Hyuga Clan Compound – Midnight
The blatant, audacious accusations hurled by Reika left Hiashi Hyuga speechless for a moment. He was at a loss for words in the face of such shameless, vile attempts to twist reality.
"Lord Reika, do you truly think everyone in Konoha is a fool?"
Instead of backing down, Reika shouted even louder. "The evidence is clear! The body is here! The culprit is here—and you still dare to deny it?!"
Hiashi only sighed deeply. "…"
As tension escalated and Hyuga ninja tensed up, Sarutobi Hiruzen reappeared at the scene, accompanied by a young, unfamiliar ANBU operative—Menma.
Upon seeing Denmaru's lifeless body sprawled across the Hyuga courtyard, a wave of emotion flickered across Hiruzen's face. The corners of his eyes twitched slightly.
'How disgusting… how low they have stooped. Even a novice would see through such an obvious trap.'
Yet as Hokage, he maintained a calm, composed demeanor.
"Lord Reika, your delegation—" Hiruzen began, but Reika cut him off with a furious cry.
"Third Hokage! We came to your village with goodwill! And this is how you repay us? Our delegation leader is murdered! Konoha must take responsibility! If not, Raikage will demand justice!"
Without waiting for a response, Reika ordered his men to retrieve Denmaru's body and stormed off in a rage.
Hiruzen made no move to stop them. He stood motionless, his fists clenched beneath his robes.
Inside, his fury burned.
'Has Konoha fallen so far that they think they can trample and accuse us however they please? Today it's the Hyuga Clan. Tomorrow... who? Ino-Shika-Cho? Uchiha?'
This wasn't just an insult. It was political blackmail. It was an undeclared war.
And what enraged him even more—it was done brazenly, without the slightest fear.
Hiashi stepped forward, voice low but heavy with restrained anger.
"Hokage-sama…"
Before he could continue, Hiruzen raised a hand, his gaze steady and burning.
"Calm yourself, Hiashi. Konoha will not bow to such cheap intimidation. We will not retreat."
Hiashi stared at him for a moment… then nodded slowly. For the first time in this ordeal, he felt… supported.
After Reika's delegation departed the Hyuga grounds, Hiruzen stood beside Kushina—her face masked behind the ANBU identity of Menma.
He looked into her eyes.
"Kushina, you were right. This isn't over."
Kushina responded with a single sentence, sharp and cold:
"If Kumogakure thinks they can pressure us with cheap tricks, I will stand at the front and shatter that illusion."
At the Border Between Fire and Lightning – A Few Hours Later
The night sky slowly began to pale. A thin mist blanketed the border as the ninja guards rotated shifts.
Suddenly, a colossal, dense chakra pressure swept over the area.
Several border guards snapped into alert.
"What is that?!"
From the distance, a figure emerged from the forest shadows, clad in a familiar green kimono.
Her long, fiery red hair billowed in the dawn breeze.
Uzumaki Kushina.
No disguise. No ANBU cloak. Her true identity, fully revealed.
One of the jonin guards whispered in disbelief, "I-Is that... Lady Kushina?! Wasn't she on a secret mission?!"
Another swallowed hard, feeling the raw pressure of her chakra crushing the air itself.
"She came here in person?!"
Kushina said nothing. She simply stared ahead—toward the forest separating the Land of Fire from the Land of Lightning.
At the Konoha Border Watchtower – Early Dawn
The eastern sky began to bloom with light. A thin veil of mist still blanketed the Fire Country's borderlands.
Inside a small room atop the watchtower, Uzumaki Kushina sat cross-legged, her green kimono wrapped neatly around her. Her eyes were closed, her breathing slow and steady, her chakra flowing in perfect control.
"The Fourth Raikage... A... He's been renowned for his power for years... even clashing with Minato once."
Kushina clenched her fists, fully aware of the opponent she might soon face.
Suddenly, a gruff voice echoed in her mind.
"You nervous, stubborn woman?"
Kushina smiled faintly inwardly.
"Kurama, you're awake? I thought you were sleeping."
"Hmph. Who cares? Your chakra's waves are like a damn storm. Besides, if you die, I die too, idiot."
Kushina chuckled softly. "Oh? So you do care?"
"N-No! I just don't want my soul stuck in some pathetic human's body, that's all!"
"Kurama... thanks," she said quietly, her eyes still closed.
"…Hmph. Don't get the wrong idea."
Despite his gruffness, warmth bloomed in her chest. Their bond was still imperfect, but it was growing.
She inhaled deeply and opened her eyes—filled with unwavering resolve.
"If I don't stand here... who will?"
Kumogakure Border Camp
The Fourth Raikage, A, scowled at the latest intelligence report.
"Denmaru and Reika... fools! They couldn't even kidnap Hinata, and now they've got someone dead at the Hyuga compound?! That's not just weak… that's STUPID!"
With one mighty smash, he obliterated the wooden table in front of him.
His aide rushed in. "Raikage-sama! What are your orders?"
Raikage stood, his body crackling with lightning chakra.
"We advance. Even if the plan failed, we're not leaving empty-handed! At dawn, we smash Konoha's border defenses. Scare them—but don't kill too many. I want pressure, not war."
"Understood!"
Meanwhile – At the Konoha Tower
The guards were stunned by the sudden surge of chakra.
One ninja gasped, "That's… Lady Kushina's chakra!"
As Kushina stepped out into the borderlands, her red hair streaming in the wind, the aura of Kurama enveloped her. Calm, yet terrifying.
Konoha – Secret Council Room
Hiruzen sat with the village elders: Danzo, Homura, and Koharu. The air was thick with tension.
Danzo struck the floor with his staff.
"We cannot stay silent! Kumogakure is clearly mocking us! We must retaliate!"
Hiruzen exhaled pipe smoke slowly. "Danzo, I understand. But we cannot act rashly."
Homura interjected, "If we do nothing, the world will think Konoha is weak."
Koharu nodded. "We must deliver a response—measured but firm. Enough to make them think twice."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
"We have already sent Kushina to the border. She alone can match Raikage. If Raikage dares to attack... Kushina will be the wall they cannot break."
Danzo glared. "You entrust Konoha's fate to a woman?!"
"She is the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, the widow of the Fourth Hokage, and now... the Shield of Konoha."
Silence fell over the council room.
At the Border – Before Sunrise
Kushina stood at the very edge of Konoha's lands, facing the amassed forces of Kumogakure.
Morning winds whispered through the grass, stirring her crimson hair.
"Kurama…" she whispered inwardly.
"What now?"
"Let's show them… Konoha isn't broken."
"…Tch. Fine. But if you screw this up, I'll possess you and smash them myself."
Kushina grinned wide.
"Perfect. Because today… we remind the world that Konoha bows to no one."