After a long silence, Kushina blinked, eyes still wide. "You... you're saying you ca from years in the future?"
"Right," Kaito said with a calm nod.
"And ? What happens to in that future?"
"You die," Kaito answered bluntly. "In the original tiline, without my interference, you marry Namikaze Minato. During Naruto's birth, Obito releases the Nine Tails. To protect your child, you and Minato sacrifice yourselves, sealing the Nine Tails into your newborn son and becoming heroes of Konoha."
Kushina froze, lips parted in stunned disbelief.
"But now," Kaito continued, "things have changed. You're with . That ans Naruto... he might never be born. But soone else might—likely with Uzumaki Reiko."
Kushina frowned, processing the revelation. "Wait... Reiko and Minato? If they marry, their child would still have Uzumaki blood. But he wouldn't be the Nine Tails' Jinchūriki."
"Exactly. Which breaks the path history originally followed," Kaito explained. "So I want to seal the Nine Tails into Reiko instead, restoring the tiline."
"You're telling I had a child with Minato, and that child carried the Nine Tails?" Kushina murmured. "But now, I'm with you, and I'm not going to have a child—at least not yet."
"Correct. And if Reiko's child isn't the Nine Tails' host, then Obito's attack won't happen the sa way. Which ans Reiko and Minato survive, and the future diverges completely."
"That's... good, right? No tragedy? No orphan? A happy family?"
Kaito shook his head. "If only it were that simple. That child—Naruto—he's what you'd call the 'Child of Prophecy' or the 'Child of Luck.' The entire ninja world was destined to revolve around him. His growth, his trials, his relationships... they changed everything."
"Oh, co on," Kushina scoffed with a smile. "You're saying the kid I gave birth to would have been that special?"
Kaito returned a half-smile. "That's why I need to make sure soone like him still exists. To do that, Reiko must beco the Jinchūriki."
Kushina puffed her cheeks in mock anger. "You're the one who changed things! This is on you!"
"Fair enough," Kaito chuckled. "But now, do you understand why I need to move Kurama?"
Kushina grew thoughtful. "Wait—can't a 'Child of Luck' still rise without being a Jinchūriki?"
"You could think of Kurama as a built-in cheat code," Kaito said, rubbing his forehead. "It's not just power—it's symbolic. His existence ties into the fate of the whole world."
"Fine," Kushina exhaled. "Whatever you say, I'll trust you."
"I have two thods in mind," Kaito said. "You get to choose."
"The first one," she said instantly.
He blinked. "Why so fast? The second lets you live like a normal person."
"That's exactly why. I'm not just a woman anymore. I'm part of this family, and right now, I'm the weakest link. If I keep Kurama, and I train to use his power, I won't drag you or Tsunade-san down."
Kaito t her gaze. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Got it. I'll speak with the Third Hokage to begin preparations."
"Wait!" Kushina caught his sleeve, blushing. "Are you sure... no one's around?"
"No one," Kaito answered, confused.
"Then... let's do it again."
He tilted his head. "Do what?"
Kushina bit her lip, eyes fierce. "Last night."
Kaito's eyes widened.
After going at it for Two hours, Kaito walked out of the clearing, carrying a satisfied Kushina on his back. His expression was one of quiet amusent and pride.
By the ti they returned ho, Tsunade was gone.
Knowing the urgency of the situation, Kaito made his way to the Hokage's office. He explained everything.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened considerably, but ultimately, he complied.
The next day, everything was prepared. In a secret cave, hidden deep in the forests of the Fire Country, Kushina and Uzumaki Reiko sat together.
"I'm sorry, Reiko," Kushina said sincerely. "I didn't expect all of this to affect you."
"It's okay," Reiko replied gently. "I volunteered. This way, we share the burden. Besides... we'll both be Jinchūriki now. Kind of poetic."
Kaito watched the two won and silently approved. Reiko, molded by the altered fate of this tiline, was like a perfected character—almost reminiscent of Hinata's quiet resolve.
Pushing aside his stray thoughts, Kaito activated the seal on Kushina's stomach and entered the internal world where Kurama was caged.
The stench of damp stone and stagnant water filled the sealed chamber. Kaito stood calmly before the bars.
"We're splitting you," Kaito said. "You'll be divided into Yin and Yang halves. The Yang half goes into Reiko. The Yin half stays in Kushina."
Kurama snarled from behind the bars. "What did you say, brat?!"
"I suggest you cooperate," Kaito said evenly. "You may not rember, but I defeated Uchiha Madara recently—at his peak."
Kurama paused.
"I could release you and beat you into submission again," Kaito added, lifting a hand. Black lightning crackled between his fingers.
Kurama flinched. "That's... Yin-infused ninjutsu!"
Kaito raised his other hand, sprouting tendrils of living wood.
"Senju Hashirama's Wood Style!" Kurama shouted, stunned.
"I've mastered Yin-Yang Release. That gives the ability to erase even Tailed Beasts if I wanted. So behave when I break the seal."
Kurama growled low, eyes glowing red. "Senju… I'll rember you."
Kaito didn't flinch. "You do that."
The rest went smoothly. In less than thirty minutes, Kaito split Kurama's chakra, sealing the Yang half into Reiko and leaving the Yin half within Kushina. He finished by applying the Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams Seals to both hosts.
"It's done," Kaito said. "This seal will prevent Kurama from influencing either of you."
"Thank you, Kaito-sama," Reiko said softly.
"No need for that," Kaito said, waving it off.
With the Nine Tails split and the tiline stable for now, Kaito finally relaxed.
The days that followed were peaceful. He took Kushina and Tsunade traveling, visiting every village and market within the Fire Country.
They shopped by day, raced through the curves of Mountains by night. Kushina, having accepted her role—and her power—drove with reckless abandon, as if daring the world to try and take her joy away.
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