The forest didn't move.
It waited.
Kushina felt it before anything happened.
Not a sound.
Not a step.
A presence.
Heavy.
Wrong.
Her body tensed without her telling it to.
"…he's here…"
Her fingers curled slightly.
"…I know…"
Daichi stepped forward just enough to block her path.
"Stay behind me."
Kushina frowned immediately.
"No."
His voice didn't rise.
But it hardened.
"This is not the same."
"I know."
A pause.
"I still won't hide."
Silence.
For a moment, Daichi didn't move.
Didn't argue.
Then—
he stepped slightly to the side.
Not fully.
But enough.
Minato's voice came quietly from behind them.
"…something's off."
Kushina exhaled slowly.
"Yeah. I noticed."
The air shifted.
Not violently.
Not suddenly.
Just—
changed.
Then—
a sound.
Soft.
Uneven.
A step.
From the shadows.
Kushina's eyes locked forward.
And then—
she saw him.
At first—
he looked normal.
Almost.
A boy.
Not much older than her.
Dark hair.
Pale skin.
Bare feet against the forest floor.
But then—
he lifted his head.
And everything changed.
His eyes were empty.
Not calm.
Not focused.
Empty.
Like nothing inside him belonged to him anymore.
Kushina's breath caught slightly.
"…what is that…"
"…that's him…"
"…that's what's left…"
The boy took another step forward.
Unstable.
But controlled.
Like something else was guiding him.
Watching through him.
"Subject… confirmed…"
His voice was wrong.
Not fully his.
Not fully anything.
Kushina's chest tightened.
"…he's talking like them…"
"…he's not alone…"
Daichi's stance shifted.
Careful.
Precise.
"Don't engage."
Kushina frowned.
"…what."
"He's unstable."
"I can see that."
A pause.
"That's exactly why you don't engage."
Minato stepped slightly closer.
Not forward.
Just… ready.
"…he's reacting to her…"
That made Kushina freeze.
"…what."
The boy's head tilted.
Slow.
Too slow.
Like he was listening to something inside his own mind.
Then—
his gaze locked onto her.
Fully.
For the first time—
there was something in it.
Not emotion.
Recognition.
"…you…"
Kushina's breath hitched.
"…he sees me…"
"…of course he does…"
The boy took another step.
Faster this time.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly.
Chakra leaked from him.
Wild.
Unstable.
Wrong.
Kushina felt it instantly.
Her own chest tightened.
"…that's… familiar…"
"…yes…"
"…but broken…"
The boy stopped just a few meters away.
Too close.
Too wrong.
"…why…"
The word came out fragmented.
Barely formed.
"…why are you… still you…"
Silence.
That question hit harder than anything else.
Kushina stared at him.
"…what…"
"…he doesn't understand…"
"…he lost it…"
Daichi stepped forward again.
Slow.
Careful.
"Step back."
The boy didn't move.
Didn't react.
Just stared at Kushina.
"…answer…"
His voice cracked slightly.
Like it didn't belong to him.
Kushina swallowed.
"…I don't know…"
A pause.
"…I'm just… trying…"
The boy's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
Something flickered.
Pain.
Confusion.
Then—
it twisted.
His chakra surged violently.
The ground split beneath him.
"…no…"
"…he's losing it…"
Daichi moved instantly.
"Back."
Kushina didn't.
"…wait—"
Too late.
The boy lunged.
Fast.
Uncontrolled.
Not precise like the others.
Wild.
Kushina reacted—
her chain formed—
barely in time—
It collided with him—
not stopping—
just slowing—
His hand slammed into the ground beside her.
The impact cracked the earth.
Kushina stumbled back.
"…he's too strong…"
"…no control…"
"…that's what happens…"
Minato moved in from the side.
Fast.
Clean.
He struck—not to finish—
to redirect.
To pull the boy away.
It worked.
For a second.
Then—
the boy snapped toward him.
Violent.
Unpredictable.
Daichi intercepted immediately.
Blocking.
Holding.
But even he had to push harder this time.
"…he's not stable…"
"…he's breaking…"
Kushina stood frozen for a moment.
Her chest tight.
Her mind racing.
"…this is wrong…"
"…this is you… if you fail…"
Her eyes widened.
"…no…"
The boy's voice cut through again.
Louder now.
More desperate.
"…stop…"
Everything paused.
Just for a second.
His body trembled.
Violently.
His hands shaking.
His breathing uneven.
"…make it stop…"
Silence.
Kushina's heart pounded.
"…he's still there…"
"…barely…"
Daichi didn't move.
Didn't strike.
He just held position.
Waiting.
Minato stayed ready.
Watching.
Kushina stepped forward.
Slowly.
"…don't…"
"…careful…"
"…too close…"
She ignored them.
"…hey…"
Her voice was quieter now.
Not sharp.
Not defensive.
Just… human.
The boy's head lifted slightly.
"…you're still there…"
A pause.
"…right?"
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
his eyes flickered.
Just slightly.
Something real.
Something human.
"…help…"
That word broke something inside her.
Kushina's hand tightened.
"…I can't…"
"…not yet…"
The moment shattered.
Violently.
His chakra exploded outward.
Unstable.
Uncontrolled.
Daichi moved instantly.
"NOW."
Kushina reacted—
her chain shot forward—
not to attack—
to restrain—
to hold—
It wrapped around his arm—
barely—
just enough—
Minato struck again—
redirecting—
creating space—
The boy screamed.
Raw.
Broken.
Then—
he was gone.
Gone.
Like he had never been there.
Only the cracked ground remained.
And the silence.
Kushina stood still.
Her breath uneven.
Her hands shaking.
"…that…"
She swallowed.
"…that was real…"
"…yes…"
"…that was you…"
She shook her head immediately.
"No."
A pause.
"…not yet…"
Her eyes moved slowly across the clearing.
"…they did that to him…"
No one denied it.
Daichi stepped beside her.
"They didn't stop him."
A beat.
"They turned him into something else."
Silence.
Kushina's chest tightened.
"…I'm not ending up like that…"
Minato's voice came quietly.
"…then don't give them the chance."
Kushina didn't answer.
Her eyes stayed forward.
Sharp.
Focused.
But something inside her had changed.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Understanding.
Far away—
hidden again—
a voice spoke.
"Subject reaction… confirmed."
A pause.
"Emotional instability detected."
Another.
"Proceed to next phase."