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Konoha Village.
Inside a training ground.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffing on his pipe, clapped his hands with a smile: "Minato, it's getting late. Let's end today's training here."
Hearing this, Minato Namikaze immediately ran to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side, scratching his head a little sheepishly: "Hokage-sama, I'm so sorry, I didn't keep track of time."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a kind expression, waved his hand dismissively: "Jiraiya has been staying in Hidden Rain Village for so long, I, as his teacher, will fulfill his responsibilities for him."
"It's just that most of the time I'm very busy, and can only occasionally spare some time to guide you. You mustn't be angry with me."
Hearing this, Minato Namikaze quickly said: "How could I be? It's my honor to receive guidance from Hokage-sama."
Seeing Minato Namikaze's expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction, then, as if suddenly remembering something, raised his hand and slapped his forehead.
"Look at me, a senile old man, I almost forgot." Hiruzen Sarutobi finished, then took out a letter from his in my arms, "Minato, Kushina wrote me a letter a while ago, this is a reply. Can you help me deliver it to Kushina?"
Minato Namikaze put the letter in his in my arms: "No problem, leave this to me."
A look of apology appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face, seemingly a little embarrassed: "It's so late and I still have to trouble you to make a trip. You've worked hard."
"It's no trouble." Minato Namikaze glanced at the moon in the sky, "Then I'll go now."
Watching Minato Namikaze's retreating figure, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face gradually disappeared, as if muttering to himself: "Go."
In the night, trees swayed without wind, and several figures disappeared.
——
"Kushina, thank you for your trouble. It's so late and you still have to come and look after this old woman."
"Grandma Mito, don't say such things. You are my only family in this world, and it's my duty to take care of you."
"Besides, I don't have to carry out missions like other Ninja, so I'm not tired."
Under the dim yellow light, Uzumaki Mito leaned against the headboard.
Her once youthful and beautiful appearance was long gone, replaced by a head of silver hair and wrinkled skin.
Looking at Uzumaki Kushina busy in the room, a trace of heartache flashed in Uzumaki Mito's eyes.
Ever since Tsunade left the Village, this vast estate was left with only her and Kushina living in it.
How unpredictable life is.
Just as Uzumaki Mito was lost in thought, Uzumaki Kushina had already tidied up. She held the garbage in her hand and said cheerfully: "Grandma Mito, get some rest early. I'll be leaving now."
Watching Uzumaki Kushina push the door open and leave, Uzumaki Mito couldn't help but shake her head.
What a sensible and good child.
It's just a pity that her future days are destined to be not peaceful.
As a Jinchuriki, even she, now, had become a lonely person. Kushina's path in the future would probably be even more difficult, right?
Thinking of the spirited appearance of the Senju Clan in the past, Uzumaki Mito couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Alas... How did it come to this in just a few short years?
——
Coming out of Uzumaki Mito's room, Uzumaki Kushina threw away the garbage.
Walking through the Senju Clan grounds, she felt an emptiness in her heart.
These past few days, she had thought it over and over, and finally decided to accept her fate—
To become the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki!
Although she really wanted to be a free and ordinary person, ever since she came to Konoha, the Third Hokage had always cared for her, tolerated her willfulness, and taken care of her life, just like a kind old grandfather who had always helped and taught her.
She couldn't be too selfish either.
Even to repay this kindness, she would stay in the Village.
And just as Minato said, perhaps there would be other ways to allow her to have a certain degree of freedom.
Oh, right, I should find time to tell Yuzuru about my decision.
Uzumaki Kushina silently calculated in her heart.
Of course, even if she chose to continue being the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina didn't think Yuzuru's idea was wrong.
Just as Yuzuru himself said, Uchiha clansmen were originally of that personality.
She hoped Yuzuru wouldn't be angry with her.
Just as Uzumaki Kushina was lost in thought, three dark figures suddenly appeared beside Uzumaki Kushina.
"Who are you?"
Uzumaki Kushina exclaimed, and several shuriken flew from her hand.
Immediately after, she prepared to form hand signs to release Ninjutsu, in order to create an opportunity to escape.
It was just a pity that the enemies' movements were faster.
Three people attacked her at once, and before she could put up any effective resistance, a handkerchief was pressed over her nose.
Immediately after, Uzumaki Kushina fell into a deep sleep.
——
Late night.
Konoha Village entrance.
Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Yakumi silently followed behind their squad leader, Uchiha Homura.
Looking around, Uchiha Inaho couldn't help but grumble: "Night duty should be a monthly rotation, right?"
"It's almost two months now, why are we still on night duty?"
For Ninja, reversing day and night was a minor issue; the most crucial thing was that it was inconvenient for Cultivating.
If this continued, when would they become as strong as Captain Yuzuru?
Hearing Uchiha Inaho's complaint, Uchiha Yakumi whispered: "It seems Captain Yuzuru actively swapped with Captain Homura."
"Huh? Why?"
"I don't know that, maybe to curry favor with his future father-in-law?"
"Hiss! That makes sense!"
"Inaho, Yakumi, what are you two muttering about? Concentrate."
Hearing Uchiha Homura's reminder from the front, Uchiha Inaho and Uchiha Yakumi quickly shut up: "Understood, Captain."
The few didn't notice that after they left, three dark figures swiftly darted through the night not far away... ——
"They finally appeared."
In the darkness, Uchiha Yuzuru opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.
Under the moonlight, he clearly saw Uzumaki Kushina being abducted by three people, speeding towards outside the Village.
Without any hesitation, Uchiha Yuzuru picked up his long sword and quickly gave chase.
In the original work, in the 41st year of Konoha, Uzumaki Kushina was abducted once by the Hidden Cloud Village.
Judging by the clothing and environment at the time, the period should have been at the transition between summer and autumn.
So, during this recent period, he would use the opportunity of night duty to guard near Uzumaki Kushina every day.
Today, he finally waited for it!
However, Uchiha Yuzuru was not in a hurry to rescue Uzumaki Kushina, but secretly followed behind the few people.
In the original work, this matter was full of suspicious points, and many details simply couldn't withstand scrutiny.
As long as he told Uzumaki Kushina about these suspicious points afterwards, Uchiha Yuzuru believed that she would be completely disappointed with the Konoha higher-ups!