After a deceptively "peaceful" night at the inn, Kushina rose early. She dressed herself in her soft green kimono and let her vibrant red hair fall freely over her shoulders. As was her habit after completing a mission, she decided to take a stroll through the small town where she had spent the night.
But this wasn't mere leisure. For Kushina, understanding the customs and rhythms of local life was a quiet routine she had come to enjoy for years—even in her previous life, before coming to this world. Back then, she would've called it a business trip. Now, she called it gathering the world's mood.
It sounded similar. But she knew the difference clearly.
The old world was driven by money and ambition.
This one… ran red with blood and sin.
Yet one thing remained unchanged across all worlds:Survival was always hard.
She walked slowly through the alleyways of town, her sharp eyes scanning the old buildings, shop signs, and the unfamiliar faces passing by. Sometimes she wondered where those people were going, what they were looking for… or if they too were simply struggling to keep living.
Brushing her red hair back, Kushina looked up at the clear blue sky. The morning sun was warm, casting soft gold across a world that—for now—looked peaceful.
"Ah… such a beautiful day," she murmured lightly, as if letting go of a burden.
But peace was easily broken.
From a distance came the sound of small, hurried footsteps—followed by the loud shout of a middle-aged man.
"Catch that thief! That little brat stole my bread!"
Kushina turned quickly.
A small girl was sprinting down the road, clutching a piece of bread in her tiny, dirty hands. Behind her, a large man was chasing, panting heavily.
'In a world this broken… there are always orphaned children,' Kushina thought bitterly.
She'd seen it too often. Children abandoned by the world—victims of war, of plague, of human cruelty. In a place like this, there was no room for weakness. Even a child had to steal just to survive.
At first, she thought to walk away. She had witnessed too much tragedy in her time. She had grown used to it.
But then—she saw the red hair.
That unmistakable gleam.
An Uzumaki?
In another world, hair color was just hair color. But here, red hair was a symbol—of blood and resilience. A sign of a clan long shattered, yet still burning.
The girl stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Ah!"
The cry was small, but blood ran down her scraped knee. The man caught up quickly, grabbed her by the collar, and lifted her off the ground.
"You little demon!" he shouted, furious. "You come to my shop every day just to steal! I won't let you get away this time!"
"I… I'm sorry," the girl whispered, trembling. "I was wrong."
"Wrong?! What good are words now?!"
The man raised his fist.
The girl shut her eyes tightly, her tiny body shaking.
But… the blow never landed.
When she opened her eyes, a woman stood in front of her. Flaming red hair. A green kimono swaying in the breeze. The woman's hand had stopped the man's fist in midair, gripping it firmly.
"Uncle, let it go."
The man hissed. "Let it go? What about my loss?!"
Kushina released his hand and pulled out a handful of bills, placing them into his palm.
"Here. This should more than cover the bread."
The man examined the money, then gave a satisfied smirk. "Fine, fine. Since you paid, I'll let it go."
He left without another word.
It was enough money to buy half his store. But "Uzumaki Kushina" and "lack of funds" were two things that had never existed in the same sentence. She hadn't even bothered to count the bills.
Kushina crouched down and gently cleaned the girl's bleeding knee.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly.
The girl shook her head. "I'm okay. Thank you… Big Sis."
Kushina smiled. "No need to thank me, little one. But… can I ask your name?"
The girl hesitated, then whispered, "Karin."
Kushina froze.
The name—and that red hair.
Now she was sure. The girl was an Uzumaki.
"Karin? That's a beautiful name. Tell me, Karin… do you have a home?"
Karin lowered her head. "I don't… not anymore."
Kushina sighed quietly. 'Of course not…'
She gazed at the girl with warm eyes. "Then… would you like to come with me?"
Karin looked confused. "To your home?"
"No. To my village. A warm place. You won't go hungry there."
Karin's eyes widened, glistening with tears. "Really? Big Sis… I want to go!"
"Then," Kushina said with a bright smile, "come with me."
Without hesitation, she lifted the girl into her arms—paying no mind to the dirt, the torn clothes, or her tear-stained face.
'Bring Karin back… let her be a friend to Naruto.'
In her mind, she imagined little Naruto and Karin playing together in the village park.
And then, slowly… the image shifted.
She saw herself.
And Minato.
A soft laugh escaped her lips.
'Hmm… am I ruining things for Hinata this way?' she thought with amusement. 'Well, it doesn't matter who Naruto chooses in the end. Even if he wants a harem—as his mother, I just want to see him smile.'
Two Days Later – The Gates of Konoha
After buying new clothes for Karin and bathing her with warm water and sweet soap at the inn, Kushina was finally satisfied. The girl's face was clean now, her red hair brushed and dried.
Karin stood stiffly, blushing furiously.
"B-Big Sis… do I look weird?" she asked, eyes downcast.
Kushina paused for a moment… then burst out laughing.
"KYAAA~! YOU'RE TOO CUUUUUTE!!" she screamed, tackling Karin in a storm of hugs and kisses like a mother who'd just seen her child graduate preschool.
"Uh—Big Sis—s-stop—it tickles!" Karin shrieked, almost in tears, her face deep crimson. But secretly, a small smile had slipped onto her lips.
Once Kushina had indulged her motherly instincts to the fullest, she hoisted Karin into her arms and prepared for the journey home. Since she couldn't use high-speed travel while carrying a child, she opted for a relaxed two-day walk—taking time to eat, rest, and even teach Karin a little about the ninja world map.
When she passed through Konoha's gates, the villagers stared in surprise.
A young woman with blazing red hair returning from a mission… carrying a little red-haired girl in her arms?
The whispers started immediately.
"Eh… is that her kid?"
"Could it be her secret love child?"
"I always knew they were hiding something…"
Kushina pretended not to hear, but a vein twitched on her temple.
'Rumors spread faster than the Shunshin jutsu in this village…'
The Hokage's Office – Moments Later
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the pair with a measured expression. Kushina stood tall and serious. Karin sat on the couch, legs dangling, eyes wide as she took in the large room.
Instead of reaching for the mission scroll, Hiruzen clasped his hands in front of his mouth and raised an eyebrow in that typical wise-Hokage way.
"Hmmm… Kushina… is that girl your daughter?"
Kushina nearly exploded.
"WHA—NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT! DON'T SAY WEIRD THINGS, OLD MAN!" she yelled, face redder than her hair. "IF PEOPLE HEAR THAT—THE RUMORS—!"
Hiruzen fought a laugh, his eyes gleaming mischievously.
"Well, who knows, Kushina. I didn't expect you to keep her secret from poor Minato. I hope… he can forgive you from the afterlife."
"STOOOOOOP!!"
Watching her panic like a flustered teenager caught crushing on her teacher, Hiruzen chuckled and raised his hand in surrender.
"Relax, relax… I'm just teasing. Besides, you were a jinchūriki under constant surveillance. If you had gotten pregnant without anyone noticing… it'd be a miracle of the shinobi world."
Kushina groaned, pressing a hand to her chest. "Please… no jokes this early in the day…"
Once the teasing subsided, Hiruzen grew serious again.
"So… who is she?"
Kushina calmly explained everything. The red hair. The name. The situation. It was clear—Karin was an Uzumaki.
After brief consideration, it was decided that Karin would be placed under Hiruzen's personal care.
"Besides," Hiruzen added with a warm smile, "my grandchild will be born soon. A new presence in the house might make it livelier."
Karin looked at the old man curiously. "Grandpa… Sarutobi?"
Hiruzen nodded, stroking his beard. "You may call me that, if you like."
But Kushina, knowing Hiruzen too well, had her own thoughts.
'Of course he accepted her. Now he can monitor her directly—test if she's truly a pure…or perhaps a spy. And, as always, he'll try to plant his Will of Fire in her.'
But she said none of this.
She simply smiled, and looked down at Karin.
"Don't be naughty, okay? Listen to Grandpa Sarutobi. If you're good, I'll take you to play with Naruto."
Karin nodded. "Okay, Big Sis…"
Kushina pinched her cheek and kissed her forehead, then turned to leave.
With light steps, she exited the Hokage's office, leaving behind a small red-haired girl and a wise old man behind a closing wooden door.