Naruto: The Clanless Prince

Uzumaki Mito felt utterly exhausted.

Sora… this child is far too guarded, she thought.

Even now, though she had made it clear that she could see through his mask, he remained composed. His tone and words were flawless as if refusing to let even a sliver of truth slip through.

With a resigned sigh, Mito said, "Sora, can't we have an honest conversation? No one else will know about what we discussed today. If your hostility toward me stems from Kushina's situation, then let me remind you—I am speaking to you not as a Jinchūriki or as Konoha's elder, but simply as Kushina's elder, your elder as well."

Sora tilted his head slightly, his expression calm yet unreadable. His voice, however, was laced with a quiet edge as he responded, **"Master Mito, as Kushina's elder, did you ever ask her if she wanted to become a Jinchūriki? If you didn't give her that choice, then do my thoughts really matter?

No matter what I say or think, Kushina will replace you as Konoha's Nine Tails Jinchūriki, correct?

So… does it even matter?"**

Uzumaki Mito's eyes flickered with an emotion she couldn't hide. He was right. Kushina's future as the next Nine Tails Jinchūriki was already decided, an inevitability that neither Sora's objections nor Kushina's desires could change.

But still…

Mito met Sora's piercing gaze, her expression softening yet growing more determined. "It does matter. Because your thoughts matter to Kushina."

Silence fell between them. Sora stared into Mito's eyes for a long moment, his emotions unreadable. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice quiet but firm. "I only want Kushina to always be happy."

His answer was clear.

Becoming a Jinchūriki was synonymous with a lifetime of suffering and isolation. While Uzumaki Mito had avoided much of this pain due to her status as the First Hokage's wife and her mastery of powerful sealing techniques, other Jinchūriki in different villages had endured much harsher fates.

Most Jinchūriki were forced to battle their tailed beasts for control of their bodies, a constant struggle that brought immense pain. Worse still, if a Jinchūriki's power went out of control, innocent lives were often lost, leading to widespread fear and hatred toward them.

The greatest agony came if the tailed beast was extracted. Because the bond between a Jinchūriki and their tailed beast was one of life and death, removing the beast from its host's body meant certain death for the Jinchūriki. The process was excruciating, a soul-tearing pain that no one could endure unscathed.

Sora's response, his wish for Kushina to always be happy, was a clear rejection of her fate as a Jinchūriki. It was an indirect but firm statement against the path that had been chosen for her.

Uzumaki Mito let out a heavy sigh. "But… becoming a Jinchūriki is Kushina's destiny…"

At those words, Sora felt a sudden surge of frustration and bitterness. His voice was sharp as he retorted, "Destiny? No, it's because Kushina is powerless to choose otherwise. The word 'destiny' is just a convenient excuse for forcing her into this role and making her accept it. I think you, Mito-sama, understand this better than anyone else. So please, don't speak to me about destiny."

Mito was taken aback by his words. For the first time, she saw the storm of emotions he so carefully kept hidden beneath his calm exterior.

Her gaze softened, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she asked him directly, "Since you want Kushina always to be happy, does that mean you intend to change this outcome?"

Sora lowered his head slightly once more and said, "I am just an ordinary ninja in Konoha. These matters are beyond me. Lord Hokage and the others will naturally make the arrangements."

Uzumaki Mito felt a headache coming on.

Here we go again. Why is it so difficult to have an honest conversation with this boy?

She knew there was no point in continuing. Sora wouldn't lower his guard around her, and she understood the reason all too well.

The reason was Uzumaki Kushina.

As long as Kushina was set to become the second Nine Tails Jinchūriki, Sora would never open his heart—not to her and certainly not to Konoha. In fact, his hostility toward the village would only deepen.

Finally, Mito asked one last question. "Sora… is Konoha important to you?"

Sora responded with a question of his own. "Mito-sama, is Kushina important to you?"

Mito's expression grew melancholic.

Was Kushina important to her?

Of course, she was.

But compared to Konoha?

Konoha was more important.

Mito's silence was answer enough. Sora's answer, too, became clear without him needing to say it. He had things in his life that were more important than Konoha.

To Sora, it seemed Uzumaki Kushina wasn't truly important to Uzumaki Mito—not in the way she should be.

Mito exhaled tiredly and spoke in a softer voice. "Sora, I love Kushina very much. Whether you believe me or not, I truly hope that you can live a good life in Konoha."

Sora bowed slightly, his tone courteous but distant. "Master Mito, of course, I believe you love Kushina. After all, you are her only remaining family. And please rest assured—I live a good life in Konoha and have always been grateful to the village."

Mito sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the conversation. She waved her hand dismissively. "Very well, go. Kushina has been eagerly awaiting your return every day while you've been away, so I won't keep you any longer."

Without another word, Sora turned and left the room.

As the door closed behind him, Mito let out a sigh of relief.

Sora is just a child… but when he speaks, he's no different from a seasoned shinobi, perhaps even a sly old fox.

She reflected on their conversation, particularly the moment his mood had shifted when she mentioned Kushina's "destiny" as a Jinchūriki. Aside from that single lapse, Sora's words had been airtight, giving her no room to probe further.

A faint, weary smile crossed her face. "What a little fox," she murmured to herself. Despite everything, her smile carried a sense of approval.

Not far from the door, Sora spotted Uzumaki Kushina crouched on the ground, engrossed in something.

He approached her and squatted beside her. "What are you looking at so intently?" he asked with a smile.

Kushina pointed to a tiny wildflower growing between the cracks in the floorboards. "Look, Sora! A flower managed to grow here, in a place like this! Doesn't it feel prettier than all the other flowers?"

Sora followed her gaze to the small, resilient flower. His eyes flickered with a faint emotion as he replied, "Yeah… it really is amazing. To bloom in a place like this… how could it not be beautiful?"

As Sora admired the flower, Kushina suddenly climbed onto his back, her face lighting up with excitement. "Enough with the flower talk! Time waits for no one! Let's go!"

Sora chuckled, hoisting her onto his back and securing her legs. "Alright, let's go. You used to treat me to meals, but today, I got my first mission reward, so it's my turn to treat you!"

Typically, when a Genin completes a mission, a portion of the reward is given to the team leader. However, Orochimaru, Sora's team leader, had declined to take his share, allowing Sora to keep the full 60,000 ryo from the C-rank mission.

From her perch on Sora's back, Kushina pumped her fist in the air. "In that case, I'm going to eat a lot!"

"No problem!" Sora laughed, his steps light as he carried Kushina out of Mito's mansion.

The cheerful pair departed, leaving behind the weight of the serious conversation, heading toward a brighter moment of camaraderie.

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