In the cold, gloomy laboratory, Kushina was curled up in the corner of an iron cage.
There were no windows, no clock. Fortunately, a White Zetsu came to deliver meals at regular intervals, giving her some sense of time.
Her mind was filled with questions. How long had she been imprisoned here? What exactly did Orochimaru intend to do to her? Had anything happened outside? How was Minato doing now...
All she hoped was that Minato would quickly realize she was missing and come rescue her.
That thought had lingered in her mind for a long time, but whenever the door opened, the one who entered was always that pale-skinned freak.
The door opened again.
Perhaps she had been disappointed too many times. Kushina did not look toward the door immediately, not until a voice suddenly rang out in the room.
"What a pitiful little canary."
Kushina froze, then abruptly raised her head to discover Shin standing outside the iron cage.
Shin looked at Kushina with a smile. "An iron cage like a birdcage. The Hokage really has a twisted sense of humor."
"Shin... Shin!"
Kushina quickly moved to the front of the cage, staring at him with hopeful eyes.
"Why are you here?"
"I came to find something," Shin said.
"And to see you while I was at it."
Kushina hurriedly asked again, "What about Minato? How is Minato?"
"Minato..." Shin deliberately paused, making Kushina's heart clench at once.
"What happened to him? Tell me!"
Shin smiled again. "I don't know. I haven't seen him in days."
Kushina was consumed by anxiety and worry, but she could not leave this iron cage.
"What about the Hokage?" she asked again.
"He went out."
Hope instantly flared in Kushina's heart. "Shin, help me. Let me out!"
But Shin said, "The Hokage