15 15. The mask storage temple

"I.. want to be happy and protect things that make me happy" answered Aiko honestly after thinking for a bit.

"Happy?" She repeated looking at him.

Yes, Aiko was simple like that, after reading Uzushiogakure's history, he realised that they weren't destroyed because of what they had done; as they hardly interacted with others.

They were destroyed because of what they could have done, when he came to understand this, Aiko thought if they had already had that power, then no one would have dared to attack them.

So, Aiko simply decided that he would grow stronger to be happy as he is now, with the people he likes around him.

"I also want to be happy, I think the world will be a happy place without conflicts," said Ichiro looking at the sky as she remembered the corpse strewn fields of the war.

..................….

After playing (training) with Ichiro for a while, Aiko walked home as the sun was about to set, but, he felt discomfort in his chest, when he thought about the interactions between Mikoto, Ichiro and Sasuke, the aura he felt from the Uchiha family was of happiness, he didn't quite understand this feeling of discomfort, but it was a recurring one, whenever he saw people on the the streets carrying children on their shoulders or when people walked around holding hands smiling happily, this feeling would return along with a sense of bitterness and longing.

Usually, he would just ignore them, using his calm mind skill, but today the feeling was a bit intense and he felt that depending on the skill to deal with them was not the correct method as it led to uncontrollable outbursts later, like the one he had with Kushina.

He looked around the crowded streets, trying to understand this emotion he was feeling,

' Why does it affect me, is it because they seemed very happy?' he thought,'but, I am also happy' he furrowed his brows.

Even after thinking about it for a while he could not pinpoint the reason leaving him perplexed, so he put it at the back of his mind to think about it later or talk to someone about it.

"Welcome Aiko-kun, how was your day, is the baby healthy?" asked Kushina as soon as he entered the house.

Looking at her smiling face Aiko felt his mood brighten up a little. He told her about his day.

"Oh.., they named him after lord third's father, I think," said Kushina after hearing the baby's name.

"In a few months you will also be an elder brother, ya know" said Kushina suddenly surprising him.

"Elder brother?" he asked, confused.

"My child is also half Uzumaki, ya know," said Kushina as if it was natural, looking at him with a warm gaze.

'I..I will also have a sibling?' thought Aiko and then suddenly the discomfort he had felt till now melted like snow under the warm gaze.

'I.. also wanted a sibling, huh?' thought Aiko, understanding the reason for his discomfort earlier.

"I will take care of him and protect him," said Aiko, looking seriously at Kushina as if he had received a heavy responsibility.

Kushina looking at his expression which looked more cute than serious, smiled as she caressed his head saying "I know."

As, if thinking about something she added, " There is some place I want to show you, I will ask Minato to take us there tomorrow, ya know"

"What place?" asked Aiko, his curiosity spiked.

"You will see tomorrow" she said a bit mysteriously, making him more curious but, he did not push the issue and just nodded his head.

Soon, Minato returned and the three had their dinner together while talking about their daily activities. Kushina told him her plan for tomorrow and Minato agreed that he would drop them there and pick them up, but he couldn't stay as he had his work.

Kushina nodded her head and it was decided that they would leave early in the morning.

...............….

Next day the three people were gathered in the living room of the mansion after finishing their breakfast.

"Aiko-kun don't get startled okay?" said Minato as he placed a hand on his shoulder and held Kushina's hand with the other and suddenly the surroundings around them changed in a fraction of second and they were in an open field.

Aiko was shocked as his mapping skill showed that he was in an unknown area. 'What happened?' he thought.

"This is a jutsu which allows the user to instantly teleport to marked locations" explained Minato lightly as if sensing his thoughts.

'Wow' thought Aiko, surprised that something like this was possible.

"Can I learn it?" asked Aiko curiously his eyes shining a little

"Hmm, when you are older" told Minato with a smile as Aiko was also a sensory type ninja, it might be possible for him to learn it.

"Ok, Kushina-chan, contact me when you are done and stay inside the barrier" said Minato before vanishing from the spot.

"Ok, Aiko-kun lets go," said Kushina as she formed a few hand seals in quick succession.

Aiko was once again shocked as a transparent screen appeared in front of them on the empty grass field which soon rippled and vanished revealing a large shrine.

"This is a shrine built along with the Konoha village, it is said that it stood as a symbol of trust between Konoha and Uzushiogakure." explained Kushina as she led Aiko into the temple by hand.

As soon as they entered the barrier Aiko found out that he wasn't able to sense the outside even with his mapping skill.

"Isolating Barrier" muttered Aiko as he had read about these in the scrolls.

"Yes, it is said that it was set up by the patriarch of that time, Ashina Uzumaki", said Kushina, her voice laced with respect.

"The one who helped in sealing the tailed beasts?" asked Aiko a bit astonished as he had read about the man, the uzumaki who was considered a genius in the sealing techniques, reading about his achievements and research on seals made Aiko have a lot of respect for this patriarch of his clan.

"Yes, the first hokage decided sharing them would help maintain the power balance and reduce wars, but it had the opposite effect, ya know" said Kushina looking at the huge entrance of the shrine.

"Well, this shrine is called Mask storage temple, here the masks used by Uzumaki ancestors for forming contracts are kept, there was also a artifact hall of senju clan in Uzushiogakure, I think it would have been already ransacked empty" said Kushina walking inside the shrine

"Contracts?, like the Dead demon consuming seal?" asked Aiko walking alongside her.