Chapter 73 - 3

Chapter 3: Many Wives, Much Fortune! Wise Mother! Long Live Mother!Silence.A deathly silence.Minato opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, and finally squeezed out a few words with difficulty: "The... Lustful... Sacred Body?""Precisely." Ashina stroked his beard and nodded, as if discussing some profound medical theory. "This is not a disease, but a talent—a talent that is extremely sensitive to 'beauty' and 'emotional connection.' In an era of peace, this might only make him a passionate artist. But in these troubled times..."The old man looked out the window at the sight of Konoha Village, his gaze distant."In this world of Ninja, emotions and bonds are precisely the most powerful sources of strength. The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, was able to pacify the chaotic times not just because of Wood Release, but because of his heart that could connect with everyone. And your child..."He turned back and looked directly at the Minatocouple."His 'heart' is born with a connection potential even greater than that of the First Hokage. It's just that this potential currently manifests as... er... an instinctive aesthetic reaction to maternal nursing."Kushina looked down at the slight bloodstain remaining on her chest, then at her son in her arms who was starting to smack his lips again, her expression shifting unpredictably."You can think of it this way. The more girls this child forms deep bonds of love with, the stronger he will become! Conversely, the fewer he has, the weaker he will be..."Shock, confusion, absurdity, and worry eventually settled into a sharp realization."I understand," she said softly, her voice carrying a certain decisive power. "This isn't a defect. This is... a gift from Heaven.""Kushina?" Minato had an ominous premonition.Kushina looked up, a raging fire burning in her eyes. "Minato, do you remember the last thing the future Naruto said when he appeared that night?"Minato recalled, "He said... 'This world will be darker than you imagine, but there will also be more hope'?""No, before that." Kushina emphasized each word, "He said, 'Mom, I've saved the world many times, but every time, I lost someone important.'"The room fell silent once more."That child," Kushina's voice choked slightly, "that Naruto from the future, how much did he endure alone? How much did he lose? And now, our Naruto..."She gently stroked the infant's soft blonde hair."He possesses such a talent, such a heart. He is destined to connect with many people and protect many important existences. So as his mother, there is only one thing I can do."Minato looked at her. "What is it?""Find 'anchors' for him." Kushina's gaze was as firm as iron. "Enough powerful anchors to firmly moor this overly sensitive heart of his in reality. So that he won't be like that child from the future, losing again and again, lonely again and again, in the process of saving the world."Ashina mused, "Little Kushina, you mean...""Companions," Kushina said. "No, more than just companions. Family, bonds—existences that will stand by his side no matter how dark the world becomes."She looked at Minato and gave a smile tinged with tears."Our son will become a very remarkable person in the future. He will need many people to love him, and he will love many people. Since this is his talent, we should help him develop this talent... to its absolute limit."Minato took a deep breath. "Kushina, you mean...""From today onward," Uzumaki Kushina, the wife of the Fourth Hokage and the last of the Uzumaki Clan, said in a tone as if announcing a strategic deployment, "we will build a 'Guardian Alliance' for Naruto. We will screen girls whose backgrounds, talents, and temperaments are best suited to form bonds with him, and raise them from a young age to become his sword, his shield, his support, and..."She paused, her face flushing slightly, but her voice remained firm."...the home for his emotions. Since one is not enough, then ten. I want my son to never be lonely again."From the side came the sound of Minato coughing, having choked on his own saliva.The elder Ashina stroked his beard and sighed, "Little Kushina, you really... haven't changed at all."In the crib, Liu Chao had completely given up on thinking.Wait... Mom, what did you just say? Guardian Alliance? Screening girls? Raising them from a young age?Am I...I'm not even a month old, and my mother has already decreed a harem route for me?And from the sound of it, the scale might not be small?*Pshhh...*Another spray of nosebleed came out.But this time, Kushina did not panic. She gently wiped away the blood, her eyes full of affection and determination."Look, Grandpa Ashina, he agrees himself."Naruto: Mom, I'm not! I didn't! Don't talk nonsense! This is a physiological reaction! A purely physiological reaction!Unfortunately, the infant's cries sounded to the adults like nothing more than the rhythm of "Waah... waah..."And falling upon Uzumaki Kushina's ears, this crying was automatically translated into:"Wise Mother! Long Live Mother!"She picked up her son and planted a kiss on his forehead."Good boy, are ten too few for you? Then I'll find you a hundred!"Minato and Ashina were both dumbfounded. A hundred? Is this woman crazy...