"Huh…? Where is this…?"
Hayashi walked alone along a winding path shrouded in mist. Ahead of him stretched a field of flowers, their colors muted by the haze. Despite the beauty, everything felt dreamlike and distant, as if he weren't really meant to be here.
"That's strange… I remember being knocked out by Tsunade…" he muttered.
In front of him, a wide river appeared, its surface reflecting a dull yellow glow. A long bridge stretched across the water, lotus flowers blooming along the banks, while butterflies drifted lazily above. The faint fragrance of blossoms carried through the air.
"It's so beautiful it doesn't even feel like Earth," Hayashi whispered.
His gaze fell upon a stone tablet at the start of the bridge. The characters carved into it chilled him to his core: Netherworld.
Hayashi's face paled. "No way. This is bad! If I cross that bridge… I'll really die!"
From the other side of the river, voices called out to him.
"Come over! Don't be afraid!"
"There are plenty of beautiful women here!" another voice coaxed.
"There's delicious food and endless fun!"
Hayashi froze, his eyes narrowing. "They're… talking to me?"
On the far bank, figures began waving him over. His eyes widened when he spotted one in particular—the tall figure with a broad smile, the First Hokage himself.
And standing beside him was an Uchiha with familiar features. Hayashi's breath caught. "Uchiha Kagami…"
Other shinobi appeared too, faces he recognized from stories and memories. A gathering of the dead, calling to him, beckoning.
"Don't be afraid, my child. It's peaceful here," Uchiha Kagami said warmly.
"Exactly, young one," the First Hokage added with his booming laugh. "There's no need to worry. Life here is even better than in the village."
The Second Hokage stepped forward, his expression oddly cheerful. "Uchiha Hayashi! It's wonderful here. Everyone is happy. You'll love it."
Hayashi broke into a cold sweat. "No… no way. If I listen to you, I'll never return!"
He spun on his heel and ran from the bridge, legs pounding as though his very soul were being dragged behind him. "Sorry, but I'm not ready to join you. Not yet. I'll live on…!"
A chilling voice echoed from the bank, words that clawed at his chest.
"I can't accept that only you are saved…"
The curse followed him like a shadow, its weight almost too real to ignore.
---
"Thump!"
Hayashi's eyes snapped open.
He gasped, clutching his chest. "I… I'm alive?"
The unfamiliar ceiling above him confirmed it. He wasn't in his own room. Beside the bed, Tsunade released her hands, a faint glow fading from her palms.
"Hayashi, you're awake!" she sighed in relief. "It looks like stimulating your heart with Lightning Release actually worked."
Hayashi blinked at her in disbelief. "Lightning Release? Are you kidding me? Was my life really hanging by a thread?"
Tsunade scratched her head awkwardly. "Well… your heart did stop for a moment. My medical ninjutsu isn't strong enough to deal with something like that yet, so I tried something else. Honestly, this was my first attempt. I didn't think it would succeed."
Hayashi buried his face in his hands. "Why couldn't you just use proper medical ninjutsu, Tsunade....fuckkk?!"
Ignoring his complaints and the curse word, Tsunade grinned sheepishly. "See? Humans are amazing. You pulled through."
Hayashi groaned. "This is insane…"
But before he could say more, the world tilted, his strength faltering. He fainted again.
---
When his eyes opened the second time, he was greeted by a softer sight.
Kushina sat by the bed, her long red hair cascading down her shoulders like silk. She had fallen asleep while watching over him, her cheek resting on the mattress.
Hayashi's gaze softened. Carefully, he plucked a strand of red hair that had slipped onto her shoulder. A faint fragrance, sweet like cherry blossoms, lingered on it.
The movement stirred her awake. Kushina lifted her head, blinking sleepily before her eyes widened.
"You're awake!" she exclaimed, relief flooding her voice. Then, after a moment, she fumbled nervously, cheeks flushing. "Um… I'm sorry. I misunderstood you before."
Hayashi waved it off quickly. "It's fine. If anything, it was my fault. I threw that explosive tag on the bed without thinking. I must've scared you."
Kushina let out a nervous laugh, scratching her cheek. "Haha, yeah… for a moment, I thought I was really going to die. That tag was terrifying."
Her usual energy returned as she spoke, her earlier tears nowhere to be seen.
"My name is Uzumaki Kushina. I came from Uzushio Village," she said softly, bowing her head.
Hayashi studied her for a moment, remembering the kunai she had hidden under his pillow earlier. He realized how much pain she must have carried. The destruction of Uzushio, the loss of her home—no wonder she clung to her defenses so tightly.
He smiled gently to ease her. "I'm Uchiha Hayashi. Nice to meet you, Kushina."
Her violet eyes brightened as she nodded. "Then… just call me Kushina. We're friends now, right?"
Hayashi chuckled. "Friends it is."
It was such a simple thing, yet friendships between children carried a purity adults often lost. For a moment, he felt oddly grateful.
"By the way," he asked suddenly, scanning the room, "where's Tsunade-sama? Did she leave?"
Kushina straightened, recalling something. "Ah! She told me to tell you she realized her mistake and… went to the police force to turn herself in."
Hayashi squinted at her suspiciously. "Turn herself in? That doesn't sound like her at all. Where did she really go?"
Kushina coughed nervously. "She said since your luck is terrible and hers is really good right now… she'd go gamble two more rounds."
Hayashi sighed. "That… yeah, that sounds like her."
Kushina tilted her head curiously. "Hayashi, what does it mean to gamble?"
He smirked. "It means risking something valuable… though in Tsunade-sama's case, it just means losing money."
Her eyes widened, misunderstanding instantly. "L-losing money? Or… children?"
Hayashi laughed despite himself, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it."
His gaze shifted around the room. It was decorated with touches of Kushina's belongings, confirming his suspicion.
"Kushina, this is your room, isn't it?" he asked.
She nodded. "That's right. Your room's a mess. When Sister Tsunade punched you, you flew straight through the wall. It's leaking everywhere now."
Hayashi groaned. "So I'm lucky to be alive at all…"
"Um…" Kushina fidgeted, her face turning red again. "As for why I ended up here with you… I only just arrived in Konoha today. The rooms all look the same, so I got lost after visiting Grandma Mito. I accidentally walked into the wrong one."
Hayashi blinked, then let out a small laugh. "No wonder. That explains it."
Truly, what an unexpected disaster.
---
Milestone,
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter