NARUTO COLUMNS
07/10/2024
[Birthday Column] Celebrating Kushina's Birthday on 7/10! Looking Back on a Woman Who Found Love Despite the Cruelty of Fate and Became a Mother Who Gave It All for Her Child!
A column celebrating the birthdays and achievements of everyone's favorite ninja!
Today we'll be reminiscing about a shinobi who lived life on her own terms despite being tossed about by fate's swirling currents: Naruto's mother, Kushina Uzumaki!
Today we'll be reminiscing about a shinobi who lived life on her own terms despite being tossed about by fate's swirling currents: Naruto's mother, Kushina Uzumaki!
■Kushina Uzumaki
・Birthday: July 10th (Cancer)
・Favorite Food: Shio ramen
Spiraling Fate and Red Strands
At a young age, Kushina is brought to Konoha from the destroyed village of Uzushio-Gakure to be their second Jinchuriki of the Nine Tails.
Not wanting to be snubbed by her new peers, when her class at the Ninja Academy is asked to share their dreams for the future she makes a bold declaration:
Not wanting to be snubbed by her new peers, when her class at the Ninja Academy is asked to share their dreams for the future she makes a bold declaration:
"I'm gonna be the first female Hokage!"
Unfortunately, her plan backfires and causes the boys in her class to see her as snotty. They start bullying Kushina, calling her "tomato" because of her face and hair.
Her violent retaliation to this bullying lands her a new nickname: the Red-Hot Habanero!
Her violent retaliation to this bullying lands her a new nickname: the Red-Hot Habanero!
Despite the assertive, take-no-prisoners attitude she displays to those around her, Kushina struggles with anxiety and uncertainty.
The destruction of her homeland, being brought to a new village, the pressure and loneliness that come with the role of Nine Tails' Jinchuriki...
The one who helps her learn to bear these burdens is none other than the Jinchuriki she is to succeed, Mito Uzumaki.
The destruction of her homeland, being brought to a new village, the pressure and loneliness that come with the role of Nine Tails' Jinchuriki...
The one who helps her learn to bear these burdens is none other than the Jinchuriki she is to succeed, Mito Uzumaki.
Mito's advice helps Kushina find a way forward as both a ninja of Konoha and a Jinchuriki. But more trials lie in store for her.
Kushina is abducted by shinobi from the Hidden Cloud who are after the Nine Tails' chakra.
Thinking on her feet even in this hopeless situation, Kushina leaves a trail using her red hair, which is followed by a certain ninja who was perhaps destined to save her!
"THAT DAY, I KNEW MINATO REALLY WOULD BE A GREAT NINJA.
I REALIZED HE COULD MAKE ALL MY DREAMS COME TRUE.
AND HE CHANGED ME...
MY HATED RED HAIR HAD BROUGHT ME MY LOVE...
MY HAIR BECAME MY RED DESTINY.
AND SINCE THEN, I'VE LIKED MY HAIR...
...AND MOST OF ALL, I FELL IN LOVE WITH MINATO."
Together with Minato, Kushina strives upwards, using the love she has found to change fate's spiral into a helix.
Hardships and Happiness
Though Kushina continues to grow closer with Minato in the years following her kidnapping, the village's surveillance of her as the Nine Tails' Jinchuriki becomes ever stricter.
She spends her days in a house enclosed inside a barrier, and even when she goes out she is forbidden from leaving the larger, spiral-shaped barrier that covers a portion of the village.
Perhaps the only thing she has to look forward to is the time she spends with Minato while teaching him sealing jutsu.
Perhaps the only thing she has to look forward to is the time she spends with Minato while teaching him sealing jutsu.
One day, when Minato suddenly cancels their training plans, Kushina has had enough and leaves the spiral barrier, incapacitating her Black Ops guard detail.
While her brief escape may not seem like a big deal to the young Jinchuriki, the situation takes a dangerous turn.
Nine Tails rampages inside Kushina, even seizing enough control to enter the Biju State!
Nine Tails rampages inside Kushina, even seizing enough control to enter the Biju State!
Kushina is under attack by Nine Tails in the world of her mind, but Minato is right beside her, defending his beloved with his life!
Minato's love gives Kushina the strength she needs to resist the Biju State!
The two work as one, supporting each other until they succeed in resealing Nine Tails!
Kushina and Minato continue to have each other's backs through many challenges. They eventually marry and are expecting their first child.
Kushina and Minato continue to have each other's backs through many challenges. They eventually marry and are expecting their first child.
Now both the wife of the Hokage and a mother-to-be, Kushina's worries have increased, but her days are filled with happiness.
"NARUTO...
...IT'S A WONDERFUL NAME."
Getting close to the end of her pregnancy, the couple must decide on a name.
Both admiring the protagonist of one of Jiraiya's novels, Minato and Kushina decide to name their son after this character: Naruto.
October 10th, a day that will prove fateful for many, rapidly approaches.
Both admiring the protagonist of one of Jiraiya's novels, Minato and Kushina decide to name their son after this character: Naruto.
October 10th, a day that will prove fateful for many, rapidly approaches.
A Mother's Message
When her due date arrives, Kushina heads to a place outside the village where a special barrier has been set up.
On her way she encounters Sasuke's mother, Mikoto Uchiha, and finds herself uncharacteristically worried about what childbirth will be like.
On her way she encounters Sasuke's mother, Mikoto Uchiha, and finds herself uncharacteristically worried about what childbirth will be like.
Soon after Kushina enters the barrier, she faces both the onset of labor pains greater than she had imagined and the Nine Tails struggling inside her as the seal weakens.
Kushina endures, and finally she and Minato are able to welcome Naruto into the world!
But that happiness is shattered in the blink of an eye.
The Nine Tails is extracted from Kushina.
While Minato successfully fends off their enemies, he is helpless to prevent her impending death.
While Minato successfully fends off their enemies, he is helpless to prevent her impending death.
Kushina holds her son tight before resolving to use the little time she has left to protect Naruto and Minato as best she can.
"I...I'M HAPPY...
I'M... YOU LOVE ME...PLUS...
...TODAY...IS THE CHILD'S BIRTHDAY...SO..."
"MOST OF ALL... IF...I...WERE TO IMAGINE...
...ME ALIVE, AND OUR FUTURE...TOGETHER, AS A FAMILY OF THREE...THEN...
...I CAN'T SEE US...BEING ANYTHING BUT HAPPY..."
However, Minato is unwilling to go along with Kushina's plan, and instead proposes using his own life to activate the Reaper Death Seal.
His hope is to both give Kushina the chance to meet her grown son, and provide Naruto with the Nine Tails' power so he can face the calamities of the future.
Seeing Minato's determination, Kushina concedes.
With her final breaths, she speaks words full of love to her son.
"NARUTO...THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF HARD...
AND PAINFUL...TIMES AHEAD...
TAKE CARE...OF YOURSELF...!
...MAKE SURE TO HAVE DREAMS...
...AND THE CONFIDENCE...TO MAKE THOSE DREAMS...COME TRUE...!!
...SO MUCH! THERE'S SO...SO...MUCH...!
THERE REALLY IS...SO MUCH MORE I WANT...TO TELL YOU...
...I WANT TO BE WITH YOU LONGER...I LOVE YOU..."
And so, Kushina's turbulent life comes to an end at the young age of 24.
But 16 years later, she reunites with her now teenaged son.
But 16 years later, she reunites with her now teenaged son.
A Love Not Bound by Time
While Naruto is training to control Nine Tails' chakra, Kushina's chakra manifests! She is finally able to have her long-awaited reunion with her son!
The two of them talk eagerly, trying to make up for 16 years of absence and expressing their love for each other.
Kushina lends Naruto her support, and the mother-son duo triumph against Nine Tails!
Their teamwork is reminiscent of when Kushina and Minato fought together all those years ago.
Their teamwork is reminiscent of when Kushina and Minato fought together all those years ago.
Naruto succeeds in controlling Nine Tails' chakra, and forms a new seal. Now that the immediate danger has passed, Kushina tells her son what really happened 16 years ago.
After finishing her story, Kushina apologizes for everything Naruto has endured.
Naruto's response, while unexpected, is a happy one: "Now I know you always loved me! I'm happy!! I'm glad I'm your kid!!"
"NARUTO...
THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BECOME A MOTHER...
AND MINATO A FATHER...
THANK YOU SO MUCH...
...FOR HAVING BEEN BORN TO US!!"
Having poured all her love into Naruto, Kushina is able to join Minato in the afterlife, finally at peace.
Article and Composition: Yuichi Ohba (Caramel mama)
That's all for Kushina's birthday column!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the fiery spirit and boundless love of Kushina Uzumaki!
Take this opportunity to reread the manga and look back on the fiery spirit and boundless love of Kushina Uzumaki!
