"Oi, Kushina coming." is what could be heard by various voices in the clan district as the streets quickly cleared from the redheaded menace. Currently wearing a blue jounin uniform covered by a red trench coat with her katana sticking out the bottom, she has one last stop for the day. During the Gokage Summit Kushina decided to exact some revenge for her "sochi-kun". As of yet, nothing major beyond vandalism or extreme intimidation has been suffered but it has become understood that if Kushina is coming for you, she will find you. This leads us to now, as our crimson avenger is now in front of the Hyuuga compound, which has enacted their siege protocols.

"Hey, ya'll need to open these gates and let me see Hiashi before I huff and puff. C'mon now, by the hairs of your chinny chin chin." Kushina said.

"Kushina-sama, it'd be best if you leave. Our foremost gentle fist users are here."

"Oh, I thinks not, guard-san, I thinks not. Y'all might need to think this through and stop wasting my time. Because Kushina can come back tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. Oh, and I will put you to the blade behind what happened today." she spoke calmly.

Soon the defensive barriers were dropped and she was granted access but informed her audience with HIashi would be brief. She simple stated it was, "Fair enough" as she entered the compound.

It was a short walk to where Hiashi was currently, he had claimed another room as his study when he was retired as clan head. When she entered the room, her escorts left immediately and she simply stared into Hiashi's eyes, waiting for something that even Hiashi didn't know. After a moment, apparently seeing what she desired she took her seat and placed her katana on her lap.

"I understand you wanted to see me. Even threatened my guards to do so." Hiashi said sternly, making Kushina roll her eyes.

"They were being extra about all this, it's not like I'm here to murder you."

"Do I have your word on that?"

"Heh, no." she said, making Hiashi sweatdrop.

"Shouldn't we at least exchange pleasantries before we get into what I want?"

"I'd rather forgo the pretense, especially since I'm not entirely sure you won't run me through with your blade."

"This blade?" Kushina asks, withdrawing it from its sheath. "Oh, man, I have some stories about this blade, dearie, let me tell you."

'Oh. Fuck.' was Hiashi's thoughts. While Hiashi and the red menace were never close, his late wife and her were extremely close. Hiashi, being a proper Hyuuga was sometimes cold and insensitive and kunoichi or not, Hitomi didn't always take that well and would commensurate with Kushina. Inevitably, Kushina would pay Hiashi a visit and instruct him on how he should change his ways. She always called him dearie then in such a deceptively sweet tone that one could almost ignore the implicit threat of violence. Hiashi doesn't know why she called him that and from his understanding she never did that with anyone else. It was creepy and he hated it.

"Are you still with me, dearie?" Kushina asked, seeing the man not paying attention.

"Yes, of course."

"Good. Like, I was saying, this little lady is my favorite blade. Been with me for years, survived undamaged through most of the war. Did I ever tell you I'm partially the reason Kiri went from widespread kenjutsu use to reserving it for the Seven Swordsmen and their apprentices? Apparently, they decided I was a punishment from the gods for their hubris. I always found that funny. Anyway, so it made it through most of the war until I ran into this big, burly bastard. Not much of a swordsman, if I'm being honest but eh, he tried. On a diagonal swing, my blade chipped on his collar bone. I was quite upset, I tell you. So upset, I proceeded to literally beat his face in. Can you imagine that? Getting that upset over just a sword?"

"Have we reached the moral of your story and the reason behind your visit?"

"That depends, do you understand the moral of the story?"

"If you were that angered over minor damage to a sword, the anger you must feel over Naruto-san's treatment must be astronomical."

"Oh, you always were a smart one, dearie. Yes, that's exactly it. Astronomical is so apt. It's like when I died everyone decided the rules didn't apply anymore, decided that ol' Kushina was beyond your reach. Decided you could use my son and throw him away at your convenience because nothing would happen to you; and now look where we are, dearie. In a small room, with you wondering if I have designs on your life. If everyone had just acted correctly this wouldn't be necessary but it appears I need to make examples out of people so they truly understand; be I dead, comatose, trapped in the moon, it doesn't matter. I will always square things with those that wrong me, in this life or the next. I butchered Kiri, Kumo and Iwa ninja in retaliation for destroying my family, my home and you all thought mistreating my sochi would receive no response? No, dearie, that's not how I'm made."

"Kushina, I didn't have a problem with Naruto but I did doubt his chances of a long life. You know the enemies that were after him, one strong enough to kill you and Minato. I didn't want my little girl to become hard and bitter and vacant like I was and if I had to be a bastard to Naruto to achieve that goal then my choice was clear."

Kushina leaned over the desk and placed her hand on Hiashi's neck, "Dearie, I know why you did it and that's why you won't taste my steel today." Kushina leaned back, sheathed her sword and started to leave as she saw her seal begant to take effect. "Don't worry, when you wake up things will be square between us. Unless you don't want that but remember, I can find you and yours and lot easier than you can find me."

As Kushina was leaving Hiashi's study, she ran across a visibly concerned Hinata who was almost startled to see Kushina.

"Hello, Kushina-sama. I'm sorry I wasn't here to greet you, the compound's security activated the siege protocols and I've yet to find out why."

"Pfft, no need for that sama crap, Kushina is fine. And I think I spooked your guards when I dropped by to see Hiashi." Kushina said sheepishly while rubbing the back of her head.

"He's still alive, isn't he?"

"Of course he is, what kind of question is that?"

"You do have your sword with you."

"Because it gets lonely when I leave without it."

"My father isn't moving in his office, heart rate is quite low."

"Mah, I slapped a seal on him. He'll be find in a few hours; days at the very most."

"Why?"

"For a similar reason you ousted him as clan head. Don't worry, I'd never harm dearie permanently. Your mother would never forgive me. Unless Hiashi had ever attacked Naruto, then I'd have done something really unpleasant."

Hinata didn't scare easily, especially since she's gotten over her shyness; spending copious amounts of time with Anko just solidified it. However, this woman in front of her was starting to border on terrifying. Hyuuga guards were not easy to intimidate and she had apparently done so enough to erect one of Naruto's strongest barriers and then done it again to make them drop it. She needed to learn how to invoke this level of fear.

"Ano, Kushina-san, how do you do it? My guards are quite afraid of you."

"Hmm, I think part of the problem is that your guards are just soft." Kushina said causing Hinata to snort. Short of Tsunade's personal ANBU, there weren't many guard details as discipline as hers.

"Also, I don't make threats I'm unwilling or unable to carry out regardless of the consequence. People tend to fear things they can't deter, negotiate with or rationalize away. It helps that I'm a damn good ninja that'll beat the ass of anyone who says otherwise." Kushina said while shaking a fist in the air.

"Oh, I'll keep that in mind. So, are we good?"

"Of course, sweetie. When Naruto gets back, you'll have to come over for dinner again, hopefully there won't be any international emergencies and I can finally get that spar with sochi."

"I'd like that. Do you need an escort out?"

"Nah, I've been here plenty of times, dattebane. See ya around, kiddo."

As Kushina left the Hyuuga compound, she was considering what to do for the rest of her day, when it hit her; without Minato around she could go get tanked with Tsume. She resolved to go out with her and Tsunade once she got back and paint the town red. Arriving promptly, Kushina was greeted by the Inuzuka watchmen.

"Hello, there. Could you see if Tsume is free, let her know it's Kushina."

The watchman was torn, while he knows his clan head and Kushina had been friends, he also knows the redheaded menace has been assaulting clan heads and doesn't want his to be the next on the list. While having this internal debate, Kushina quickly lost patience with the man that refused to heed her reasonable request.

"You best hop to, guard-san. You have me confused with a woman that likes to repeat herself, dattebane." Kushina said as her hair started to form nine tails. Luckily for both parties, Tsume was on the grounds and heard her friend's outburst.

"Kushi-chan, what's going on?"

"I was trying to see if you were free but your watchman seemed to not want to help with that."

"Well, you are running around the village like a maniac."

"It isn't that bad, Tsume." Kushina said with a pout.

The pair made their way to a local shinobi bar where they continued to catch up. Tsume took particular pleasure in recounting Kiba's spar with Naruto, finding it hilarious that the boy ran straight into a water wall. As the hours began to pass, Tsume could see something was weighing on her long time friend and decided to question it.

"What's bothering, Kushi-chan?"

Kushina, knowing she can't lie to her friend proceeds to tell her about the frosty relationship between Minato and Naruto. How she feels guilty that Minato takes the brunt of Naruto's resentment and how she wished she could figure a way to bridge the gap as the distance hurts Minato and the festering resentment isn't good for Naruto.

"Maybe you should let them work it out themselves." Tsume added after moments of contemplation.

"I would except Naruto is stubborn like me and would be ok with leaving things how they are if for no other reason than to spite Minato."

"Doesn't sound like the Naruto I know, kid doesn't strike me as one to hold a grudge."

"For most people regarding most things you would be correct but regarding Minato you would be wrong. Not only just the sealing, any mistreatment connected to his status he ultimately blames Minato for because had he not chose the village over his son, those things would not have happened. I also think by focusing on Minato it keeps him from lashing out at others."

"Is he still that angry? Not that I'd blame him, I just never realized it." Tsume said in concern.

"No, at least not all the time. It's just, certain things cause it to flare up. Like, the initial rush for the villagers to apologize, he knows when they are being genuine and when they aren't and even if they are truly sorry, is it only because he's Minato's son?"

"He's only worthy via birthright, not because they did something wrong?"

"Yea. So, I'm stuck in the middle; afraid that if I push he'll cut me out too. It isn't like he needs me."

"You're his mother, of course he does."

"Except, he has Tsunade. I just... it's frustrating, Tsume-chan. Minato can't give Naruto what he wants and Naruto won't let him in until he does."

"What does he want?"

"Minato to admit he was wrong and if he were in that same position he wouldn't do it again. And of course Minato can't do that but Naruto sees it as he could have protected his son or protected the village so since he chose the village he doesn't get his son."

Talking a little louder than she realized wouldn't normally be a concern, in shinobi bars you pay attention to your business and not that of others. However, this is a special case. Little known to many of the elites in the village is that many in the shinobi forces hold a certain amount of resentment for Naruto; not because he contains the Kyuubi but because they feel his progress has been exaggerated and gifted to him instead of earned through merit. Most of his achievements had been witness by very few or so highly classified as to never see the light of day. So, for one bitter, drunken Jounin to hear that the brat resented the sacrifice of his father it angered him, enough to interrupt Kushina.

"You know, that brat's childhood wasn't that bad. It isn't like he was beat everyday and I'm sick of feeling guilty about it. He's had opportunities many of us couldn't imagine and he has the nerve to resent us. The brat has been gifted his rank, he didn't earn it like the rest of us, only because he was favored. You tell that little asshole anytime he wants to find out what a real Jounin is about he can come find me".

Throughout the man's little tirade, Kushina's urge to break this idiot had reached an unimaginable level, followed closely by Tsume. Both ladies had were snapped of their bloodlust by two words.

"Why wait?"

The bar got quiet, even more so than when the man, Toshi Kara, started ranting. No one had sensed his arrival so they don't know how long he had been there but standing behind Toshi was Naruto.

"That wasn't a rhetorical question, friend."

The well of courage the man contained just moments prior all but vanished, only his need to save face allowed him to turn toward the Kyuubi jinchuuriki. The container didn't look massive, though a little taller than Toshi himself. His eyes, focused, but not only cold. He looked bored to the intoxicated patron. Finally, finding his nerve, Toshi spoke,

"What was that?" subtle stalling tactic, Toshi thought.

"Don't stall, friend, I asked you why wait. Or are you reconsidering your invitation?"

"I'm not your friend!"

"Not with that attitude you're not." Naruto said with a chuckle. Before the man replied in turn, Naruto cut him off, "Well, since it appears you didn't mean your words I'll forgive you this time." And proceeded to escort Kushina and Tsume out of the bar.

"Wow, Toshi, you really showed him." one patron said to a round of laughs. The embarrassed man couldn't even reply back.

"When'd you get back, sochi?"

"Just got back and felt both of your negative emotions. Figured you might be in trouble. Breaking up a potential bar fight is not what I had in mind." Kushina sheepishly rubbed the back of her head while Tsume blushed in embarrassment. The three continued to walk home until Naruto broke the silence,

"Hey, mom?"

"Yea, sochi?"

"Why do people keep announcing you're coming and then clearing the streets?"

"Well…" is all she got out before Tsume broke down in laughter.

"Shut it, Tsume-teme, dattabane!" which only caused the Inuzuka clan head to laugh more.