The Child of Prophecy

└ C6 ┐

└ If you run into a wall and pretend it doesn't exist, you'll never make any progress. The wall will never change. So you're the one who has to change.   —Hijikata Toushirou (Gintama) ┐

Kushina has always yearned to be a mother. The word felt slightly strange in her tongue, but now, there was actually some familiarity to it.

With the destruction of Uzushiogakure, every single familial ties she once had were simply wisps of smoke curling from the debris of her once home.

Becoming the nine tailed fox's jinchuuriki lessened the chances of motherhood even more. And so, Kushina focused on her ninja career, and becoming one of the greatest kunoichi to grace the bingo books.

However, that goal turned out to be for naught.

Whilst she graces the bingo books as a B-ranked threat to other ninja villages, and would have steadily reach A-rank, if not for the discovery of her pregnancy.

Naruko-chan is a surprise, and her greatest accomplishment.

Kushina holds the baby's sleeping form within her slightly trembling arms as Tsunade tells her she will no longer be able to give birth another time.

Tsunade --after hearing what has happened-- supplies that both the Kyuubi's extraction from her, and Naruko's birth greatly damaged her reproductive organs. Healing chakra could only reverse so much of the damage corrosive chakra inflicted. Kushina suffered from severe chakra exhaustion, and had it not been for the infamous vitality of the Uzumaki clan, she would not have lived to see another day.

Kushina quickly becomes solemn at the news.

To bring life into this world... she had actually lost the ability to do so, and also nearly lost her life in the process. She sighs, life as a ninja has always been all about sacrifice, and so she will just have to cherish those moments she was able to create life, feel it beneath her palms as it grew, and carry it into its next stage of fruition.

Kushina would not trade her baby Naruko-chan for anything, and will treasure her far more than she ever could.

She nods to show her acceptance and the sannin moves forward. They want to keep her in the hospital for a few more days, to watch her recovery and make sure she doesn't collapse once more. Most ninja dread the hospital (well, who doesn't?), but Kushina knows this is necessary --- and, so be it. She'll take whatever they hand out to her, so she could live and be with her family.

"Kushina, I am sorry there's not much I can do.." Tsunade says with a sad expression on her face, before she sends a quick glance towards baby Naruko's direction.

"It's alright, Tsunade-sama. I'll be fine, no worries, dattebane!" Kushina says, slightly forcing herself to be energetic, despite the silent urging in her heart to just cry and let it all out.

With a small smile, Tsunade nods her head, "You may not be able to have another child, but don't worry.. You've already given birth to a wonderful baby. I'm certain she'll be able to surprise us in the future, she has excellent parents afterall." she says as she stares with warm eyes upon the sleeping form of Naruko.

Kushina followed her line of sight, and also stares lovingly at her daughter. "Yes, Naruko-chan's already enough."

Tsunade lets out a light chuckle before she stands up and softly places a hand on the child's whiskered cheek. "I'm sure she'll be a great kunoichi one day, just like her mother."