As Kushina sensed her feeble body, she gradually opened her eyes, staring at the somewhat grayed ceiling and bed curtains.
"Is this the Pure Land?" A touch of bewilderment crossed her gaze. Where is this? Everything, even the sheets and blankets, is so white. Why does it all feel so familiar? The last thing she remembered was... Minato making a decision. And then, before she could even bid farewell to her child she was succumbed to unconsciousness.
"Did I ultimately not make it?" Kushina sighed with a bitter smile, murmuring to herself. She scanned her surroundings, "This place doesn't seem particularly unique, similar to the Medical Department. I wonder if Minato is around."
Yet, as soon as she uttered those words, a voice with a cheerful tone chimed in, "The Fourth Hokage isn't here, but indeed, this is the Medical Department."
Kushina was taken aback, her weakened body jerking slightly as she heard the unfamiliar voice. Despite her lack of strength, her curiosity urged her to swiftly turn her head, displaying a guarded expression as she examined the figures approaching her. Among them, a blend of black and red hair caught her eye, and the sight left her momentarily stunned.
When she recognized the familiar faces accompanying the figures, disbelief colored her expression. She spoke with incredulity, "Fuso-nee? Kana? Elder Yoshinori? Uncle Eiji? And... Obito? Rin? How are all of you here? Is this the Medical Department of the Pure Land? Are we all... dead?"
A solemn hush fell over the room at her words. Rin, somewhat embarrassed, responded, "Kushina-nee, you haven't passed away. This is a medical facility, but it's in Grass Village. Obito brought you here."
"Brought here by Obito? The Medical Department of Grass Village?" Kushina's memories began to slowly click into place.
The fleeting recollection hinted that indeed, when she slipped into a coma, Obito took her away and brought her here. And this place... it must be Grass Village.
A glimmer of realization flickered across her features. Raising her head with a complex expression, she gazed at the black-haired youth, "So, It was Grass Village who actually saved me?"
Upon hearing the confirmation that Grass Village was responsible for her rescue, Kushina's mind raced back to the time after the Third Great Ninja War. She had caught wind of the Uzumaki clan's survival, having taken refuge in Grass Village and thriving. The news had stirred excitement in her heart, fueling a desire to visit her clan in Grass Village.
However, her position and identity as a Jinchuriki had barred her from leaving the village. Despite Minato's promise, the chaotic events that unfolded in the following years kept her from realizing her wish. Now, unexpectedly, she found herself encountering her clan in this very place.
Expressing gratitude, Kushina turned to the leader of Grass Village and said, "Thank You!"
Akihiko nodded, a smile gracing his features. "No need to thank me. I've always held Minato in high regard." His expression then shifted to one of regret. "It's just that he was never willing to switch sides."
Upon hearing Akihiko's words, Kushina fell into a pensive silence. This incident had arisen from suspicions surrounding Minato's alleged collaboration with Grass Village, yet now, she found herself rescued by them.
Minato had vehemently denied any involvement with them. However, Despite Minato's claims of innocence, it was a complex web of accusations and denials. Contemplating this, she turned her gaze towards the leader of Grass Village, her expression a mix of complexity.
Turning her attention to her clan members, Obito, and Rin, Kushina's pale face broke into a slight smile. "I never expected to see you all here in Grass Village. It's reassuring to see everyone doing well."
However, Before Rin and Obito could respond, a worry crept onto her face. "Naruto! How is Naruto? No, I need to return to Konoha. Naruto is still waiting for me!"
Her urgency to rise was met with the realization that her body lacked the strength to do so. Witnessing her distress, Rin and Fuso moved quickly to lend their support.
Yoshinori's reassuring words were a comfort. "Rest assured, Naruto is doing well. I've visited Konoha recently, and he is doing very well. I believe he will thrive under the Third's care."
As head of the Uzumaki clan, Yoshinori shared the Grass Village leader's sentiments. Why should members of the Uzumaki clan serve as Jinchuriki for Konoha?
The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, supposedly beyond Konoha's control, remained a point of bitterness for the Uzumaki clan. Despite Konoha's professed closeness and remorse for the clan's demise, their actions during critical moments appeared more hypocritical than those of the Grass Shinobi.
"Do not worry about Naruto, he will be alright. Your well-being is what matters now," Yoshinori reassured her with a comforting tone.
"I... I apologize. You're aware that Naruto has become the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails," Kushina spoke to Elder Yoshinori, her voice carrying a bitter tinge.
When she had become a Jinchuriki years ago, even under Grandma Mito's protection, she faced severe discrimination. Now, with Naruto being alone, he must be feeling incredibly isolated.
Moreover, Despite Minato's final request for the Third to care for Naruto, she couldn't shake off her unease for some reason.
Looking back at Yoshinori, she hesitated before asking, "Can you send me back to Konoha?"
As she asked a favor, before Yoshinori could respond, the Grass Village leader interjected, "Temporarily, you might not be able to return."
Kushina was taken aback, wondering if she was being held against her will.
"Rest assured, it's not about restricting your freedom. Grass Village would never hinder the reunion of a mother and her son without a justifiable reason." Waving his hand, Akihiko took a medical report from the side and glanced at the pale-looking Kushina. With a regretful tone, he explained, "Your condition is still fragile. Technically speaking, after the chaos caused by the Nine-Tails' chakra, your body was entirely damaged. Even though Grass Village has aided in replenishing your vitality, it's still continuously depleting."
Kushina looked at the report in astonishment.
"Leaving Grass Village without ongoing vitality replenishment means your life would fade away within a day. Once that happens, no one can save you. Therefore, despite your awakening, you require an extended period of recuperation to potentially regain and amass enough vitality." Akihiko continued, addressing the bewildered Kushina.
With a smile, he added, "Regarding returning to Konoha for treatment, though it may sound audacious from a mere small village leader, the fact is that Konoha lacks this level of medical capability."
After all, this medical ninjutsu was developed through the fusion of White Zetsu cells and the Ryuushikei clan's secret arts. It was beyond what Konoha possessed.
"If you return, you might die within a few days!" Akihiko concluded, explaining her situation.
As the words sank in, Kushina was momentarily stunned, then turned to glance at Rin beside her. Seeing Rin nodding with a wry smile, she realized that the Grass Village leader's words held truth.
"Akihiko is correct. It took a considerable price to save you." Fuso added reassuringly, "Kushina, focus on recovering here. Once you're in better shape, you can leave the hospital."
"I..." Kushina hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly, nodded, and directed her attention to Akihiko. "Thank you!"
"No need for thanks. After all, you've covered the medical expenses." Akihiko waved his hand, downplaying the gesture to avoid any misunderstandings.
Kushina, hearing this, became puzzled, wondering what he meant.
"Given that this is an exclusive technique of Grass Village, it requires daily supplementation with various precious herbs to replenish your vitality." Akihiko handed over the bill directly, saying, "Hence, the medical expenses might be a bit on the higher side."
"Understandable. Please rest assured, I'll find a way to pay..." Despite being known as the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, Kushina wouldn't shy away from covering her medical expenses, especially when it concerned matters of life and death.
However, before she could finish her sentence, as she glanced at the bill, her expression frozen in disbelief. "This much?!"
Even if she pooled all the rewards from Minato's recent missions, it wouldn't be sufficient. Despite this realization, she took a deep breath, her determination evident as she faced Akihiko. "I'll find a way to settle this, I promise."
"No need to worry. Let me clarify. Your medical expenses have already been covered. Specifically, Obito took a loan from the village and settled it for you. You don't need to concern yourself with paying for the medical expenses anymore," Akihiko explained, aiming to ease her worries.
Obito paid? Before Kushina, filled with doubt, could react, Akihiko continued, "What I mean is... I hope you can recover well. Don't think about running away."
Interlocking his fingers in front of his chin with a cheerful expression, he added, "After all, Mrs., you wouldn't want your child to become an orphan. And if your husband's student spends a hefty sum to save you, leaving him in debt, and he has to spend the rest of his life like his brother, making a living by picking up trash, you wouldn't want to waste his efforts, right?"
As his words sank in, both Obito and Kushina were left stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.
Kushina wondered, 'Is Obito living so miserably here?'
Obito questioned, 'Am I living such a miserable life here?'
Both looked at Akihiko with a mix of surprise and bewilderment.