Wrecking The Past

19

Kushina was dazed as she walked around Uzushio. It was ruined. Everything in the once-thriving society was now desolate. An uncomfortable stillness covered Kushina. She could almost feel the spirits lingering here, crying out for someone to hear them. Kushina's eyes blurred as she collapsed to her knees. Naruto stood behind her. He didn't go to comfort her. Kushina had to soak it in by herself. 

She turned to Naruto, who was staring in a particular direction. "Thank you for bringing me here," She whispered under her breath, but the wind carried it to Naruto's ears. "I needed to see this." 

"It's the least I could do for you, Hime-chan," Naruto murmured as he turned back to face her. 

"I don't need that title anymore," Kushina chuckled dejectedly. "Princess to what? My homeland is nothing more than a footnote in history." 

"Then should I call you a Fallen Princess?" Naruto asked sarcastically. "You are Princess of Whirlpools, and nothing will change that even if your kingdom is no more. I will become Hokage, and when I do, I'll give you that official title. With that title, send out your call to the lost Uzumaki who made it out. Tell them to come to where the Princess now resides."

"You would let me do that?" Kushina wiped her tears. 

"Of course, Hime-chan. You are my partner, and you're passionate about this, " Naruto raised his eyebrow. "You want to record our clan's history. The first step is to salvage the buried knowledge, which is why I've had my clones here working for the past week before we got here. Next is to gather the remaining Uzumaki and establish them as a protected clan under the Hidden Leaf umbrella." 

Kushina hugged Naruto as she wailed. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome, Hime," Naruto murmured as they swayed to their rhythm.

Naruto let her to the campsite the clones had set up that was brimming with scrolls they'd managed to unearth from the rubble of the society. Naruto already had clones prowling in other villages for the stolen Uzumaki relics by any means necessary. He wouldn't tell her that now, he'd use it as a birthday gift next month. 

When nightfall came Naruto was stirring beef stew over the fire while Kushina was absorbed in some of the scrolls. The clones were still working on sealing it all and even finding more underground bunkers. "Come eat Hime-chan," He coaxed softly as he poured out some in a bowl. Kushina looked up, her eyes glazed as she was deeply concentrating on the particular information she was processing. 

She took the bowl from Naruto and thanked him quietly while sinking into deep thought. Naruto let her be, he had a feeling about what was to come. He sighed softly as he finished his first bowl. "Naruto," She called out softly, she was talking in the back of her throat. "Can I ask you something?" 

"Sure you can ask me anything." 

"Your parents are alive right?" 

"They are," Naruto confirmed. 

"Would you ever let me meet them?" She asked as she turned to face him. 

Naruto laughed as he poured his second bowl. "Hime of course you're going to meet them down the line. They prefer to live nomadically until I acquire power to ensure the Hokage won't push them around. They do want to settle down but for now, they enjoy exploring the world in search of things forgotten by time," He murmured as he leaned back on the nearby boulder. 

"Then I'm happy to have an older Uzumaki in the near future to talk to," She smiled. "Can you tell me about your parents?" 

Naruto hummed in thought. "My father is a complete softie when compared to my grandfather, me, and my mom. He's happy-go-lucky but he can turn into a different person when he sees his family being put in an uncomfortable situation. My mother is a bit of a hot head though she seems like the calmest person in the room. She's bright and passionate, always training and overprotective but rational and caring. She is fierce and unrelenting and I admire it about her. She's undeniably beautiful." 

Kushina listened, watching Naruto's eyes soften as he talked about his parents. His father's goofiness and his mother's laughable rage. He recounted stories of his childhood and while Kushina engaged in laughing and being in awe Naruto found it amusing that the false memories of being in Infinite Tsukuyomi would come back to help him now. He always had a sinking feeling that if his parents hadn't died then maybe, just maybe this would have been his childhood. Engaging in this delusion didn't seem like a bad thing especially when it was helping him build his background instead of admitting that he fell from the sky. 

"I can't wait to meet her," Kushina gushed. "Your dad too, I hope they like me." 

"They aren't picky people. They'll be surprised that someone even wants my stiff face," Naruto laughed. "I take after grandfather more than you realize. He was an unshakeable mentor to me when he was still alive." 

'I need to find him but not now. When I become older he's in the place where he's supposed to be. I will put you to rest grandfather.' 

Kushina giggled. "If you say so Naruto. I'll still give them a strong impression." 

"Don't try to ruin yourself," Naruto pinched her cheeks. "You'll drive yourself mad." 

Kushina hugged him, kissing him softly as she settled in his arms for the night. "I'll listen to you." 

Naruto smiled to himself. He liked having Kushina's undying trust.