A special thank you to all my patrons.
The List of My "Wandering Reader":
-[ ]
-Cain
-Goha21
-Jacob Mooe
-Varun Madhu
-Mp Gaming
-Paul Panzer
-Austin Levy
-Aziz Makda
-TylerD
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Sea.
A massive island turtle, reared for generations by Kumogakure, drifted along with the ocean currents.
"Is this the place?"
Kisame Hoshigaki abruptly emerged from the calm, undisturbed surface of the sea.
"That's right."
White spores sprouted from the skin on his shoulder, forming Zetsu's pure white face.
"Thanks to your ability to mimic others' chakra," Kisame grinned, revealing his sharp teeth, "we were able to extract intel about the Nine-Tails from both Konoha and Kumo shinobi."
"No need for thanks. It's all for Lord Nagato's goal."
Zetsu's face gradually blurred, and the white spores detached from Kisame's shoulder.
"This clone ends here. Good luck with your mission."
The indistinct features on the spore twisted into an eerie smile before it fell into the seawater.
"Yeah… let's hope so."
Kisame agilely swam toward the turtle's shell.
"Honestly, even for me, facing the Fourth Hokage isn't a fight I can win easily."
His body submerged once more, and his muttering voice slowly faded into the depths.
---
On the Turtle's Back.
Naruto lay flat on the grassy ground, panting heavily.
"Tired?"
Kushina crouched beside him, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face.
Naruto looked up—his clear blue eyes reflecting his mother's gentle expression.
"Mom…" He pressed a hand against his chest.
Kushina smiled softly. "What's wrong, Naruto?"
"I just… feel uneasy." He clutched the hem of her clothes, his gaze unwavering. "Did something big happen? Something I don't know about?"
"No, nothing like that." Kushina's hand paused for a fraction of a second before she resumed wiping his face, her smile unchanging. "Why would you think that?"
Naruto sat up abruptly, his expression urgent. "I don't know! But my gut's telling me something's wrong!"
"You're probably just overthinking things." Kushina cupped his face with warm hands, her eyes firm. "And don't push yourself too hard with training. You've already passed the first trial. I know you'll master the Nine-Tails' power soon."
"…Yeah. Thanks, Mom."
Under his mother's reassuring gaze, Naruto's doubts faded. He scratched his head sheepishly and grinned.
"It's getting dark. Go get something to eat." Kushina patted his back. "We'll continue tomorrow."
"Okay!"
Naruto sprang up and dashed toward the campfire where Bee stood guard.
Kushina sighed, then wandered through a small grove of trees until she reached the shore, where Minato was cleaning their catch.
"Minato… Naruto's instincts are sharp." Her voice was quiet, hesitant. "Is it really okay to keep him in the dark?"
Minato rinsed the blood from his hands and stood.
"I'm sorry." He pulled her into an embrace. "For making you bear this."
"Don't say that. I'm his mother." Her voice was resolute.
"Maybe this is just parental selfishness." Minato's tone was gentle. "His friends might die in this war. Later, he might resent us for keeping him away… might regret not fighting alongside them."
He felt Kushina tremble slightly and held her tighter.
"But neither of us would regret this decision, right?" he murmured. "To parents, their child's safety comes first."
"…Yeah."
Kushina relaxed slightly in his arms, the tension in her chest easing.
---
"NARUTO!!!"
Motoi's sudden shout shattered the quiet.
"What?!"
Minato and Kushina whipped their heads toward the sound.
"I'll check."
Minato vanished in a flash.
What's happening?!
Kushina sprinted toward the campfire, her heart pounding.
As she reached the edge of the trees, the scene by the fire came into view—her pupils shrank, and she froze, ducking behind a thick trunk.
"Akatsuki?!" Motoi was glaring in shock at Kisame, who had Naruto in a chokehold. "How the hell did you find this place?!"
"Let me go!"
Naruto struggled weakly, but the moment he tried to gather chakra, Samehada—the grotesque sword pressed against him—absorbed it all.
Damn it!
Kushina bit her lip.
Naruto had exhausted himself from training. And because he was still trying to master the Nine-Tails' power, he couldn't draw on its chakra now.
What do we do?!
Her mind raced.
"I know you're fast, Fourth Hokage." Kisame smirked, his shark-like eyes glinting as he watched Minato hesitate. "But can you save him before I slit his throat?"
Minato frowned, silently calling out to the Nine-Tails.
"Kurama, lend Naruto your other half's power."
"No." The fox's voice rumbled in his mind. "That brat hasn't earned it. I won't yield."
Minato clenched his jaw, eyes locked on Kisame. "Your goal is to capture Naruto, not kill him here."
"True." Kisame chuckled. "But I don't fancy my chances of escaping the Yellow Flash while dragging this kid along. Killing him might be simpler."
"Is that so?"
Minato suddenly smiled—and disappeared.
"Here we go."
Kisame's grip tightened, Samehada swinging toward Naruto's neck—
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Crimson chains erupted from the ground, coiling around Samehada.
At the same time, a golden flash streaked past—Minato reappeared with Naruto safely in his arms.
"Another one?!"
Kisame's gaze snapped to Kushina as she stepped out from behind the tree.
"Guess we've still got our teamwork, Kushina."
Minato and Kushina exchanged a brief, knowing smile.
"Kushina… Uzumaki Kushina?" Kisame's voice was eerily calm. "So even Konoha's previous Nine-Tails jinchūriki was revived. That Uchiha brat's doing?"
"Yep." Kushina's glare sharpened. "Most of Konoha and Kumo don't even know I'm alive."
"Seems my mission's a bust."
Kisame strained against the chains, the grinding of metal filling the air.
"You bastard!"
Kushina's red hair whipped wildly as her expression turned terrifying.
"You dare lay a hand on my son?!"
She stomped forward, the ground cracking beneath her.
The chains yanked Kisame into the air before slamming him down with enough force to kick up a dust cloud.
"Ugh…"
Naruto shivered at the sight of his enraged mother, then glanced at Minato with newfound awe.
"Hm?"
Minato blinked innocently.
"Heh…" Kisame's raspy laugh echoed from the dust. "How nice. While the whole world's at war, your family's hiding here, safe and sound."
Kushina and Minato stiffened, shouting in unison: "Shut up!"
"But then again," Kisame continued, unfazed, "this war—the one dragging every village into the fire—was all to protect your precious Nine-Tails brat."
"What… what are you talking about? What war…?"
Naruto turned, his face pale as he stared at the shadowy figure in the dust.