The ninja forces of Konoha suddenly launched a large-scale offensive. The Sand and Rain ninja forces fortified their camps and resisted desperately, but countless ninjas fell on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, in the small town behind the front lines...
"Sister Mikoto, Shirou, this is from Sister Tsunade," Uzumaki Kushina said, almost as if presenting a treasure. She pulled out two netted underarmors. Uchiha Mikoto, seeing this, smiled warmly.
"The Senju clan's inner armor is famously resilient and lightweight in the ninja world."
This close-fitting, netted underarmor wasn't some kind of seductive lingerie, but rather a unique type of protective gear in the ninja world, akin to chainmail. Made from special materials, it was tough, lightweight, and breathable—similar to gold-threaded soft armor, its primary function was defense.
This combination of defense and elegance made the armor popular not only among female ninjas but also among male ninjas.
"Inner armor? It's not suitable for me," Shirou said, shaking his head as he examined the material. Even though the armor was extremely lightweight, it was still bulkier than regular clothing. "I specialize in extreme speed. When I fully activate my second Kekkei Genkai, my muscles swell, and this resilient armor would only restrict me."
Clearly, with Tsunade's expertise, she wouldn't have sent him this kind of armor. After all, she was well aware of his combat style.
Seeing this, Mikoto smiled and changed the subject. "Kushina, you look great in this. Don't tell me you're wearing it under your long socks too?"
Kushina laughed awkwardly, glancing at Shirou with a hint of guilt. The truth was, this armor wasn't a gift from Tsunade—it was something she had taken from the Senju clan herself.
"Fine, if you won't wear it, Mikoto and I will," she said, brushing it off.
The two of them began changing into the new gold-threaded netted armor. However, outside the small town, an oppressive atmosphere filled the air. Even ordinary townsfolk seemed to sense that something was wrong. Over the past few days, they had been staying indoors, keeping their doors shut unless necessary.
"Lord Shirou!"
Konan and Nagato approached with nervous expressions. Shirou's face was solemn as he said, "The two of you should hide as well. Yahiko has already led the others to safety."
During their time in the small town, they had taken in several children, some of whom showed minimal aptitude for chakra training. Despite their lack of talent, Shirou assigned them to Yahiko's group to be mentored, fulfilling Yahiko's dream of being a leader while subtly separating the trio.
"Take care, Lord Shirou!" Konan nodded earnestly. She and Nagato then went into hiding.
Outside the town, the Konoha ninjas were assembling. Even the mining operations had come to a halt.
"Captain Shirou!"
"Lord Shirou!"
Over fifty Konoha ninjas gathered outside the small town. Only two squads were left to guard the town and the mines, while the rest of the forces were concentrated here.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"Yes, sir!"
Although the ninjas didn't know the specifics of the mission or why they had been suddenly summoned, they obeyed orders. Everything felt abrupt and unsettling, but a ninja's duty was to complete their mission without question.
"Move out!"
In an instant, the dense shadows of the ninja squad disappeared into the rain. The small town grew silent once more. Inside one of the houses, Konan whispered a prayer as she gazed at the disappearing figures in the distance.
"Lord Shirou will be fine, and so will Sister Mikoto. They'll all come back safely," she murmured, her hands deftly folding a beautiful paper flower.
"I believe in Lord Shirou's light—it will shine again."
As Konan offered her prayer, Nagato, standing beside her, watched silently. His red hair partially obscured his eyes, but beneath the strands, his Rinnegan gleamed with determination.
"Konan... Lord Shirou... I'll train hard. I'll protect all of this!" Nagato declared. His once timid and self-doubting demeanor began to fade, replaced by a resolute spirit. He had found his purpose in life: to train, grow stronger, and protect the people he cherished—his friend Konan, and the mentor who had guided him, Uchiha Shirou.
...
On the Battlefield
"Hiashi, Hizashi, you two will lead the Hyuga ninjas. Use the Byakugan to conduct a carpet-style scan of the area below. Sensory ninjas, monitor any activity underground.
The rest of you will form teams to protect the sensory and scouting ninjas. If there's any significant chakra disturbance, signal immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
After giving his orders, Shirou watched as the fifty-plus ninjas dispersed to carry out their tasks. Most of the ninjas followed orders without question, though some sharper ones began nervously watching the ground. Intel suggested that an enemy might attack from underground.
"Byakugan, activate!"
The Hyuga clan members activated their Byakugan, their expressions growing solemn as they scanned the depths of the earth. Soon, they detected underground rivers and other hidden features. Meanwhile, sensory ninjas sat cross-legged on tree trunks or rocks, forming hand seals as they entered a meditative state to expand their perception.
"Has the Barrier Team arrived yet?" Shirou asked, standing atop a large tree and looking down at a specialized ninja squad.
This team, clad in white uniforms with the kanji for "Barrier" emblazoned on their chests, was one of Konoha's rarest and most specialized groups: the Barrier Team. Known for their mastery of sealing techniques, they were as valuable as sensory ninjas in their field.
"The Barrier Team is nothing compared to what the Uzumaki clan used to have," Kushina muttered, her tone unusually cold. Her eyes betrayed a flicker of dissatisfaction as she glanced at the team.
The Uzumaki clan had been known for their unparalleled mastery of sealing techniques. While Uzumaki Mito had shared some of their secrets with the Senju clan, much of their knowledge had remained in Uzushiogakure. However, after the fall of Uzushiogakure, Konoha eagerly sought to claim the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques. Though they didn't dare act openly against Uzumaki Mito, they had no such reservations regarding Kushina.
"The Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques are the strongest in the ninja world," Shirou said calmly, sensing Kushina's frustration. "But you should learn to control your emotions."
Kushina pouted and muttered under her breath, "Can't I even complain a little? Our clan sacrificed so much for that stupid fox. We've paid a heavy price." She was referring to the Nine-Tails and the numerous Uzumaki sealing techniques that Konoha had acquired.
"Let me show you the true power of Uzumaki sealing techniques," Kushina said, pulling a small scroll from her ninja pouch. Mikoto looked at her with curiosity.
"Kushina, is this one of those rare sensory techniques from the sealing techniques?"
Facing the knowledgeable Uchiha Mikoto, Uzumaki Kushina tilted her head with rare tsundere pride.
"Sealing techniques, like ninjutsu, are both vast and profound. The difference is that they aren't as easy to pick up as ninjutsu, and their learning curve is steeper. Sealing techniques are just a general term, much like the term ninjutsu. Even barriers fall under the category of sealing techniques."
With a bang, as the scroll was unsealed, peculiar kunai inscribed with runes appeared one after another. Seeing this, a flash of surprise passed through Shirou's eyes.
"Mikoto, Shirou, you just need to insert these special kunai into the ground at specific intervals. Isn't the goal to sense the underground river? These tools will expand the sensory barrier's range while also functioning as durable ninja tools."
"Got it."
When Uzumaki Kushina got serious, she exuded a distinct charm. At this moment, to Shirou, she finally seemed like a qualified special jōnin.
Afterward, Shirou and Mikoto followed Kushina's instructions, inserting the kunai into the surrounding ground. However, as he held the weighty kunai in his hand, Shirou fell into silent thought.
"These kunai contain chakra-conducting metal. Ordinary ninjas wouldn't be able to afford such luxury. And the design of these kunai!"
Looking at the trident-shaped kunai in his palm, Shirou realized something—Minato Namikaze's strength at such a young age wasn't just due to talent; he had support in the form of a certain woman.
The specialized kunai for the Flying Thunder God Technique originated from Uzumaki Kushina. With a wealthy benefactor providing resources, all that remained was to rely on talent and hard work.
"The Flying Thunder God Kunai comes from the Uzumaki clan. Minato's rapid mastery of the Flying Thunder God must have relied heavily on the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques. After all, this ninjutsu bears many traces of sealing techniques."
Shirou recalled the information he had on the Flying Thunder God, a space-time ninjutsu.
"The only difference lies in the specific formula inscribed on the kunai. This stable design facilitates its function."
After inserting the last kunai into the ground, Shirou nodded to himself.
"By mixing chakra-conducting metals into the kunai, chakra transmission is made easier. If I ever get the chance to learn the Flying Thunder God, I'll need to dive deeper into sealing techniques."
"All done!"
With the kunai arranged in place, Kushina found shelter in a tree hollow, which also provided cover from the rain.
"Mikoto, Shirou, I'll be closing my eyes to activate the sensory barrier technique. Although the kunai's formulas help reduce chakra consumption, I'll still need to concentrate intensely. You two must protect me."
Before casting the barrier technique, Kushina displayed a mischievous side, prompting a laugh and a nod from Mikoto.
"Don't worry, Kushina. I'll protect you."
Mikoto's gentle voice carried a resolute undertone. After everything the three had been through together, their bond had grown so strong that they could entrust their lives to one another.
Barrier: Canopy Method Formation
As Kushina's expression grew solemn, her hands formed seals, and she activated the sensory barrier technique. While Mikoto didn't notice anything unusual, Shirou's expression froze.
After awakening his sensory abilities, he could detect other sensory ninjas or their techniques. It was mutual. This was evident in the original series when Karin and a Cloud sensory ninja could sense each other during Sasuke's attack on the Five Kage Summit.
"I see," Shirou murmured to himself, clearly perceiving the dome-shaped sensory barrier expanding from Kushina as its center.
With Kushina's vast chakra reserves, the sensory barrier continued to grow, its size entirely dependent on the amount of chakra poured in.
"This barrier technique, called Barrier: Canopy Method Formation, allows the caster to detect the movements of all living things within the barrier's range—even ordinary animals and people without chakra."
After successfully deploying the barrier, Kushina opened her eyes and explained its mechanics to Mikoto and Shirou. However, when she looked at Shirou, there was a hint of something in her gaze.
"Mikoto, I'll leave it to you to periodically check the formulas on the kunai. As long as no wild animals disturb them, I can maintain a large detection range."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
Mikoto nodded earnestly. Meanwhile, hearing the barrier's name, Shirou's expression shifted as he recalled something, his dislike for Konoha's higher-ups deepening.
So it was this technique. In the original story, Jiraiya used this sensory barrier to detect Pain's chameleon summon while infiltrating Amegakure.
Yet, thinking about Konoha's actions, Shirou chuckled coldly to himself. He could understand, but if he were the victim, it would be a different story.
First, the Uzumaki clan. Then, the Uchiha clan.
While the fate of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques didn't concern him, the Uchiha clan's ninjutsu had all ended up in the hands of Konoha's elites.
The most blatant example was the Uchiha clan's signature Fire Release techniques. The Sarutobi clan had become proficient in Fire Release and even created their techniques based on Uchiha styles.
"I'll go check the kunai."
Mikoto immediately darted off to inspect the kunai formulas, ensuring they remained intact and undisturbed.
Meanwhile, in the forest and valley nearby, countless Konoha ninjas could be seen searching for something. Further away, entire battalions of Konoha's forces were making their final preparations.
Noticing Uzumaki Kushina avoiding his gaze, Shirou smiled.
"Kushina, it seems you've discovered my secret."
Hearing his teasing tone, Kushina huffed and glared at him.
"So, you're a sensory ninja after all. You hid it well."
But Shirou merely shrugged with a relaxed smile.
"A ninja must never reveal all their cards. When one card is exposed, you must have another—or even more—ready. Didn't your academy teachers teach you that?"
Kushina glared at him fiercely, baring her adorable little fangs.
"Then why didn't you do the work yourself and let me show off like that? It's so embarrassing."
Both were sensory ninjas, yet she had to take the lead, which felt humiliating. However, Shirou simply chuckled. He moved behind Kushina, leaning close to her ear and whispering:
"Kushina, this is our little secret. Don't tell anyone, okay?"
The cool rain and wind were suddenly interrupted by a wave of warmth in her ear. His words made her earlobes burn bright red, and her face flushed with a deep blush.
A secret! A secret only the two of them shared!