Naruto: Not a Ninja, the System

As the warm, tingling sensation spread through Jaxon's body, he didn't dwell on it for long.

He didn't know why seeing Uzumaki Kushina advanced the progress of the replicated world, but whatever the reason, it was undeniably a pleasant surprise.

"Jaxon, this is... Uzumaki Kushina, my—"

"Sister!"

Before Minato Namikaze could even finish his sentence, Xuanwo Yunnai suddenly stood up, both palms braced tightly on the table. Her eyes welled up with tears, her lips trembled, and her voice cracked as she softly called out.

Kushina had known ahead of time, thanks to Minato's gentle hints, that someone special would be waiting for her today—someone from the Whirlpool Clan.

She hadn't known exactly who. But she'd spent the entire walk to the restaurant fidgeting with her outfit, adjusting her red hair, smoothing out the fabric of her dress with a nervous energy she hadn't felt in years.

So the moment she stepped onto the second floor and saw those two red-haired figures sitting at the table, everything else blurred out of focus.

And when she heard that word—"Sister"—something deep inside her broke loose.

Her body froze.

Then the dam burst.

Tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably as she raised trembling hands. Her voice caught in her throat as she whispered, "Yun... Yunnai?"

"It's me!"

Yunnai stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kushina, holding her tightly in a long overdue embrace. The two girls clung to each other as if afraid the other would vanish the moment they let go.

Around them, curious diners paused their meals and turned to look. No one approached, no one interrupted. The emotional weight of the reunion was palpable, and even those unfamiliar with the context respected its sanctity.

Besides, one person among them was instantly recognizable.

Standing quietly near the stairs was none other than Senju Tsunade—Tsunade-hime of Konoha, granddaughter of the First Hokage and a legendary figure in her own right.

She had come with Minato, under the pretense of a free meal, though in truth her curiosity had drawn her here. After hearing that Jaxon—the boy who used to give her such headaches a decade ago—had returned, she couldn't resist tagging along.

But what she hadn't expected… was to encounter members of the Whirlpool Clan.

Her eyes widened slightly as she watched the reunion unfold. A smile crept slowly onto her lips, softening the usual sharpness of her expression.

While the Whirlpool Clan had long been allied with Konoha on the surface, their connection with the Senju Clan ran even deeper. The emotional complexity of it all washed over Tsunade in quiet waves.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of tears and whispered words, Kushina and Yunnai slowly parted.

They helped wipe each other's cheeks, their smiles shy and bittersweet—trying, perhaps, to erase years of distance with just a few shared moments.

Then, Kushina turned toward the red-haired, middle-aged man standing nearby, watching them with warmth in his eyes.

"You... are you Uncle True?" she asked softly.

Whirlpool True's grin broadened, his eyes brimming with emotion. "Haha! I can't believe you still recognize me after all these years!" he laughed, his voice rich with joy.

There was no mistaking it—today was a celebration. A reunion long overdue.

---

At the table, the three sat together in a row: Kushina, Yunnai, and Whirlpool True.

The dishes remained untouched.

All around them, the sounds of clinking glasses and sizzling grills continued, but at their table, time seemed to have paused.

Kushina and Yunnai couldn't stop talking. They recalled childhood games, shared losses, favorite foods, old songs—memories that had long faded into the recesses of their minds now resurfaced like warm lights in the fog.

Laughter mingled with tears. It wasn't quiet or restrained—it was raw and honest.

The others at the table—Minato, Tsunade, Jaxon, and the rest of his entourage—remained respectfully silent.

This was their moment.

Still, not everyone could afford to remain carefree.

Kushina, remembering the weight of her position as a Jinchuriki, glanced around and quickly said, "I can't stay out too long. But I had to come."

It was Tsunade who made that possible. Had she not been present, Kushina likely would've been recalled by the higher-ups before the reunion even began.

"Oh, right, Yunnai!"

As if something suddenly clicked, Kushina leaned forward and asked more seriously, "When the Whirlpool Clan was destroyed… how did you get out?"

At that, the atmosphere shifted.

Even Tsunade, who had been lounging comfortably with her elbow propped on the backrest, sat up straight. Her golden eyes narrowed as she turned to Yunnai, waiting for an answer.

"We are…"

Cough, cough!

Whirlpool True cleared his throat sharply.

Yunnai, still basking in the joy of reunion, had been caught off guard by the question. She'd almost answered out of reflex.

But that cough snapped her back to reality.

A chill ran down her spine.

Yes, Kushina was her sister in blood. But she lived in Konoha now—under constant surveillance. And this Village… even if it didn't directly destroy the Whirlpool Clan, it certainly didn't save them either.

That truth—no matter how carefully hidden—was buried in all of their hearts.

And now, they were being watched again. Monitored.

Just thinking back to their arrival in Konoha earlier that day—the stares, the tension, the veiled hostility—Yunnai could feel her pulse quickening.

Cold sweat broke out along her forehead. Her hands clenched tightly in her lap. Even swallowing became difficult.

Kushina noticed immediately.

The sudden shift in Yunnai's expression, the panic hidden beneath her brave face—it was impossible to miss.

Moments ago, her eyes had been glowing with happiness. Now, it was as if someone had doused her in freezing water.

Even Kushina's smile faltered.

The excitement was gone, replaced by a quiet, aching desolation.

"I'm sorry," Yunnai said, forcing a soft smile. "I can't tell you what happened that day."

Kushina's heart cracked at those words.

She looked down, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's okay… as long as I know you're alive and safe, that's enough."

Her voice trembled. "Just knowing there are still people from our clan in the world… makes my heart feel less empty."

Tears welled in her eyes once more—not from happiness this time, but guilt.

When she'd first arrived at the orphanage in Konoha, she had been referred to as "Hime"—princess of the Whirlpool Clan.

She was meant to represent them. But now, after all these years, it was clear—she had left them behind.

She didn't know how Yunnai and True survived. Didn't know if others had escaped. And now… she was too afraid to ask.

"Kushina…"

Minato reached out gently, his voice filled with concern. But he didn't say much—this wasn't his place.

He understood enough to stay quiet.

Tsunade, however, wore a more complex expression.

On one hand, she was moved by the reunion. But on the other… seeing Kushina cry, seeing survivors of the Whirlpool Clan appear in Konoha under the protection of a noble she found irritating—it sparked something else in her.

Displeasure.

She didn't like nobles who walked around as if they owned everything.

And Jaxon… was exactly that kind of noble.

Still, Tsunade said nothing—for now.

Øóffer going on for diamond tier

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