Chapter 268 - Cap 246: Reunion

A week had passed since Kurama had given Inari to his mother, and in fact, he indicated him to rest during all that time because it would not be good for him to push his body too much.

"Okay, I think it's a good time for us to start training the children" - said Kushina as she observed how Naruto, Izumi and Ryu had their eyes shining like stars because they could not believe that they could finally train to be as strong as their father.

"I don't have a problem, just don't be so demanding," said Kurama as he rolled his eyes.

"I don't think you have the right to say that when you almost crippled your student, Kurama-sama" - replied Yugao as she rolled her eyes at the redhead, then looked at the Uzumaki woman - "But he's right, you'd better not be so hard on them, Kushina-sama".

"I know, I don't plan to do anything that serious..." - said Kushina while snorting in discomfort - "Not when I feel the daggers in my back from the way Mikoto and Hikari are looking at me"

"How do you want us to look at you?" - asked Mikoto with disdain - "I know you well enough to know how you are, Kushina. I know how sadistic you are at training time... look how you left Hinata-chan"

"In fact, she was a m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t since she was a child," answered Ino as she shrugged her shoulders.

Hinata could only blush as she nodded weakly.

"I am surprised that Hanabi is not as m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.tic as her older sister," added Kin as she looked at the young Hyuga who was eating an orange.

"It's because she tries to hide it" - replied Hinata while receiving the impact of an orange flying at her forehead - "Kya!"

"D-Don't say things like that, Onee-chan!" - exclaimed Hanabi with red cheeks as she cast a glance at the young redhead, only to notice how he seemed to be ignoring the conversation.

"Leaving aside the peculiarity of the Hyuga main branch, it is better that we concentrate on our current predicament," said Mei as she looked around, gaining the attention of all present. "As you know, there are only two Jinchurikis left and Akatsuki has not made any strange moves outside destroying Otogakure no Sato to the point of leaving it at ground level"

"Right... I guess this is because they lost more than they gained," replied Shizune as she tilted her head in confusion.

"It could also mean that they managed to get what they wanted and now they are resting so that they can assimilate their gains," replied Anko as everyone looked at her, "What?"

"I didn't expect such profound reasoning, Aneki," responded Tayuya, only to be answered by a knock on the head - "Kya!"

"That was for calling me an idiot," snorted Anko angrily. "I was just making a point that I'm sure you didn't think..."

"She's right, we hadn't thought of that" - Mikoto nodded seriously - "How did you come up with that answer, Anko-chan?"

"Because that's what I would do if I were a member of Akatsuki," Anko replied seriously. "After spending so many years in IT, I've been able to find out how criminals and their organizations think, which is why I managed to catch so many bastards during my years of service as an interrogator"

"I see... it makes sense," Kushina nodded as she looked at the purple-haired woman.

Even Yugao was surprised by Anko's words, although she did not show it because she kept her expression neutral.

"If what Anko-chan said is true, then we'd better prepare for the worst," said Kurama seriously as he looked around. "I don't know what Akatsuki managed to achieve in Oto, but I have a bad feeling that I can't shake it off.

"This would be the part where you go to check things out at Ame now that we know that's the general location of Akatsuki's headquarters," said Ino, who knew how the redheaded man 'enjoyed' doing things alone.

"Normally that would be the case, but there is a small problem," said Kurama seriously as he looked at the blonde Yamanaka. "And that is that, if I go, it is possible that Akatsuki will use this time to make a counterattack"

"Are you saying this because Obito managed to lock you in his Kamui for a few seconds?" - Kushina asked seriously.

Kurama had informed them of this situation, and although it was not for long, that small margin could make things get out of control.

"Exactly," Kurama nodded as he looked at his wife, "We're not sure if Akatsuki has a method of stopping me or at least keeping me busy, so it's better that I don't make a decisive move, at least until we can find a way to block those methods that we don't know about"

"Hmm... I guess I can work on a seal," whispered Kushina as she sighed regretfully because she knew that things would not change in a long time.

"And our training!" - exclaimed Naruto as he puffed up his cheeks in annoyance.

"We will begin when the troubles we have now are over," responded Kurama with a smile as he stroked each of his children's hair.

"Ok" - the children nodded in disappointment.

Kurama was about to tell them something else, but was speechless when he heard a small smoke screen appear in front of them.

"Kichi?" - asked Kurama with surprise at the presence of the young Toad.

"Aniki, it's time for you to come back!" - exclaimed Gamakichi as he looked at the redhead.

"Did something go wrong with Tsunade-sama?!" - Shizune exclaimed in terror as she tried to grab the young toad to find out more, only to see him dodge the woman's grip and stand on Kurama's shoulder - "Wow wow wow, you'd better relax a bit"

"But Tsunade-sama!" - exclaimed Shizune in terror.

"I never said she was hurt... Did I?" - asked Kichi as he frowned - "I just came to inform you that Ma indicated that Tsunade could now travel with the Hiraishin"

"Are you sure? - Kurama asked seriously because the situation was crucial for his little ones.

"Gamamaru-sama told us that it was the perfect time... he even made a prediction to make sure nothing would go wrong," answered Gamakichi as he nodded firmly.

". . ." - Kurama closed his eyes for a second before nodding firmly - "Ok... I understand... I'll go right away"

"Okay, we'll wait for you there" - Gamakichi nodded before he disappeared.

"Ok, you heard him, now I'm going to go look for Tsunade" - said Kurama as he disappeared in a red flash.

"It's good to hear that Tsunade will come home..." - said Kushina with a smile.

"I just want to see what kind of reaction she'll have when she comes and finds out we've moved elsewhere" - said Mikoto with a smile as the others nodded.

"If Tsunade-sama is coming back, then it's time we prepare the children's room properly," said Shizune as the others nodded.

"Right, it's time to get things ready," Kushina nodded as everyone walked to the second floor of the mansion.

* * * * *

"How have you been, Tsunade-chan?" - asked Kurama as he looked at the blonde woman who was holding Kazumi in her arms.

"Well... that has always been the question you ask me when you come to see me" - answered Tsunade as she rolled her eyes - "Anyway, if you are here, then it means that you have been informed that the children are strong enough to be able to resist the Hiraishin"

"Exactly" - Kurama nodded as a small smile appeared on his face when he saw his children - "How are they doing?"

The babies slowly opened their eyes as they felt the familiar presence of their father's Senjutsu, only to release a few small laughs as they felt how Kurama's aura was so warm and relaxing.

"Look, you appear from time to time while I am with them all day" - said Tsunade as she rolled her eyes - "But they always smile at you"

"I'm sorry about that" - said Kurama as he rolled his eyes back - "I'm sorry that my natural aura is so relaxing for them"

"I'm sorry about that, I just let my mother's jealousy take over" - said Tsunade while a forced smile appeared on her face - "At least now I understand how Mikoto feels about Izumi-chan"

"Okay, that's not my problem anymore..." - said Kurama while frowning - "I don't know why Izumi is so attached to me"

"I know, but that doesn't take away the strangeness" - answered Tsunade - "But anyway, it's better that we go back home... there are many things to do"

"Okay, let's go" - smiled Kurama as he used his tails as blankets for the children and brought them close to his body.

"Carefully..." - said Tsunade with concern.

"I know... they are my babies" - said Kurama seriously as he released his entire chakra to protect the children - "Come on, Tsunade-chan"

"Okay, let's go... there's a lot I want to talk about with the others" - said Tsunade with a smile as everyone disappeared in a red flash.

"Oh, we didn't make it..." - sighed Fukasaku as he looked around and saw that Kurama had already left with his family - "I guess we'll have to go to the Elemental Nations"

"Calm down, let him have a moment of peace with his family before things get even stranger" - said Shima as she shook her head because she knew that, if they went now, Kurama would simply ignore them.