Chapter 87: Persuasions.

Words : 892 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

"Kushina, come with me!" "The village is no longer the Konoha it used to be. Let's leave together." "We might have a chance to return someday... but right now, we need to go." Namikaze Minato stood before Uzumaki Kushina, trying to persuade her. But her expression remained calm—cold, even. "Leave Konoha? Why would I?" she said flatly. "You want to leave because you're clinging to a memory of the old Konoha." "But me? I never held such illusions. I feel nothing for it." Minato faltered. "I know... Konoha has done things lately that disappointed you..." "But still—this is the village where you grew up. Don't you have any feelings for it?" Kushina's voice dropped to ice. "Konoha was never my village." "My village was Uzushiogakure. But that's gone now." "And Konoha didn't lift a finger to help when it fell." Her words cut deep. "We, the Uzumaki clan, gave Konoha everything. We made enemies for them. We even gave them me—the most talented of our generation—to serve as a Jinchūriki." "And when our village was wiped out? Konoha gave us nothing." "I owe them nothing. But they owe us everything." "So no—I'm not leaving. If anything, I think Zenkichi might give me something Konoha never did: a place to belong." Minato grew anxious. "But... you're the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki! Zenkichi will use you—" Kushina sneered. "And what were you planning, Minato?" "If I had gone with you, would others not try to use me too?" "Could you even protect me from that?" Her eyes burned now. "You couldn't even stop Konoha from isolating me. You couldn't do anything back then." Just then, a chuckle echoed nearby. "Well said, Uzumaki Kushina. You've become sharper." A familiar figure walked over and sat beside her. Arakawa Zenkichi. He threw Minato a cold glance. "Just because I said people can leave freely doesn't mean you get to force someone to go with you." Minato had no answer. He turned and left quietly. Kushina frowned. "What are you doing here?" Zenkichi smiled. "Since you've decided to stay, you're one of mine now. Of course I care about you." "I admit—I was surprised you didn't act last night. After all, you are the Nine-Tails' host." Kushina huffed. "I didn't act because the Nine-Tails wouldn't hurt you... and because I'm done with Konoha." Zenkichi nodded. "Fair." Kushina blinked, slightly thrown off by his simple reply. She suddenly felt awkward. She didn't know why. Before, she admired him. But now... she wasn't sure what she felt. Zenkichi stood. "I came to tell you something important." "From now on, Jinchūriki will no longer be treated as weapons." "You are heroes—people who sacrifice for the village, not tools to be feared." "Also, I've heard there are still Uzumaki orphans scattered across the world." "Even if only a few remain, I'll find them. I'll reunite your clan." Kushina stared, stunned. Then said quietly, "...Thank you." Zenkichi smiled. "You won't be alone anymore. No one will spy on you. No one will isolate you." "Go see Tsunade. She misses you." "Or... come see me." He laughed and walked away. Kushina watched him go, fuming slightly—but then her lips curled into a small smile. --- Meanwhile... Minato failed to convince Kushina and next sought out his student: Hatake Kakashi. But Kakashi met him with a cold stare. "No, Sensei. I'm no longer a Konoha shinobi." "My father gave everything to Konoha—and they betrayed him." "Do you really expect me to fight for that same village?" His gaze dropped to the White Fang dagger left by his father. "Hiruzen is dead. But Danzo still breathes. And I'll make him pay." --- Elsewhere, Jiraiya left the Uchiha Clan compound, face grim. They too had refused to go with him. "The Uchiha clan never had a future in Konoha," their clan head had said. "We stayed before because we had no choice. But now—we won't make the same mistake." Their words echoed in Jiraiya's ears. Was he wrong all along? The so-called persuasion mission had failed. In the end, only a small handful of shinobi left with Jiraiya and Minato. Notably, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans chose to stay. They knew the odds. Zenkichi now held too much power. The chance of defeating him was near zero. Though they might not rise to power under his regime, the clans could still protect their legacy. That was enough for them. Their motto was simple: "Support whoever's in charge." The three families had no bloodline limits or elite forces. Yet they had survived since the Warring States Period by staying loyal to the village—any village. Jiraiya couldn't understand it. But Zenkichi did. To him, their loyalty was conditional, not moral. And that made them reliable in their own way. Even the Akimichi clan, where Akimichi Torifu once stood, refused to leave with him. Jiraiya walked through Konoha's streets, heart heavy. He still couldn't believe how little support remained. But something within him flared. No. I'm not wrong. "We'll be back." His eyes burned with determination. And then—he saw two figures walking toward the village gates. He froze. "Yahiko... Konan?!" He couldn't believe it. --- Send Powerstones.

Chapter 87: Persuasions.

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