"You haven't changed much, Naruto. It was Kurama's reminder."
Minato shook his head as he remembered the conversation between Naruto and Kurama.
Instead of just sending him the memories, they sent him the conversation.
"No, I feel like I have changed. It's hard for me not think badly about my actions."
Naruto grumbled.
He felt like he had kidnapped Kawaki, just as Hiruzen had kidnapped him. The only difference was their mentality.
While he was a kind and weak kid, Kawaki wasn't kind, and he wasn't weak either.
"Don't think too much!"
Kurama tapped his head with his claw the moment he sensed something was wrong with Naruto's mentality.
"Ouch! That hurts, Kurama!"
Naruto felt as if a large metal stick had hit his head.
"Alright, alright, I won't think much. But, what are you going to do now?"
Naruto asked while looking at Minato.
"With Six Paths Senjutsu Chakra, my Chakra imprint and Kushina's Chakra imprint will not disappear for a long time as long as we don't do anything."
"So, we can help you with your goals for as long as we can stay."
Minato replied.
Then, he paused for a moment before asking.
"But, are you ready to meet your mother?"
Naruto took a deep breath and nodded.
Minato floated in front of the gate and placed his hand on the seal. Then, a white chakra flowed out of the gates, revealing Kushina's figure.
When Kushina appeared, she looked at Minato with confusion.
"Why did you summon me here?"
She thought she would appear the moment Naruto was ready to fight the Nine Tails.
But seeing Minato, she was pretty confused, especially since Minato used his Chakra to guide her out.
"Our circumstances have changed!"
Minato showed a bitter smile and answered while turning his head around.
Kushina followed his gaze, and her eyes widened when she saw Naruto.
Looking at a twelve-year-old boy with yellow hair, she immediately dashed in front of him and embraced him.
"Naruto!"
Although Naruto was expecting this kind of response, when he heard his mother calling his name, Naruto couldn't help but burst into tears.
He had seen the memories of his future-self. He did have complaints against Minato, but he knew his mother loved him more than anything in the world.
That's why Naruto couldn't say anything. He just embraced her and wept in her chest while Kushina also cried in his head.
"My child!"
Kushina didn't let him go even after a long time. She kept holding him like a teddy bear.
But after sniffing for a while, she asked.
"So, why did you call out my Chakra? What changed?"
Unlike Minato, she hadn't received the memories. So, she looked at him and asked.
"So, do you want to give her the memories or do you want to explain the situation?" Kurama spoke.
When she heard his voice, Kushina turned around and said.
"Even this fox knows the truth. Tell me everything!"
She couldn't help but glare at Minato with deadly threats.
Seeing this, Minato had no choice but to share the details. It took her quite a while to understand the situation.
Upon learning about the changes brought by the future memories, Kushina looked at her son and said.
"Naruto, are you okay?"
Hearing her tone of concern, Naruto felt warm in his heart. Unlike others, the first thing his mother asked him was about his well-being.
It was normal. Kurama and Minato were more analytical about the changes brought by those memories.
While for Kushina, whether those memories were good or bad didn't matter. What mattered was whether her son was happy with the changes or not.
Naruto sniffed and nodded.
"It took me some time to accept those memories, but I am fine now."
Kushina smiled and ruffled his hair as she said.
"That's good! You don't have to accept us for who we are in your memories. Or anyone for the matter."
"Just know your father and mother will always love you the most."
"Umm!"
Naruto nodded his head as he felt his mind clearing up a lot.
Even his resentment towards his father slowly disappeared. There wasn't much from the beginning.
But even the little bit that he had disappeared the moment his mother said those words.
At this moment, Naruto understood something.
Memories were an important factor for change. But they weren't deciding factors.
He shouldn't use the memories to understand the emotions.
He shouldn't go after Hinata because she was married to him in the future. He should go after her because she loved him at the moment.
"Thank you, Mom!"
As Naruto got clear understanding of his decisions, he thanked his mother.
"No, we should be thankful to you, Naruto. There are so many things that I want to talk to you about."
Kushina smiled.
"I really want to thank your future self for giving me this opportunity, Naruto. For our family to be together even for some time."
When she said, she pulled Minato before he could say anything and hugged her husband and son.
After Minato's explanation, she could understand there was a small barrier between her husband and son.
But as a mother and a wife, she couldn't let that barrier remain for much longer.
As if he understood her intentions, Naruto hesitated for a moment before embracing his mother and father.
Feeling the hand of his son around his back, Minato closed his eyes, but tears barely stopped from falling.
This was the truest acceptance he desired from his son.
Although in the future, he also got some level of acceptance. It was because of Naruto's magnanimity.
Naruto had accepted his title as the son of a hero, and being the son of a hero, he believed he should bear the consequences of his father's action.
It was a forgiveness out of responsibility.
But now, Naruto was forgiving him out of love.
And, Minato was really grateful for that.
As the family of three embraced each other, Kurama lowered his ears and head until a solid yellow chain came out of Kushina's back and pulled his tail.
Wrapping it around them as she said.
"We are a family, Kurama!"