"Kushina, where exactly are you taking me?" Uzumaki Asako asked, perplexed.
The Hokage hadn't sent reinforcements yet, so what could Kushina do? She couldn't help but recall Hayato, that mysterious name Kushina had mentioned earlier.
Could Hayato have a better plan than the Hokage?
Kushina led her into the Uchiha Clan's territory. Seeing the Fire Fan family crest, she knew this was Uchiha ground.
Kushina pushed open the door to Hayato's house. The interior was still simple, no different from two years ago.
"Where's the person you wanted me to meet?" Asako asked, somewhat confused.
Kushina smiled softly, lifted a floorboard, revealing a dark hole.
"He's underground. This is a secret base Hayato dug out. He often stays here when he's not training."
Asako followed Kushina underground. As they went deeper, the cave gradually became brighter until they finally saw their target—
A young man.
The young man wore a white top and simple, fitted black Ninja pants. His hair fell naturally over his shoulders. Hearing the sound, his chiseled profile turned, revealing a face that could only be described as exquisite.
He was indeed very handsome!
Asako wiped the corner of her mouth, remembering why Kushina had brought her here.
Uchiha Hayato noticed Asako's bright red hair and instantly understood. He had actually forgotten such a crucial matter.
[Ding! Mission Issued: The Fall of Whirlpool Country]
[Rescue Uzumaki Family Ninja. Rewards will be given based on the extent of rescue. No penalty for failure.]
"Hayato, I…" Kushina began urgently, even though she knew Hayato might not have a solution, she couldn't help but ask.
"Kushina, you don't need to say anything, I already know." Hayato responded with a smile, a hint of confidence in his eyes. "Hello, I'm Uchiha Hayato."
Asako paused for a second, then quickly bowed. This young man seemed to be the same age as Kushina, but he was quite a bit taller than her.
"You know?" Kushina was puzzled; she hadn't said anything yet.
"You want me to help rescue the Uzumaki Family, right?" Hayato chuckled, looking at Kushina's anxious expression. Anyone could guess the general situation.
Kushina's anxiety eased slightly, and she nodded repeatedly: "Yes, you have a close relationship with the Third Hokage. If you persuade him, Konoha will definitely send reinforcements."
Uchiha Hayato shook his head. Kushina might not understand Hiruzen Sarutobi, but he certainly did.
Through their long interactions, he had realized that Hiruzen Sarutobi was a good-natured person, capable of tolerating his Konoha comrades, but he lacked sufficient decisiveness. Unless it was a critical moment, he found it very difficult to make immediate decisions under normal circumstances.
By the time Konoha decided to send aid, Whirlpool Country would have long been destroyed.
Hayato threw a Luxury Ball, and Chimchar's figure gradually appeared.
"Xiao Yan, are you ready for a real battle?"
Chimchar's cry was full of excitement.
"Awooo—"
[Name: Chimchar]
[Gender: Male]
[Ability: Blaze (Fire-type moves increase in power when HP is low)]
[Type: Fire]
[Held Item: Charcoal]
[Moves: Scratch, Glare, Double Kick, Fire Punch, Fake Out, Ember, Taunt, Fury Swipes, Flame Wheel, Nasty Plot, Torment, Feint, Thunder Punch, Agility, Flame Charge]
That's right, it had been two years, and Chimchar hadn't evolved. It wasn't that Uchiha Hayato wouldn't let him evolve, but his growth had exceeded Hayato's imagination. His size was already nearly a meter, showing the prototype of a boss Pokémon, and he could evolve anytime he wished.
He couldn't continue to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrangements. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi had his best interests at heart, he was also hindering his own development.
To help Kushina escape her fate of becoming the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, he had to break free from these constraints.
"Kushina, if we wait for Uncle Third Hokage's order, then I can't do anything." Uchiha Hayato's expression was firm. "The only way to save your homeland is for us to leave the Village privately and rush to Uzushiogakure at full speed. Only then might we save them."
Even though Kushina was mentally prepared, she was still stunned by Hayato's idea.
"Hayato, do you know what leaving the Village privately means?"
Uzumaki Asako, beside her, was also full of surprise. This young man, how could he dare to do such a thing?
"That's right, leaving the Village privately means defection." Hayato said with a determined tone. "Every Rogue Ninja will be hunted down, not just by Anbu, but potentially by wandering Ninja and Samurai as well."
"However, I'm different. I'm already well-known in Konoha, and the high-ranking officials of the Land of Fire also know my name. If I'm caught, I'll only be confined." Hayato changed his tone. "Besides, I don't believe the Uzumaki Family will be destroyed."
"I wouldn't take risks without sufficient strength." His confident smile infected Kushina. "Don't you want to go back and see the place where you were born?"
"I…" Kushina stammered, opening her mouth but saying nothing.
"I know what you're thinking about. It's about the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, right?" Hayato stepped forward and took Kushina's hand. "It's okay, if you don't want to, no one will force you."
He looked at the Master Ball in his system backpack and secretly made up his mind.
Uzumaki Asako covered her ears at this moment, wanting to forget everything in her mind. Rogue Ninja, Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, she knew nothing about any of it.
Uchiha Hayato and Kushina were fine; they were people of Konoha Village. But she wasn't. If she were caught, her fate wouldn't be so good.
Kushina was moved, placing one hand over her heart and bowing her head silently.
When she looked up, her expression was resolute: "Is it really possible, Hayato?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Hayato chuckled, patting Kushina's head.
At this moment, you are not the future Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, not a Konoha Ninja; you are just you, a girl nicknamed the Red-Hot Habanero, named Uzumaki Kushina.
When you said you were just friends with them, Kushina muttered to herself, but she also knew that on this matter, Hayato wouldn't lie to her.
At this moment, Kushina felt a sense of peace she had never experienced before. No matter what the future held, at least for now, she was no longer alone.
Watching their interaction, Uzumaki Asako gritted her teeth: "Since you two are doing this, how can I disagree?"
Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes shone with firm resolve: "Alright, let's go together. What do you plan to do?"
She might as well die protecting the Village with her Family; that would be a relief.
"First, we need to get through Konoha's gates, then rush to Uzushiogakure at the fastest possible speed, without too much loss."
As he said this, Asako's heart gradually despaired. With their age, how strong could they be? At most, Genin. To have Chunin strength would be an extraordinary genius, but even so, it wouldn't be enough to save the Village.
Uchiha Hayato smiled freely: "We need to let Xiao Yan and Growlithe evolve first."