The morning began like any other.
And yet it felt completely wrong.
Kushina walked through the village.
Slowly.
Calmly.
But the looks were different.
She noticed it immediately.
Brief.
Avoiding.
Or lingering too long.
Too attentive.
Kushina frowned slightly.
"…Okay. I'm not imagining this."
A low growl stirred within her.
"…no…"
She ignored it.
Children were playing at the side of the street.
But as Kushina approached
They fell silent.
One of them took a step back.
Another grabbed his sister's hand.
Kushina stopped.
Just for a moment.
Then she kept walking.
"…What is going on…"
"…they saw it…"
Kushina's gaze narrowed.
"Saw what?"
"…you…"
Silence.
A few steps further.
Two women whispered.
Quietly.
But not quiet enough.
"…that was her, right?"
"I heard about it… the training ground… completely destroyed…"
"And those chains…"
Kushina's hands clenched slightly.
She walked faster.
"…Just ignore them…"
"…you can't ignore them…"
She stopped.
"I absolutely can—"
"Monster."
The word was quiet.
Almost careful.
But it hit.
Directly.
Kushina turned slowly.
A boy.
Not much younger than her.
His gaze uncertain.
But steady.
"…You're that thing, aren't you?"
Silence.
The air grew heavier.
Kushina looked at him.
For a long moment.
Too long.
Then she said calmly,
"Say that again."
The boy hesitated.
But then
"Monster."
A brief moment.
A pulse inside her.
Warm.
Heavy.
Angry.
"…see…"
Kushina's fingers twitched.
"Shut. Up."
She took a step forward.
The boy stepped back.
But Kushina stopped.
Her voice dropped.
Quieter.
More dangerous.
"You have no idea what you're talking about."
The boy swallowed.
Then someone pulled him back.
His mother.
Her gaze was not angry.
Not loud.
Just… careful.
Too careful.
"Come."
She pulled him away.
Without looking at Kushina again.
That was worse.
Kushina stood there.
Alone.
The street grew quieter.
Empty.
Some people walked past faster.
Others crossed to the other side.
Kushina let out a quiet laugh.
Short.
Without humor.
"…Great."
"…now you understand…"
Kushina stared ahead.
"I don't need your commentary."
"…you do…"
Silence.
Then, quieter,
"…they will never accept you…"
Kushina's jaw tightened.
"I don't need them."
A low, dark laugh.
"…they all say that…"
Kushina turned sharply.
"I'm not 'all of them.'"
Silence.
Then
Footsteps.
Daichi.
He stopped a few meters away.
His gaze did not pass her.
It rested directly on her.
"You're early."
Kushina crossed her arms.
"You're late."
He studied her.
Briefly.
Carefully.
"What happened?"
Kushina shrugged.
"Nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
Silence.
Then, quieter,
"…People are looking at me differently."
Daichi did not answer immediately.
"…They're afraid."
Kushina's gaze hardened.
"Why? I didn't hurt anyone."
"Not yet."
That hit.
Kushina looked at him.
"So you think I—"
"I think they do."
Silence.
Kushina looked away.
A brief moment.
Then
"I won't become like her."
Daichi answered calmly,
"She said the same thing."
Kushina's gaze snapped back to him.
"Stop comparing me to her."
"Then give me a reason not to."
Silence.
A pulse inside her.
Restless.
Watching.
Kushina exhaled slowly.
"…I won't lose control."
"Then prove it."
Kushina raised her hand.
The chain appeared.
Instantly.
Stronger.
Calmer.
But this time
It trembled slightly.
Not visible.
But there.
Daichi noticed immediately.
"You're angry."
"No."
"Yes."
Silence.
The chain flickered for a moment.
Then stabilized again.
Kushina lowered her hand.
"…I've got it under control."
A moment.
Then Daichi said quietly,
"For now."
Silence.
A wind moved across the field.
Kushina looked back toward the village.
The houses.
The people.
The looks.
Then forward again.
Her eyes grew calm.
Clear.
Determined.
"Then I'll become stronger."
A low growl echoed within her.
Not agreeing.
Not rejecting.
Just… there.
Daichi looked at her.
For a long moment.
Then he nodded slightly.
But his gaze remained serious.
Because deep down, he knew
This was only the beginning.