Romance and Ninjas: In Naruto With Infinite Skill Points!

A/N: Everyone, I don't fear criticism, I only fear that you guys won't say anything. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! I always like to discuss Naruto's lore and the story development!

Even if you think your question is not worthwhile, I will always do my best to answer!

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While all of that was happening, Kushina stepped into the hallways of the once-powerful Senju Clan.

The air was thick with silence, the weight of history pressing down on her small frame.

Guided by the ANBU, she walked through the dimly lit corridors, her heart pounding in her chest. Despite her usual bold and fiery nature, an uneasy feeling gnawed at her, making her steps hesitant.

Soon, they arrived at a chamber deep within the compound, where an elderly woman sat, waiting.

The moment Kushina stepped inside, a pair of sharp, knowing eyes met hers.

"Hm."

The woman, her once-vibrant red hair now faded, tied neatly into two pigtails, gazed at her with quiet understanding.

A small, faint smile touched her lips.

"Child, you have finally come to visit me."

Her voice was calm, steady, yet carried the weight of expectation.

"I have been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Gulping, Kushina lowered her head slightly, her voice wavering as she spoke.

"M-Mito-sama…"

The weight of the woman's presence pressed down on her, making her usual confidence waver.

Mito chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"Now, now, there's no need for such formalities with me, child."

With a gentle gesture, she patted the side of her bed, her expression warm yet unreadable.

"Come, sit. I want to talk with you first."

Kushina hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, her heart beating faster as she approached the legendary first Jinchūriki of the Nine Tails.

Mito observed the child carefully, her expression warm, but beneath the surface, a quiet sadness lingered in her heart.

Her sharp, experienced eyes took in the bruises on Kushina's face, the red knuckles, and the scratches on her clothes. Even without asking, she could easily piece together what had happened—the struggles, the fights, the isolation.

She let out a silent sigh, but said nothing of it.

Instead, she reached out gently, her hand resting atop Kushina's head, fingers threading lightly through her fiery red hair.

"It must be difficult for you, staying so far away from home."

Her voice was gentle, yet knowing.

"Without friends, without your parents…"

Kushina stiffened slightly, but Mito simply continued.

"Tell me, child… how has your life been since you arrived?"

Kushina's whole body trembled.

The past five months flashed through her mind like a storm of cruel voices and hateful stares.

Every day, those boys and girls insulted her.

They called her outsider, tomato, habanero.

They said she was ugly, that her hair was weird and disgusting.

And it didn't stop at words.

They attacked her, time and time again.

Even when she fought back and won, they never gave up. They ambushed her, bullied her, always coming back stronger in numbers.

She was always fighting alone.

Her vision blurred as tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, falling silently onto her lap.

Her hands clenched into fists, her shoulders trembling as she lowered her head, unable to speak.

Her chest ached, her heart hurting so much that for a moment, she just wanted to curl into a ball, disappear, and forget everything.

"They hate me..." Kushina's voice trembled, her lips quivering, tears falling freely onto her dress and the bed.

"Why... Why did I have to come here?"

Mito remained silent, her heart heavy. For a moment, she didn't know how to comfort the child.

Without a word, she moved closer, wrapping Kushina in a warm embrace.

Kushina froze.

It had been so long… she had even forgotten this feeling.

Her arms remained at her sides, stiff and unsure. She didn't return the hug.

All this time, all she had known was pain and loneliness, wasn't it?

Mito's voice was gentle but firm, the wisdom of years carrying through her words.

"Child… is everything really that bad? In all this time, was there truly nothing that helped you?"

Kushina's breath hitched.

Her mind drifted back, unbidden, to that weird boy—the one who had stood up for her, the one who spoke of duty and honor, defending her not out of pity, but in the name of the village and the Hokage.

She recalled the times he had stepped in, challenging those who mocked her, fighting in her place when she was too tired to fight anymore.

During this time, whether intentionally or not, they had become close.

Even if she didn't fully understand what they were to each other—friends? Acquaintances? Something else?—one thing was undeniable.

He was the only one who had ever truly taken action to defend her.

And he still did.

But he couldn't be everywhere all the time.

There were always those who waited for her outside the school, those who ambushed her when he wasn't around.

"Hmm, it seems that not all hope is lost now, is it?" Mito's sharp gaze didn't miss the slight change in Kushina's expression, nor the way she had hesitated when recalling that particular memory.

Kushina nodded silently, wiping the last of her tears as she gathered her thoughts.

Slowly, she began to recount everything about him.

She described the boy with faded black eyes and dark hair, always wearing a white headband covering his forehead for some reason.

A Hyuga, but unlike the others, he didn't look down on her.

He was the one who had stood up for her during her first week in Konoha, the one who beat the bullies that constantly harassed her at school.

But what made him different wasn't just that he fought for her—it was that he never once claimed to be her friend or acted like he was doing it out of kindness.

No, every time, he always said the same thing—

That she was a guest of the village, and that it was his duty to stop those who sullied Konoha's name.

As she spoke, another memory surfaced—one she hadn't thought about in a while.

That one particular moment when he had called her beautiful.

Her face flushed slightly, heat creeping up to her ears.

But… it had never happened again after that.

Maybe he was just saying things at the time?

A big smile adorned Mito's face, her eyes filled with a knowing warmth.

"He seems to be a very good lad, doesn't he?"

Kushina nodded.

"He is…" she admitted, her voice softer now. "And… he isn't disgusted by my hair. Or at least, he's never said he is. Even during group activities, he never minds being paired with me."

She hesitated, then added, "He's also really diligent. I've never seen him skip a day of training."

"Oh?" Mito's smile widened slightly, her tone teasing. "You seem to know a lot about him. Do you know why he trains so hard?"

Kushina frowned, but she didn't hesitate to answer.

"He says it's because he wants to become the strongest sword of the village… and also to change his clan."

Mito nodded approvingly, still smiling as she gently petted Kushina's head.

"It's very good. You should cherish this friend, Kushina. There aren't many people like that in the world."

Kushina nodded slowly, but deep down, it still didn't answer the real question she had been asking herself.

Why was she here in the first place?

Seeing the impatience flicker across the young girl's face, Mito chuckled, amused by her lack of patience.

"Well then, you must be curious why you're here?"

Kushina nodded firmly, sitting up straight.

Mito remained silent for a moment, gathering her thoughts before speaking.

"A long time ago, when the villages were first created, there were many conflicts involving the tailed beasts."

Kushina listened intently, her curiosity piqued despite the lingering nerves in her chest.

"In the first few years, they were pushed back into uninhabited lands, too dangerous to be controlled. But later… Uchiha Madara rebelled. And with his Sharingan, he controlled the Nine Tails, using it as his weapon against the village."

Mito's gaze turned distant, as if recalling something she had seen with her own eyes.

"After Madara was defeated, there was no way to simply let the Nine Tails roam freely. It was too powerful, too destructive. There was only one choice—to seal it away."

Her expression softened, looking at Kushina with quiet understanding.

"That is why I was summoned to Konoha. I was born with an exceptionally strong chakra, capable of suppressing even the Nine Tails. So, I became its vessel."

Kushina swallowed hard, her small hands gripping the fabric of her dress.

She had a bad feeling about where this was going.

Mito's voice grew gentler, yet carried the weight of something inevitable.

"But now… my life is coming to an end."

She reached out, placing a warm but firm hand on Kushina's shoulder.

"And the village needs a new vessel for that temperamental fox."

"You… You mean…"

Kushina's mind went blank.

Her body froze, and for a moment, she couldn't even process Mito's words.

She had heard the stories before. She knew who this woman was—the first Jinchūriki in history.

But she had also heard about the gruesome fate of other Jinchūriki.

How many of them had died from the inside out? Torn apart by the mindless beasts sealed within them?

Not to mention those who were treated as weapons, used like disposable tools, sacrificed to deal devastating blows to enemy villages in times of war.

Her hands trembled, her chest tightening with a suffocating fear.

Was this the real reason she was brought to Konoha?

To carry a demon inside her!

Kushina's breath hitched, her body tensing as the weight of those words sank in.

Was this truly her fate? To live as a cage for a beast of destruction?

Seeing the fear in her expression, Mito smiled gently, her wrinkled hand reaching out to pet Kushina's flowing red hair.

"I know it sounds scary, child." Her voice was soothing, filled with a warmth that contrasted with the dread swirling inside Kushina's chest.

"But you don't have to be afraid. The reason we called you here is because you are just as special as I was."

Kushina blinked, her lips parting slightly, confused but still shaken.

Mito's smile deepened, her voice lowering slightly, as if sharing an ancient secret.

"Besides… do you want to know the key to suppressing that fox?"

Kushina nodded hesitantly, unsure of what she was about to hear.

Mito's smile softened, her eyes holding a depth of wisdom that had been forged through years of experience.

"You know, child… to defeat a beast filled with hatred, you simply need the opposite."

She gently placed a hand over Kushina's small chest, right where her heart was.

"You must fill yourself with love."

Seeing Kushina's confused expression, Mito chuckled softly, amusement dancing in her wise, tired eyes.

"If you think love is too abstract, you can always rely on the power of our clan instead."

Her smile widened, carrying a sense of deep-rooted pride.

"Our Fūinjutsu is the best in the world, after all."

Kushina's eyes widened in shock, disbelief flickering across her face.

"What?! Really?!"

Mito nodded, her voice unwavering.

"Yes. From now on, you may visit me every day after your classes. I will teach you everything I know about sealing techniques."

Kushina's breath caught in her throat, the weight of Mito's words settling deep in her chest.

For the first time since stepping into the Senju compound… she felt something other than fear.

The next day, during class, Kushina turned to her deskmate, Yuuki, and with a bright grin, slapped his back.

"Hey, neighbor!"

"Cough, cough!" Caught completely off guard, Yuuki nearly choked on air, turning to glare at her in embarrassment.

"Damn! What was that for?"

"Nothing!" Kushina laughed mischievously, eyes sparkling with amusement. "You just look too gloomy all the time. Always walking around with that cold, serious face. You should smile more, you know—it makes you look more handsome."

Yuuki blinked, momentarily thrown off.

"Is that so?" he asked, confused.

"Yes." Kushina nodded to herself, as if she had just made some profound realization.

Then, before she could hesitate, she steeled herself and leaned in slightly.

"Also… can I ask you for a favor?"

Yuuki raised an eyebrow, sensing something was different.

"Sure. What is it?"

Kushina hesitated for a moment, her usual confidence wavering. But then she took a deep breath and pushed forward.

"I… I want you to help me with my training. I want to become stronger."

Yuuki's eyes widened as he turned to stare at her in shock.

Ever since he had known Kushina, she had always been stubborn, arrogant, and fiercely independent. She refused help, insisted she could handle herself, and never let anyone think she needed protecting.

Yet now, she was asking him for help?

Still surprised, he studied her expression, searching for hesitation—but found only determination.

After a pause, he nodded.

"Alright. When are you free?"

"After 6 PM, every day!"

Yuuki smirked slightly. "Then meet me at the summit of the Hokage Mountain. I'll also introduce you to a friend of mine. Don't judge him by his appearance—he's actually very powerful."

Kushina grinned, her excitement barely contained.

"Alright!"