The moon hung high, casting a dim, silvery glow.
Several figures swiftly moved through the dense forest.
Not far outside the village, Yuzuru spotted strands of red hair scattered on the ground. He picked up a few and tucked them into his robe, then glanced at the messy footprints and gave a thin smile.
Even a fresh genin knew how to mask intent to foil pursuers.
But the shinobi who had snatched the future Nine-Tails jinchuriki from the village hadn't bothered to hide their trail at all.
Clumsy acting.
Yuzuru didn't pocket all the loose hair. He gathered what remained into a more obvious clump, making it even easier to see.
For the plan to be airtight, Minato had to track Kushina here just like in the original course.
He shadowed them. By the time the night wore thin, they were dozens of miles from the village.
That was far enough. Yuzuru stopped suppressing his presence and surged forward.
Moments after he revealed himself, three masked shinobi barred his way.
"Stop right there. No passage beyond this point."
The leader stared coldly at Yuzuru, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "Yuzuru Uchiha—why are you here?"
Before Yuzuru could reply, he snapped, "It's a crime to leave the village at night without the Hokage's written order. Come with us."
"I don't have such an order," Yuzuru said.
"Then you're a rogue," the man said flatly. "Since we found you, you're coming along."
Yuzuru's mouth curved. "What makes you think you found me?"
As his voice fell, his originally pitch-black eyes had already changed into scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan.
The captain stiffened, then barked, "Don't look at his eyes!"
He didn't know why Yuzuru's eyes weren't the usual tomoe, but it didn't change the correct move.
"Too late."
As Yuzuru spoke, the captain saw his two subordinates drive their blades into each other's chests.
"Damn—genjutsu?"
"When—"
He sprang back, one hand diving into his robe for a signal flare.
Yuzuru was already in front of him.
The captain had to abandon the flare and slash instead.
But the next second, his eyes widened suddenly.
Yuzuru in front of him was like a phantom; his attack passed directly through the other's body.
The Anbu ninja was horrified, desperately swinging the long sword in his hand, continually slashing at Yuzuru's approaching body.
"Swinging at ghosts, are we?"
Yuzuru glided up, caught the man's throat in one hand.
"It's a solid body? How is that possible?!"
The captain's mind reeled—his blade had gone through him like smoke moments ago.
Yuzuru didn't answer. His fingers tightened. "It's late. Vanish quietly."
A crisp crack. The man's neck broke.
"Too easy."
Satisfied, Yuzuru nodded.
Without intel, this power was absurdly effective.
Anbu were elite; a squad leader would at least be special jōnin. Yet even with that lineup, they couldn't get off a single flare.
'No wonder the stronger an Uchiha becomes, the more extreme they get. With power like this… even knowing the story, I can feel it tug.'
He steadied himself, then moved the three bodies into the Kamui space.
To stand tall in the shinobi world, he'd need an Eternal evolution sooner or later. No matter how strong Dual Kamui was, Dōjutsu power could run dry.
For now, the priority was still the clan's rise. No slipups.
He vanished again.
—
Thud.
Kushina's legs buckled; she pitched forward onto the ground.
A tall shinobi behind her kicked her in the side. "Don't play dead. get up quickly."
"If your chakra wasn't special—useful—I'd cut you down right now."
He yanked the rope binding her wrists and hoisted her up.
As the three hulking escorts kept close, Kushina palmed another pinch of broken hair and let it fall.
'Please—find it.'
Just then the trio stopped short.
Up on a branch, framed by moonlight, stood a long-haired boy. His dark eyes met hers.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
At that face and the faint smile on it, Kushina's eyes stung. "Yuzuru…"
They were the same age, yet the moment she saw him, a strange sense of safety washed over her. The long, taut nerves slackened at once.
"Kill the brat!"
The three ninja wearing Kumogakure headbands immediately rushed towards Yuzuru.
Yuzuru drew his long blade, and the three-tomoe Sharingan spun scarlet in the night.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
A fireball several meters wide hammered a massive earth wall. The three Cloud ninja ducked behind it, waiting for the dust to settle.
A strangled cry snapped the quiet.
The other two looked over. Their comrade clutched the back of his neck, eyes bulging as blood jetted between his fingers.
"He masked the shuriken's flight with the clash of fire and earth?"
"But from that angle… how?"
They'd been behind the wall—how had a blade slipped past the dead zone to their rear?
"End it fast."
Down one man in an instant, the remaining two surged at Yuzuru.
"Won't help."
Yuzuru didn't yield—he accelerated straight in.
They weren't particularly strong. Even without the Mangekyō, he had them measured.
He moved like a dancing butterfly, slipping through their paired assaults with elegant ease.
With the three tomoe feeding his perception, their moves opened to him like a book.
Each of his counters painted the air with a mist of red.
He had no intention of leaving a survivor. If this was indeed a scheme of the Hokage's faction, these three would know nothing useful. If it wasn't, they still couldn't be allowed to walk away.
He needed this incident to shatter Kushina's faith in the village leadership.
Moments later, Yuzuru flicked blood from his blade and sheathed it, then stepped to her side.
"Kushina, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. Thank you for saving me, Yuzuru."
She drew a steadying breath, awe softening her voice. "You were amazing—you took them down so easily."
The fight had been dazzling. Those three who'd made her feel despair had crumpled before him as if they were nothing.
They were the same age.
'When did he become this strong?'
"I told you I'd become strong," Yuzuru said lightly. "If even this caliber of opponent could pose an obstacle to me, then I'd be nothing special."
"And I will absolutely not stop here!"
His quiet confidence left her dazed.
Her mind replayed what he'd said to her that day…
'Why is my heart beating so fast?'
While she lingered, Yuzuru cut her bonds. "Can you walk?"
"Yes I can."
She took two steps and stumbled. He caught her arm before she hit the ground.
Flushing, she ducked her head. "I'm just a little drained. I'm okay."
Yuzuru sighed. "Stubborn girl."
"But you won't make it back before dawn like this."
He slipped an arm under her knees and lifted her.
"Ah—Yuzuru, you—"
"Shh." When she fell silent, he added, "Easy. I'll take you home."
She bit her lip, then quietly rested her head against his chest.
A blond boy dropped into view just then, hair like a sunburst.
Seeing Kushina in Yuzuru's arms, Namikaze Minato blinked. "Am I late?"
"No—you're right on time," Yuzuru said, lips quirking. "I'll take Kushina back. Minato, handle the three Cloud bodies."
Before Minato could reply, Yuzuru was already gone with Kushina in his arms, swallowed by the moonlit trees.
T/n:
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