The morning felt different.
Not calm.
Not peaceful.
But… awake.
Kushina stood on the training ground.
Alone.
The air was clear.
Too clear.
She slowly raised her hand.
A faint glow appeared.
Then
A chain.
Stable.
Calm.
Kushina blinked.
"…Okay."
The chain moved slightly.
Following her hand.
No trembling.
No outburst.
Just control.
For a moment.
Kushina frowned slightly.
"That's… unsettling…"
A low growl stirred within her.
"…you are getting used to it too quickly…"
Kushina rolled her eyes.
"And you're still annoying."
"…good…"
Kushina paused briefly.
"What's good about that now?"
"…it makes you more careful…"
Silence.
Kushina slowly lowered her hand.
The chain disappeared.
Not violently.
Just… calmly.
She looked at her fingers.
"…That was different."
"…because you didn't fight…"
Kushina let out a quiet snort.
"Don't get used to it."
Footsteps.
Kushina turned around.
Daichi approached her.
Calm.
As always.
But his gaze was sharper.
More alert.
He stopped.
His eyes moved to her hand.
Then to her face.
"Again."
Kushina raised an eyebrow.
"No good morning?"
"Again."
She sighed.
"You're really likable."
Still, she raised her hand.
Focused.
Slowly.
The chain appeared again.
Stable.
Calm.
Controlled.
Daichi said nothing.
But his eyes narrowed slightly.
"…That's new."
Kushina smirked.
"I learn fast."
Silence.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
His gaze grew heavier.
"What did you do?"
Kushina's smile faded slightly.
"Trained."
"No."
A pause.
"What did you really do?"
Silence.
Kushina didn't look away.
"…I listened."
A moment.
Then
Silence.
Heavy.
Daichi did not move.
"…You spoke to him."
Kushina lifted her chin slightly.
"Yes."
His gaze darkened.
"And you're still alive."
"Surprising, I know."
No reaction.
Only a long look.
"What did he say?"
Kushina shrugged lightly.
"That I'm annoying."
A low growl echoed within her.
"…you are…"
Kushina ignored it.
"And that I'm weak."
Daichi kept his eyes on her.
"…And?"
Kushina made a face.
"He's not entirely wrong."
Silence.
Then
"And you believed him."
"No."
A pause.
"I disagreed with him."
A barely noticeable shift crossed Daichi's face.
"…Good."
Kushina blinked.
"Didn't expect that, did you?"
"I did."
A pause.
"I just hoped you would."
Kushina studied him briefly.
More carefully now.
"You know more than you say."
"Yes."
"And you still trust me."
"No."
Silence.
Kushina smirked slightly.
"I like you."
A brief moment.
Then she grew serious again.
"You lost someone, didn't you?"
Silence.
Daichi's gaze shifted.
Barely.
But it was there.
"…Yes."
"She had the same thing."
Not a question.
A statement.
"Yes."
Kushina looked away for a moment.
Then back at him.
"I'm not her."
Daichi did not answer immediately.
His gaze rested on her.
For too long.
"I hope not."
Kushina frowned.
"You're really motivating."
A soft wind passed over the field.
Then
Something changed.
Kushina felt it first.
Immediately.
A pressure.
Not like before.
Different.
Colder.
Foreign.
"…Daichi."
He reacted instantly.
"I know."
His body tensed.
His gaze shifted toward the edge of the field.
Nothing.
And yet
Something was there.
Kushina's heart began to beat faster.
Not from fear.
From instinct.
"That doesn't belong here…"
"No."
A shadow moved.
Barely visible.
Too fast.
Kushina's eyes narrowed.
"I see you."
Silence.
Then
A flicker.
For a moment
A figure.
Then gone again.
Daichi's voice dropped low.
"Stay behind me."
Kushina made a face.
"Not happening."
Her hand rose.
The chain appeared instantly.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Calmer.
A low growl stirred within her.
"…careful…"
Kushina answered quietly,
"I know."
But her eyes stayed forward.
Sharp.
Ready.
The air grew heavier.
The presence remained.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then
It vanished.
Just like that.
As if it had never been there.
Silence.
But this time
It felt wrong.
Kushina slowly lowered her hand.
"…That wasn't random."
Daichi was silent for a moment.
Then he said,
"No."
A pause.
His gaze grew serious.
Heavy.
"They felt you."
Kushina's expression shifted.
"…Who is 'they'?"
Silence.
A brief gust of wind crossed the field.
Then
"Enemies."
One word.
Simple.
But heavy.
Kushina exhaled slowly.
Then she smirked slightly.
Not out of joy.
But defiance.
"Let them come."
A low growl echoed within her.
Agreeing.
Or interested.
Hard to tell.
Daichi looked at her.
For a long moment.
Then he said calmly,
"They will."