[Read up to 69 Chapters in advance on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]
.
.
.
.
Kushina, following the ANBU toward the Hokage's residence with a sick mask covering her face, tightened the scarf around her neck as if seeking comfort or protection and asked, "Why is Hokage-sama calling for me?"
"It's likely related to Namikaze Minato's release," the ANBU replied evenly. "He probably wants to know whether it was you who arranged it."
Kushina pursed her lips, clearly displeased. She didn't want to talk about that at all.
But she also knew that if the Hokage questioned her directly, she wouldn't be able to remain silent or dodge the question at all… she'd have to give him an answer.
Unable to hide her unease, she turned to the ANBU and asked softly, "What should I say?"
"You'll have to decide that yourself," the ANBU answered, giving her no guidance. Then, glancing at her, he added, "But I'd advise you to hide that hatred in your eyes. It's too obvious. If Hokage-sama takes a look at you, he might get suspicious. and unless you want him to know what price you paid, you'd better keep it buried."
"Shut up," Kushina snapped coldly.
Still, she heeded the advice. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to mask the hatred that burned behind her eyes before continuing toward the Hokage's Residence.
The moment she stepped into the residence, Kushina found herself face-to-face with Namikaze Minato, who was just about to leave on his mission.
"Kushina…" Minato called out, his voice tinged with excitement and relief. It was the first time he'd seen her since his release from the Uchiha prison; every attempt before had been blocked by the ANBU guarding her. Seeing her now filled him with warmth, gratitude, and relief that she is alright.
Kushina's reaction couldn't have been more different from Minato's excitement and relief.
"M-Minato-kun…" Kushina froze, panic and guilt flashing across her face. Her heart pounded as fear seized her, and she instinctively stepped back, wanting to flee.
But the ANBU standing behind her blocked her path, leaving her no choice but to face him.
Minato immediately noticed her unease, the way she avoided his gaze, the tension in her posture, and felt a pang in his chest. It almost seemed as if Kushina didn't want to see him at all… no, more than that, she looked afraid of him.
'Of course… she doesn't want to see me,' he thought bitterly. 'After what happened… she must be uncomfortable around me. Who would want to meet someone like me, a creep who was thrown in prison for the crime of peeping at bathing women?'
Although he hadn't done anything wrong and had already been cleared of all charges, as proven by his release, Minato still assumed Kushina must feel uneasy around him.
Trying to ease the tension, he asked gently, "Kushina… what are you doing here?"
"H-Hokage-sama called for me…" she replied, her eyes darting away to avoid his.
"I-I see…" Minato murmured before hesitantly continuing, "Have you recovered? I heard you were unwell… I tried to visit you, but the ANBU wouldn't let me through. Are you feeling better now?" He paused briefly, then added, "D-did you get the soup I brought? I hoped it might help you recover…"
"Y-yeah… it was g-good… and I'm feeling a little better… th-thanks for trying to visit…" she replied, stringing together several lies in one breath.
She hadn't been ill. She wasn't feeling better. And she certainly hadn't tasted the soup he'd made. She'd spilled it, stepped on it, even. The memory made her chest tighten with guilt.
'Minato-kun went out of his way to show kindness to someone filthy like me… someone who doesn't deserve it… and I couldn't even cherish it,' she thought bitterly, her heart aching with shame.
'That's right… a filthy woman like you doesn't deserve anyone's kindness,' the Nine-Tails' voice echoed inside her mind, dripping with mockery and disdain.
'Shut up, bastard Nine-Tails!' she shouted inwardly at the fox. But even as she screamed at him in her mind, tears still welled up at the corners of her eyes, trembling, threatening to spill.
It took every ounce of strength she had to hold them back. She couldn't let him see her cry; if he did, he'd know something was wrong. He'd start asking questions… and if he did, she might end up telling him the truth.
She couldn't. She wouldn't.
She didn't want Minato to know that she was no longer pure, that she had become a tainted, filthy woman. If he found out, he would undoubtedly go after Uchiha Kanzou for revenge. And she couldn't allow that.
She wouldn't let him throw his life away for someone as unworthy and defiled as her.
Her revenge… she would handle it herself. Even if it cost her life, she would bear that burden alone and not let Minato get involved in it.
So she did her best to hold back her tears… but of course, Minato still sensed that something was off about her. Concerned, he asked gently, "Kushina… are you really alright?"
"Y-yeah… didn't I say that already? Do I have to repeat it a hundred times before you believe me?" she blurted out defensively, her voice a little louder than intended.
Then, realizing she might give herself away, she quickly changed the subject.
"Wh-what about you? What are you doing here?" she asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from herself.
Minato pursed his lips, sensing that something was off. But seeing how uncomfortable Kushina looked, he decided not to press her for now. Instead, he replied, "I'm going on a mission… I'll probably be out of the village for a few days, maybe even several weeks."
"Oh… I see…" Kushina nodded, feeling an unexpected sense of relief. Normally, the thought of Minato leaving for weeks would have made her sad, perhaps even eager to follow him. But now… she felt glad. If he were away from the village, he'd be safe, far from him.
"Kushina, I wanted to ask you some—" Minato began, intending to ask whether she had arranged his release and what she might've offered the Uchiha in exchange.
But before he could finish, Kushina quickly cut him off, forcing a smile. "T-then… Minato-kun, good luck on your mission. I have to see Hokage-sama. His condition isn't very good, and I shouldn't keep him waiting."
Without giving him a chance to respond, she hurried inside, the ANBU following behind her.
Minato stood there in silence, watching her go, a faint ache in his chest and confusion clouding his thoughts.
He felt the urge to chase after Kushina, to stop her and ask what was really going on, to confirm whether something was truly wrong or if he was simply overthinking things.
But she was already gone… and he couldn't delay his mission any longer.
'I'll ask her when I return,' he thought, steeling himself with determination. Once his mission was over and he came back to Konoha, he would make sure to talk to her, no matter what.
…
'The security around here… isn't it a bit excessive?' thought Kushina, wiping away the last traces of her tears as her gaze swept over the numerous ANBU positioned throughout the area.
And these were only the ones visible to the eye; the number of hidden operatives lurking in the shadows was surely much higher. It spoke volumes about just how heavily guarded the Hokage residence was at the moment.
Still, considering the Hokage's frail health, perhaps such measures weren't so surprising after all. Especially when someone like Uchiha Kanzou lives in the village.
Before long, she reached the door. The ANBU escort stepped forward and knocked twice.
Knock! Knock!
The door opened, and the two of them stepped inside to greet Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama…" Kushina said softly, bowing lightly as her eyes fell on the man lying on the bed, surrounded by several pieces of medical equipment attached to his body.
"Kushina…" Hiruzen murmured, visibly relieved to see her.
"How are you feeling, Hokage-sama? I was really worried when you suddenly collapsed that day…" she said, forcing a calm expression as she carefully hid the hatred simmering behind her eyes.
"It's alright… I'm in much better condition now," Hiruzen said with a faint sigh before adding apologetically, "About that day… please forgive me."
Kushina gave a faint nod before falling silent, unsure what to say, and truthfully, not wanting to say anything at all. She simply stood there quietly.
Hiruzen watched her closely, noting the stiffness in her posture and the unease in her eyes. "Kushina," he began, "I've heard you haven't been feeling well lately… and that you didn't want to meet Minato." He paused for a moment before adding, "Is this related to the Nine-Tails? Is everything alright with the Nine-tails? Is the seal stable?"
Is everything alright with the Nine-Tails? Of course not. The fox had grown even more hateful… It's just that it no longer struggles to break free, but instead takes twisted pleasure in her suffering, even giving her extremely hateful nightmares.
The Nine-Tails tormenting her with nightmares was nothing new; it had been doing this from the moment it was sealed inside her… but lately, the nature of those dreams had changed. Now, it showed her visions of being repeatedly violated by Uchiha Kanzou, each one stoking her hatred toward both him and the beast sealed within her.
But naturally, none of this was something she could tell Hiruzen. So she simply nodded and said quietly, "The seal… It's stable."
And in truth, the seal was stable, at least in the physical sense.
Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh of relief upon hearing that the seal was stable, but then his expression turned thoughtful. "Then… what about your illness?" he asked.
"Just a seasonal change," Kushina replied quickly, biting her lip beneath the mask. "I didn't want Minato-kun to catch it, so I kept my distance…"
She hoped he would accept the excuse, though even she knew how weak it sounded. Keeping a bit of distance because of illness was understandable, but completely avoiding Minato? That was far too suspicious.
As she expected, Hiruzen didn't look entirely convinced. Biting her lip, Kushina lowered her gaze, feigning embarrassment as she added softly, "A-also… these past few days haven't been g-good for me-meeting someone…"
She hoped he would catch on to what she was implying without asking further questions because speaking it outright would be very embarrassing.
"I-I see…" murmured Hiruzen, deciding to accept her explanation. Being a married man, he understood the subtle cues women sometimes gave without spelling them out. Considering that Kushina had been unwell and was likely going through those difficult days of the month, it made sense that she wouldn't have wanted to meet Minato; feeling sick and uncomfortable at the same time would have been miserable, and she probably didn't want to meet Minato in such a miserable condition.
The excuse might have been weak, but coming from a woman, Hiruzen couldn't question it further and chose to treat it as a legitimate reason.
Still, he asked gently, "Then how are you feeling now?"
"A… a little better," replied Kushina softly, relieved that Hiruzen seemed to have accepted her excuse.
"That's good," Hiruzen nodded, his tone calm. A brief silence followed before he finally brought up the real reason he had called her. "By the way… about Minato's release from the Uchiha Police Station, was it you who arranged that?"
'Sure enough… he was going to ask this,' thought Kushina grimly as the question she had been dreading surfaced. She couldn't deny it, so she nodded. "Y-yes…"
"Haa… I see…" Hiruzen exhaled heavily. Just as he suspected, it had indeed been Kushina who secured Minato's release. He had warned her to stay away from the Uchiha Clan and from Uchiha Kanzou in particular, but she had still gone to them. Yet… could he truly blame her? Or scold her? No. After all, he had promised to get Minato released, only to collapse helplessly before her eyes. In that moment, she must have decided to take matters into her own hands, and she did.
So, suppressing his frustration, Hiruzen focused on what mattered most. "Uchiha Kanzou wouldn't have released Minato for nothing," he said seriously. "What did you give him in return?"
'Everything…' she thought bitterly, hatred flickering in her eyes before she forced it down. Clenching her fists tightly, she replied through gritted teeth, "Several scrolls of fūinjutsu."
She hadn't given him all the scrolls; she'd kept a few back, like the Shiki Fūjin and several others she hadn't yet mastered. After all, she'd written those scrolls out by hand right in front of him, so she could only reproduce the ones she remembered. Many of the more advanced fūinjutsu were still beyond her understanding, so those remained untouched.
Even so, quite a few among the ones she had handed over were high-level, precious techniques of the Uzumaki Clan, and that knowledge burned in her conscience. She'd given her clan's secrets to the very enemy she most wanted dead. Though she had done it to save Minato's life, the thought of what she'd surrendered filled her with bitter regret.
'At least I didn't give him the Shiki Fūjin,' she consoled herself. 'That'll be my trump card… the one thing he won't expect. With it, I'll seal him inside the Shinigami's stomach if it's the last thing I do.'
Hearing that she had handed over several of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques, Hiruzen's expression darkened. "Kushina… you shouldn't have given him those."
Kushina's hands trembled as she clenched them. "He was threatening to kill Minato-kun… If I hadn't… maybe by now he'd have killed him," she said helplessly.
Hiruzen pressed his temples with a sigh. Once again, he couldn't bring himself to blame her. After all, Uchiha Kanzou was a madman; there was no doubt he would have carried out his threat if she had refused.
Exhaling slowly, Hiruzen asked, "Aside from your clan's fūinjutsu scrolls… did he take anything else?"
'Yes,' she thought bitterly, but aloud, she replied flatly, "No."
"The Nine-Tails and its seal… are they truly stable?" Hiruzen asked, studying her intently.
"Yes," Kushina nodded. The beast was secure, for now. But not for long, she thought grimly. One day soon, she would drag Uchiha Kanzou into the Shinigami's stomach… and the Nine-Tails would be sealed away with them both.
Hiruzen relaxed slightly at her answer. He trusted her; she had no reason to lie, and her expression convinced him the Nine-Tails was secure for now. As for the fūinjutsu she'd handed over to Uchiha Kanzou, he'd have to factor that into any plan against the Uchiha clan.
"You need protection, Kushina," he said, turning back to her. "For the next few days, you won't stay at your house. You'll be moved to a safe house known only to me and the ANBU assigned to guard you."
Both Kushina and the ANBU blinked at that. Kushina glanced at the guard, then asked, "What do you mean, Hokage-sama?"
"A conflict may arise in the village," Hiruzen replied, keeping his explanation brief. "I don't want you caught up in it. For your safety, you'll stay at a secure location for a while."
Kushina's face sharpened. "Is it because of the Uchiha Clan?"
Hiruzen hesitated before nodding. "Yes. The Uchiha have surrounded their compound with a barrier formation. They may be preparing for war. If that's the case, I can't risk the Nine-Tails being anywhere near the conflict. I fear the Uchiha might try to use its power. But if you're moved to a secure location, one they know nothing about, you'll be safe, and they'll have no chance of exploiting the Nine-Tails."
Kushina glanced at the ANBU beside her, the very same one under Uchiha Kanzou's control. No… not just him. Every ANBU surrounding her was ultimately under Kanzou's command.
'A safe house… what's the point?' she thought bitterly. Even if Hiruzen was playing it safe, it wouldn't matter. The same ANBU who 'protected' her would still be the ones watching her, and since Kanzou controlled them, he'd know her exact location anyway. Hiruzen's plan was utterly meaningless.
Still, she remained silent. There was no point in revealing the truth. If she told Hiruzen, it would only create complications she wants to avoid, questions she couldn't answer, explanations she didn't want to give, and truths she absolutely couldn't afford to reveal. Worse, it might even interfere with her own plans.
So, she simply lowered her head and said quietly, "I understand, Hokage-sama. I'll follow your orders."
At the same time, a thought crept into her mind: 'If the village fights the Uchiha, that could be the perfect chance to get rid of Uchiha Kanzou.'
Under normal circumstances, it'd be difficult for her to catch him off guard or use the Shiki Fūjin, but if he were distracted by a war with the village, she might be able to strike when he least expected it and end his miserable life.
Thinking that, she hoped that the conflict would arise between the Uchiha Clan and the village.
Unaware of the thoughts running through Kushina's mind, Hiruzen continued, "I'll do everything I can to prevent a conflict… but until then, you'll need to stay in a safe house."
He then produced a scroll and handed it to the ANBU escort. "The location is written here. Keep her safe at all costs."
"I understand, Hokage-sama," the ANBU replied with a curt nod, taking the scroll.
After receiving her orders, Kushina left the Hokage's residence, preparing herself for relocation to the so-called safe house.
As they walked, she couldn't help but glance at the ANBU escort and ask quietly, "Is there really going to be a conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village?"
The ANBU shook his head. "I don't know…" he answered flatly.
Kushina was dissatisfied with that vague response… yet deep down, she found herself hoping that a conflict would indeed break out.
…
At Minato's home
"Well… this should be enough," he murmured, checking over his packed gear one last time. Everything he needed for the mission was ready.
As he turned to leave, his gaze fell upon a few framed photographs hanging on the wall, one with Jiraiya and his two squadmates, another with Kushina smiling beside him.
For a moment, hesitation flickered in his eyes, worry creeping into his chest.
But he quickly shook his head and reassured himself, "Hokage-sama will take care of everything in the village. I just need to focus on my mission, and bring back Tsunade-sama."
With that resolve, Minato stepped out of his house and set off.
…
In a small town within the Land of Fire
"Hurry up! I caught word that a woman matching Tsunade-sama's description was seen at a gambling house not long ago. This might finally be our lead!" shouted one of the ANBU.
At his words, two masked ninjas darted off in the direction he pointed, disappearing down the street in a blur of motion.
Once they were gone, a woman stepped out from behind a nearby tree, her face beautiful and sharp, her smooth forehead gleaming under the sun, long blonde hair tied into low twin tails, and… absolutely massive bazongas that made her instantly recognizable.
"Damn it… these ANBU ninjas again," she muttered irritably, her brow twitching. "What the hell do they want from me this time?"
There was no mistaking her, Senju Tsunade, the Slug Sannin, the woman destined to become the Godaime Hokage. Though at this point, she was merely thirty years old, a wandering drunk and a gambler far removed from her true glory.
Ever since leaving Konoha, she had completely cut herself off from everything happening in the shinobi world. These days, she didn't even bother keeping up with any news or intelligence. She had no idea why the ANBU might be searching for her, and frankly, she didn't care to know.
"Um… Tsunade-sama," came a small, timid voice beside her. A young girl, barely reaching Tsunade's waist. Her short black hair framed a delicate face that was still soft with childhood. She was Katō Shizune, the niece of Tsunade's late lover.
Though only five or six years old, the constant travelling and time spent in Tsunade's care, along with having to care for her, had made Shizune unusually mature for her age. Concern flickered in her eyes as she asked quietly, "Could it be… because the village is in danger?"
"The village in danger?" Tsunade repeated, her expression briefly tightening before she scoffed and shook her head. "What does that have to do with me? I left that place long ago. Whatever happens to it now… isn't my concern."
Shizune didn't know how to respond. After all, she was well aware that Tsunade had been avoiding the village ever since she left it, and it had already been three or four years since then.
"Come on, let's get going, I don't want to be found by them," said Tsunade, striding off in a particular direction.
"Um… where are we going, Tsunade-sama?" asked Shizune, hurrying to keep up.
"To the Land of Iron," Tsunade replied.
"The Land of Iron?" Shizune blinked in surprise.
"It's a country without shinobi, and without much conflict between them either," Tsunade explained. "Hopefully, those ANBU won't bother looking for me there."
She was determined not to be found by Konoha's operatives. If the ANBU were searching for her, it could only be under the Hokage's orders.
The Sandaime Hokage already knew about her hemophobia, so if he had still sent ANBU to search for her, it could only mean one thing: an imminent war.
But Tsunade had no intention of getting involved in any war.
Instead, she chose to head for the neutral Land of Iron, ruled by samurai, where shinobi seldom fought. There, she could escape the chaos completely and lose herself once more in gambling and alcohol, her only means of numbing the pain of loss and drowning her lingering sorrows.
.
.
.
.
Drop Power Stonessssssssss!
[Read up to 69 Chapters in advance on P atreon at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]