Naruto: Tango with Death

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The air around Kushina exploded as she jumped into the sky, moving faster than my Body Flicker as she stopped in the sky. A purple sphere quickly formed in front of her, and with a move she fired it at the bandit camp.

The first second, there was nothing, but as the sphere reached the camp, which was at least several hundred meters away, it triggered the greatest explosion I ever saw.

It wasn't terribly bright like most explosions though, so I was able to witness it as my eyes remained wide open, staring at the devastation.

As the dust settled, the bandit camp had turned into a large crater, and even the base below barely left any traces.

Kushina landed back next to us, the orange chakra coating her body disappearing as I couldn't help but ask, "Is that…"

I wasn't sure if I should finish my question, but she understood it nonetheless as she replied, "Kyuubi. Grumpy fellow, but definitely powerful."

I nodded slowly, clearly not expecting her to have mastered the Chakra Cloak. I already thought Konoha in this reality was strong, but it was even more absurd than I thought. Fourth Hokage, Kyuubi Jinchuriki who mastered her powers, the entire Uchiha Clan… I would like to see Pain attacking the village now.

Minato shook his head and said, "We should get back to the village to get all of you treated."

I moved my arms around a bit before saying, "I'll be fine, I should make my report first. I don't think I need to go to the hospital."

Minato was about to say something, so I quickly added, "With all due respect, Lord Hokage, I'm the medic. My injuries are rather light, and should go away in 3 or 4 days with my technique."

Minato sighed, "No training until you are healed then. It's an order."

I saluted, "Yes Sir!"

Minato rolled his eyes and threw several kunais on the ground, forming an octagon with equal sides around us. Then, he weaved through handsigns so fast I couldn't even follow his hands as I felt the air around us shift.

Next thing I knew we were in Konoha, on top of the Hokage tower. Since when can the Flying Raijin transport others like that?

Turning to Minato, I asked, "Did you just create a portal through spacetime?"

Minato scratched his cheek and said, "In a sense. You are interested by the technique?"

I forcefully stopped myself from rolling my eyes and replied as respectfully as possible, "Who wouldn't?"

Kushina flexed her biceps and said, "I'm faster than teleportation!"

I couldn't help but mutter, "Show off…"

Kushina looked heartbroken for a moment, making Minato chuckle as he patted her shoulder and said, "I think you've met your match."

Instantly, Kushina's eyes turned into slits, her face becoming uncomfortably similar to Orochimaru as she asked, "And what is that supposed to mean? Are you badmouthing your wife?"

Her face screamed warnings about when they would get back home, which was probably why Minato faked a cough and said, "I should bring them to the hospital. Sukaina, I'm sure Kushina would walk you back home."

Kushina still stared at Minato, but I decided to save the Hokage by taking the hand of the second most powerful person in the village, and definitely the coolest as I brought her away. Once Minato disappeared from our sight, Kushina grinned and said, "You said something about showing off…"

I put my hands in my back as I hummed, "You must have been confused, in all that chaos… it's not very surprising. Did I ever mention I love your hair?"

Kushina's eyes once again squinted as she said with a sly smile, "I see you have mastered the art of sucking up. I am proud of you."

Flinging my hair over my shoulder pretentiously with a wave of my hand, I said, "Of course, it was child's play."

We giggled all the way back to my apartment, Kushina definitely was the coolest person in the village now. She was smart, beautiful and a goddamn queen! Of course, that is if I'm not taken into account. But I scale on the whole elemental nations, so it wouldn't be fair to compare myself to her…

"Are you still praising yourself inwardly?"

I looked at Kushina in shock and retorted, "I would never!"

Kushina smiled and leaned on the side of my door as she said, "Well, here we are. Are you sure you are okay? I'm not doubting your judgment…" I interrupted, "Yes you are."

Kushina shrugged and said, "Then I'm questioning your hubris, not your medical skills. Don't be too proud to ask for help, there are people there for you. You can't hold the world on your own."

I first intended to instantly fire back a witty line, but started thinking on her words. Seriousness washed over me as I asked, "Aren't I supposed to though?"

Kushina asked, confused, "What?"

I looked down and revealed, "I've had help from many people, be it to train or save my life, like you did tonight. But one day, there isn't going to be anyone. Then, won't it all fall on me…"

I didn't get to finish when I was crushed into a hug, my face covered in red hair. We were silent at first, I was in shock I guess, when finally I let it out.

All the stress that had been accumulating for the past day was finally released as I started crying. Yes, I know, I am weak, I am crying, but just for a moment, I want to be weak.

For the first time, I also came to a terrible realization about reincarnation. When I arrived, I thought that this body's parents being dead would be a good thing, but now I realized how wrong I was, and how much I needed a parental figure.

I know, it's pathetic, but for a moment Kushina felt like… a mother. We didn't know each other very well, but as she comforted me in her embrace, I truly felt like my mother was hugging me.

And so before I knew it, my eyes shut themselves, and I drifted into sleep.

I don't know how long I slept for, but by the time I woke up, the sun was high in the sky, on it's way down West, so it was probably afternoon.

Sitting up in my bed, I felt some back pain, reminding me of everything that happened. Thinking about it, I'm still surprised the Hokage himself had moved to save us. Granted he could teleport and was the only one who had a chance to reach us, but it is still surprising he moved for a Genin Team.

Whatever the reason, he did move, and it saved us. Holding my back, I did not start recovering right away since I was quite hungry, so I made myself something to eat first. Only then did I start meditating, circulating my chakra mostly around my back, where I was injured.

What that Jonin had used was Futon: Great Breakthrough. In the anime, it always seemed to be a fairly useless jutsu, and I failed to understand how it ranked alongside the Great Fireball, but now I understood.

I felt like I took a Fus Ro Dah to the face, and had some more chakra been infused into it, or had I landed on something else than a flat surface, the damage could potentially have been deadly.

But the world was built on ifs, and I was alive, so now I had to focus on my recovery.

Since the two didn't contradict each other, I used my meditation to continue experimenting on my tenketsu and meridians, working on exploring them and possibly improving my training/healing technique.

After several hours of meditation, I started feeling better, and felt freer in my movements, so I decided to go check out the hospital to see if my team had awakened. Then, I would also need to go make my mission's report.