Kushina Uzumaki's Parting Gift: A Sensing Insect

At the Senju estate.

The front gate stood open.

Tsunade jumped off Fuga's back and patted his neck.

Yuri Inuzuka pulled on the reins.

"Sorry for the trouble. I'll buy you a drink sometime," Tsunade said.

"Just say the word." Yuri Inuzuka tugged the reins, and Fuga turned and ran off.

Tsunade stepped through the gate.

Several coarse-cloth bundles lay piled in the front courtyard.

Kushina Uzumaki's mother stood beneath the veranda, holding a few neatly folded changes of clothes.

Nawaki was struggling with a length of hemp rope, trying to bind a large bundle tight.

Mikoto crouched beside him, her fingers deftly tying knots.

Kushina's mother looked up, saw Tsunade, and stopped what she was doing.

"Lady Tsunade. You're back."

"Leaving already?"

Tsunade walked over and took the clothes from her hands.

"We've already imposed enough on Lady Mito by staying last night. There's still a great deal to handle back in the clan."

Kushina's mother pushed the bundles together.

Kushina stood behind her mother, clutching her skirt tightly.

The little girl's eyes were red, sweat beaded on her nose, and her lips were pressed tight.

Nawaki dusted off his hands and straightened up.

"Auntie, everything's tied up."

Kushina's mother turned and crouched until her eyes were level with her daughter's.

"Kushina, while you're here, you must listen to Lady Mito and Lady Tsunade."

She tucked her daughter's stray hair behind her ear.

Kushina said nothing. Her grip only tightened.

Deep creases formed in the skirt.

"Let go," her mother said softly.

Kushina shook her head. Tears spilled from her eyes and struck the back of her hand.

She stepped back, trying to pull her mother farther into the courtyard.

Her mother did not move.

"Be good. You're not a little child anymore."

She took her daughter's wrist and pried her fingers loose one by one.

Kushina could no longer hold back her sobs.

Her mother stood and looked away.

She picked up two bundles from the ground and handed them to the clan members accompanying her.

"It's getting late. We should go."

Tsunade came to her side.

"I'll see you off."

"There's no need to trouble yourself. You're busy—"

"I said I'll see you off," Tsunade interrupted.

She headed for the gate.

Kushina's mother watched her go, swallowed the rest of her words, and followed.

Outside the Senju estate, the streets grew busier.

At a corner, Tsunade stopped and turned to her.

"You three go on ahead. I need a word with her," she told the two clan members behind her.

They glanced at Kushina's mother.

She nodded.

The two carried the bundles ahead, putting some distance between them.

No one else was nearby.

Tsunade took a wooden box from her pocket and held it out.

"Take this."

Kushina's mother looked down.

The box was uncarved and rough, with the stale scent of old wood.

"What is it?"

She did not take it.

"A Sensing Insect from the Aburame."

Tsunade pushed the box forward until it touched the back of her hand.

She drew her hand back and retreated half a step.

"Lady Tsunade, this is too valuable. The Uzumaki clan can't accept it without giving anything in return—"

"Let me finish."

Tsunade stepped closer and pressed the box into her palm.

"There's a child insect inside. I have the mother insect. If you're ever in grave danger... crush it."

Tsunade looked her straight in the eye.

"When you crush it, the mother insect will sense it."

Her fingers trembled faintly.

"Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools are allies. We have normal channels of communication—"

"How long would those channels take, with all the official paperwork?" Tsunade cut in.

She had no answer.

Messages between countries had to pass through layer after layer. Even at the fastest, it would take three or four days.

"The Shinobi World isn't safe right now. Every major nation is expanding its forces," Tsunade said, lowering her voice.

"The Land of Whirlpools is too well positioned, and too many people covet your Sealing Jutsu. You're a fat prize with no fangs to protect it."

"If something happens, by the time your message reaches us and Konoha sends help, we won't even make it in time to collect your bodies."

Kushina's mother went pale.

She knew exactly what position her clan was in.

But they had all been fooling themselves, believing that with Konoha as an ally, no one would dare attack the Land of Whirlpools.

Now that Tsunade had said it to her face, she could not argue.

"Take it."

Tsunade pressed her hand over hers, making her grip the wooden box.

"The moment I sense the mother insect has died, day or night, whatever I'm doing, I'll bring people over immediately."

She paused.

"That's my promise to you."

The box's hard edges dug into her palm.

She lowered her head and stared at it.

Her fingers slowly closed around it.

Then she raised her head and met Tsunade's eyes.

There was no pity in those eyes. No condescension.

Only absolute certainty.

This was someone she could trust with her family's lives.

She stepped back.

Folding her hands before her, she bowed deeply to Tsunade.

A full ninety-degree bow.

"Lady Tsunade."

Her voice trembled, but every word was clear.

"If the Land of Whirlpools faces a crisis we cannot overcome, I'll crush it."

She remained bowed, her head lowered.

"Please take care of Kushina!"

Tsunade put her hands on her shoulders and helped her straighten.

"I will."

Two words, spoken on the corner of a busy street.

They walked all the way to Konoha's gate.

The enormous wooden gates stood open. Guard shinobi checked travelers' documents.

Kushina's mother handed her travel permit to a guard.

Once the formalities were complete, she turned around.

Kushina hid behind Tsunade.

One hand clutched the hem of Tsunade's jacket.

Her knuckles had gone white from gripping it so hard.

Her mother crouched and looked at her.

"I'm going now. Be good."

Kushina did not let go.

Tears welled up again and rolled down her round cheeks.

They struck the ground, leaving dark spots.

Her mother rose and forced herself to look away.

She bowed to Tsunade, then turned and walked through the gate.

She did not look back.

The other two clan members followed close behind.

Their three heads of red hair stood out in the sunlight.

They gradually receded, blending into the line of people leaving the village.

"Waaah—!"

Kushina finally broke down and wailed.

She let go of Tsunade's jacket and ran a couple of steps, stopping at the line marking the village entrance.

She did not chase after them.

She only stood there, crying toward the place where her mother had gone.

Tsunade walked up behind her.

She rested a hand on Kushina's red hair.

And gently stroked it twice.

The warmth of her palm reached Kushina. Her wails softened into broken sobs.

But Tsunade was not looking at Kushina.

She lifted her head.

Her gaze passed over the people saying goodbye, then over Konoha's towering walls.

She looked toward the eastern sky, toward the Land of Whirlpools.

We have a way to warn us.

The Sensing Insect solves the delay in getting word to us.

But that isn't enough!

Tsunade lowered her eyelids slightly, her mind racing.

Suppose the Land of Whirlpools is attacked and Kushina's mother crushes the child insect.

The mother insect dies and sends a signal.

I gather a team, leave the village, and head for the Land of Whirlpools at full speed.

Even jonin moving flat out would need at least three days to cover that distance!

Three days would be enough for the elite forces of any major hidden village to raze the Land of Whirlpools.

By the time I arrived, I'd likely find nothing but red-haired bodies.

An early warning is only the first step.

Without a way to reach the battlefield quickly, the warning is useless.

I have to cross those hundreds of kilometers.

Traveling on foot won't do.

Ninja dogs won't do.

Summoned beasts won't do either.

I need speed that ignores distance.

A way to cut straight through space.

Tsunade's fingers slowly curled at her sides.

In the entire Shinobi World, only one jutsu can do that...