"Lady Kushina Uzumaki, I'm very grateful for your support during my promotion earlier."
After the female ninja left, Kakashi Hatake led Habara to Kushina Uzumaki. He introduced Habara, and Habara took the initiative to speak first.
Theoretically, Kushina Uzumaki didn't need special protection from ANBU ninjas at this point, because she could protect herself. Moreover, after the Nine-Tails incident, in a sense, Kushina Uzumaki's strength had become even greater… Half of the Nine-Tails was far easier to control than the whole. Previously, controlling the Nine-Tails' power was like swinging a sledgehammer; now, it was like wielding a mace. Naturally, she could wield it with great skill.
Upon seeing Habara, Kushina Uzumaki smiled. She stood up, first gestured for Habara to sit, and then sat down again herself.
"I should be the one thanking you. During the previous incident, you attacked the mysterious masked man, held off the Nine-Tails, and rescued Lady Biwako Sarutobi… If something had happened to Lady Biwako, I don't know how I would have faced the Third Hokage."
See, this is the art of conversation. Habara didn't even know he'd done so many good deeds that night.
"No, my abilities are very limited. In fact, I didn't change anything…" Habara was speaking the truth, but Kushina believed he was simply being modest.
"The Fourth Hokage mentioned you to me several times before his death. He said you were a special ninja. Improving the quality of civilian ninjas, bridging the gap between ordinary ninjas and those from ninja clans, disseminating jutsu and techniques… These are all excellent ideas. Minato originally planned to use these as the basis of his Hokage policy after the war ended and peace was restored. It's a pity that, now, it seems meaningless to talk about ideals."
Habara hadn't known beforehand that the Fourth Hokage had such thoughts, but he had to admit, the things Habara had mentioned were indeed very much in line with the heart of a Hokage.
Hearing Kushina say this, Habara's mind raced for a moment. Then, he stared directly at Kushina Uzumaki and said:
"Lady Kushina, this is not just empty idealism. The departed are gone, but the living must go on. If the Fourth Hokage was right, then doesn't that righteousness deserve to be continued? But after all this, who can continue to carry it out? Is there anyone other than Lady Kushina?"
Kushina Uzumaki: "…"
She fell into thought.
Well, after the Fourth Hokage, certain sinister individuals were finally turning their wicked schemes towards his widow.
For Habara, he couldn't cooperate with a voice that was too strong, because that meant no one would listen to him. He wouldn't have any say, which wasn't what he wanted. At the same time, he couldn't succeed in certain things on his own; as the saying goes, many hands make light work… Therefore, choosing a partner was crucial.
Of course, so-called cooperation couldn't be achieved overnight. The first exchange couldn't be too deep; it was enough to show his intentions and stop there.
Kushina then snapped out of her thoughts. As expected, she didn't delve deeper into this topic. Instead, she started chatting with Habara again. In fact, her main purpose in seeing Habara this time was, firstly, to express her gratitude, and secondly, to meet this somewhat special ninja that the Fourth Hokage had mentioned several times before his death.
And after meeting Habara, she found that this young ninja was indeed quite special.
Their conversation could have continued for a while longer, but suddenly, Naruto Uzumaki, for some unknown reason, began to wail, unleashing a torrent of tears, snot, and… other bodily fluids.
Heaven and earth were vast, but a baby was the greatest. Habara knew he had already made his appearance before the important figures, so amidst Naruto's cries, he took the opportunity to take his leave. "Lady Kushina, I'm about to undertake a special mission, and I need to make some preparations. So, I'll take my leave…"
"Yes, I've heard… I hope you achieve a good result."
It seemed Kushina Uzumaki was well-informed, which meant she hadn't left the center of Konoha's power, or rather, the Fourth Hokage's death had prompted her to step into a more central position in Konoha.
After Kushina saw Habara off, Naruto's problem was basically solved by Kakashi… While Kushina and Habara were talking, he had been taking care of Naruto. Water Release could wash diapers, Fire Release could dry them; it was clear that Kakashi hadn't learned his ninjutsu in vain.
After Naruto calmed down, Kushina Uzumaki began to seriously consider the words Habara had "inadvertently" said. Although she seemed gentle now, she had once aspired to become Hokage, the "Bloody Habanero."
And some decisions weren't difficult to make. Kushina was initially hesitant, but when her gaze fell on Naruto, all her hesitation vanished… Even for the sake of this child, she had to keep moving forward, not stay still.
"Lady Kushina, the special mission Habara just mentioned is…"
After a while, Kakashi couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, in a few days, he will be going to Sunagakure as an envoy to discuss the complete end of the war between Konoha and Sunagakure and the signing of a peace treaty. Kakashi, you didn't know, did you? Because of his remarkable performance during the incident, Habara has already been specially promoted to jonin by the Third Hokage."
Kushina Uzumaki said this hoping to put some pressure on Kakashi. As the Fourth Hokage's disciple and the son of the White Fang, he couldn't remain despondent forever.
Habara was only two years older than Kakashi. Although a sixteen-year-old jonin was far from Kakashi's twelve-year-old jonin, a sixteen-year-old peace envoy was undoubtedly very rare… Before and after the Nine-Tails incident, Habara's status could be said to have skyrocketed.
Upon hearing this news, Kakashi fell silent for a time.
It wasn't until the afternoon that Kakashi took his leave. After leaving Kushina's side, he went straight to the Hokage's office building. Although Kakashi's status seemed to be just that of an ordinary jonin, with no other special position, it wasn't difficult for him to meet the Third Hokage. He was the kind of ninja who could see him whenever he wanted.
"Oh, Kakashi, what is it?" the Third Hokage asked naturally, seeing Kakashi appear before him.
"Lord Hokage, I heard about the mission to Sunagakure…"
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