The Red-Haired Witch Awakens and the Nine-Tails' Trembling Warning

The morning sunlight, carrying a hint of chill, filtered through the window lattice and cast mottled shadows across the bedroom floor.

Kushina slowly woke amid softness.

A hangover-like exhaustion blanketed her entire body, the aftereffect of overusing the Nine-Tails' power last night to help Baishi suppress the rampaging Chakra within him. She flexed her slightly sore fingertips, curled up contentedly, and seemed to catch the clean, pleasant scent lingering from that man on the tip of her nose.

The corners of her lips unconsciously lifted into a reassured smile.

However, that peace was quickly shattered.

An unseasonal cold wind, carrying the dry scent of Wood Shavings and dust, slipped in through the crack beneath the door and brushed over her exposed ankles, sending a shiver through her.

Something was wrong.

Kushina abruptly opened her eyes, the sleepiness instantly vanishing from her beautiful violet eyes.

The Barrier around the Hokage Residence was Konoha's highest-grade defense. How could such a powerful draft be blowing through the building?

She shot upright, her signature fiery red hair cascading down like a waterfall. At that very moment, her sharp senses caught the extremely chaotic remnants of Chakra coming from Baishi's study on the other side of the residence.

That presence... was violent, twisted, and filled with ominous destruction, as though some forbidden monster had once run rampant there.

But what made her heart suddenly clench was the faint trace of Baishi's Chakra mixed within it!

"Whoosh!"

Kushina vanished from the bed in an instant. Without even having time to put on her shoes, she sprinted barefoot across the cold wooden floor toward the study.

At the same moment her mind was thrown into turmoil, monstrous waves surged within the sealed space inside her!

"Roar—!!!!"

A roar filled with utter terror and trembling exploded through Kushina's