Published at 24th of September 2024 8:33 am

Chapter 166 The Red Whirl Girl: 4 Bonds of Trust

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Weeks passed, and Kushina found herself settling into life in Konoha. The initial tension with her classmates had eased, though she still faced whispers and stares. What surprised her most, however, was how much Minato had become a constant presence in her life. He trained with her almost daily, offering advice, encouragement, and sometimes just his calm, steady company.

And the more time she spent with him, the more she felt her defenses lowering—something that both scared and excited her.

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One late afternoon, Kushina stood on a cliff overlooking the village, her red hair catching in the wind like a burning flame. She had come here to clear her mind, to get away from the pressures of training and the ever-present weight of being the Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki.

She didn’t hear him approach, but she wasn’t surprised when Minato appeared beside her. He was like that—quiet but always knowing exactly where to find her.

“You always pick the best spots,” Minato said with a grin, looking out at the setting sun. The orange and pink hues reflected off the village below, painting a serene picture.

Kushina didn’t respond immediately. She was deep in thought, staring at the horizon with a furrowed brow.

“Hey, are you alright?” Minato asked, his voice gentle but filled with concern.

Kushina sighed. “It’s just… everything feels so heavy sometimes. No matter how much I train, it never feels like it’s enough. What if I lose control, Minato? What if I—” She stopped herself, her voice tightening.

Minato watched her, his expression soft but serious. “You won’t. You’re stronger than you think.”

Kushina let out a bitter laugh, her hands tightening into fists. “You keep saying that. But you don’t understand. You’ve never had something like this inside of you—something that could destroy everything if you make one wrong move.”

Minato didn’t flinch at her frustration. Instead, he stepped closer, his eyes focused on her. “You’re right. I don’t know what it’s like. But I do know you, Kushina. You’ve got the heart of a fighter. You’re not the type to give in to fear.”

Kushina looked away, her throat tightening with a mixture of frustration and emotion. “I’m not afraid of losing to the Nine-Tails. I’m afraid of hurting the people I care about.”

Minato was silent for a moment, and then he spoke, his voice soft but steady. “We’re shinobi. We risk our lives every day. But we also trust each other. I trust you, Kushina. More than anyone else.”

Kushina blinked, her heart skipping a beat at his words. Trust. It was something she had always struggled with. But here was Minato, offering it to her so freely, so confidently.

“You… trust me?” she asked, her voice quieter than she intended.

Minato nodded, his gaze unwavering. “Of course I do. You’ve never given me a reason not to.”

For a moment, Kushina didn’t know what to say. She had spent so much of her life pushing people away, building walls to protect herself. But Minato… he had a way of breaking through those walls without even trying.

“I don’t know why you keep sticking around,” Kushina muttered, trying to sound annoyed but failing. “I’m not exactly easy to deal with.”

Minato laughed, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “That’s part of your charm, I think.”

Kushina felt her cheeks heat up, and she quickly turned away, hoping he didn’t notice. “You’re an idiot.”

“Maybe,” Minato said, still grinning. “But I’m a persistent idiot.”

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As the evening wore on, the two of them sat side by side, watching the sun dip below the horizon. The quiet between them wasn’t awkward; it was comfortable, filled with unspoken understanding.

After a while, Minato spoke again, his tone more serious this time. “Kushina… have you ever thought about what you want? Beyond training, beyond being the Jinchuriki?”

The question caught her off guard. No one had ever asked her that before. She had always been so focused on controlling the Nine-Tails, on being strong enough to protect herself and those around her, that she hadn’t really considered what she wanted for herself.

“What do you mean?” she asked, glancing at him.

Minato leaned back, looking up at the stars as they began to twinkle in the darkening sky. “I mean, what do you want for your future? What do you see when you think about the kind of life you want to live?”

Kushina frowned, the question swirling in her mind. “I… I don’t know. I’ve always just thought about surviving. Making sure I don’t lose control. I’ve never really thought beyond that.”

Minato nodded thoughtfully. “I get that. But you deserve more than just surviving, Kushina. You deserve to live your life the way you want to. You’re more than just a vessel for the Nine-Tails.”

Kushina was silent for a moment, the weight of his words settling in her chest. More than a vessel. It was something she had always wanted to believe, but hearing Minato say it made it feel real—like it was possible.

“I guess… I just want to be free,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “To live without feeling like I’m a danger to everyone around me.”

Minato looked at her, his eyes soft but full of conviction. “You will be. I know you will.”

Kushina met his gaze, and for the first time in a long time, she felt a spark of hope. Maybe Minato was right. Maybe she could be more than just the Jinchuriki. Maybe she could find her own path, her own way of living.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice sincere.

Minato smiled, his warmth radiating through the cool evening air. “Anytime, Kushina.”

They sat together in comfortable silence for a while longer, the stars shining brightly above them. Kushina felt something shift inside her—something that had been locked away for a long time. She wasn’t sure what the future held, but for the first time, she wasn’t afraid to find out.

And with Minato by her side, maybe—just maybe—she could finally start to believe in herself.

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To Be Continued...

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