Inside the stronghold at Misawa Bridge.
With her vibrant red hair swaying behind her, Uzumaki Kushina led the Barrier Corps as they worked to set up defensive formations.
Due to the widening front lines, Konoha's high-level forces had been forced to split up. Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Uchiha Fugaku, Aburame Shibi, and others had taken elite teams to various key positions to guard against a potential shift in Kirigakure's offensive.
That left Misawa Bridge—closest to the fallen Jinnan stronghold and without any natural defenses—as a prime target for enemy attacks. Responsibility for its defense now rested with Kushina.
"This is the barrier formation," Kushina explained as she clapped her hands. "Once an enemy steps inside, it'll trigger the concealed explosive tags attached within, maximizing damage. It's especially effective against Kirigakure's mist-based tactics."
"Follow my instructions and deploy the barrier formation across all corners outside the bridge."
"Yes, Lady Kushina!" the shinobi replied in unison, eyes filled with deep respect.
As the Konoha shinobi moved swiftly to carry out the orders, Kushina brought her hands together again, gathering chakra.
In the next moment, an invisible sensory barrier spread outward from her, expanding until it covered nearly the entire Misawa Bridge.
"Barrier: Canopy Method Formation."
This technique—originally one of Jiraiya's specialties—created a wide-scale sensory field centered around the caster.
Given her close relationship with Jiraiya, Kushina had long since mastered the technique.
With the barrier in place, she exhaled softly. "With this, even though we're short on manpower, we'll be able to detect any surprise attacks in time…"
"…Impressive. You truly live up to your name as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—deploying a barrier like this on your own to cover nearly the entire bridge."
"But tell me—can your barrier really stop our ambush?"
A cold voice whispered directly into Kushina's ear.
Her face paled, reacting instantly to strike, but several binding spells flared to life in an instant!
"Bakudō No. 30: Shitotsu Sansen!"
"Bakudō No. 61: Rikujōkōrō!"
Her movements froze. As she struggled, golden chains erupted from the ground and wrapped tightly around her.
Stunned, Kushina stared at the crimson-haired figure in a Kirigakure Anbu uniform standing behind Yoru.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains?!"
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
The next second, Yoru appeared behind her—Hyōrinmaru in hand, aimed directly at her heart!
[S-Class Target 'Uzumaki Kushina' detected. Side quests triggered:]
• Objective 1: Subdue Uzumaki Kushina — Reward: 100,000 points
• Objective 2: Defeat Uzumaki Kushina — Reward: 50,000 points
• Objective 3: Kill Uzumaki Kushina — Reward: 200,000 points
[Special Lifeform 'Tailed Beast: Kurama (Nine-Tails)' detected. Side quests triggered:]
• Objective 1: Subdue, control, absorb, or seal Kurama — Reward: 100,000 points
• Objective 2: Kill Kurama — Reward: 500,000 points
The mission notifications echoed in Yoru's ears, causing him to pause slightly.
At that exact moment, Kushina's body twitched—instinctively reacting to danger—and narrowly avoided the fatal blow.
"Kagura Shingan, huh…"
Yoru wasn't surprised. That unique Uzumaki clan sensory ability—Kagura Mind's Eye—was something Hiromi also possessed.
When activated, it allowed the user to detect any movement or chakra fluctuations within dozens of kilometers, even identifying specific chakra signatures, numbers, movement speed, and intent. It was one of the most powerful sensory techniques in the shinobi world.
"And I'm just getting started."
"Sit upon the frozen heavens—Hyōrinmaru!"
Yoru's zanpakutō burst with power as he released his Shikai, waves of extreme cold surging from the blade toward Kushina's internal organs.
Kushina's expression twisted in alarm. She began to summon the Nine-Tails' chakra to break free—only for Uzumaki Hiromi to appear in front of her.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
Hiromi's hand slammed against Kushina's abdomen, the chakra-sealing formula bursting to life with bright flashes of light.
The Nine-Tails' chakra that had just begun to surge vanished instantly.
"Adamantine Chains and the Four Symbols Seal… you're an Uzumaki too… Why?!"
"For Lord Yoru, of course," Hiromi said calmly.
Hyōrinmaru's frost exploded through Kushina's system. She coughed up blood—mixed with shards of ice.
"Looks like that hit worked better than expected," Yoru muttered with a faint smile. He had only planned to bring Hiromi to help restrain Kushina—he hadn't expected her to be this effective.
If he could take Kushina down here, it would earn him a massive amount of points—and seal victory for Kirigakure in this war.
"Ice Dragon's Tail!"
The ice dragon surged toward Kushina. Wounded and with her organs frozen and chakra sealed, she fell to her knees, unable to resist.
But as she slumped forward, a strange three-pronged kunai fell from her cloak.
A flash of golden light tore across the sky like lightning.
In the blink of an eye, a figure stood before Kushina, slamming a swirling Rasengan into the head of the charging ice dragon.
BOOM!!
The dragon shattered—ice shards raining from the sky.
And when the ice finally cleared…
Kushina was gone.
"W-What? Where did she go?" Hiromi blinked in confusion.
Yoru, face darkening, sheathed Hyōrinmaru and stared at where the golden flash had vanished. He grimaced, then pulled out a red flare and launched it into the sky.
Of course. Of course he came.
He could only pray that Kirigakure forces saw the signal and retreated in time.
Otherwise… Kirigakure was in serious danger.
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