The wind carried the scent of salt across the village.
Uzushiogakure.
A place few people knew
and even fewer truly understood.
But to her, it was home.
"Kushina! Stop!"
The girl with the fiery red hair ran across the training ground, laughing.
"You're way too slow!"
Several children tried to catch her.
None of them succeeded.
She was faster.
Stronger.
And… different.
Suddenly
A sharp jolt.
Invisible chains burst from her back and slammed into the ground.
The earth cracked beneath them.
Silence fell.
The children stared at her.
"Again…"
Kushina looked down at her hands.
"I… didn't mean to…"
A voice spoke behind her.
"But that is exactly what will be asked of you one day."
Kushina turned around.
A woman stood there.
Long red hair.
Pale skin.
And eyes… that had seen far too much.
"Who are you…?"
The woman stepped closer.
Slowly.
Calmly.
"I am the one who came before you."
Kushina's heart began to race.
"What… do you mean?"
The woman stopped right in front of her.
Then she raised her hand.
And for a moment
Kushina felt something.
Something dark.
Heavy.
Angry.
A whisper.
Deep inside her.
"You can hear him… can't you?"
Kushina's eyes widened.
"What… is that…?"
The woman smiled sadly.
"Your future."
A gust of wind swept across the field.
And for a brief moment
Something reflected in Kushina's eyes.
Two massive, glowing eyes.
With vertical pupils.
Then it was gone.
Silence.
But this time
It was not comforting.
"I am your future."
Kushina blinked.
"…Wow. That has to be the worst introduction ever."
The woman in front of her raised an eyebrow. For a brief moment, she almost looked amused.
"So you have a sense of humor."
Kushina crossed her arms.
"And you're creepy."
"A lot of people say that."
"That does not make me feel better."
A short gust of wind made their red hair sway.
The woman let out a quiet sigh.
"My name is Akane Uzumaki."
Kushina froze.
"Uzumaki…?"
"Yes. Just like you."
"But… I've never seen you before."
Akane smiled faintly.
"That's because I'm not meant to be seen."
Kushina made a face.
"Okay… now it's getting really weird."
Suddenly, her stomach growled loudly.
…
Silence.
Akane looked at her.
Kushina looked back.
"Don't say anything."
"I didn't say anything."
"But you're thinking it!"
"I think a lot of things."
Kushina turned away, annoyed.
"I'm just hungry, okay?!"
Akane closed her eyes for a moment.
"You really are still a child…"
"I AM a child!"
Akane slowly walked around her.
"Tell me… has this happened before?"
"What?"
"These chains."
Kushina hesitated.
"…Yeah."
"When?"
"When I'm angry… or when someone annoys me."
Akane studied her briefly.
"So… often."
Kushina shot her a glare.
"Watch what you say."
A faint smile crossed Akane's face.
"Good. That means your body is already reacting."
Kushina stepped closer.
"To WHAT?!"
Akane stopped. Her voice grew more serious.
"To him."
Kushina's heart began to pound.
"…Who?"
Akane slowly raised her hand.
"Focus. Feel it."
Kushina frowned.
Then
A pressure.
Deep inside her.
Warm. Heavy. Restless.
A low growl.
Kushina's eyes widened.
"…What is that?!"
Akane whispered,
"That is not chakra."
Kushina took a step back.
"Then WHAT is it?!"
Akane's gaze darkened.
"It is a being."
Silence.
Then Kushina said carefully,
"…Please tell me you don't mean a frog or something."
Akane stared at her.
"…What? I don't know these things!"
Akane's voice became quieter.
"It is a monster."
The wind grew stronger.
"A being that can destroy entire nations."
Kushina swallowed.
"And… that is… inside me?"
Akane looked at her directly.
"Not yet."
A brief pause.
"But it will be."
Kushina lowered her gaze.
"I kind of already thought… that something was wrong with me…"
Akane stepped closer. For the first time, there was something gentle in her movement.
"You are not wrong."
Kushina whispered,
"It feels like it."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Kushina looked up again.
"And you?"
"What about me?"
"You act like you already know all of this."
Akane did not answer immediately.
Kushina's voice softened.
"Were you… the one before me?"
The wind fell still.
A faint red glow appeared around Akane.
Kushina felt it instantly.
Hatred. Pain. Loneliness.
And something immense, barely contained.
Akane's eyes glowed faintly.
"Yes."
Kushina's breath caught.
"I was his prison."
Suddenly, a shout echoed across the training ground.
"KUSHINA!!!"
Several adults ran toward her.
"What happened here?!"
The ground was torn apart. Marks of chains carved through the earth.
Kushina turned around
But Akane was gone.
As if she had never been there.
Only a voice remained.
Soft. Distant.
"You will understand… why we carry him."
Kushina stood there.
Alone.
But deep inside her
She no longer was.