AN: Wow, thanks for all the response. I went all sad when my story was de-canonized before it got to take off. However, because I got more support that I expected I felt compel to write something in the same vein.

But sorry, I won't continue this one just yet. :(

IMPORTANT: This is a one shot I've reworked, not a continuation of this story. Similar concept though. It is slightly AU, and honestly that fully developed idea. Just wanted to put it out here for some feedback on it!

Thanks guys. Right now, I'm working on another Kushina centered story with Abstracted that will be released soon. A joint effort!

Again, thank you.

The Witch is Clever

When Kushina breathes, she does not feel the cool wind rushing down her throat, tumbling through her esophagus and lungs and dissolving into her blood. She feels an emptiness that is neither cold nor hot. She feels a hunger that is accompany by no desires to quench it. She walks to go somewhere, but with no mind to get anywhere. She is searching for someone, but she misses no one. She has no sense of time, no sense of direction.

She is dead, only half so.

So she does not understand why she is standing over the bed of a young child. He has spiky blonde hair and dirty cheeks with whisker like marks. She is confused. Who was he?

"Do you feel it?" A silky voice asks from behind her. The witch is beautiful, though that does not affect Kushina. The witch is powerful, and the witch is clever. Kushina is a puppet but Kushina does not care.

Kushina feels a flame somewhere in herself. She feels the warmth of touch, of familiarity, and finally, she is overwhelmed by the heat of recognition. She falls to her knees immediately, throwing her opaque arms over the form of the boy. An agonized cry escapes her.

She knows this boy. She loves this boy, her son, her only Naruto.

"My baby," she sobs, "Oh Naruto." Her tears that falls on her cheeks does not wet him, but disappears in small glow of blue.

"He is alone in this world," says the witch. Her voice is gentle and soothing.

"Why am I here?" asks Kushina, "I've died, haven't I? I've died?"

"No, you haven't. You, or a part of you, are preserved in your son," said the Witch, "Do you not remember?"

"No—yes…I don't know."

"He needs you," says the witch calmly.

"I know," Kushina moans sorrowfully, "I know. I want to so much…but…I am…"

"I can make it happen," offers the witch, "I can give you physical form."

Kushina turns to the witch, sniffing and wiping her pale tears. The witch is smiling.

"H-how? I'm dead!"

"I know what will come, and I will make it happen," says the witch, predictably enigmatic.

"What do you mean?"

"You can see your son again with physical form!"

"How? Who are you?" Months she had known this witch, and only now she is curious. She is not so empty now.

The witch answers in a hollow voice, "I am the darkness driven from the one who can be God. I am his sin, and I am his punishment. I am the shame, I am the revenge."

"What?" mutters Kushina irritably, "What does that mean?"

"I am your salvation," finishes the witch with a tempting smile.

"But this isn't free," says Kushina, narrowing her eyes, "It never is, is it?"

"Never," the witch confirms, "I require payment."

"And what's the payment?"

A faint smile on the luscious lips. "I require your inheritance."

Kushina blinks. "Come again? My what?"

There is a rush of wind and the witch appears right in front of her Kushina and she gasps. The witch leans in close, putting her mouth to Kushina's ears. She whispers, "I require your inheritance and my revenge. I require the legacy before you, the legacy you are, and the legacy you've left." She pauses. Kushina's eyes are wide, and she is shaking. The hatred that seeps into the witch's harsh whispers stuns her.

"In return…" Kushina says, her voice trembling, "I…"

"You get to be alive for your son. You get a physical body."

"You can do that?"

"I can see the past, present and future. I can promise you a body."

Kushina breathes in and out, slowly and heavily. She shakes, her mind was swirling but there were no thoughts, just one desire, and the desire to accept. But there is doubt...

"What is my legacy? I-I don't understand." she asks, "Why do you…?"

"Does that matter?" asks the witch, "More than the son who desperately needs you? A son with your curse. You know how it feels. What is too much for your son's happiness?"

Kushina looks at the sleeping child. Her eyes water and she bites her lips.

The witch repeats, "What is too much for your son's happiness?"

She lets out a sob and answers, her voice full of sorrow, "Nothing."

The witch is vengeful and the witch is deceptive.

Sixteen years in the future, a summon that Kabuto never expected appears in front of him. Walking out of the coffin, Uzumaki Kushina frowns confusedly around. She looks down at herself and notices she has a full body, and she neither feels joy or sadness. She looks up at Kabuto as the young man smirks.

"So," says Kabuto, "You are here, finally. I couldn't get you at first, but now you are here." He grins. "Kushina-san, you and I have quite a task ahead of us."

The witch is clever.

I would really really love feedback on this. Like a said, it is an idea kind of floating in my mind and I just need a bit of...input on it at this stage. If I do ever do this story, it will be much much more fleshed out.