The village felt different.
Not loud.
Not normal.
Quiet.
But not peaceful.
Kushina walked through the streets, her gaze forward, her steps steady.
Too steady.
People moved aside.
Not obviously.
But enough.
A step back.
A longer look.
A whisper too late to be hidden.
"…that's her…"
Kushina's jaw tightened.
She kept walking.
"…ignore it…"
"…they already see you…"
Her fingers twitched slightly.
"I don't care."
"…you do…"
She stopped.
Just for a second.
Then kept going.
Faster this time.
The training ground came into view.
Empty.
Good.
Kushina stepped onto it and exhaled slowly.
"…Finally."
Silence.
She lifted her hand.
Focused.
A chain appeared.
This time—
steady.
Controlled.
For a moment.
Kushina watched it.
"…better…"
"…not enough…"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Be quiet."
The chain trembled slightly.
Then—
Footsteps.
Daichi.
He stopped a few meters away.
His gaze sharp.
Focused.
"You're early."
Kushina shrugged.
"You're late."
A pause.
His eyes moved to the ground.
The cracks.
Still there.
Then back to her.
"…You're holding it together."
Kushina smirked faintly.
"Obviously."
Silence.
"…for now."
Her smirk faded.
"…I said I've got it."
Daichi didn't answer.
His gaze shifted.
Past her.
To the trees.
Stillness.
Wrong stillness.
Kushina felt it too.
That same pressure from before.
Cold.
Watching.
"…Daichi."
"I know."
His voice lowered.
"Stay close."
Kushina frowned.
"I'm not hiding behind you."
"You're not ready."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Try me."
A flicker.
Movement.
Too fast.
Kushina turned—
Just in time.
A kunai flew straight toward her.
CLANG.
Her chain knocked it aside instantly.
Silence.
Then—
Shadows moved.
One.
Two.
Four.
Five.
They stepped out slowly.
Masked.
Calm.
Not rushing.
Not panicking.
They already knew.
"…target confirmed."
Kushina's stomach tightened.
"…you…"
Another voice:
"Uzumaki Kushina."
A pause.
Then—
"Jinchūriki."
The word landed heavy.
Real.
Kushina's expression hardened.
"…So that's what this is."
Daichi stepped forward slightly.
"…You're not taking her."
A short silence.
Then—
"We're not here for you."
The air snapped.
They moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kushina reacted instantly.
Her chains burst forward.
Striking.
Blocking.
But they weren't aiming to kill.
They were surrounding.
Cutting off space.
Controlling movement.
"…they're hunting you…"
"I noticed!"
One appeared behind her.
Too close.
Kushina spun—
Blocked—
But another hit came from the side.
Hard.
She stumbled.
The ground cracked beneath her.
"…too slow…"
"Shut up!"
Her chains lashed out again.
Stronger.
But unstable.
One attacker was pushed back.
Another dodged easily.
"…predictable…"
Kushina's breathing grew heavier.
Faster.
"They're reading me…"
"…of course they are…"
A flash of light.
Seals ignited beneath her feet.
Kushina's eyes widened.
"…no—!"
Too late.
A glowing circle locked into place.
Energy surged upward.
Her body—
slowed.
Heavy.
"…a sealing field…"
"Great."
She tried to move.
Her muscles resisted.
Like the air itself was holding her down.
One of them stepped closer.
Calm.
Watching her struggle.
"…She's unstable."
"Good."
A pause.
"Less resistance."
Kushina's hands shook.
The pressure inside her spiked.
Wild.
Angry.
"…now would be a good time…"
Silence.
Then—
"…no…"
Her eyes snapped open.
"Are you serious?!"
A low rumble.
"…you want control…"
A pause.
"…then fight without me…"
Her breath hitched.
"…Fine."
She clenched her fists.
Stepped forward.
Against the pressure.
Every movement heavy.
Painful.
"I don't need you."
A pulse.
Strong.
Her chains flickered.
Weak—
then stronger.
She raised her hand.
Slowly.
A chain formed—
and struck the edge of the seal.
CRACK.
A small break.
But enough.
Kushina moved instantly.
Breaking out of the circle.
Her chains exploded outward.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
One attacker was hit.
Thrown back.
Another blocked.
The others closed in again.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Kushina's vision blurred slightly.
Her breathing uneven.
"…you're losing…"
"SHUT UP!"
Her chakra surged again.
Too much.
Too fast.
The chains erupted.
Violent.
Unstable.
The ground shook.
The air twisted.
The attackers paused—
just for a moment.
Watching.
"…there it is…"
Kushina stood in the center.
Shaking.
Breathing hard.
Her eyes—
not fully steady anymore.
"…more…"
A low, dangerous whisper inside her.
Tempting.
Kushina's hands trembled.
"…No…"
A pause.
Then—
She forced it down.
Hard.
Violently.
The chains vanished.
The air dropped.
Silence.
The attackers observed her.
One spoke:
"…Unstable."
A beat.
"…But usable."
Kushina lifted her head slowly.
Her gaze sharp.
Cold.
"Try it."
A long pause.
Then—
They stepped back.
One by one.
Disappearing into the shadows.
Gone.
Just like that.
Silence returned.
But it felt worse now.
Kushina stood there.
Still.
Shaking.
Her breath uneven.
"…That wasn't random…"
"…no…"
She looked into the darkness.
Eyes hard.
Focused.
"They'll come back."
A low rumble inside her.
Interested.
Waiting.
"…of course they will…"
Kushina clenched her fists.
"Good."
A pause.
Then, quieter—
"…Next time, I'll be ready."