"Don't do it!"
Upon hearing Araki's words and seeing him approach, Kushina's eyes widened with shock and confusion.
"What's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to run? Why are you coming here? It's dangerous, don't you know?"
Kushina shouted loudly, her emotions running high. She thought Araki was acting like a fool, capable of such a reckless exchange without considering his own safety.
At the same time, a warm current surged within her.
It was a feeling she had never experienced before.
It was a sense of recognition and importance.
More importantly, there was a sense of being cherished like a treasure. Araki didn't say much, but Kushina could be certain that he was doing this to save her, even risking his life.
Araki had already considered her the most important person in his life!
Amidst Kushina's complex thoughts, a mixture of concern for Araki's behavior and a growing sense of gratitude overwhelmed her. The emptiness in her heart caused by being a Jinchuuriki was being filled by Araki.
"It's alright, don't worry, I'm here to save you."
Araki smiled and spoke gently. Since the plan was already set, it wouldn't hurt to also reap Kushina's gratitude.
He had already accepted Kushina as a friend from the bottom of his heart.
He understood that Kushina was more emotional. In the original story, Minato Namikaze, the Under the Moon Princess, instantly won her heart by carrying her. Now, in the act of saving her, it was necessary to express his feelings, not just through actions but also through words.
"Heh heh heh, kid, you're a real man. You made the right choice. Don't worry, I won't give you a hard time. I just want to leave this place safely."
The scar-faced man quickly reassured them.
He was genuinely concerned that Araki might change his mind.
He knew that the plan he came up with was somewhat crude and even trying to deceive children seemed forced. If it succeeded, it would definitely make things smoother later on.
He didn't pay any attention to Kushina's pleas and didn't strike her with his fist again, fearing it might provoke Araki and make him change his mind.
"Araki..."
Something deep inside Kushina, the most vulnerable part of her, felt as if it had been struck hard. Emotions of gratitude kept welling up.
Tears filled her eyes almost instantly, blurring her vision.
I won't let anything happen to you!
Kushina silently vowed in her heart, entering a state of alertness. Her full attention was on Araki, ready to release the seal on herself at any moment and gain that terrifying power.
In a short distance, it felt like several centuries had passed in the hearts of Kushina and the scar-faced man.
Araki appeared completely defenseless as he walked up to the scar-faced man.
To prevent a sudden attack from Araki, the scar-faced man brought the kunai closer to Kushina.
"Here!"
Araki acted like an innocent child, extending his hands as if inviting the scar-faced man to tie him up.
"..."
The scar-faced man's eyebrows twitched fiercely, a look of disbelief flashing in his deep eyes. He never expected things to go so smoothly.
Could there be something wrong here?
But...
He couldn't see anything suspicious at all!
He could even directly stab this kid with the kunai since he was well within range!
However, just to be safe, he didn't do that. Instead, he used his left hand to hold the kunai against Kushina's neck and his right hand to take out a rope and bind Araki's
hands.
Using only one hand to tie the rope was quite troublesome.
But Araki was incredibly cooperative.
Not only did he not struggle, but he even actively helped when the rope couldn't pass through certain points, his innocence was simply adorable.
Before long, Araki's hands were securely bound.
Tightly.
The other end of the rope was in the scar-faced man's hand.
"Now release her!"
Araki stared at the scar-faced man and said. With his hands completely tied up, he couldn't use physical techniques or perform ninjutsu seals.
"Gah gah gah gah gah gah gah!"
The scar-faced man burst into laughter on the spot, his left hand holding a shuriken while his right hand held two ropes. His eyes were filled with a cruel and ruthless expression.
"Kid, you're indeed quite brave, but lacking a bit of intelligence. You don't actually think I would let her go, do you?"
"Why would a captured pigeon be allowed to fly away?"
"It's your own fault for naively believing the words of the enemy and falling into my trap, with both of you ending up in my hands. What can you possibly do now?"
"It's truly amusing!"
"Like playing a game with children!"
A triumphant smile appeared on the scar-faced man's face, even he hadn't expected things to go so smoothly when he devised this plot. Some of the prepared lines hadn't even been spoken yet.
"You deceitful liar! How could you do this!"
Kushina's eyes widened in disbelief. When she heard about the exchange, she instinctively felt that it was not right. Seeing Araki's actions, she was moved by his behavior. Only now did she realize that it was all a trap.
Is this the way of the shinobi?
To the extent of bullying even children!
How despicable!
A sense of resentment surged within Kushina. Her face turned cold, bordering on anger.
"My objective is only this girl, I don't intend to take both of you. It would be too troublesome. Since you killed two of my companions, they shall be buried with them!"
The scar-faced man glared at Araki menacingly, suddenly raising his left hand holding the shuriken and swiftly stabbing towards Araki's body.
However...
Right at the moment when the scar-faced man swung the shuriken forward.
He felt an indescribable tingling sensation rushing through his entire body. In an instant, he lost consciousness, unable to even hold onto the shuriken, which clattered to the ground.
"Wha... what happened..."
The scar-faced man widened his eyes, a look of terror filling his childish pupils. The tingling sensation had surged up to his tongue, making his speech unclear. His brain was clouded, consciousness rapidly fading away, about to collapse.
"Have you ever heard this phrase..."
In the clouded consciousness, Araki's voice rang out, sounding less innocent than imagined.
"A true hunter often appears in the form of the hunted!"