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Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Her Destiny!

Thinking it over now, it really did make sense.

As the future protagonist's mother, Kushina represented a huge source of replication points. But one careless move could alter the entire main storyline—possibly even derail it completely.

"Sigh… Looks like I need to tread more carefully from now on," Jaxon muttered, rubbing his forehead in frustration.

The thrill of his earlier gains had long since faded. Now, all that remained was a faint unease pressing down on his heart.

He glanced out at the bright Konoha sky, brows furrowed. "Aside from the protagonist's family, who else can I draw from without triggering major consequences?"

Just then, a spark of inspiration lit up in his golden eyes.

"Wait a minute… If it's someone unrelated to the main plot, then I can do whatever I want, right?"

In an instant, his mood did a complete one-eighty. That earlier sense of gloom was replaced with renewed enthusiasm.

There were still so many targets to exploit—countless side characters with rich potential that wouldn't disturb the delicate fabric of the central timeline.

And right now? With the Second Shinobi World War still raging?

It was the perfect time to go out and stir up some fun.

---

Konoha – Street Side Dango Stand

"Uncle True! This dango is so delicious. You have to try some too!"

The warm midday sun bathed the cobblestone streets of Konoha in golden light. A gentle breeze rustled the trees nearby, their leaves whispering in the wind.

At a small food stall, Yun Nai sat beside Whirlpool True, her plate stacked with dango of various colors. The sweet aroma wafted in the air, tickling the senses.

Yun Nai's cheeks were stuffed like a little squirrel's as she excitedly pointed at a red dango. "You have to try this one!"

But Whirlpool True simply smiled and shook his head. "You eat it. I'm not that hungry."

Her smile disappeared instantly.

"What?" Yun Nai stared at him in disbelief, the sparkle in her eyes dimming. "You… don't want to eat?"

Her voice quivered with visible disappointment. The joy she'd just radiated melted away.

She lowered her head, lips pressed tightly together. A soft sniffle escaped her as she picked up another skewer and bit into it without enthusiasm. The sweetness of the dango tasted bland now.

Whirlpool True watched her reaction, a twinge of guilt tightening his chest.

He knew she wasn't hurt by his refusal to eat. It was the emotional weight of everything that had happened recently. They were both still shaken by what had unfolded with Uzumaki Kushina.

"Don't take it to heart," Whirlpool True said with a sigh. "There are things in life we just can't control."

The sorrow in his voice mirrored hers.

Ever since that horrifying incident with Kushina, both he and Yun Nai had been struggling to process it all.

It wasn't just about watching someone suffer—it was knowing it could've been them.

Had they come to Konoha earlier… would they have ended up like Kushina? Controlled? Watched? Broken?

The thought was chilling.

---

The Unspoken Truth of the Whirlpool Clan

"You're still young, Yun Nai. Back when the Whirlpool Clan faced destruction, Konoha could have helped," Whirlpool True continued, his eyes narrowed as painful memories returned. "They had the strength, the resources. But they didn't lift a finger."

"Instead, they took your sister."

He clenched his fists. "For the Nine-Tailed Beast."

The words fell heavy between them.

"The Nine-Tails isn't just a source of power—it's a strategic weapon. That's why they brought Kushina here. Not to protect her… but to use her."

His gaze softened as he looked at Yun Nai. "But at least the Whirlpool Clan still has survivors. Those who escaped now live in peace. The children… they laugh again. Like you used to."

But Yun Nai didn't look up. Her shoulders trembled.

Tears began to fall silently onto the table.

"But… my sister… she's so pitiful…"

Her voice broke.

She clutched the hem of her sleeve and wiped her face, though the tears continued to flow.

"I know," Whirlpool True said quietly, his voice strained with sympathy. "But this… this is her fate."

He hated those words. But what else could he say?

"Maybe when she left Whirlpool Country back then, she had no other choice. Maybe she thought she could find something better. Maybe she believed in Konoha."

"But what happened to her—none of that was her fault."

---

The Cage of the Jinchūriki

"She's locked up every day. Monitored. Treated like a tool."

Yun Nai's voice cracked, hoarse from crying. "The Nine-Tails is sealed in her body. She never gets to live like a real person!"

Whirlpool True reached out and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.

"I know it hurts to see her like that, but we can't change her destiny. Not even Jaxon has the power to take her away."

"The Nine-Tails… it's not just powerful—it's dangerous. No one, not even the strongest shinobi, can fully control it. And Konoha knows that."

"They'll never let Kushina go. Not as long as that power lies within her."

Yun Nai looked up at him with tear-filled eyes.

"I just… I just don't understand why my sister has to suffer like this. She's kind. Gentle. She's always protected others… so why… why does she have to bear all this pain?"

Whirlpool True closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them slowly.

"That's just how the world works, Yun Nai."

"Reality doesn't care how good someone is. It only sees what they're worth to the ones in power."

He sighed. "And in Konoha's eyes, your sister is not a girl. Not a human. Just a container."

Yun Nai went silent.

---

The Price of Survival

Though the pain in her chest felt unbearable, she understood what Whirlpool True meant.

She wasn't a child anymore. She knew enough to see how the shinobi world worked.

The powerful exploited the weak. Sacrifices were made for the so-called "greater good."

And sometimes… even family wasn't enough to protect you.

Whirlpool True turned his gaze to the sky.

He knew full well what the Nine-Tails meant to Konoha. That power could turn the tide of a war. They would never let it go.

Even if that meant chaining an innocent girl to it.

Even if that girl was Yun Nai's sister.

He felt a deep sadness in his heart..

Yun Nai had barely recovered from the pain of the Whirlpool Clan's destruction—and now, she was being dragged into the same darkness again.

But this was the life of a shinobi.

A life built on missions, on orders, on sacrifices.

A life where pain was the teacher—and loss the tuition.

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