Naruto: The Clanless Prince

Uzumaki Kushina heard Uzumaki Mito say that she knew where Sora was.

Uzumaki Kushina hurriedly asked, "Grandma Mito, where is Sora?"

"In the Ninja Hospital. It seems he was injured during training and has been in a coma for several days. You can—"

Before Uzumaki Mito could finish speaking, Uzumaki Kushina dashed out of the room impatiently.

"Grandma Mito, I'll be back soon!" she called out.

Uzumaki Mito watched her leave with a loving smile.

Yesterday, Sarutobi Hiruzen came to visit Uzumaki Mito to ask about Uzumaki Kushina's situation. During the conversation, Uzumaki Mito inquired about Sora.

When she learned that Sora was injured during training and had been comatose in the Ninja Hospital for several days, she was taken aback.

What kind of training could push someone to such an extreme that it landed them in a coma for days?

However, Uzumaki Mito noticed something curious about Sarutobi Hiruzen's demeanour.

Previously, he spoke of Sora with indifference, but yesterday, his attitude seemed to shift. It felt like he was beginning to pay closer attention to Sora.

Though she wasn't sure what had caused this change, Uzumaki Mito considered it a good thing.

As for Uzumaki Kushina, Uzumaki Mito felt a sense of guilt.

Uzumaki Kushina had come to Konoha for the sole purpose of becoming the new Nine Tails Jinchūriki. The responsibility of carrying the burden of the Nine-Tails had brought her to the village.

Regarding Sora, Uzumaki Mito also felt a pang of regret.

Sora carried half the bloodline of the Senju clan, yet as the wife of the former head of the Senju clan, Uzumaki Mito had been unable to protect him.

Uzumaki Mito was also aware of why Sarutobi Hiruzen had arranged for Uzumaki Kushina to transfer to Sora's class.

That class included a genius ninja: Namikaze Minato.

Namikaze Minato, a civilian ninja with no clan ties, was rumoured to have caught the attention of Jiraiya, one of Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciples. It was said that Jiraiya intended to take Namikaze Minato as a disciple upon his graduation.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had once shared his plan with Uzumaki Mito, explaining that he wanted Uzumaki Kushina to develop bonds in Konoha, to feel connected to the village, and to identify as part of it.

Namikaze Minato was the person Sarutobi Hiruzen had chosen to serve as a link for Uzumaki Kushina—a bridge to deepen her sense of belonging to Konoha.

As a civilian ninja unaffiliated with any clan, Namikaze Minato was considered neutral and firmly aligned with the Hokage faction.

This strategy ensured that no ninja clan would develop ulterior motives regarding the Nine Tails Jinchūriki.

Uzumaki Mito had no reason to oppose Sarutobi Hiruzen's plan nor the means to stop it.

Because Sarutobi Hiruzen is the Hokage and she is merely the wife of the First Hokage, Uzumaki Mito knew her influence was limited.

But compared to Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Mito felt more optimistic about Sora.

The reason was simple: Sora was a descendant of the Senju clan, and as a member of the Uzumaki clan and an elder, she naturally felt a closer connection to him.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen showed interest in Sora and Uzumaki Kushina and Sora could bond, there would likely be less resistance.

Sora, unrecognized by the Uchiha clan and unaffiliated with any other Konoha ninja clan, presented an opportunity. Uzumaki Mito's eyes gleamed with determination.

Her time was drawing to a close, but at the very least, she hoped to see Uzumaki Kushina grow up. If Uzumaki Kushina and Sora could truly connect, Uzumaki Mito was willing to help them.

Uzumaki Kushina ran toward the Ninja Hospital, her heart pounding with excitement.

Not knowing which ward Sora was in, she asked a busy medical ninja.

The inquiry went surprisingly smoothly, though the attitude of the medical ninja irked Uzumaki Kushina.

"Ah, that boy is in the innermost ward down the front corridor," the medical ninja replied with a tone and expression full of disdain.

Uzumaki Kushina clenched her fists but held back her anger as she walked toward the ward.

She opened the door and stepped inside.

Sora lay motionless on the hospital bed, his hands and feet wrapped in bandages. The bedside table was bare—no flowers, no fruit, not even a glass of water. Only the steady beeping of the medical equipment filled the silence.

Uzumaki Kushina's heart sank at the sight.

Forcing a smile, she said, "I'm here to see you, Sora."

Naturally, the unconscious Sora did not respond.

Determined, Uzumaki Kushina ran out of the ward, heading straight for a flower shop to buy a bouquet.

Although Sora was unconscious, his mind was clear, though he had no control over his body.

The strain of simulating the full sword form of Thunder Breath and manipulating the properties of lightning chakra had pushed his body to its limits, leaving him in unimaginable pain. Every muscle and organ felt as if it were on fire.

Yet the power of the full sword form of Thunder Breath gave him a strange satisfaction, making the agony feel almost bearable.

At just nine years old, with such limited chakra, Sora had been able to wield an extraordinary technique. The thought of how strong he could become as an adult fueled his determination.

Sora had regained consciousness the previous day. He spent the time replaying the sensation of using Thunder Breath in his mind, yearning to train again.

But he hadn't expected Uzumaki Kushina to visit him. The surprise was overwhelming.

He barely knew her—they had only interacted once in class, and he had declined her offer of friendship. Why would she come to see him? It was baffling.

Just as Sora was about to focus on his training thoughts, the door to his ward opened again.

Uzumaki Kushina entered, carrying a bouquet of lilies. She found a vase, carefully arranged the flowers, and then sat down beside the bed.

Looking at his sleeping face, she began to speak softly.

"I didn't know what kind of flowers to buy for a patient," she confessed. "I told the flower shop owner that my friend was injured during ninja training, and I wanted to bring something nice. The owner suggested lilies. They symbolize blessings, purity, and good luck. Pretty fitting, right?"

She hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"Grandma Mito said that if I want to be friends with you, I might be hated by others, but I've made up my mind. I want to be friends with you, Sora, because you were the only one who didn't laugh at me. You even helped me when that boy grabbed my hair."

Her voice softened. "Grandma Mito said you're a victim of conflict between two ninja clans. I don't understand that, but I do know that a good friend doesn't abandon someone because of what others think."

Then, with renewed resolve, she announced, "I'll do my best to make you my friend! You just wait!"

Hearing her heartfelt words, Sora suddenly felt his heart race. A warmth spread through him, something he hadn't felt in the five long years he had spent in Konoha.