The Cloud Ninja walking ahead turned back, saw the terrified look on the face of his companion holding the rope, and laughed.
"HAHAHAHA! You haven't even seen the guy, and you're already scared stiff just from hearing his title. And you were talking about getting promoted and a raise? Hahahaha."
"You!"
At that moment, another Cloud Ninja who had remained silent the entire way spoke up.
"Enough, you two. Someone is coming to meet us since we took the sea route this time, and his rank isn't low. Don't keep him waiting too long, or he might go back and file a complaint about us."
"Huh? Someone's coming to meet us? And he's high-ranking? Won't that mean he gets a share of our credit?"
The Cloud Ninja holding the rope asked worriedly, while the one chatting with him also said, "That's entirely possible. Maybe he'll even use this merit to rise another rank. People without connections like us should suck up to him more. If we make him happy, maybe he'll look after us."
"Sigh, you're right. After working ourselves to death, it still comes down to connections and social maneuvering."
Every word they said fell into Uzumaki Kushina's ears, making her let out a soft sigh.
The moon in the sky gradually became obscured by clouds. Without its light, the forest slowly grew dim.
Uzumaki Kushina's heart likewise slowly grew "dark."
There was only a short distance left to the border of the Land of Fire, yet no one had come to save her.
According to them, if these people took her out to sea, then she would truly be beyond saving.
All that awaited her was becoming an experimental subject for the Cloud Ninja's research into jinchuriki.
Uzumaki Kushina's hand, hidden beneath her red hair, trembled slightly. Still,