Uzumaki Kushina's Attachment

"Hiruzen, you know the importance of the Uzumaki Clan. Once they fall into the hands of other nations, there will be no barrier for future jinchuriki. They are the best vessels for jinchuriki."

"I know!"

"If you know, why haven't you sent people to guard them? In a situation like this, it is better to destroy them than to let them be plundered by other ninja villages."

"I have my own arrangements. I am the Hokage, Danzo!!!"

"Hmph! If you won't do it, I will!"

Danzo flicked his sleeves and left in a rage, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi to seethe in impotent fury, "I am the Hokage! I have the final say!"

Inside the room, Uzumaki Mito wore a worried expression. "Sigh, Yunting."

"Lady Mito."

Senju Yunting appeared in Uzumaki Mito's room.

"Yunting, I beg of you, send people to check on the Land of Whirlpools and the Village of Whirlpools."

"It is my duty, Lady Mito."

Senju Yunting left, taking the core strength of the Senju Clan with him, and set off for the Land of Whirlpools.

Time passed silently. Two months later, news arrived from the Land of Whirlpools: the Land of Whirlpools had become a speck of dust in history.

Senju Yunting returned to Konoha with the remnants of his troops. Hatake Sakumo also returned with the Anbu, injured, though the accompanying group had one extra woman.

Everyone's mood was heavy. Uzumaki Mito looked at the intelligence summary Hiruzen Sarutobi had given her, along with Senju Yunting's oral report, feeling utterly helpless and powerless.

"Hashirama, I am tired. The Konoha you left behind is wonderful, but without you, it has changed after all."

Uzumaki Mito seemed to age ten years in an instant, her spirit withered, and the vitality she once possessed vanished.

Far away in the Land of Rain, Tsunade received the news and punched the ground before her, causing it to crack.

"Damn it..."

Yet, none of this had much impact on Shangguan Yue.

The day after his blade technique fused, Shangguan Yue waited early in the morning.

Fusion successful. Obtained: Thunder Breathing, S-Rank (Growable).

This Thunder Breathing was not that Thunder Breathing; Shangguan Yue's version was even more powerful.

By using breathing to communicate with his own lightning-attribute chakra, he could continuously temper his body; this was a passive effect.

Actively using a large amount of lightning-attribute chakra to breathe allowed him to move like lightning, possessing super speed, immense strength, and lightning-fast reflexes.

The accompanying techniques, just like the Ghost Blade, made Shangguan Yue roll his eyes. "Chuuni, if we can't do it, we can't do it. Can you stop plagiarizing?"

"How is this plagiarism? It's just borrowing the name to make it easier for you to use. The principles are completely different, and the power is even greater. If you don't believe me, try it."

Shangguan Yue accepted it with anticipation. Information about Thunder Breathing flooded his mind, and his breathing began to change subtly.

At first, Shangguan Yue only felt as if his respiratory tract was being electrocuted, numb and tingling. The change in breathing made his lungs struggle to cope, and his face flushed red.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but just as he was about to give up, he suddenly felt a refreshing sensation reach his heart. His entire body felt comfortable, and all the previous discomfort vanished.

Two months later, Shangguan Yue had gradually become familiar with Thunder Breathing, turning it into instinct. He also began to practice the techniques, wanting to see if the power the Chuuni boasted about was as miraculous as claimed. As a customer, he didn't believe the salesman's empty talk.

Shangguan Yue held his breath and focused, crouching slightly. He placed his hand on the hilt of the Longque, white mist spilling from his lips, mixed with wisps of lightning, as he whispered.

Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.

Shangguan Yue lunged forward violently, leaving a trail of electric arcs behind him. The ground was scorched, and in the blink of an eye, Shangguan Yue appeared behind a large tree fifty meters away.

Maintaining his unsheathing posture, he returned the Longque—which was still crackling with golden arcs—to its scabbard. Everything returned to calm, and Shangguan Yue looked back.

"Chuuni, are you bluffing me? This tree didn't even fall."

"..."

Before the Chuuni could speak, all the trees in front of Shangguan Yue collapsed. The cuts were scorched, but the surfaces were smooth. As the trees hit the ground, they shattered instantly, leaving a mess behind.

"So... so powerful!!! Sugoi, and so cool."

"Who?"

Shangguan Yue looked toward the source of the voice and found it was Nawaki, with a little girl standing next to him. She had red hair that looked just right on her, making her look very cute.

With her rosy cheeks and red hair, she looked like a persimmon, making one want to take a bite.

Seeing Shangguan Yue's movement to draw his blade, Nawaki was startled. His jaw, which had just dropped in shock, hadn't even closed yet. He waved his hands hurriedly, "Brother Yue, it's me, it's me, Nawaki."

Shangguan Yue tucked the Longque behind his back and looked at the little girl who was staring at him with a lovestruck expression. "Nawaki, I know it's you, but who is this?"

"Cough, cough, this is Uzumaki Kushina, my cousin. She'll be living in the Senju compound from now on. I don't have any extra rooms, so I brought her to my sister's place."

"Alright. Hello, my name is Shangguan Yue."

"H-hello, my name is Uzumaki Kushina."

Uzumaki Kushina lowered her head, shy and afraid to look into Shangguan Yue's eyes. Why is his surname Shangguan? Isn't this the Senju Compound? Still, he's so handsome, and so strong!!!

"Brother Yue, she'll be living right next to you from now on, cough, cough, cough..."

Watching Nawaki hesitate with a bashful expression, Shangguan Yue felt a chill run down his spine. "What are you doing? If you have something to say, just say it!"

"It's just, cough, cough, Brother Yue, that thing you did earlier, could you teach it to me?"

"I can't teach you; your chakra doesn't have a Lightning affinity."

Faced with Shangguan Yue's heartlessness, Nawaki felt like crying without tears. "Ahhh, why don't I have a Lightning affinity? Heavens, I hate you!"

"Alright, stop acting like a clown. Do you have anything else?"

"Huh? No, that's it."

"If that's it, then get lost. Can't you read the room? Scram."

Shangguan Yue kicked Nawaki out the door and looked at Uzumaki Kushina, coldly tossing out a single sentence: "Let's go, I'll take you to tidy up your room."

He walked toward Tsunade's bedroom without looking back, while Kushina followed closely behind him, her eyes filled with an inexplicable longing as she gazed at his back.

Slowly, Shangguan Yue noticed that Kushina had walked up beside him, pressing close to his side, as he led her to the room next to Tsunade's.

"There, this will be your room from now on. Do you want me to help you tidy up?"

"I..."

Seeing that Kushina didn't speak for a long time, he said, "Then I'm leaving, I still need to go train."

Just as Shangguan Yue turned to leave, Kushina grabbed his hand. "Don't... don't go. I'm scared. Can you help me?"

Originally, Shangguan Yue wasn't keen on it; he hadn't had his fill of practicing the First Form yet, and although it consumed a lot of energy, his chakra reserves were vast.

But the moment he looked up, he saw Kushina's large eyes brimming with tears that threatened to fall, looking at him with a glistening, pleading gaze. His heart, in the end, softened.

"Fine, I'll help you."

Shangguan Yue walked into the side room, and Kushina followed, clutching the corner of his shirt. She just stood there watching Shangguan Yue tidy up the room for her.

I like this feeling so much. If only it could stay like this forever.