Senju Clan Training Grounds
"Rasengan!"
With a crisp shout, a glowing blue Rasengan smashed into a wooden post, breaking it cleanly in half.
"I did it!"
Out of breath, Uzumaki Kushina smiled triumphantly, wiping the sweat from her forehead with her arm. As she gazed at the fruits of her hard work, a familiar figure came to mind.
That shadowy figure, radiating an oppressive aura of dark chakra, had once stood before her amidst the roaring cries of monsters.
"Monster... Are we the same kind?"
Murmuring to herself, Kushina quickly shook her head, trying to dispel the unsettling thoughts.
"I can't keep thinking about this. Mikoto is my friend. How could I even think like that?"
But her inner conflict only deepened as her mind drifted to the comforting words of Grandma Mito and the encouragement Mikoto had given her.
"Grandma Mito said you can't achieve anything just by waiting. You have to take the initiative to gain it! And Mikoto also said I'm an exceptional kunoichi."
"No, no! Shirou and I are just comrades. That's all. I shouldn't let my mind wander!"
As Kushina wrestled with her thoughts, the rustling of grass nearby caught her attention. From the thicket emerged Uchiha Mikoto, her silhouette framed by the dappled light filtering through the leaves.
"Kushina, you've done it!"
Leaping gracefully from a tree branch, Mikoto's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the training grounds. Surprise gave way to admiration, and she couldn't help but smile warmly.
"Kushina, you are a genius."
Startled by Mikoto's sudden appearance, Kushina's face turned crimson, as though caught red-handed. However, upon hearing Mikoto's praise, she instinctively sought to change the topic.
"N-no way!"
Flustered, she stammered, "It's just because I have more chakra. I can spend more time practicing this Jutsu every day, so I managed to learn it quickly."
Mikoto descended lightly and chuckled.
"Having a lot of chakra is your strength, just like my Sharingan is mine. See? That makes you a genius too, Kushina."
Mikoto's gentle, sisterly demeanor never failed to put Kushina at ease. Yet today, something felt different. Standing before Mikoto, Kushina couldn't shake a sense of unease, as though she'd done something wrong.
Mikoto, perceptive as always, noticed Kushina's awkwardness. Smiling curiously, she teased, "Kushina, what's wrong? Your face is all red—you're so cute."
Reaching out, Mikoto gently brushed away a stray strand of Kushina's sweat-dampened hair, tucking it behind her ear.
"N-nothing!"
Kushina stammered, her mind racing. She hadn't done anything inappropriate, right? Thinking didn't count as wrongdoing… did it?
Bolstered by the thought, Kushina puffed up her cheeks, displaying her signature stubbornness. She looked up at Mikoto with a hint of defiance and complained, "Sister Mikoto, I've been waiting here forever. Why are you so late?"
Mikoto's smile softened with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry, Kushina. There's been a lot to handle lately, both on the battlefield and within the clan. That's why I'm late."
"War…"
Hearing that word, Kushina's gaze darkened. She sighed and shook her head.
"Even Sister Tsunade is preparing to head to the front lines. She's been so busy lately, and the entire Senju Clan feels cold and empty."
Seeing Kushina's gloom, Mikoto sighed gently.
"Kushina, right now, the battlefield isn't where you're needed. You have a more important mission."
"More important mission?"
Kushina scoffed bitterly.
"You mean becoming a monster?"
A monster. That's what it felt like to her—endlessly adapting to the oppressive chakra of the Nine-Tails.
Mikoto, however, chuckled lightly.
"Kushina, let me share a secret with you."
Kushina blinked, curiosity replacing her frustration. Mikoto leaned in conspiratorially, her tone teasing.
Then, to Kushina's shock, Mikoto slowly pulled down the collar of her shirt, revealing a glimpse of pale, flawless skin.
"Sister Mikoto, what… what are you doing?!"
Kushina's face turned bright red. Her eyes darted nervously as she waved her hands, trying to stop Mikoto.
Though she'd heard tales of the extravagant lives of nobles, this was beyond her comprehension. Was Mikoto doing that?
Should she refuse? Would refusing hurt their bond? But if she didn't refuse—!
Just as Kushina was spiraling, Mikoto let out a burst of laughter and flicked Kushina's forehead.
"Kushina, what kind of nonsense are you imagining in that little head of yours? So mischievous!"
"No, I wasn't! I mean… Sister Mikoto, I didn't—"
Still flustered, Kushina struggled to defend herself. Meanwhile, Mikoto pointed to her exposed shoulder with a sly grin.
"Look here."
Pushing aside her hair, Mikoto revealed a small, black three-tomoe seal imprinted on the back of her neck.
"A… a curse mark?"
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, renowned for their expertise in sealing techniques, Kushina's face paled.
Cursed seals were no trivial matter. They were usually used to control people or suppress dangerous powers.
"Shhh."
Mikoto raised a finger to her lips, urging Kushina to keep quiet. Despite her panic, Kushina couldn't help but ask anxiously, "Sister Mikoto, why do you have a cursed seal?!"
Smiling reassuringly, Mikoto explained, "This is our little secret, okay? Well, Tsunade-sama knows about it too."
She readjusted her clothing and recounted the seal's origins. As Kushina listened, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"You're saying… Sister Tsunade researched Shirou's second Kekkei Genkai ability and developed this seal?"
Mikoto nodded.
"With the help of Orochimaru-sama, of course."
Kushina was speechless. So even Sister Mikoto could transform into that dark, powerful form?
Seeing Kushina's dazed expression, Mikoto laughed playfully.
"Now, I'm a little monster just like you, Kushina."
Before Kushina could respond, black markings began spreading across Mikoto's neck, slowly encroaching on her face. She winced but remained calm.
"I'm still adjusting to this state," Mikoto explained.
"Pushing it further would be risky."
Though it was dangerous, Mikoto's eyes gleamed with pride.
"The cursed seal's rejection rate is high, but my body adapted to Shirou's power within just half a month. Now the seal is fully integrated."
Mikoto's confidence and joy made Kushina feel a mix of awe and envy.
A kindred spirit…