Not long after Hyuga Daiki left with Uzumaki Kushina and Raiden, a roaring explosion shook the area where they had been stationed. Despite being able to see the devastation with his Byakugan, Daiki pressed forward silently, leading the Uzumaki siblings through the dense forests of the Land of Fire.
Even with the added burden of carrying the siblings, Daiki moved swiftly. He enhanced his speed by channeling chakra into his feet, careful not to leave traces as he leapt from branch to branch.
Although Raiden kept his eyes closed, the sound of explosions echoing in the distance sent his small heart racing. Born in peaceful times, he had never experienced such chaos, and the sudden bursts of violence filled him with fear.
While he couldn't see what was happening, Raiden's sharp ears picked up the earlier conversation between Daiki and his teammates. It didn't take long for him to piece together that their team had been ambushed. This era was rife with war, and it wasn't surprising for a team escorting a future Jinchuriki to come under attack.
The sharp whistle of kunai cutting through the air jolted Raiden from his thoughts, followed by the metallic clang of weapons clashing.
Suddenly, an image of his surroundings materialized in Raiden's mind. He saw a hazy outline of the vigilant Hyuga Daiki protecting Kushina, standing just a few meters away. Strangely, these images lacked detail—faces were blurred, and he couldn't see the meridians that were visible in his own body.
As Raiden marveled at this new ability, Daiki put Kushina down and prepared for battle. Despite the urgency of their situation, Daiki stayed within three meters of the siblings to shield them.
"Who are you?" Daiki demanded, his voice steady despite the odds. After striking one of the masked attackers with his palm, he stood his ground, his Byakugan scanning for any clues about their identities. None of the four enemies bore identifying marks, and their silence made it impossible to deduce their origins.
One of the masked figures appeared ready to speak, but a sharp gesture from their leader silenced them. Their mission was classified, and revealing anything, even accidentally, was unacceptable.
"Kushina, take your brother and run. I've confirmed there are no enemies within two kilometers except for these four," Daiki instructed. Handing her a kunai, he added, "Head away from Konoha. I'll hold them off."
The kunai Daiki handed Kushina shimmered with strange chakra. In Raiden's mind, the word explosion etched into the blade appeared vividly. He realized the kunai wasn't meant for defense but as a last resort to prevent Kushina from being captured alive.
There was no time to think further. "Go!" Daiki urged, giving Kushina a gentle push.
Clutching her brother tightly, Kushina dashed into the forest. One of the masked enemies attempted to pursue them, but Daiki's powerful Eight Trigrams Air Palm intercepted him, forcing him back. The area erupted into chaos as Daiki engaged the remaining attackers, the sounds of combat and explosions fading into the distance as Kushina ran.
Kushina sprinted through the dense forest, her arms wrapped protectively around Raiden. The fear of being caught caused her grip to tighten unconsciously. Though only seven or eight years old, she was forced into a desperate flight, burdened with the responsibility of protecting her newborn brother while constantly watching for potential threats.
The pressure was suffocating. Each step drained her energy, and exhaustion set in. Raiden, sensing their dire situation, remained quiet in her arms, his stillness offering a small comfort to Kushina. At least her brother wasn't crying, and his cooperation gave her a sliver of hope.
Back at the battleground, Daiki fought valiantly but was ultimately overwhelmed. Three enemies pierced him from different directions with their kunai. At some point, the fourth attacker had vanished.
"This is all I can do…" Daiki murmured, his vision dimming as he collapsed. A kunai fell from his hand, its hilt tied to a half-burned explosive tag.
Boom!
The ensuing explosion was far more powerful than the earlier skirmishes, its deafening roar echoing through the forest.
"Faster, Jiraiya! There's a battle nearby!" a voice called out urgently.
"I know, I know! Don't rush me!" the white-haired man grumbled, though his pace quickened. He surged ahead of the blonde-haired girl trailing him and moved alongside a cold-faced man leading their group.
Kushina didn't know how long she had been running. When they had set out for Konoha that morning, the sky was still dark, dotted with faint starlight. Now, sunlight filtered through the canopy, and the forest was fully illuminated.
"I can't run anymore," Kushina panted, her voice trembling. "We should be far enough away by now."
She ducked into a dense thicket, finding a hollow space that offered some semblance of shelter. The bushes concealed them well, but Kushina was unaware that ninjas relied on more than sight to track their targets.
For the first time since the ambush, Kushina allowed herself to rest. Against Daiki's instructions, she had run toward Konoha, reasoning that the enemy might overlook the most obvious route. Her clever decision gave her some peace of mind, but her body was at its limit.
Raiden, meanwhile, observed their surroundings through his newfound ability. With his eyes closed, he could clearly see their hiding spot and even Kushina's face, which was now sharper and more vivid than what his physical eyes could perceive.
The bushes cocooned them, providing temporary safety. Exhaustion finally overtook Kushina, and her eyelids grew heavy. Despite her Uzumaki bloodline, her stamina had been completely depleted after running all morning. The drowsiness that set in was her body's way of protecting itself from further strain.
(End of Chapter)
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