"What gratitude?"
A sense of dread washed over Kushina. But remembering Kurama's opening words, she frowned, confused.
"Aren't you a Tailed Beast? How can you link your chakra with us?"
Kurama's smile deepened as he glanced at Menma. When he didn't object, it answered. "It isn't me linking with you. I'm acting as a bridge, connecting you with your 'happy' child. Don't you want to know just how 'happy' he's been all these years?"
Before Kushina could speak, Minato stepped in front of her. "I'll handle this. Kushina, stay back. Don't let Kurama use this to attack us."
Compared to Kushina's dormant chakra, Minato's had awakened two months ago after Menma fully converted into the Yang Nine-Tails. The sudden surge of Nine-Tails chakra at the time had made him think the beast had broken free of its seal, and he prepared to intervene.
But when he entered the sealed space, he discovered Kurama was asleep, the seal intact, and actually reinforced. Afterward, instead of returning to rest, he secretly observed Naruto outside, wanting to know if he was doing well. That was when he witnessed Naruto's two personalities and everything that followed. It explained why he hadn't fully stopped Menma from removing the seal earlier.
Although he was gentle and known as the "Little Sun," even the sun had solar storms and sunspots.
"Heh, an attack? So you're trying to fool that idiot Kushina again?"
The Nine-Tails was never a kind soul. Right now, all it wanted was to watch Minato and his wife regret experiencing this memory. If it weren't for the two of them desperately stopping it and teleporting it away back then, it would have destroyed this miserable village with a single Tailed Beast Ball and escaped!
Minato wanted to say something, but Kushina stopped him. Realizing what was happening, she didn't get angry as usual. Instead, her eyes glistened with tears.
"Minato, I believe in Menma. But I also want to know if he's been happy all these years. If he's been eating properly. If he has close friends. If he has a girlfriend. Why he changed his name..."
"After all, I'm a mother too. Please don't stop me anymore, okay?"
Minato was silent for a moment, then gripped Kushina's hand tightly and nodded. "Alright. Let's watch together."
As their fists drew near, Kurama's face split into a triumphant laugh. "Finally made up your mind? Then feel the malice of this cruel world!"
The moment the words left its lips, a torrent of chakra from Menma surged forth like a floodgate bursting open. In an instant, it completely engulfed Minato and Kushina, not with the gradual approach used against Kurama, but by utterly swallowing them whole.
In a flash, images flashed before their eyes, and vicious curses echoed from all directions.
Die! You damned monster!
Haha, look! That orphan monster is eating garbage!
Kill him! Hit him a few more times. The ANBU are coming soon!
"This isn't what you want. I'm not selling it. Get out!"
"I'll sell you expired food if you offer double the price. A monster like you only deserves to eat this!"
"..."
Mom and Dad, where are you...? I'm not a monster. I don't want to be hated...
Why don't I have a mom and dad? Why am I a monster? Can't I just live a normal life...?
I am a monster. I'll kill everyone... I'm not a monster. I want them to accept me...
Why was I born...? I want to die...
I can't die. I have to live, to make them accept me...
I hate everything here... They all deserve to die. They all have to die...
I can't think like that. It must be because I haven't done enough. I need to work hard to make everyone like me and accept me...
Why is everyone ignoring me...? I'm not afraid of being scolded anymore, please don't ignore me...
The Third Hokage... the Will of Fire... once I become Hokage, they will definitely accept me...
Yes, that's it! I will become the soaring flame of the Hidden Leaf, I will become Hokage!
...
The memory played for a very long time, yet also for a very short time. Long because of the endless pain and torment, short because only a few seconds of real time had passed.
Drip.
The silence was broken by the sound of water droplets hitting the ground.
Minato lowered his head, somewhat afraid to look into Kushina's eyes beside him. He simply felt the excruciating pain of his hand being crushed, silently awaiting her rage.
But after a long while, Kushina's anger didn't arrive. Instead, the dripping sound beside him grew increasingly rapid.
No, that wasn't dripping water.
Minato abruptly looked up, then turned his head.
He saw Kushina standing there as if she had lost her soul, tears streaming down her face like a spring. It was an expression of utter despair, a grief so profound it was almost unbearable. Her most beloved and cherished child had been living a life of unbearable suffering all along. He had been brainwashed and subjected to indoctrination, even to the point of mental breakdown, giving birth to two personalities.
Now, Kushina finally understood why Menma wouldn't let her hug him, why he had changed his name: because he hated everything, including her, his mother.
Just like the words in her memories.
Why was I born? Why was I hated? Why was I bullied? Why didn't I have parents who loved him?
"Destroy everything... Yes, everything should be destroyed! Nine-Tails!"
Kushina suddenly released Minato's hand and ran frantically in front of the Nine-Tails.
"Nine-Tails, we're letting you out. Go kill Hiruzen Sarutobi, kill those damned villagers, destroy the Hidden Leaf that should have been destroyed long ago!"
The Nine-Tails remained indifferent, glancing at the still motionless Menma, but it didn't move either. It just stared at Kushina's madness without any emotion.
"Kushina, calm down!"
Minato quickly stepped forward and pulled Kushina back, his face full of complex emotions and sorrow. "Perhaps the Third Hokage had some difficulties, just to protect Naruto from other villages..."
"Shut up!"
Kushina, disheveled and looking like a demon, roared, her voice cracking. "Namikaze Minato! This is your good ancestor! The good village you protected! The Will of Fire you upheld! And you, the worthless Fourth Hokage! He sacrificed his life, and in the end, this is how his only bloodline is treated!"
"Don't tell me about his difficulties! Why is Hiruzen Sarutobi's grandson so healthy and energetic, with dedicated protectors?"
"Why didn't my son receive the inheritance we left behind? They have to buy ramen on credit!"
"Why didn't your disciples, your teachers, the ninjas who received your kindness help my son? Why did they let him be bullied?"
"Tell me! Why!"
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