Yoriichi was still running through the forest, Erza held tightly in his arms.
Several shinobi continued to pursue them from behind.
No matter how far he ran, no matter how many rivers, hills, and forests he crossed, they refused to stop.
................
Uzushio
Inside the grand palace of Uzushio.
A massive hall stretched endlessly beneath crimson banners bearing the symbol of the Uzumaki Clan.
Only a single shinobi knelt before the throne.
Upon that throne sat the Queen of Uzushio.
Malenia Uzumaki.
"Report."
Her calm voice echoed through the hall.
The shinobi lowered his head further.
"Your Majesty, a summons has arrived for you."
"A Five Kage Summit has been called by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Malenia's expression remained unchanged.
The words entered her ears as if they held no significance.
"When and where?"
"The Land of Iron, seven days from now."
Silence hung there for a second.
"Leave."
The shinobi immediately disappeared.
Now alone, Malenia rested her chin upon her hand.
She herself had intended to call for a summit.
Her purpose had been simple.
The remaining Tailed Beasts would be handed over to Uzushio.
Yet now fate had arranged the meeting for her.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Then I shall simply make my demand there."
Moments later, she raised a finger.
A shinobi appeared instantly.
"Kyota."
The man knelt.
"You found them?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Kyota lowered his head.
"The woman's name is Uzumaki Ashai."
"She has been living in the Land of Grass with her husband for the past twelve years."
"There is also news that she now has two children."
Malenia's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Bring them here."
Kyota looked up slightly.
"My Queen?"
Malenia slowly stood from her throne.
"I have a terrible feeling."
The hall fell silent.
Kyota immediately bowed.
"As you command."
Elsewhere
Yoriichi had been running for an entire day.
A full day.
Without rest.
Without food.
Without stopping even once.
Yet the shinobi behind him kept pursuing.
Like wolves chasing wounded prey.
The pursuers themselves were exhausted.
Their breathing was ragged.
Yet they continued.
Because they knew.
The boy was reaching his limit.
And finally, it seemed God heeded their words
He stopped.
Yoriichi's legs trembled violently.
His vision blurred.
Every breath felt like fire entering his lungs.
His feet were in terrible condition.
The skin had long been torn apart.
Blood covered them from their soles to their ankles.
Every step he had taken since leaving Kusagakure had been agony.
But he had endured.
For her. For his little sister.
Yet now his body refused to move.
His legs gave out.
Yoriichi nearly collapsed but somehow managed to remain standing.
Erza looked up at him.
Her brother's face was pale.
His body looked thinner than before.
He had not eaten since the day they escaped.
Not once.
As if understanding her brother's condition
Tears began to fill her eyes.
Soon she started crying again.
Yoriichi immediately forced a smile.
A weak one.
But a smile nonetheless.
"Shhh, Erza."
"Don't cry."
"Big brother is fine."
His voice was trembling.
Yet he continued.
"I won't let anyone hurt you."
As if understanding his words, she quieted down
The crying eventually stopped.
But by then it was already too late.
The pursuers had arrived.
Four masked shinobi landed around them.
Surrounding them.
No escape remained.
Yoriichi immediately pulled Erza closer and wrapped both arms around her, shielding her from their gaze.
Even now.
Even in this state.
His first instinct was still to protect her.
One of the masked shinobi stepped forward.
His breathing was heavy from exhaustion.
"Brat..."
His voice carried clear irritation.
"Enough is enough."
"You made us chase you all the way into the Land of Fire."
The other shinobi glared at the boy.
Despite being a 7-year-old kid, he had somehow forced trained shinobi to run for an entire day.
The lead shinobi extended his hand.
"Now be a good boy."
"Hand over the girl."
The forest fell silent.
Only the sound of wind moving through the leaves remained.
Yoriichi slowly raised his head.
His exhausted eyes met the shinobi's gaze.
And despite standing at death's door...
There wasn't a trace of fear within them.
Then the shinobi made their first move.
Yoriichi's eyes locked onto the approaching shinobi; he saw the fist tighten, the strange energy coursing through the hand, aimed directly at his nose.
He tried to dodge, but his body refused to obey—his legs leaden, arms trembling from exhaustion, his entire frame burning with heat yet unable to respond.
The punch connected with a wet *splat*, cartilage crunching beneath the impact.
Blood sprayed across Erza's face as Yoriichi's head snapped back, teeth shattering against each other.
His arm loosened involuntarily, and the shinobi seized this opportunity to grab Erza.
Then the second shinobi kicked his ribs with enough force to send him sliding across the dirt. His chest cavity collapsed inward with an audible *pop*, turning every breath into a gurgling scream.
Yoriichi attempted to roll away, but another boot caught him in the spine, cracking vertebrae like brittle twigs. His vision swirled as he vomited blood and bile onto the leaves.
Erza began wailing loudly in her captor's arms until the irritated shinobi shoved a cloth into her mouth to silence her muffled cries. Though her voice died down, rivers of tears continued flooding from her eyes.
Yoriichi's pupils dilated in horror—he wanted desperately to move, to *kill* them—but his limbs remained stubbornly still.
A fist ploughed into his temple so hard it split open like ripe fruit, exposing pulsing white tissue beneath.
A third shinobi stomped on his outstretched hand, grinding bones into paste underfoot. Yoriichi's scream emerged as a strangled whimper too weak to carry far in the forest silence.
His vision narrowed to a tunnel as they continued their brutal work—ribs shattered beyond repair, kidneys bruised into dysfunction, lungs slowly collapsing from internal haemorrhage.
The last thing he saw was Erza being dragged deeper into the woods before everything went dark—his broken body twitching feebly in the dirt like a gutted fish left behind by hunters moving on to fresher prey.
The hatred of weakness seared through him—his inability... He couldn't even fulfil his one responsibility.
Then—as if heaven had answered his call—the power inside him surged violently.
Golden chains erupted from his back and pierced through space, instantly impaling the shinobi carrying Erza straight through his heart mid-stride.
The dead shinobi crumpled, but one chain looped around Erza, gently tugging her back toward Yoriichi while others enveloped both siblings in protective cocoons of shimmering gold.
The remaining three masked shinobi stood stunned for a moment before regaining composure and closing ranks around the golden barrier.
"Tch tch—that brat still had breath left after all," one sneered just before they collectively gasped as sharp pains bloomed in their chests.
Looking down revealed blades protruding from their hearts—each perfectly placed between ribs for maximum lethality.
Their bodies slumped forward and hit the earth simultaneously.
Behind them stood three new figures clad in standard ANBU gear with faces obscured by featureless masks.
One turned toward Yoriichi and knelt respectfully despite their master's incapacitated state: "What are your next orders, Danzo-sama?"
..............
Fahh so long damn fah im really guilty being so late in updating the story. Trust me, I would never drop this. fahh for 8 days, I was thinking what !! What should i add next. fah i even tried writing during traveling and whatnot. Well, sorry for the late updates guys hope you guys stay to see the end. Thanks for your guys love to the story