Published at 24th of September 2024 8:30 am

Chapter 165 The Red Whirl Girl: 3 Red Ties

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The days following the incident with the kids were strange for Kushina. She had always known she’d be treated differently because of what she was—a Jinchuriki—but the encounter had stung more than she wanted to admit. The whispers, the looks, the fear—all of it lingered in her mind.

But one thing kept her grounded: Minato.

Since that night, he had stuck by her side, whether she liked it or not. He always had a smile on his face, always cracked jokes, and never once treated her as anything other than “Kushina Uzumaki, the stubborn, fiery girl from Uzushio.” His easygoing nature was both comforting and annoying. No matter how many times she snapped at him, he’d just laugh it off and stay by her side.

One afternoon, as they sat under a large tree after a long day of training, Kushina stared at the village below. The sun was starting to set, casting a golden glow over Konoha’s rooftops. It was beautiful, she had to admit.

Minato was sprawled out on the grass beside her, hands behind his head as he gazed up at the sky. The day had been long, and both of them were exhausted, but Minato had insisted they take a break here instead of going straight back to the academy.

“You know,” Minato said, breaking the comfortable silence, “I’ve been thinking about something.”

Kushina raised an eyebrow. “That’s new.”

He chuckled, unfazed by her teasing. “Seriously. I’ve been thinking about what it means to be a shinobi. What it means to protect people.”

Kushina turned to him, her curiosity piqued. Minato wasn’t usually so philosophical.

“I mean, we all have something we want to protect, right?” Minato continued, his voice thoughtful. “For some, it’s the village. For others, it’s their family. And for some… it’s the people they care about most.”

Kushina stared at him, not sure where he was going with this. “Yeah… and?”

Minato glanced at her, his blue eyes softening. “I guess I’m just saying… you’re strong, Kushina. But you don’t have to carry everything on your own. It’s okay to rely on people sometimes.”

Kushina blinked, caught off guard by his words. Rely on people? That wasn’t something she had ever done. In Uzushio, she had always been independent, always fought her own battles. But here, in Konoha… things were different.

“I don’t need anyone’s help,” she muttered, crossing her arms defensively.

Minato smiled, his gaze returning to the sky. “Maybe not. But I’m here anyway.”

Kushina didn’t respond. She didn’t know how to. Instead, she focused on the sunset, letting the warmth of the fading sun calm her. Despite her usual stubbornness, she found herself relaxing in Minato’s presence.

They sat in silence for a while, the sounds of the village in the distance blending with the rustle of the wind through the leaves. It was peaceful—something Kushina wasn’t used to feeling. And though she’d never admit it, she was grateful for Minato’s quiet companionship.

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As the days turned into weeks, Kushina’s training intensified. She was pushing herself harder than ever, determined to prove that she wasn’t just a vessel for the Nine-Tails. Her goal was to master chakra control, a skill that was crucial for her role as a Jinchuriki. But it was far from easy. The sheer power of the Nine-Tails’ chakra made it difficult to control her own, and more than once, she found herself on the verge of losing control.

One evening, after an especially grueling training session, Kushina sat alone by the river that ran through the village. Her hands were trembling from the strain of the day’s exercises, and her chakra felt wild, like a storm brewing just beneath her skin.

She clenched her fists, frustrated with herself. “Why can’t I get this right?”

She had been working so hard, but it still wasn’t enough. The Nine-Tails’ chakra was too overwhelming, too chaotic. No matter how much she trained, it felt like she was always one step away from losing control.

As she stared down at the water, her reflection rippling with the current, she felt a familiar presence beside her.

“You’re being too hard on yourself.”

Kushina didn’t look up. She knew it was Minato without even needing to check. He had an annoying habit of showing up whenever she was feeling down, as if he had some kind of radar for her moods.

“You don’t get it,” she muttered, her voice tight with frustration. “You have no idea what it’s like… having this power inside of me.”

Minato sat down beside her, close but not too close. He didn’t say anything for a moment, just listened.

“It’s not just power,” she continued, her voice softer now. “It’s something… dangerous. And if I can’t control it, it could hurt people. I could hurt people.”

Minato was quiet for a long moment before he spoke, his voice calm and steady. “I may not understand exactly what you’re going through, but I do know one thing: you’re strong enough to handle it. You’ve already proven that.”

Kushina looked at him, her eyes narrowing. “How can you be so sure?”

Minato smiled, his eyes meeting hers with a warmth that made her heart skip a beat. “Because you never give up. No matter how tough things get, you always push forward. That’s what makes you strong, Kushina.”

Kushina felt her cheeks flush slightly, caught off guard by his words. She wasn’t used to people believing in her like this—especially not someone like Minato, who seemed to see the best in everyone.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t good at accepting compliments, especially when they came from someone she respected.

Instead, she turned back to the river, her gaze softening as she watched the water flow by. “Thanks,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Minato smiled, standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants. “Anytime.”

As he turned to leave, he glanced back at her, his grin playful. “Oh, and one more thing… I think your hair is awesome. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Kushina’s eyes widened in surprise, her hand instinctively going to her long, red hair. It was the one thing that had always made her stand out, the thing people always teased her about. But hearing Minato say it—so casually, so sincerely—made something warm bloom in her chest.

Before she could respond, Minato waved and disappeared into the trees, leaving Kushina alone with her thoughts.

For the first time in a long while, she smiled—a real, genuine smile.

Maybe things weren’t as bad as she thought. Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t as alone as she’d always believed.

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To Be Continued...

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