The Avengers of the Uzumaki Family

Originally, I just wanted to see my two children growing up together from time to time, and then, after they grew up, preferably after they had found their other half, I wanted to make a final appearance to see them.

Kushina was still looking forward to seeing her daughter-in-law.

however.

Everything was beyond the imagination of Minato and Kushina.

The two brothers were separated, and one of them had to be isolated and ostracized by the entire ninja village for being a demon fox. How could Kushina possibly accept this?

Don't be fooled by the fact that Kushina in the original work didn't seem to say much about Naruto's childhood experiences. That was based on the premise that Naruto didn't leave Konoha. In the end, Naruto gained the village's recognition through his own will and efforts. It was Naruto's own choice to stay, so Kushina, as his mother, naturally wouldn't say anything that would spoil the mood.

But what about this life?

Mianma's childhood experiences.

And that resolute defection.

All of this would cause Kushina heartache.

That's my child too, and he even inherited my hair color, although his face is more similar to Minato's.

How could Kushina not feel angry?

It could be said that Minato may have chosen to remain silent because of his status as Hokage, but Kushina harbored a deep-seated rage towards Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Even for Jiraiya.

Kushina was also very dissatisfied.

That was her husband's mentor, someone she regarded as a father figure, yet he failed to fulfill his duties and obligations.

It even brought the two brothers to the brink of a life-or-death struggle.

How could Kushina possibly accept that?

Those were all children she carried for ten months and gave birth to with great difficulty.

Even at such a close distance, Kushina felt that Menma was very far away from her.

Kushina felt as if her heart was about to break.

"Menma..."

The words Kushina softly uttered.

It also instantly jolted Naruto, who was still immersed in his mother's warm embrace, awakening him from his reverie, and he instinctively created distance between them.

Subconsciously, Naruto turned his gaze to the calm-faced face of the man not far away, and at that moment, a special emotion surfaced in his heart.

Although he didn't have the same sensitive mind as Kushina.

But Naruto could also sense that, even though the distance between him and his mother and son wasn't that far, it was as if a giant wall was separating them.

"Mother."

Menma seemed oblivious to everything, acting as if an older brother was making way for his younger brother and mother to reunite. Only when his mother called did he take a few steps and walk lightly to Kushina.

He spoke softly, his expression still calm.

This caused Kushina's heart to clench again.

Even though she had already walked up to him, Kushina didn't seem to feel any closerness at all. Instead, she seemed to become more distant and colder.

Especially that one word 'mother'

That was definitely not the form of address Kushina wanted to hear.

What she wanted was to call out "Mom" like Naruto.

But no matter how hard she tried, Kushina couldn't bring herself to say it. She felt she had no right to make demands of her child.

She owes me noodles.

Kushina gently raised her right hand, her fingers trembling slightly, as if she wanted to touch her numb face, but in the end she lowered it.

Especially at times like these.

Kushina actually hoped to see Menma blame her, scold her, or even show an expression of intense resentment.

That's why Kushina felt that Menma still cared about her and that he still regarded her as his mother.

Yet, he maintains this calm and indifferent demeanor.

This would fill Kushina with boundless sorrow, making her feel as if she had lost this child forever.

That kind of pain, that kind of heart palpitation.

All of these would make Kushina lose all courage to speak.

She didn't know what to say or do.

Everything seemed so cold and lifeless, devoid of any warmth whatsoever.

To be honest, if she hadn't seen that Menma was about to kill Naruto (from Kushina's perspective), she wouldn't have shown up at that moment, because she hadn't figured out how to face her child.

Any words between the mother and son seemed pale and powerless.

Naruto seemed to be able to see through the strange relationship beneath the seemingly calm exterior, after glancing to his left and right.

Just as he was about to say something...

"Is Mother worried about Naruto? Don't worry, Mother. I've already promised Father that I will never kill Naruto, no matter what. Although there isn't much affection involved, he is still my brother. Even just for that blood relation, for Father and Mother, I will not kill Naruto again. I just want to make him behave. I will keep Naruto imprisoned until the moment I succeed or I fail and die. Only then will Naruto regain his freedom."

Mianma gently exhaled a breath of stale air and spoke first.

Those were words spoken in a plain and ordinary manner.

Upon hearing the first half, Kushina's beautiful eyes lit up. To be honest, what she least wanted to see was the brothers killing each other. That was the most heartbreaking thing for Kushina. In this world, Kushina cared about, or rather, only cared about, Menma and Naruto.

As the wife of the Hokage and a Konoha ninja, she had already fulfilled her duties and obligations. Now, she simply wants to be a mother and watch her child grow up.

What about the village? What about the world?

What does it have to do with her?

Kushina doesn't have a personality like Minato's.

But Menma's words, devoid of any emotion, and the half-sentence he uttered afterward, caused Kushina's eyes to darken once more.

Why would this child say such heartbreaking things?

"Mianma, I..."

Kushina opened her mouth, as if to say something.

“You don’t need to say anything, Mother. Just as I told Father before, neither of you has done anything wrong. You just did what you were supposed to do. There’s no question of who owes whom. I will keep an eye on this silly boy. I can assure you.”

Menma stared intently at Kushina, speaking in an extremely serious tone.

This is the only way Menma can repay the kindness of his parents in this life. Since his parents do not want to see their children killing each other, he should try his best to fulfill their wishes.

Even if there are many difficulties, we must achieve it.

But as Menma said, it's not a matter of who owes whom; it's just that Menma wants to do it this way.

This is the only approach that Mianma has chosen that allows him to feel at ease.

Follow your heart.

This is Mianma's first principle in dealing with people and situations.

"What? You don't intend to kill me? Huh? Why are you imprisoning me? This? You?"

Naruto, who was sitting on one side, seemed to wake up from a dream. He stared wide-eyed at Menma and belatedly shouted.

“Kill you? What reason do you have to be killed? Do you really think I’m the kind of person who’s completely blinded by hatred and will kill anyone who stands in my way? Naruto, you’re really right to say you’re stupid.”

Menma glanced at Naruto and said in a nonchalant tone.

"If that's the case, why resort to such cruel methods? Menma, I think everything is still manageable..."

"If you're going to keep talking about mutual understanding between people and that all problems can be resolved through negotiation, then shut your mouth, Naruto. I won't try to get you to agree with my actions, but don't spout any more nonsense. I'm only sparing your life because of your father and mother. I have no feelings for you. I hope you understand that. Brother? That's just a ridiculous word. The only thing you could do was use your strength, with the determination to kill me, to subdue me. But now that you've failed, then play the role of a loser."

Menma waved his hand, his tone becoming even colder at that moment.

This can be considered Menma's final act of mercy, and also a clear explanation to his childhood self from his previous life.

After all, he was one of the anime protagonists I liked.

It doesn't matter whether others approve of this approach; as long as I can live with myself in the end, that's enough.

They could neither kill him nor let him go.

After eliminating all other possibilities, the remaining answer is the only correct one.

Meet Ma's still extremely cold gaze.

Naruto's heart skipped a beat.

Kushina, sitting on one side, subconsciously sighed inwardly. Compared to the beginning, Kushina's tense nerves had relaxed a little. At least the worst situation wouldn't happen, right?

Kushina could only console herself with this thought.

“Mianma, there’s nothing to talk about in the past. You can look at it or do it however you want, and I won’t say anything more. You have the right to choose your own future. As long as everything you do now is something you really want to do and you won’t regret, that’s enough.”

Kushina looked at Menma with a gentle expression and said.

"Mom, this..."

When Naruto heard Kushina speak, he subconsciously thought that Kushina would join him in persuading Menma, but the more he listened, the more something seemed off.

Do what you want to do and won't regret?

This doesn't make sense, does it?

Mom, shouldn't you have persuaded Mianma to stop and then go back to the village?

Naruto stared at Menma and Kushina with an expression that seemed to indicate he couldn't understand, his mouth agape involuntarily.

“Naruto, everyone has the right to make their own choices. No one can force anyone else, not even me as a mother. Besides, I have never fulfilled my duties as a mother, whether it is for you or for your brother Menma. My only request is that you do not regret the choices you have made today.”

Kushina shook her head slightly, interrupting Naruto, and said with a very serious expression.

She is already dead.

I no longer want to concern myself with anything irrelevant.

She only cared about her two children, who were only 13 years old. Looking at it now, Naruto still seems a bit immature.