Start with the Mangekyō and leave Konoha with Madara.

At the entrance of Uzushio Village, Tsunade ended her reminiscing and returned, reunited with Jiraiya, and left with Nawaki and Kushina.

Kushina looked back reluctantly, gazing at the village where she had lived for eight years, her eyes filled with reluctance.

There were many tribesmen standing at the entrance of the village. At the front, Uzumaki Kyonoka smiled gently and looked at her with encouraging eyes.

Kushina puffed up her lips and waved her little fist firmly, but she still looked back towards the village frequently, as if she was looking for something.

Unfortunately, she didn’t see that person until the village turned into a small black dot and disappeared at the end of her sight.

She sniffed and her eyes turned slightly red, but she tried hard not to sob.

Rope Tree noticed her emotions and quickly stepped forward to comfort her: "Kushina, don't worry, you can still come back if you miss home."

He pointed to the land in the distance and said, "Look, the other side of the sea is the Land of Fire. As long as you cross this sea, you can go home."

Tsunade squatted in front of Kushina and reached out to touch her little head: "Nawoki is right. After arriving in Konoha, my sister will take care of you. We have the same blood and we are your family."

Kushina nodded, pursed her lips and said nothing.

When they reached the shore, Jiraiya immediately squatted down and pointed at his back:

"Kushina-chan, crossing the sea is still very difficult for a novice ninja, so let me carry you across the sea."

"Thank you, but no thanks." Kushina shook her head, stretched out her little hand and made a seal. When the chakra gathered at the soles of her feet along the meridians, she took a step forward and stepped on the surging sea.

Several people immediately showed surprised eyes. Amidst Rope Tree's exclamation, Kushina walked towards the sea. No matter how surging the waves were, she still walked on the sea as if it were flat ground, and even walked briskly.

"I learned how to cross mountains and rivers when I was 6 years old," she said, looking back.

Tsunade and Jiraiya looked at each other, and there was a hint of surprise in their eyes.

It seems that the Uzumaki clan leader did not hold a grudge against the past and really sent a very talented Uzumaki clan member to Konoha.

"I'm coming too!"

Not willing to be outdone, Nawaki stepped on the sea and ran to Kushina's side.

"In that case, let's see who reaches land first!"

"Yeah." Kushina nodded slightly.

"If you're tired, Kushina, you can take a rest during the trip. It would be bad if you slip and fall into the sea."

"Ah."

Nawaki patted his chest, reached out and gently grasped Kushina's wrist, "But, I will be by your side. Even if sister Kushina falls, I will catch you in the first place!"

Kushina gave a polite smile, "Thank you, Nawaki-nii-san then."

"Don't worry..." Sheng Shu paused.

A sea breeze blew by, moist and cool.

Kushina was stunned because Nawaki's eyes suddenly changed. It was an indescribable feeling. The originally innocent eyes became deep, and the majesty of a superior was revealed in the gentleness, which could make people feel at ease at a glance.

"Don't worry, I will always be by your side." Sheng Shu smiled gently.

Kushina was stunned, and felt a familiar touch on her fingertips. It was because the "Rope Tree" touched her little finger and gently pinched it.

"This is..." She suddenly widened her eyes in disbelief.

When she was very young, she liked to stick around Shenyu and act like a spoiled child. Whenever Shenyu came to Uzushio Village, she would always be his designated little cotton-padded jacket.

Shen Yu’s favorite thing is to gently pinch the smooth and soft tip of his little finger like this.

The identity of the person in front of him is naturally beyond doubt!

Kushina's eyes suddenly became moist, her little mouth was slightly pursed, and she was about to burst into tears in the next second.

"Rope Tree" quickly raised his finger and made a "hush" sound at his mouth.

"rest assured."

For a moment, Kushina felt herself surrounded by a huge joy. This strong emotion filled her whole body, leaving no room for the reluctance and disappointment just now.

She felt like she was going to explode with happiness.

The two of them had their backs to each other, so Tsunade and Jiraiya behind them didn't notice anything unusual.

Tsunade just sighed a little, children's feelings are so simple, they can quickly heat up in such a short time.

……

At the entrance of Uzushio Village, Orochimaru, having completed his mission, walked towards the village.

At this time, a boy about 4 years old suddenly walked out from the crowd that was seeing Kushina off.

Orochimaru noticed his gaze at the first moment, and stopped in his tracks while feeling surprised.

The child had long red hair and a pretty face. She stood in front of him with her head held high, looking very pretty.

"Hello, Mr. Orochimaru, my name is Nagato."

Orochimaru squatted down so that their eyes were level and smiled slightly, "What do you want to talk to me about?"

He had an impression of this child. It was he and Shen Yu who sent his family back to the Whirlpool Country from the Rain Country.

"Yes, I...I want to..." The boy put his hands behind his back, looking shy, "I want you to teach me ninjutsu."

"Practicing ninjutsu?" Orochimaru's expression became strange.

"Yeah... Yeah!" The boy nodded heavily, "My mother said that I have a good talent and I'm old enough to practice. I was able to refine chakra a few months ago."

"Actually, I'm also very interested in ninjutsu..." As if worried that Orochimaru would get impatient, Nagato immediately took out a flat chakra test paper from his pocket, pinched it between his fingers, and injected his own chakra.

"According to the test results, what I am best at..." As he spoke, the test paper in his hand split in the middle and floated down slowly, "is Wind Escape."

The boy looked up at Orochimaru, his eyes full of expectation, "I... I just watched Mr. Orochimaru's battle, your wind escape technique is amazing, I would like to... please teach me..."

"You want to..." Orochimaru's eyes flickered, something in his heart was touched, and a strange emotion grew, "You want to be my disciple?"

Nagato exclaimed, "If Orochimaru-san is willing, I can become your disciple."

He suddenly muttered in a low voice, "In fact, our family returned to the village later. Although my mother didn't say it, I know that she always hoped that I could become an excellent ninja. Only in this way can we be worthy of the care of the village..."

Orochimaru took a deep breath and slowly stood up, "I'm sorry, I can't agree to your request now."

Nagato's eyes dimmed, "Really? Well, thank you for listening to me."

Orochimaru was a little surprised, "I clearly rejected you, and you actually thanked me?"

"I know it's not easy to become stronger. Dad said that growth is like the pain of peeling off a cocoon." As he spoke, Nagato touched his chest, "I feel pain here, maybe it means I have grown up, so I won't let my mother down."

"Fool." Orochimaru suddenly laughed out loud.

"Huh?" Nagato tilted his head.

"I said it's not possible now, but I didn't say it's not possible in the future." Orochimaru put one hand on his waist and looked at the blue sky.

"I rejected you because I haven't finished my apprenticeship yet."