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Chapter 174 - Chapter 170: Mito's Regret... Meeting Little Kushina...

(A/N):

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Senju Compound...

The Senju compound was quieter than it had any right to be.

Leaves drifted lazily through Hashirama's old garden, landing on stone paths worn smooth by years of laughter that no longer echoed.

At the center of the courtyard sat Mito Uzumaki.

"...."

Before her on the table present a crystal sphere, its surface swirling faintly with chakra residue.

Inside it, the memory replayed again.

Hiruzen. Danzo. Advisors whispering like termites chewing through a pillar.

Budget cuts. Political pressure. Convenient helplessness.

She let the image fade.

The garden returned. Birds chirped.

But her expression did not soften.

"So this is what it becomes," she murmured.

The alliance between Senju and Uzumaki had once been carved in blood and trust.

When Hashirama Senju stood beside her, no one dared hesitate.

Now?

A monkey sat on the Hokage seat, smoking in silence while calculating which branch to sacrifice.

Her lips curved, not into a smile.

Into disappointment.

"Needed to maintain the system…" she repeated quietly.

She remembered that conversation clearly.

Madara standing across from Hashirama beneath moonlight.

Madara Uchiha had said it plainly about the daimyō.

"They are leeches. They will outlive you and drink from the tree you plant."

Hashirama had refused.

"Balance is necessary."

Mito closed her eyes. Balance. She could feel it now.

The system wasn't collapsing.

It was rotting. And rot spreads from inside.

Her fingers tightened slightly over the crystal ball.

Far away, across the sea—She had felt it.

The chakra tremor through her enchanced senses by Nine Tails and her Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

Something has happened.

Something that did not belong to shinobi or tailed beasts.

The sky itself had reacted.

Her eyes opened slowly.

"That was not a bijuu."

It was heavier. Denser.

Like standing before a god who did not ask for worship.

Konoha did not announce its silence.

But silence speaks.

In the Senju compound, word spread without scrolls, without proclamations.

No troops mobilized. No banners raised.

No emergency council called.

For Uzushiogakure. For allies. For blood.

The older Senju elders sat beneath shadowed eaves, their expressions harder than stone tablets.

"If not for Tobirama-sama…"

One of them muttered.

They all knew it.

Tobirama Senju had chosen Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage.

And now the boy he once trusted sat paralyzed between politics and duty.

The Senju were not pleased.

But displeasure in Konoha was like mist. It drifted. It did not strike.

Not yet. Beneath Konoha

Deep underground, where sunlight had never reached—Candles burned low.

Masks lined the walls.

The air smelled of damp stone and ambition.

Root Headquaters...

Inside the newly constructed headquarters of Root,

Danzo Shimura stood before a handful of masked operatives.

This branch was young. Unpolished.

But like a blade being forged, it did not need refinement yet.

It needed intent.

Danzo's single visible eye under his bangs remained cold.

"Uzushiogakure is weakened."

He spoke calmly, but each word fell like a stone.

"Their sealing techniques are unmatched. Their vitality. Their chakra reserves."

He paused.

"They are an asset."

One operative knelt lower.

"Shall we eliminate resistance and extract survivors?"

Danzo's fingers tapped lightly against his cane.

"No."

His lips curved faintly.

"Not yet."

He turned toward a wall map marked with inked sea routes and shinobi territories.

"If Kirigakure succeeds, we collect from the ashes."

"If they fail…"

His eye narrowed slightly.

"Then we must approach Uzushiogakure."

And not exhaled yet.

"We will send observers."

"Capture promising Uzumaki youths."

"Bloodline preservation for Konoha's future."

The words sounded patriotic.

But Root did not operate for Konoha's future.

It operated for control.

Danzo stepped forward.

"Prepare."

Above ground, Hiruzen smoked in troubled silence.

Below ground, Danzo sharpened shadows.

Across the sea, Uzushiogakure now stood beneath a sky that no longer answered to shinobi politics.

The board was shifting.

And some pieces did not realize they had already been replaced.

Uzushiogakure...

Uzushiogakure did not look like a village on the brink of war.

It looked… alive.

Steam curled lazily from the small ramen stall near the inner canal.

Red lanterns swayed gently in the salt-kissed breeze.

The scent of miso broth and grilled fish floated through the air like a warm invitation to forget the looming fleets beyond the horizon.

Leo sat cross-legged at the counter.

Aemma to his right. Sasami to his left.

Three bowls. Three satisfied expressions.

Leo lifted another strand of noodles, twirling them lazily before tasting. \

He hummed approvingly.

"This world," he said lightly, "has good comfort food."

Aemma licked a trace of broth from her thumb, red eyes glinting playfully.

-Lick

"It would taste better if you fed me."

Sasami snorted softly, though her eyes sparkled.

-Snort

"Focus. We are guests."

The old ramen cook behind the stall tried very hard not to stare at Aemma's elegance or Sasami's faintly otherworldly presence.

He failed.

When the bowls were empty, Aemma stretched.

"I want to see this land from above."

Her lips curved slightly.

"Before someone else tries to burn it."

Sasami's gaze turned toward the sky.

"I agree. The fear currents here feel… turbulent."

Leo nodded once.

-Nod

Without ceremony, Sasami stepped back.

Soft, luminous wings unfurled behind her — feathered, radiant, elegant.

They shimmered faintly in the afternoon light.

Aemma followed.

From her back emerged two sleek, dark bat-like wings, leathery yet regal.

They spread wide with a gentle snap of air.

Gasps rippled from a few civilians nearby.

Neither woman seemed concerned.

With a synchronized push—They rose into the sky.

Two contrasting silhouettes against drifting clouds.

One silver-bright. One midnight-dark.

Leo watched them ascend, arms folded loosely.

Then he sighed.

Without turning around, he spoke.

"You can come out."

Silence. A rustle.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Behind a thick tree trunk, a small figure shifted.

Slowly—Kushina Uzumaki stepped out.

"...."

Red hair slightly messy. Eyes wide. Curiosity overpowering caution. She had clearly been spying.

Leo tilted his head.

"Well?"

She hesitated, then blurted—

"Why do they have wings?!"

Her voice carried both awe and accusation.

Leo chuckled softly.

-Chuckle

"Because they were born with them."

He gestured upward casually.

"Sasami is a Tengu."

Then he looked at Kushina, tone turning faintly playful.

"And Aemma… was reborn."

Kushina blinked hearing him.

"Reborn?"

"As a vampire bride."

He said it as though discussing weather.

Kushina stared at him.

"…That's not normal."

Leo's red eyes glinted faintly.

"In your world?"

"No."

He smiled. "Correct."

A small pause. Then—Kushina stepped closer, eyes sparkling.

"Can I get wings too?"

Leo burst into laughter.

-Hahahaha!!!

Bright. Unrestrained.

"You," he said, kneeling slightly to meet her gaze, "are already dangerous enough without wings."

She puffed her cheeks in protest seeing he was not taking her serious.

Above them, Aemma and Sasami circled once like two celestial scouts.

From that height, Uzushiogakure looked peaceful. Too peaceful.

Meanwhile...

Kushina tilted her head slightly, still trying to process the wings.

But something else had been burning in her mind far louder than feathers.

Her eyes sharpened.

"That dragon."

She pointed toward the distant coastline, where smoke still faintly rose from the direction Ghidorah had erased the incoming fleet.

"What was that?"

Leo leaned back casually against the wooden post of the ramen stall.

"That," he said, "is Ghidorah."

He let the name sit in the air.

Kushina repeated it softly.

"Ghi… do… rah…"

Her eyes widened again.

"You summoned it, didn't you?"

Leo gave a lazy nod.

-Nod

"One of mine."

She blinked twice.

-Blink -Blink

"Like a summoning contract?"

Now that was something she understood.

Even at her age, she knew about toads, snakes, monkeys.

Contracts written in blood. Chakra bindings.

Summons were rare. Powerful. But not impossible.

Leo smiled faintly.

"Yes. A summon."

Technically true.

Kushina's eyes began sparkling like she had just discovered a new dream.

-Sparkle

"So that means you have more, right?!"

Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe."

Her small fists clenched in excitement.

"Can I see it up close?"

He stared at her.

She leaned forward eagerly.

"Just once! I won't touch it! I promise! Well… maybe just a little touch…"

Leo chuckled looking at the eager red head before him.

-Chuckle

"This little one," he muttered, "has no fear."

Kushina puffed proudly.

"I'm an Uzumaki!"

The red hair swayed as if agreeing with her declaration.

Leo studied her for a moment.

"...."

This was before Konoha. Before chains. Before becoming the vessel of the Nine Tails.

Just a girl with too much energy and too much courage for her size.

He crouched slightly.

"Ghidorah is not like a toad summon."

Kushina nodded seriously.

-Nod

"I know! It's way cooler!"

Leo exhaled a short laugh.

-Haha

"It is not small. It is not gentle. And it is not fond of strangers."

She paused.

"…But it listens to you, right?"

"Yes."

"Then it won't hurt me."

The confidence. The reckless logic.

Leo tilted his head.

"...."

"You trust me that much?"

She answered without hesitation.

"You saved our village. I heard my father and mother talk about it."

Silence lingered for a brief second.

Then Leo straightened.

The sky darkened slightly.

A faint ripple spread through the air.

High above the sea—

Clouds began twisting.

A distant rumble rolled across the horizon.

Kushina's mouth opened.

"No way…"

From beyond the coastline, three immense silhouettes rose.

Wings like storms.

Three heads cutting through clouds.

Lightning flickering along golden scales.

King Ghidorah descended slowly, not in fury this time, but in controlled majesty.

The ground trembled lightly as its shadow stretched across the shoreline.

Villagers gasped. Shinobi froze.

Ghidorah lowered itself at a safe distance.

All three heads turned.

And focused.

On a very small red-haired girl who was in the size of ant for it.

Kushina swallowed.

-Gulp

"…It's bigger than I thought."

Leo walked forward calmly.

One of Ghidorah's heads lowered, golden eyes narrowing.

Leo placed a hand against its scaled snout.

It rumbled — not in aggression.

-Grr!!!

In acknowledgment. He glanced back at Kushina.

"Well?"

Her legs trembled slightly.

But she marched forward anyway.

Each step tiny. Determined.

She reached out—Paused—

Then gently placed her palm against one golden scale.

It was warm. Alive. Powerful.

One of the side heads leaned closer, examining her.

She froze.

Then whispered—

"Hi."

The dragon's eye blinked slowly.

-Blink

A low rumble vibrated through the air.

Leo smiled faintly.

"She likes brave ones."

Kushina turned, eyes shining brighter than before.

"When I grow up…"

She clenched her fists.

"I'm going to have something even cooler!"

Leo chuckled hearing her declaration.

"Ambitious."

She grinned wide.

-Grin

"I'm Uzumaki Kushina!"

The wind whipped around them as Ghidorah slowly rose again, wings spreading like a golden storm.

As it ascended back toward the sky and vanished into the system space—

Kushina stood there, hair dancing wildly.

Completely fearless. Completely fascinated.

Leo glanced at her briefly. Then at the horizon.

Kirigakure...

Mizukage's office...

Inside the damp stone chamber of the Mizukage's office, mist coiled along the floor like a living thing.

The Third Mizukage stood before a table littered with maps.

"They say," one shinobi began carefully, "it was larger than the tailed beasts."

"Three heads."

"Lightning."

"No chakra signature like we've ever sensed."

The room fell silent.

"...."

"...."

"...."

The Mizukage's knuckles whitened.

"A summoning?" someone muttered.

"No contract smoke was seen."

"A bloodline?"

"Impossible."

The Mizukage's voice finally cut through.

"Uzushiogakure is weak."

The word was spat, not spoken.

"They are rebuilding."

"They have no army capable of this."

But his eyes betrayed him.

If this was not Uzumaki—Then someone else had planted their banner there.

And that someone had just erased an entire fleet like a smudge of ink.

He slammed his palm down.

"Prepare the Jinchūriki."

The air shifted. Several shinobi stiffened.

"...."

"...."

"...."

"And summon the Seven Swordsmen."

That name carried weight. Seven figures. Seven blades.

Seven nightmares forged in steel and blood.

"We march," he declared, "and we crush whatever beast they hide behind."

But even as he spoke—A flicker of hesitation lingered.

Because none of them had ever heard of a summon that bent the sky.

Konohagakure....

Hokage's office....

Inside the Hokage's office, smoke from Hiruzen's pipe curled lazily upward.

The ANBU kneeling before him finished the report.

"…and survivors say the creature's roar shook the sea itself."

Silence.

"...."

"...."

"...."

Danzo's single visible eye under his bangs narrowed.

"So."

He leaned forward.

"Uzushiogakure has revealed its trump card."

Hiruzen did not immediately respond.

Three heads. Lightning that split mountains.

No hand seals. No chakra fluctuation they could measure.

That detail disturbed him most.

Chakra was structure. Chakra was system.

This thing did not follow system.

Koharu spoke first.

"If Mist is hesitant, that buys us time."

Danzo scoffed.

"Time for what? To let Uzumaki align with this… thing?"

His voice lowered.

"If that beast stands with them, they become untouchable."

Hiruzen exhaled slowly.

He remembered Tobirama's warnings.

He remembered his teachers words.

And now something had appeared that felt older than any of it.

"Observe," Hiruzen ordered quietly.

"No movement yet."

Danzo's gaze sharpened.

"...."

But for now—He obeyed.

 Iwagakure & Kumogakure....

In stone halls and thunder-lit towers, the same conclusion formed.

Not Uzumaki alone. Not a clan technique. Not a sealing construct.

This was something else. The reports were consistent.

The beast did not rampage. It protected. It obeyed a command.

And that meant one terrifying possibility.

It belonged to someone.

Kirigakure....

The Seven Swordsmen gathered beneath dim torchlight.

Blades resting against their shoulders.

Steel eager.

The Jinchūriki sat in silence nearby, chakra simmering faintly like restrained wildfire.

"...."

The Mizukage's voice echoed.

"Whatever stands behind Uzumaki."

"We will tear it down."

Outside—The mist thickened unnaturally.

But far away—Over Uzushiogakure's coastline—

Clouds drifted calmly. As if waiting. As if watching.

Uzushiogakure....

Kazuma stood on the cliffs overlooking the sea. Scouts had returned.

"...."

"Kirigakure is mobilizing again."

He did not panic this time. He did not tremble.

Behind him—Leo stood quietly, hands resting behind his back as Kushina who was previously with him.

Aemma and Sasami descended from the sky, wings folding elegantly.

Kazuma glanced toward Leo.

"They are sending their tailed beast. I could tell by the chakra I sense."

Leo's expression did not change.

"Good."

Kazuma blinked once again caught off guard by the response.

"…Good?"

Leo's lips curved faintly.

"If they wish to measure power—"

Thunder rolled softly in the distant clouds.

"—we will educate them."

High above the sea, lightning flickered faintly.

Not yet unleashed. Not yet summoned.

But waiting. The shinobi world had entered a new equation.

And none of its villages yet understood—That the variable they had introduced was not a summon.

Not a bloodline. Not chakra.

But something that bent the sky without asking permission.

And somewhere in Kirigakure—The Seven Swordsmen felt, for the first time—Like prey stepping toward a storm. But they brushed it off as their imagination.

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(Author's POV)

(A/N)I hope you guys are enjoying the story. 

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