleashing Rasengans. "Take this! A super-multi-Rasengan combo!"

Naruto activated Sage Mode again, and the Rasengan quickly grew larger, transforming into the Sage Art: Great Ball Rasengan.

Dozens of Sage Art: Greatsword Rasengans simultaneously hurtled towards the Nine-Tails. "Sage Art: Super Celestial Rasengan Multi-Shot!"

The powerful attack slammed into Kurama, sending the entire fox flying. Just as it landed, Naruto charged in again. "One more attack! Sage Art: Super Giant Rasengan!"

Naruto held the giant Rasengan to Kurama's face, feeling the immense energy contained within. Kurama could hardly believe it. "What's going on with this?"

While Naruto was slapping Kurama's face with a giant Rasengan, the other shadow clones pulled on Kurama's tail, drawing its chakra out of its body. A huge, orange-yellow, fox-like mass of chakra detached from Kurama's body.

"Great! We've extracted the Nine-Tails' chakra!" Kushina Uzumaki exclaimed excitedly.

The chakra entered Naruto's body. Nine-Tails Chakra Mode activated.

"This is the Nine-Tails..." Naruto muttered to himself, looking at his new form.

The Nine-Tails got up from the ground, looking incredibly thin after losing a large amount of chakra.

"Naruto, you have completely enraged me." It looked at Naruto and said fiercely. Then, the Nine-Tails condensed a Tailed Beast Ball once again.

"You still have such great power? You're really amazing." Naruto couldn't believe his eyes as he watched Kurama's actions.

Naruto then touched his stomach and manually activated the Four Symbols Seal. A massive wooden lock appeared out of thin air, pinning the Nine-Tails to the ground. The Tailed Beast Ball shattered as a result.

"This is... the Six Paths'?!" Kurama exclaimed in disbelief as it looked at the red chains that had bound it.

Then a huge cage appeared, sealing the Nine-Tails inside once more. "Remember this, Naruto." Seeing that struggle was futile, the Nine-Tails closed its eyes.

"I'm sorry, Kurama, I won't do anything to you. Wait a moment." Naruto said apologetically, looking at Kurama's miserable state.

Naruto closed his eyes and entered the golden space once more. "Great, Naruto!" Kushina Uzumaki exclaimed with immense joy.

"I seem to have realized something now," Naruto said, and he gripped Kushina's hand tightly.

"I went to Minato's place with peace of mind." Kushina Uzumaki said slowly. Naruto's eyes dimmed slightly.

"Before I leave, there's something I need to make clear to you," Kushina Uzumaki suddenly said. Naruto looked up at Kushina Uzumaki, waiting for her to continue.

"Naruto, that happened 16 years ago, before you were born. I'm going to tell you the truth," Kushina Uzumaki said earnestly. "The truth from 16 years ago?" Naruto was somewhat puzzled by what she meant.

"I am the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, let's start from here," Kushina Uzumaki said.

"Mom, you're the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?!" This was the first time Naruto had heard this. He had asked many people about his parents before, but no one had ever mentioned this.

"That's right. To talk about sixteen years ago, I need to tell you about my background first. I was chosen as the second Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. To be honest, in order to..."

"I was brought to Konoha from the Land of Whirlpools after becoming the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki." Kushina Uzumaki nodded and said.

"Why, why must my mother from a foreign land become the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki?" Naruto asked, utterly bewildered. (Author's Note)

When the Five Kage fought Madara, was Mashiro just holding back or actually fighting?

Chapter 177: The White Zetsu Cart

"But I am from a foreign country. However, the Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools, the Hidden Leaf Village and the Whirlpool Village have a very deep connection. The Ute clan of the Hidden Leaf Village and the Uzumaki clan of the Whirlpool Village are actually distant relatives by blood. Because of their extremely long lifespan, the Whirlpool Village is also known as the Longevity Village. Our clan is good at sealing techniques and we all have a bit of a fiery temper. The Four Symbols Seal on your abdomen also originated from the ninjutsu of our village."

"Many of your father's sealing techniques were taught to you by me, Naruto. The symbol on your back is the symbol of the Uzumaki Village ninja. Most Konoha ninja uniforms have this symbol, which has been used to this day as a symbol of friendship," Kushina Uzumaki said slowly.

"Uzushiogakure?" For Naruto, this was a name that had only been mentioned once in the books during his time at the Ninja Academy.

"It has now disappeared. During the war, the power of the seal was feared, the village was attacked and ultimately destroyed, and those who survived went into hiding."

"Our identities have been scattered to other places," said Uzumaki Kuna, sounding somewhat dejected.

"Even so, why do you want to..." Naruto was still a little confused.

"In Uzumaki Village, it seems I was born with powerful chakra capable of sealing the Nine-Tails' power. My previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was Lady Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage, Hashirama. When Lady Mito was nearing the end of her life, I was brought here and became the Nine-Tails' vessel," Kushina Uzumaki said.

"This is treating people like tools!" Naruto was furious about it.

"When I was brought here, I was unaware of the truth. After learning the truth, I was really shocked. This matter was kept secret, and only a very few high-ranking people, including the Third Hokage, knew about it. Even the Sannin did not know. The pressure and loneliness of becoming a Jinchuriki overwhelmed me."

"But Lady Mito, the former Jinchūriki, invited me. She advised me to fill the vessel with love, so that even as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, I could find happiness," Kushina Uzumaki said with a smile.

"Mom, are you happy as a Jinchūriki?" Naruto asked.

Kushina Uzumaki pondered her life and chuckled softly. "Hmm!"

Naruto then started crying.

"Seriously, Naruto, why are you crying?" Kushina Uzumaki said, stroking Naruto's head.

Naruto suddenly stopped crying, as if he had thought of something, and said, "The truth about the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha sixteen years ago." Many people had told him that what happened back then was not ordinary.

Kushina Uzumaki's expression also turned serious. She said, "The story of what happened back then begins with a masked man. Sixteen years ago, a mysterious masked man controlled the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha, but before that, the Nine-Tails had been sealed inside me."