Chapter Text
“What do we say to the God of Death — not today.” — Syrio Forel
There were only two times Kushina Uzumaki spiraled into self-hatred. The first time was when she was informed she was to become the next jinchūriki of the Kyūbi.
Unlike her predecessor, Mito Uzumaki, Kushina did not accept her fate with a polite bow and a graceful smile. She was too unrefined to adhere to the lofty standards of a dying clan that she already found to be pretentious and imposing. She lived most of her youth caught up in war, and war was merciless to polished, well-mannered girls.
Thus, Kushina made repeated attempts to escape an inescapable situation. She fought, screamed, and cursed at fate only to prolong the ceremonial transfer on her eleventh birthday. It was the same day Mito Uzumaki passed onto the next life, and on that day Kushina realized how much she hated her life.
She gained short reprieve in the form of Minato Namikaze, his team of genin, and the hopes she held for the moment she would become the mother of a five-pound blonde, blue-eyed baby boy.
Yet to her misfortune, her moment of happiness was short-lived.
Kushina recalled her death, moments ago. The Shinigami, summoned by the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, had taken her soul. Despite his requests, she had never taught Minato the seal. Before her final breath, Kushina had successfully performed the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style, monitored by her dying husband, to seal the Kyūbi into her newborn son. Fate was cruel. Naruto, her precious son, was forced to inherit the tragedy of being a jinchūriki, just like her. The worse part was he had no voice in the decision and no understanding behind the why.
What kind of mother does that to her own child?
Kushina dropped to her knees, the full impact of her actions finally hitting her. Unbidden tears streamed down her cheeks, soon turning into loud unfiltered sobs that echoed throughout the endless expanse.
There were only two three times Kushina Uzumaki spiraled into self-hatred. The first time was when she discovered she was going to become a jinchūriki. The second time was when she sealed the Kyūbi into her newborn son.
The third was now.
The dark void of the afterlife was fitting for someone like her, the Uzumaki matriarch thought. Powerless, alone, and drowning in her own shame, Kushina failed to notice the presence of another being.
“It is not the end, child.”
Kushina heard the words. It was clear and sound, containing an emotion she couldn’t place. Was it the Shinigami speaking to her?
It couldn’t be.
There was no redemption for her. Her fate had been sealed the day she passed through the gates of Konohagakure.
A startled gasp escaped her lips when she saw the source of the voice. A man, or a near image of one, and not Shinigami, stepped before her with an unreadable face.
The man’s energy was overwhelming. Kushina’s breath caught in her chest. She felt the hair on her arms stand, as if every fiber of her being was telling her that this was no simple man, but rather an omnipotent being who commanded attention from anyone in his presence.
“Get up,” the omnipotent being said with an air of calm that contrasted heavily with the emotional mother.
“…Pardon?” Kushina asked, voice barely above a whisper. She suddenly recognized the man, and more so his legendary eyes.
It…it can’t be…
The Sage of Six Paths raised a brow at the woman, an action that went unnoticed by the apprehensive kunoichi.
“Manners aside, I believe it’s only common sense to make eye contact when someone is speaking to you.”
Kushina sucked in a breath, inwardly chastising herself for being so rude, even when dead. The Sage didn’t sound upset or disappointed, but that didn’t mean she was clear from eternal suffering. Positive first impressions weren’t her strong suit, so if the man treated as a deity were to enact divine punishment on her at this second, she would have to endure it. Chakra was likely useless in the afterlife.
“No harm shall come to you, Kushina Uzumaki,” the Sage remarked in a manner of finality that seemed to subconsciously quell the woman’s fears.
…
…huh…
Kushina wiped her tears vigorously with the back of her hand and did as she was told, rising to her feet. Her violet eyes slowly met the Sage’s ringed gaze for the first time since she arrived in the afterlife.
A tall and pale-skinned man with a pair of horn-like protrusions extending from either side of his forehead stood before Kushina. A warm smile tugged on his thin lips, emphasizing the deep wrinkles of his cheeks. The creases at the outer corner of his purple-colored eyes stressed otherworldly features characterized by the concentric circles rippling out from the pupils. At the center of his forehead was a third eye that appeared as a mixture of his other eyes and the red, tomoe-filled Sharingan that had once tormented the Kyūbi. He wore a white, full-length kimono adorned with six black magatama around the collar and a necklace made of similar colored jewels to match.
He introduced himself as the Sage of Six Paths, but this didn’t register. She was awestruck. What did it mean to a woman like her, who at the moment, wondered why a powerful deity would converse with a lowlife human who couldn’t even protect the family she had fought to make?
She parted her mouth to speak but was quickly silenced by a pale finger over lips. Kushina managed to let out a high-pitched squeak before the Sage spoke again, ignoring the kunoichi’s reaction.
“Save your questions for when our other guest arrives.”
Kushina listened this time and gave a light nod as the Sage stepped out of her personal bubble in a silent, swift, smooth motion that would make any shinobi jealous. She frowned at his back, curious about the other guest.
As if he commanded it so, a blinding white light materialized from the empty plains around them. Kushina failed to cover her eyes, having no warning, while the Sage stood unfazed by the protruding brightness.
Vision blurred, all the Uzumaki matriarch heard was a loud thump. Years of shinobi training triggered instinct and her body moved into a fighting stance.
“Welcome Mikoto Uchiha,” the Sage greeted.
Kushina froze. Her shoulders loosened and her fists unclenched. She straightened her posture and drew her feet closer together as her lips parted slightly.
Seconds passed until her eyes adjusted to the darkness. A bated breath left her as the blurry figure became clearer.
And then, violet eyes met Uchiha black.
Mikoto opened and closed her mouth, completely rendered speechless. Shock was an understatement to describe the thrum of emotions and thoughts that polluted her mind.
Kushina Uzumaki, known as the “Red-Hot Habanero” to those foolish enough to garner her fury, a sister-in-arms, and Mikoto’s best friend.
After years of separation, Kushina and Mikoto found each other in the cold depths of the afterlife.
TBC