Kidnapping

Konoha.

Inside a training ground.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held a pipe between his teeth and clapped with a smile. "Minato, it's getting late. Let's stop training for today."

Hearing that, Minato Namikaze immediately ran over to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and scratched his head awkwardly. "Hokage-sama, I'm really sorry. I lost track of time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand amiably, utterly unconcerned. "That fellow Jiraiya has been staying in Amegakure for so long. As his teacher, I'll consider this my way of fulfilling his responsibility for him."

"Still, I'm busy most of the time and can only occasionally spare some time to guide you. You can't hold that against me."

Minato Namikaze hurriedly replied, "How could I? It's an honor to receive Hokage-sama's guidance."

Seeing Minato Namikaze's reaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he raised a hand and slapped his forehead.

"Look at this old fool, I nearly forgot." After saying that, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a letter from his robes. "Minato, Kushina wrote me a letter not long ago. This is my reply. Can you deliver it to Kushina for me?"

Minato Namikaze tucked the letter into his clothes. "No problem. Leave it to me."

An apologetic look appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face as he said somewhat sheepishly, "I'm making you run an errand so late at night. You've really worked hard."

"It's no trouble." Minato Namikaze glanced at the moon overhead. "Then I'll go now."

Watching Minato Namikaze's retreating figure, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face gradually vanished. As though muttering to himself, he said, "Go."

In the night, trees stirred without wind, and several figures vanished.

"Kushina, you've worked hard. You still came to look after an old woman like me at this hour."

"Grandma Mito, don't say that. You're my only family in this world. It's only right that I take care of you."

"And I don't have to carry out missions like other ninja do, so I'm not tired."

Under the dim yellow light, Mito Uzumaki leaned against the head of her bed.

Her once youthful and beautiful appearance had long since disappeared, replaced by a head of silver hair and wrinkled skin.

Watching Kushina Uzumaki bustle around the room, a trace of heartache flashed through Mito Uzumaki's eyes.

Ever since Tsunade had left the village, only she and Kushina had remained in this enormous estate.

How unpredictable life was.

While Mito Uzumaki was lost in thought, Kushina Uzumaki had already finished cleaning up. Carrying the trash in her hand, she said brightly, "Grandma Mito, get some rest early. I'll be going now."

Watching Kushina Uzumaki push open the door and leave, Mito Uzumaki could not help shaking her head.

What a sensible, good child.

Unfortunately, the days ahead were destined not to be peaceful.

As a Jinchuriki, even she had now become all alone. Kushina's path ahead would probably be even harder, wouldn't it?

Thinking of how spirited the Senju Clan had once been, Mito Uzumaki could not help letting out a long sigh.

Sigh... How had things become like this in just a few short years?

After leaving Mito Uzumaki's room, Kushina Uzumaki threw away the trash.

Walking through the Senju Compound, she felt empty inside.

After thinking it over and over these past few days, she had ultimately decided to accept her fate—

To become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

Although she truly wanted to be a free and ordinary person, ever since coming to Konoha, the Third Hokage had always cared for her. He had tolerated her willfulness and taken great care of her daily life, helping and teaching her like a kindly grandfather.

She could not be too selfish either.

Even if only to repay that kindness, she would stay in the village properly.

And just as Minato had said, perhaps there was another way that would allow her to retain some freedom.

Right, she should find Yuzuru sometime and tell him her decision.

Kushina Uzumaki silently made plans in her heart.

Of course, even though she had chosen to remain the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki did not think Yuzuru's ideas were wrong.

Just as Yuzuru himself had said, that was simply the Uchiha clan's nature.

She hoped Yuzuru would not be angry with her.

Just as Kushina Uzumaki was distracted, three shadows suddenly appeared at her side.

"Who are you?"

Kushina Uzumaki cried out, and several shuriken flew from her hand.

She immediately prepared to form hand seals and release a ninjutsu, hoping to create an opportunity to escape.

Unfortunately, the enemies moved faster.

The three of them attacked together. Before she could put up any effective resistance, a handkerchief was pressed over her nose.

Then Kushina Uzumaki fell into a deep sleep.

Late at night.

At Konoha's entrance.

Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Yakumi silently followed behind Squad Leader Uchiha Honoka.

After glancing around, Uchiha Inabi could not help muttering, "Night duty is supposed to rotate once a month, right?"

"It's been nearly two months now. Why are we still on night duty?"

For ninja, having their days and nights reversed was a minor issue. The most important thing was that it made training terribly inconvenient.

At this rate, when would they become as strong as Captain Yuzuru?

Hearing Uchiha Inabi's complaint, Uchiha Yakumi said softly, "It seems Captain Yuzuru took the initiative to switch with Captain Rika."

"Huh? Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe he was trying to curry favor with his future father-in-law?"

"Hiss! That makes sense!"

"Inabi, Yakumi, what are you two whispering about? Focus."

Hearing Uchiha Honoka's reminder from ahead, Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Yakumi quickly shut up. "Got it, Captain."

None of them noticed that after they left, three shadows swiftly darted through the night not far away...

"They finally showed up."

In the darkness, Uchiha Yuzuru opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

By the moonlight, he could clearly see Kushina Uzumaki being carried off by three people as they raced toward the village outskirts.

Without any hesitation, Uchiha Yuzuru grabbed his long blade and rapidly gave chase.

In the original story, Kushina Uzumaki had been kidnapped by Kumogakure once during Konoha Year 41.

Judging from the clothing and surroundings at the time, it should have been around the transition from summer to autumn.

So recently, he had used his night-duty shifts as an excuse to watch over Kushina Uzumaki's vicinity every day.

Today, he had finally caught them!

However, Uchiha Yuzuru did not rush to rescue Kushina Uzumaki. Instead, he secretly followed behind them.

In the original story, this incident had been full of suspicious points, and many details simply did not hold up under scrutiny.

As long as he told Kushina Uzumaki about those suspicious points afterward, Uchiha Yuzuru believed she would definitely become utterly disappointed in Konoha's higher-ups!