Chapter 42: The Sound of a Bell
Kagenori moved through the forests of the Land of Fire with a singular purpose, his pace swift and steady. The mission was complete, and now only one thought propelled him forward: the chance to see Uzumaki Kushina. In the eight months since his intensive training began, their meetings had been fleeting, stolen moments in the narrow window of freedom after a mission's end. It was never enough.
Three months ago, Uzumaki Mito had finally agreed to let Kushina begin taking missions. But due to her immense importance to the village, her assignments were strictly confined within the Land of Fire's borders. Despite this, their paths had crossed only a handful of times. The distance ached, a constant, dull throb in his chest.
Yet, hope was a stubborn flame. The thought that he might see her—her bright red hair and even brighter smile—brought a rare, genuine smile to his own face. He quickened his pace, the trees blurring beside him as he raced toward Konoha.
...
In Konoha, Uzumaki Kushina walked out of the Hokage Building, rubbing a sore spot on her neck. The life of a shinobi was proving far more tedious than she had imagined. Her team was constantly assigned mind-numbing D-rank missions—pulling weeds, finding lost pets, painting fences. It was frustrating, menial work that left her spirit restless.
"It would be so much better if Kagenori was here," she muttered to herself, a pout forming on her lips. "Even a D-rank mission would be fun with him." With a sigh, she began the walk back to Uzumaki Mito's mansion.
Dusk was settling, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. She slid the door open and stepped into the quiet, spacious home.
"I'm back!"
Silence.
She ventured deeper into the mansion, her voice echoing slightly in the still air. "Grandma Mito? I'm home!"
Still, no answer came. She paused at the kitchen doorway, a flicker of unease in her heart. "She's not here?"
Her eyes drifted to the kitchen window, and she froze. The branches of the tree outside were shaking, but there was no wind. A cold dread trickled down her spine.
Suddenly, three figures dropped from the tree, landing silently outside the window before slipping inside with practiced ease. They wore the uniforms of Kumogakure shinobi. The very kidnappers Kagenori had long feared had finally made their move. They had been observing her, coveting the unique, potent chakra they sensed within her, and had chosen this moment of vulnerability to strike.
Terror seized Kushina. She was a capable kunoichi in theory, but she had no real combat experience. She turned and ran, her voice a desperate scream. "Help! Someone, help!"
But her cries were futile. The three Kumo-nin—two special jounin and a full jounin—were far too fast and skilled. They easily overtook her, a sharp blow to the back of her head silencing her screams and sending her into a forced, groggy submission. Within moments, they had her bound and were fleeing Konoha, a shadowy blur disappearing into the growing darkness.
...
In the forests of the Land of Fire, a grim procession moved swiftly. Uzumaki Kushina, her hands tied tightly behind her back, stumbled forward. Her eyes were hollow, the hope draining from them with every step that took her farther from Konoha and closer to the border. One Kumo-nin led the way, another followed behind, holding the rope that bound her.
Her foot caught on a stone, and she fell hard onto the forest floor.
The ninja behind her yanked the rope viciously, hauling her back to her feet with a grunt of pain. "Hey! Stop slacking! Keep moving!"
Despair washed over her. Clutched tightly in her bound hand was the bell Kagenori had given her. She shook it, the faint, desperate chime a silent prayer for a miracle. But they were nearing the border, and no miracle had come. Tears she could no longer hold back streamed down her face. The thought of never seeing Kagenori again was a physical pain, a sharp, twisting agony in her chest.
A raw, desperate cry was torn from her lips. "Kagenori!"
"Shut up!" the Kumo-nin behind her snarled, raising a fist to strike her.
It was then that the miracle answered.
A roar of thunder, unnatural and close, shattered the forest's peace.
"Thunder Breathing, Fourth Form: Distant Thunder!"
A flash of lightning, too fast to follow, cut through the space between them. The Kumo-nin's raised fist never descended. His head separated from his shoulders and tumbled through the air before hitting the ground with a dull thud.
The two remaining Kumo-nin recoiled in shock, leaping back and adopting defensive stances, their eyes wide with alarm.
And there he was. Kagenori stood between them and Kushina, his back to her, a protective shield of flesh and blood. He glanced back at her, taking in her tear-streaked face, her bound wrists, the sheer terror in her eyes. His heart clenched, a mix of profound relief and boiling rage.
With a swift, precise motion, his sword severed the ropes around her wrists. His touch was gentle as he reached out and brushed a tear from her cheek. "I'm sorry, Kushina," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm late..."
She collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably, her entire body trembling with the release of fear and the overwhelming surge of safety. He held her tightly for a precious second, his own heart aching. Then, his gaze shifted to the two Kumo-nin. The murderous intent that radiated from him was a palpable force. His eyes swirled, the black tomoe spinning against a crimson background—the twin tomoe Sharingan, activated and hungry.
He gently guided Kushina to sit against a large tree trunk, his voice soft but firm. "Kushina, wait here. After I deal with them, I'll take you home."
He bit his thumb and performed the seals. "Summoning Jutsu!"
The white snake appeared in a puff of smoke. "Protect her," Kagenori commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Sensing the deadly chill in his voice, the white snake didn't dare its usual antics. It coiled obediently near Kushina, a silent, scaly guardian.
Kagenori turned back to the enemy, adjusting his breathing, his entire being focusing into a single, lethal point. The moment he had heard the faint chime of the bell, a cold dread had seized him. He had pushed his body to its absolute limit, using lightning chakra to overstimulate his muscles and race to her location. Now, that frantic energy was cooling into a cold, focused fury.
The Kumo jounin, Oyuro, stared at Kagenori's eyes with a mixture of shock and avarice. "The Sharingan! The Uchiha's bloodline limit! What luck! But this brat is trouble, Atsui. We take him together!"
The special jounin, Atsui, nodded grimly, drawing his ninja sword. "Understood, Captain!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Flash!" Oyuro unleashed a arc of electricity toward Kagenori and used the technique to blur forward, his sword stabbing toward Kagenori's side with lethal speed.
"Thunder Breathing, Second Form: Rice Spirit!"
Kagenori became a whirlwind. Five lightning-fast slashes erupted from his blade in rapid succession. The first deflected Oyuro's thrust. The next three were blocked in a shower of sparks, but the fifth and final slash connected, carving a deep, charred gash across the jounin's chest.
Oyuro staggered back, looking down at his wound in stunned disbelief. He had understood the boy was fast, but facing it was another matter entirely. Had he been a fraction of a second slower, he would have been decapitated.
Kagenori frowned slightly, his muscles screaming in protest. The prolonged, forced stimulation had strained his channels, sending a sharp, tingling pain through his limbs. He was slowing down.
But it didn't matter. He settled back into his stance, his Sharingan burning into the two Kumo-nin. These men had dared to lay hands on Kushina. They had filled her eyes with tears and her heart with terror.
They would not leave this forest alive.