The silence didn't last.
It never did.
Kushina was still breathing hard, her body tense, her eyes fixed on the darkness.
"They'll come back."
"…yes…"
A pause.
Then—
They did.
No warning.
No sound.
Just—
movement.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kushina reacted instantly.
Her chains burst forward—
but this time—
they were ready.
One attacker slipped past.
Another struck from above.
A third—
behind her.
"—!"
A blow hit her side.
Hard.
Her breath left her lungs.
She staggered—
but didn't fall.
"I'm not—"
Another strike.
Sharper.
Faster.
She blocked—
barely.
The force pushed her back.
The ground cracked beneath her feet.
"…they've adapted…"
"I see that!"
Her chains lashed out again.
Wider.
More aggressive.
But less controlled.
They weren't fighting her strength—
They were waiting for her to lose control.
One of them moved in.
Close.
Too close.
Kushina struck—
missed—
and got hit again.
Her vision flickered.
"…too slow…"
"SHUT UP!"
Her chakra surged.
Too much.
Too fast.
The chains exploded outward.
Wild.
Violent.
Unstable.
The ground shattered beneath her.
The attackers jumped back—
not surprised.
Expecting it.
"…now…"
Seals activated.
Everywhere.
Light flared beneath her feet.
Around her.
Above her.
Kushina's eyes widened.
"…again—?!"
The pressure hit instantly.
Heavier than before.
Stronger.
Her body slowed.
Locked.
Her chains faltered.
"…you're done…"
"No—!"
She pushed forward.
Forced her body to move.
Step by step.
Against the weight.
"I'm not losing—!"
A shadow appeared in front of her.
A hand.
Close to her face.
Too close.
Kushina tried to strike—
but her arm didn't move fast enough.
"…weak…"
Her eyes shook.
"No—!"
A seal slammed onto her chest.
Cold.
Sharp.
Her entire body froze.
Her chakra—
cut.
Silenced.
Her chains vanished.
Instantly.
Like they had never existed.
Kushina gasped.
Her knees hit the ground.
"…no…"
Her hands trembled.
Nothing responded.
Nothing.
"…you feel that…?"
Her breath hitched.
"…that's what you really are…"
Her vision blurred.
The world tilted.
She tried to stand—
failed.
One of them grabbed her arm.
Firm.
Unyielding.
"Target secured."
Another voice:
"Restrain fully. She's unstable."
Kushina struggled.
Weakly.
Useless.
"Let—go—!"
No reaction.
Cold hands.
Cold grip.
She was lifted.
Her feet barely touched the ground.
Her head spun.
"…pathetic…"
Tears burned in her eyes.
Not from pain.
From anger.
"I'm not—"
Her voice broke.
"…I'm not done—"
A sharp pain at her neck.
Something pressed against her skin.
A second seal.
Stronger.
Her body went numb.
Her vision flickered.
Darkness creeping in.
"…sleep…"
"No…"
She tried to fight it.
To stay awake.
To move.
To do anything.
But her body wouldn't listen anymore.
"…this is where it ends…"
"…no…"
Her thoughts slowed.
Her breathing shallow.
Her eyes half-closed.
The last thing she saw—
Was the broken ground beneath her.
The place she failed.
"…remember this…"
Darkness swallowed everything.
Silence.