They moved before the light changed.
No discussion.
No hesitation.
Just… direction.
The forest grew quieter the deeper they went.
Not empty.
Never empty.
But wrong.
Kushina felt it with every step.
The air was heavier.
Still.
Like something had passed through—and left nothing behind.
"…this isn't normal…"
"…no…"
Daichi didn't slow.
But his gaze moved constantly.
Left. Right. Forward.
Tracking.
Measuring.
Minato walked a few steps behind them.
Silent.
Watching everything.
Not just the trees.
The ground.
The space between movement.
Kushina glanced back briefly.
"…you see something?"
Minato shook his head slightly.
"…not yet."
A pause.
"…but I feel it."
That didn't help.
Kushina huffed softly.
"Yeah. Same."
They kept moving.
Branches snapped underfoot.
Leaves shifted.
But even those sounds felt… muted.
Like the forest didn't want to be heard.
Then—
Daichi stopped.
Immediately.
No warning.
Kushina almost walked into him.
"…seriously?"
He didn't answer.
He crouched down slowly.
Kushina followed his gaze.
At first—
nothing.
Just earth.
Leaves.
Roots.
Then she saw it.
A mark.
Small.
But precise.
Cut into the ground.
Not random.
A symbol.
"…what is that…"
Daichi didn't touch it.
"…a seal…"
Minato stepped closer.
Careful.
Not too close.
"…not active," he said quietly.
"…anymore."
Kushina frowned.
"…anymore?"
Silence.
Daichi's voice dropped.
"They were here."
A chill ran down her spine.
"…how long ago?"
He studied the mark.
"…not long enough."
That was not reassuring.
Kushina straightened slowly, her eyes scanning the trees again.
"…so what, they just left their little symbol behind?"
"No," Daichi said.
"They don't leave anything by accident."
A pause.
"This was used."
Kushina's fingers twitched slightly.
"…for what."
No answer.
Not immediately.
Minato moved a few steps to the side.
His gaze dropped to the ground again.
"…there's more."
That made Kushina turn.
More marks.
Subtle.
Barely visible unless you knew what to look for.
Forming a pattern.
Not random.
A shape.
"…circle…"
"…containment…"
"…control…"
Kushina's chest tightened.
"…someone was here…"
"…not someone…"
Daichi stood slowly.
"…something."
That word hung in the air.
Wrong.
Heavy.
Kushina swallowed.
"…what do you mean 'something'."
Daichi didn't answer right away.
His gaze moved across the clearing.
Then—
"…look around."
Kushina did.
Really looked this time.
The trees.
The ground.
The space.
At first—
nothing.
Then—
she saw it.
No animals.
No birds.
No sound.
Nothing living.
"…this place is dead…"
"…not dead…"
"…emptied…"
Minato's voice came quietly.
"They cleared it."
Kushina's stomach turned slightly.
"…why."
No one answered.
Because they all knew.
Or at least—
felt it.
Her steps slowed as she moved forward.
Further into the clearing.
Something pulled her.
Not physically.
Something deeper.
"…don't go too far…"
"…I'm fine…"
"…you're not…"
She ignored it.
Of course she did.
Her eyes moved across the ground again.
Then—
she saw it.
A stain.
Dark.
Faint.
But still there.
Her breath caught slightly.
"…that's…"
"…blood…"
Kushina's hand tightened.
"…someone was here…"
"…yes…"
"…and they didn't leave…"
Silence.
Heavy.
Kushina's chest rose slowly.
"…what did they do…"
Daichi stepped closer now.
Not stopping her.
But not letting her move alone.
"They tested something."
A pause.
"Or someone."
That was worse.
Kushina's gaze didn't leave the ground.
"…like me…"
No one denied it.
Minato spoke softly.
"…not exactly."
That made her look at him.
"…what does that mean."
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
"…this feels… unstable."
A beat.
"Like it didn't work."
The air shifted.
Subtle.
But real.
Kushina felt it immediately.
A flicker.
Deep inside her.
Familiar.
But wrong.
Twisted.
"…you feel that…"
"…yes…"
"…that's not me…"
Her heart started beating faster.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"…that's him…"
"…no…"
"…not fully…"
The pressure spiked—
then vanished.
Like something had been there—
and slipped away.
Kushina froze.
"…did you feel that?"
Daichi nodded once.
Minato's gaze sharpened.
"…yes."
Silence.
Then—
very quietly—
Kushina whispered:
"…we're not alone."
The forest didn't answer.
But something moved.
Not in front of them.
Not behind.
Somewhere—
just outside reach.
Watching.
Waiting.
Breathing.
Far beyond the clearing—
hidden in shadow—
a figure stood.
Still.
Unmoving.
Eyes empty.
But aware.
A voice echoed softly through the darkness.
"Subject proximity confirmed."
A pause.
"…do we engage?"
Silence.
Then—
"No."
Another voice.
Colder.
Controlled.
"Not yet."
A beat.
"Let her come closer."
Back in the clearing—
Kushina's breath slowed again.
But her body didn't relax.
Not this time.
"…this isn't over…"
"…no…"
"…it's just starting…"
She lifted her head slowly.
Her eyes sharp.
Focused.
Ready.
"…then let's find out what they did here."