Naruto: The Rise of Kurama

Kushina was devastated by her identity leak, but she didn't let that stop her from moving forward over the past year. It was tough, yes, but compared to the loss of her parents and Grandma Mito, it felt... insignificant. Even at her young age, she was already somewhat numb to the constant tragedies of the Shinobi world. A world that didn't hesitate to force children to grow up fast. Loss, betrayal, and isolation were lessons most ninja learned the hard way. But Kushina had learned them all before her ninth birthday.

Still, living in near-isolation is tough on anyone, let alone a child. Each day was a test of her will. She had been hanging in there for a long time with her fiery character, but even that fire flickered in the cold winds of loneliness. Everyone has their limits. She felt that if another tragedy occurred in her life, if someone else she cared about left her or betrayed her, she might finally break.

She was a few weeks into her second year at the academy, and officially nine years old. Her body was growing stronger, her chakra reserves deeper, her punches heavier. But her heart was still that of a girl looking for a place to belong. The second year hadn't been much better than the first. She had stopped counting how many times a classmate had stopped talking to her overnight. She didn't need to ask why anymore. She knew. The whispers always followed. Monster. Demon. Fox girl.

Kushina didn't have much hope of friendship here; she felt that it might be better to try her luck once she got on a jonin team. Maybe then, when her skills were undeniable, someone would look past the beast sealed inside her and see her, Kushina Uzumaki, the girl who loved spicy food, who laughed too loud, who punched too hard but meant well.

Still, as she walked into the classroom that morning, feeling the stares and the sudden hush that followed her entry, a dull pain throbbed in her chest. It wasn't anger this time. Not really. It was something quieter. Loneliness.

"What are you looking at!" she snapped instinctively, her eyes flashing with irritation as she scanned the room. Some of the students flinched, others looked away, pretending they hadn't been watching her. They always did.

Though they were not officially aware of her status as a Jinchuriki, their parents had all warned them not to get too close. "Stay away from her," she imagined them saying. "She's dangerous. She's not like you."

Over the past year, there had been a few she could call friends, but whenever their parents found out, they would immediately distance themselves. Sometimes overnight. One day, they'd be laughing together, and the next, they couldn't even make eye contact. This almost caused her more pain than if she were to remain completely isolated. Hope, when taken away, hurts worse than never having it at all.

All of this made her even more volatile in class. She couldn't stand these weak cowards who judged her for something she didn't ask for. Whenever it came to taijutsu training, she made sure to beat them down extra hard. These days, people didn't call her names, not to her face anyway. Though they were thick-headed, even an idiot would learn their lesson if it got beaten into them enough times.

"Kushina-chan."

She was brought out of her thoughts by the soft, cheerful voice that somehow never lost its brightness. Minato Namikaze stood nearby, with that same pleasant look on his face. He appeared as he always did, with bright blonde hair, clear blue eyes, and a smile that could warm any heart.

Unfortunately, this had the opposite effect on Kushina.

When she heard his voice, her face instantly darkened. "What do you want, wimp? And stop adding chan!"

Most of the girls in class would've killed for attention from the resident prodigy, but not Kushina. She had thought he was a soft wimp when she first saw him, and that opinion hadn't changed. She thrashed him in taijutsu every time they were matched up; she didn't see what was so special about him. He didn't hit hard, didn't shout, didn't carry himself with pride. He just smiled. It was infuriating.

"I just wanted to know if you'd like to get barbecue after class today." Minato's sunny expression did not change after Kushina's comment. He remained unmoved, as if he had heard this many times before.

"Why would I wanna get barbecue with you? Maybe if you can beat me, I'll consider it." She huffed and turned her head, arms crossed, as if the very thought was beneath her.

It was ironic. While most of the class avoided her, the one person she wished would leave her alone wouldn't. She had no interest in hanging around a pansy. Although things hadn't been great here in Konoha, she still had her pride as an Uzumaki, and one with the purest bloodline at that. She would never rely on someone like him.

Minato went back to his desk a little disappointed, but no less determined. He had thought her hair was beautiful from the first time he saw it, but she never gave him the time to say so. He wouldn't give up without a fight.

Just then, the teacher finally arrived and started class. "Alright, students, we spent the first year of the academy learning chakra control theory and ninja theory. Now, I think you're ready to learn the three basic academy jutsus." He walked up to the board and started drawing.

"Finally!" Kushina was practically vibrating with excitement. So far, she had only been able to practice taijutsu. She had fuinjutsu scrolls at home, but it was still a little beyond her, and self-study was particularly hard. Still, she understood more and more as time went on.

When Instructor Iroha finished writing on the board, he pointed toward the first line of text and said, "This is the Clone Jutsu. It creates an illusory clone to distract and deceive your enemy. The clone is not solid and won't hold up to heavy scrutiny, but it can still be useful for lower-level enemies."

Then he moved onto the next line. "This is the Transformation Technique. It allows you to change your physical appearance; more advanced users can even transform into objects. This technique is more versatile than the last and will likely stay with you throughout your entire ninja career."

Finally, he pointed to the last line. "This is the Substitution Jutsu. I cannot express how vital this one is to any shinobi. It allows you to exchange yourself for an object suddenly when in danger."

He walked away from the board and moved to the front center of the classroom. "We've been learning the Leaf Concentration exercise for a while now. You should have the basics of chakra control. Start with the easiest jutsu listed, the Clone Jutsu, after I demonstrate."

When the instructor mentioned chakra control, he briefly glanced at Kushina. To her great embarrassment, her chakra control was so horrible that she couldn't even stick the leaf to her forehead at all.

Tiger → Boar → Ox → Dog.

"Clone Jutsu." After the instructor called out the technique's name, an identical clone appeared next to him. It was nearly indistinguishable until he moved his hand directly through it.

Kushina got to practice right away. Although her chakra control was terrible, that didn't stop her for a moment.

Tiger → Boar → Ox → Dog.

'Clone Jutsu!'

Once Kushina finished the hand signs and called out silently in her heart, a puff of white smoke appeared, and… nothing was there. She had failed completely.

She glanced around and noted with relief that most of the class was in the same boat. She didn't know what she'd do if everyone completely passed her in ninjutsu. Though just as she was about to continue practicing, a pair of yellow-haired heads caught her attention.

"Minato-!" she furiously whispered. How did that wimp get it so fast? The clone wasn't perfect, and it was easy to tell the difference between them, but he was far ahead of her and the rest of the class! If this kept up, he could graduate next year, or even this year!

Seeing him succeed only pushed her harder. But no matter what she did or how little chakra she tried to apply, it came out in waves and felt like she had no control over it. The clone would immediately pop and disappear as soon as it formed.

'Just you wait- I'll master this, dattebane!' Kushina silently vowed.

----

Over the next few months, she trained relentlessly in the Clone Jutsu. She had even cut into her taijutsu training in order to practice chakra control. But the clone still refused to form. Her chakra was like a high-powered water hose; it surged out rapidly and raged against her control.

The Leaf Concentration exercise didn't help at all, and the instructor never favored her, so she had no guidance. She briefly thought about asking the Nine-Tailed Fox, since his chakra was linked to hers, but she ultimately shook her head. "I don't need that stupid fox's help!"

Kushina looked over at Minato, whose clone was already nearly indistinguishable from him, and seethed. She resumed training twice as hard as before.

----

Deep inside Kushina, within the damp, echoing corridors of the seal, Kurama stirred.

His slitted eyes opened slowly, filled with an ancient, brooding malice.

"So… the brat still refuses to ask," he murmured to the void around him. His chakra pulsed slightly, brushing against the seal, but not enough to trigger anything. "Hmph. Let's see how long you can manage without me, little red."