Naruto: I'm Nine-Tails and My Host is Kushina-Chapter 160 : Maid

Karura immediately woke up completely and released her grip on his hand.

There was no mistaking it—standing in front of her was the infamous "Red-Hot Habanero," Uzumaki Kushina.

Even after years of separation, Karura recognized her instantly.

That meant only one thing—she was in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Sand Shinobi's pursuers wouldn't be able to catch up now.

She was safe.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. That's when she realized something startling.

She felt no exhaustion.

Her body, which had been on the verge of collapse from battle fatigue and poisoning, was completely healed.

Not only that—the venom in her system was gone.

It was as if she had never been poisoned in the first place.

Karura looked up at Kushina, eyes still wide with disbelief.

"Red-Hot Habanero, did you... save me?"

"No," Kushina grinned, thumbing behind her. "It was him."

Karura blinked.

Only then did she notice the man beside Kushina.

Tall, imposing, his presence exuded something unnatural—something primal.

His crimson eyes, slit like a predator's, made it impossible to meet his gaze for long. The raw aura of power rolling off him was suffocating.

Karura tensed. She had seen many dangerous men in her life—Kazekage assassins, war criminals, rogue ninjas—but this man?

He felt different.

He felt inhuman.

"Who—?"

Before she could ask, Kushina interrupted, crossing her arms and smirking.

"Oi, lady, do we know each other? Why'd you come all the way to Konoha looking for me?"

Karura stared at her.

Did Kushina really not remember her?

Or was she pretending?

She scoffed, folding her arms.

"Do you seriously not recognize me? It's me, Karura."

"Who cares?" Kushina huffed. "If you don't introduce yourself properly, I'll just have this guy throw you out of Konoha. And don't think for a second that being a pretty woman means I won't hit you."

Karura twitched.

Pretty woman?

She wasn't sure whether to be flattered or annoyed.

"Karura of the Hidden Sand," she said at last, expression hardening. "The Jonin who fought during the Second Shinobi War."

Kushina blinked, gears turning in her head.

A moment later, her eyes widened.

"Oh! The tomboy from back then?!"

Karura clenched her fists.

Tomboy? Really?

Kushina grinned. "Hah! No way! You were so scrawny and rough back then. Look at you now! You actually turned into a woman!"

Karura scowled. "...Are you saying I wasn't before?"

"Well," Kushina said, rubbing her chin, "you were built like a twig and had a mouth filthier than Jiraiya-sensei's novels. Didn't really scream 'lady' to me."

Karura twitched again.

She had forgotten how irritating Kushina could be.

Kurama chuckled. He had been watching their exchange with amusement. "So, what brings you here?"

At that, Karura's face fell.

Her grip on her sleeve tightened as she exhaled shakily.

Then, she told them everything.

About Rasa—the man who would become the Fourth Kazekage—who had tried to force her into marriage.

About how the village elders had turned against her, treating her like a political pawn to be traded.

About how the moment Rasa took power, everyone had abandoned her.

How she had no one left.

By the time she finished speaking, she was trembling with anger and grief.

Kurama remained impassive. But Kushina?

Tears streamed down her face.

"That's...! That's so cruel! Who the hell still forces people into marriage these days?! That bastard—!"

Karura swallowed, steadying herself. Then, she met Kushina's gaze, eyes burning with determination.

"That's why I came here," she said. "Kushina, I need your help. Let me stay in Konoha. I can become a ninja of this village. I'll do anything. I just... I can't go back to the Sand."

Kushina stared at her, lips pursed.

"Anything, huh?" she said slowly.

Karura nodded without hesitation. "Anything."

A sly grin spread across Kushina's face.

"Then how are your cooking skills?"

Karura blinked. "...What?"

"You heard me." Kushina smirked, elbowing Kurama. "Hey, Master Kurama, whaddya think?"

Kurama's expression was unreadable as he regarded Karura.

"Are you sure, Kushina?"

"Why, you got a problem with it?"

"No," Kurama chuckled. "Not at all. As long as it makes you happy."

Kushina turned back to Karura, smirking.

"Alright, here's the deal," she said. "You can stay in Konoha. But I only have one condition."

Karura straightened, bracing herself.

"You're gonna be my and Kurama's personal maid."

Karura blinked.

Then she blinked again.

"...That's it?"

"That's it."

Karura had been expecting something far worse. Maybe exile-level conditions. Maybe some dangerous mission to prove her loyalty. Maybe even being locked up in ANBU's custody.

But this?

This was nothing.

She exhaled sharply. "Fine. I accept."

Kushina grinned. "Great!"

Later that evening, after getting Karura settled in, Kushina sat at the dinner table, eagerly waiting.

"Karura, you done yet?!" she whined.

"Almost," Karura called back.

Minutes later, she walked out with the food.

Kushina's eyes sparkled. The moment the dishes hit the table, she dug in.

"Holy crap, this is amazing!"

Kurama took a bite as well. He nodded approvingly. "Not bad."

Karura stood there awkwardly, watching them eat. She wasn't used to this.

Then, without warning, Kushina grabbed her wrist and yanked her down into a seat.

"Oi, you made this, so eat with us!"

Karura hesitated. Then, slowly, she picked up her chopsticks.

As they ate, she found herself relaxing for the first time in what felt like years.

For the first time since she left the Sand, she felt something strange.

Something warm.

Something she hadn't felt in a long time.

A sense of belonging.

Maybe, just maybe... escaping to Konoha had been the right choice after all.

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