Naruto SI: Kaito Red Lightnin Chapter 202
"Kaito!" Kushina dropped to her knees beside him, panic flaring in her chest. "What's wrong, baby? Please, talk to me, ya know!" Her voice shook despite trying to keep it steady.
But Kaito's gaze didn't find her. His eyes stayed shut, breaths coming fast and ragged. She could hear the faint, choked sounds in his throat, like every inhale was a fight.
Her own heartbeat pounded in her ears. 'Is he having a panic attack… ' The thought made her chest ache even more.
"Kai-kun, slow your breathing," she urged, tears already stinging her eyes. She reached for his face, cupping his cheek with a trembling hand. "I'm right here, baby. Just focus on my voice, ya know. Please calm down. Calm down."
She looked at his face—so pale, lips parted, and his breaths turned shorter, sharper, almost frantic. His fingers dug into his own shirt like he was trying to hold himself together.
"No, no, no—" she whispered, panic giving way to action. Without another second of hesitation, she slipped an arm under his knees and another around his back, scooping him up into her arms and stood up.
Her jaw set, eyes hardening. "Hang on, Kai-kun."
In a single smooth motion, Kushina's body flickered out of the house in a burst of speed,
…
The sun glowed a warm orange hue as it sank over the village hidden in the leaves.
Lanterns and lamps flickered to life in shops and homes, the light scattering across the streets as the sky slowly dimmed.
In Konoha Hospital, the same orange sunlight filtered in through a slatted window, casting pale bars of light across the room. The bed near the window caught most of it, and on that bed, Kaito lay still.
Kushina sat on a stool beside him, her elbows resting on her knees, watching her son quietly. She let out a soft sigh, brushing her fingers gently through his hair.
"Oh, Kai-kun…" she murmured under her breath.
Then, Kaito's face twitched.
Kushina straightened instantly. "Kai-kun?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and worry.
His eyelids fluttered, and then he sat up abruptly, breath coming a little fast. His eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to orient himself, scanning the room. "W–w…"
"Kai-kun, you should rest," Kushina's voice came, steady but relieved.
Kaito turned toward her, taking in her face—equal parts relief and concern. "Mom?" His voice was hoarse. He looked around, recognizing the sterile scent and white walls. "Where are we?"
She placed a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down onto the bed. "We're in the hospital. How are you feeling, Kai-kun?"
He nodded faintly, still catching up, and felt the dryness in his throat. "Can I have some water?"
Kushina nodded immediately, pouring from the pitcher on the side table. She brought the cup to his lips. "Here—let me help you."
He drank slowly, the cool water easing the roughness in his throat. "Thanks, Mom," he muttered when he finished.
With his mind finally clearing, he frowned. "Hospital… What… happened?"
Kushina sighed, brushing his hair back again. "You passed out, Kai-kun. But enough about that—how are you feeling? Are you okay?"
Kaito closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. "Yeah… just a bit tired, ya know."
While thinking, I passed out… did I have a panic attack? Kaito's mind drifted over to what had happened, and his chest tightened slightly. 'I really messed up.'
Kushina sighed softly. "Well… I found you in your room. You were having a hard time breathing, ya know. I had to bring you to the hospital. You scared me, ya know."
Her voice pulled Kaito back to the present. He opened his eyes and looked at her, noticing the faint tear marks still visible on her cheeks. Guilt pricked at him. "I'm sorry I worried you," he muttered.
"Just… don't do that to me again, ya know," she whispered, her smile trembling as she brushed his hair gently from his brow.
Kaito closed his eyes. "How long was I out for, Mom?"
"Not too long—around an hour," she answered.
He nodded, and they both fell silent for a while.
'I really don't know what to do,' Kaito thought, his mind running in loops.
Meanwhile, Kushina just watched him, saying nothing. Her thumb rubbed slow circles over his hand, letting him have the silence without pressing.
After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Kai-kun… what's wrong? You know you can tell me. If something's bothering you, please tell me, ya know. I'll try my best to help you."
Kaito opened his eyes and looked at her. Her expression was worried, her gaze steady and warm. He sighed, letting his eyes drift up to the ceiling.
"I thought I was helping, ya know. I… I thought I was doing something good," he said. Then he closed his eyes again, voice quieter. "But what I did only made things worse. I… I'm not sure if I can fix it, Mom. I don't know what to do."
Kushina's brows furrowed deeply at his words. "Kai-kun… please, look at me."
He didn't at first. So she cupped his cheek and gently turned his face toward her until his eyes met hers.
"Kaito… I've never seen you like this before. And it scares me," she said, voice steady even as her eyes shined. "But listen to me—ever since you were little, you've done things people swore couldn't be done. You're different. When you put your mind to something, you always find a way."
Her thumbs brushed his cheekbones, light and sure. "You healed me when even Tsunade-nee said it couldn't be done. You saved me, Hitomi, You saved the Uchiha clan from the Third Hokage and Danzo's plan. You saved the Yuki clan. Karin-chan, Haku-kun, Kimimaro-kun, Guren-chan… even Kiri to an extend, your actions left real, good changes behind, ya know."
She leaned closer, warm and fierce. "You're my son, Kaito. And I know my son— even if there's only one solution to a problem, you always find another way. You don't quit, no matter what it is, ya know."
Her eyes softened even as her voice stayed firm. "I don't know what's eating at you right now, and I won't force it out of you. But I know you. Even when the world's falling apart, you'd find a way through it. And you don't have to do everything alone, ya know. You have people who care for you—your friends, your brother, and the others… even Tsuna-nee."
Her thumbs brushed his cheeks. "And even me. I know I haven't been able to protect you or your brother over the years, and I've been a burden to you."
At that, Kaito opened his mouth, but Kushina placed a finger gently against his lips. "It's the truth, Kai-kun. But now… you can count on me, ya know. Now that I've got my chakra back, I'm not going to just sit and watch. Whatever this is, I'll be there beside you, and we'll face it together, ya know."
kaito swallowed. The tightness in his chest eased another notch. "…Thanks, Mom," he said quietly.
Kushina's smile turned relieved
just then The door slid open. and Tsunade stepped followed by shizune who had a clipboard in her hands.
"Good—you're up, kid " Tsunade took one look at him awake and exchanged a small nod with Kushina
kushina asked "Is everything okay with Kai-kun?" she asked, voice soft sounded worried.
Shizune looked up from the clipboard in her hands. "Yes, Kushina-nee. Everything's fine. His blood work's clean—Kaito-kun is perfectly fine." She stopped at the foot of the bed, giving a small, reassuring nod.
Tsunade stepped forward, moving to Kaito's other side. She placed a palm glowing faint green on his forehead. "You had a severe panic attack, brat. From the looks of it… your first." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You had your mother worried there—she carried you here, crying and almost hysterical."
"Yeah… my bad," Kaito muttered, sitting up. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and glanced at Kushina. "I'm sorry, Mom."
Kushina's expression softened instantly. She reached over and ruffled his hair. "It's okay, Kai-kun."
Tsunade withdrew her hand from his forehead. "Happens to more shinobi than you think. How are you feeling?"
"Tired," he admitted
Tsunade nodded. "Then I'm taking you off duty for the rest of the month. You need rest. And before you argue, that's not a suggestion."
He looked over at Kushina. She had her arms folded, one brow raised—the kind of look that made it clear resistance was futile. He sighed and gave a reluctant nod.
"Good," Tsunade said. She turned to Kushina. "I'll give you some Relaxen. Make sure he takes it—it should help reduce stress and anxiety."
Then she crossed her arms and studied Kaito, her tone shifting. "But I've got to say… I'm surprised you had a panic attack at all. You didn't even flinch when you were planning to take on the Third Hokage alone to help the Uchiha clan. So…" Her gaze sharpened. "Mind telling us what caused it?"
Kaito sighed but nodded, then made a small gesture toward their surroundings.
Tsunade caught the meaning immediately and gave a short signal to the ANBU posted outside. The masked figures vanished without a sound.
Turning back, Kaito looked at Kushina. "Mom, mind putting up a privacy barrier?"
Kushina nodded, rising to her feet. Her hands blurred through a short sequence of seals before she pressed her palm flat against the wall. Glowing kanji spread outward from her touch, encasing the entire room in a faint shimmer before fading from sight.
Tsunade gave an approving nod, then fixed her gaze on Kaito. "So… what happened?"
Kaito exhaled slowly. "The Akatsuki are going to start their hunt for the bijū in two years," he said, meeting Tsunade's eyes.
Kushina's breath hitched. Tsunade's expression sharpened, while Shizune's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Are you sure?" Tsunade asked.
Kaito nodded. "Yeah. just received it from Mukai."
Shizune glanced between them, still puzzled. "Akatsuki? Bijū? Am I missing something, lady Tsunade ?"
Tsunade sighed, folding her arms. "The Akatsuki are a group of S-ranked rogue shinobi. We don't know their full goal yet, but they're planning on capturing and extracting every bijū. The masked man who attacked Kushina—and used the Nine-Tails to to attack the village, he's their leader."
Shizune's eyes widened at that revelation.
Kushina frowned and turned back to Kaito. "But Kai-kun… you said they weren't going to move for another few years, ya know."
Kaito stared down at his hands, his voice low. "It's because of me, Mom. I… unintentionally accelerated their plan. I gave Mei a seal that would break Yagura out of the genjutsu control he was under… but because he'd been trapped in it for so long—around ten years—his mind just… snapped when the genjutsu was broken. it killed him." His jaw tightened, the words tasting bitter.
Kushina went very still. "Kai-kun…"
"i know, It was the right thing to do," he said quickly, and he believed it—he had to. "People were dying. The masked man was controlling Yagura. It was necessary. But now… he'll wait for the Three-Tails to re-emerge. Once it's back, they'll start. They'll hunt the Tailed Beasts."
He forced himself to meet her eyes. "They'll come for Naruto."
Silence stretched.
Tsunade's voice came calm. "Two years."
"Two years," Kaito confirmed quietly. "Naruto won't be ready by then. Not… not to face what's coming."
He let out a slow breath. "I don't even know if I can take their strongest members," he admitted. 'Not Madara.'
He could say Akatsuki. He could say masked man. But the one that gnawed at him wasn't them—it was Madara. He wasn't sure he could take on Madara and win, especially Ten-Tails Madara. Sure, he could stop everything now by hunting them down and killing them before the plan began, but that would cut off Naruto and Sasuke's meeting with the Sage of Six Paths—and that meeting was the only reason they could even keep up with Ishiki's movements in the first place. Without it… he didn't know if they could even handle Rinnegan Madara, let alone the Ten-Tails version.
Kushina suddenly leaned in and hugged him tight, fierce as fire. "You can't blame yourself for what you couldn't know, ya know. You made a call to save lives. You can't be sure how it changes everything."
If only you knew, Mom. He kept the thought to himself, masking it with a small nod. "I know."
"And you don't have to do this alone," she continued, her hand covering his. "You've been protecting us for years. It's my turn to protect my sons, ya know."
Tsunade gave a firm nod. "You don't do this alone," she echoed. "The village won't stand by while anyone comes for Naruto. But honestly… I'm glad we're hearing it now and not when they're already at the gates. Your plan to place Mukai inside the Akatsuki was smart. Now we have time to prepare."
Kaito nodded once. "Mukai asked to meet his family."
Tsunade's expression softened slightly and she gave a small nod. "I'll arrange it." Then her gaze sharpened again as she looked him over. "What are the known members so far?"
Kaito leaned back slightly, collecting his thoughts before speaking. "Well… so far, we know the masked man, Orochimaru, Kakuzu, Sasori of the Red Sand, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Jūzō Biwa of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. And someone calling themselves 'Pain.' According to Mukai, he's the one acting as the leader… but I know the masked guy is the real leader."
He didn't mention Deidara or Hidan—he wasn't sure if they'd been recruited yet. This was the official list Mukai had given him, and for now, that was all he was willing to put on record.
Kushina tilted her head. "Is he the one with the Rinnegan?"
Kaito's eyes widened. Shit.
Tsunade's eyebrows rose. "Rinnegan… as in the Sage of the Six Paths?" Her sharp gaze didn't miss his reaction.
Shizune blinked, glancing between them. "The Sage… you mean the old tales?"
Kaito sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah—well, no. I'm not sure it's the Rinnegan. From what Mukai described, it's grey with black rings. Just my guess that it could be the Rinnegan… but it could also be another dōjutsu, or just how his eyes are." He shrugged, trying to keep his tone even.
Kushina raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes but nodded slowly. "Then we prepare."
"I've already been thinking about that," Kaito said, leaning forward. "We should limit this to those who can fight S-ranked threats. The fewer people who know, the better. I don't want Mukai's cover blown. I think Itachi, Kakashi, Shisui, Guy, Hotaru, and Fugaku-sama are capable—or will be in two years—to take on S-ranked opponents. And for now… we shouldn't tell anyone about the Rinnegan until we confirm that it's actually the Rinnegan."
Inwardly, he knew exactly why. If Jiraiya learned Pain had the Rinnegan, he'd head to Ame himself, die there, and accelerate Pain's invasion of Konoha.
"Alright," Tsunade said, though her eyes sharpened again. She raised an eyebrow. "I noticed you didn't mention Jiraiya. You want to keep it a secret from him?"
Kaito shook his head. "I know you'll tell him when you see him. There's no point in me mentioning him."
Tsunade nodded and straightened. "Well, that's good. I'll inform the ones who need to know. As for you—" her eyes narrowed a fraction, "—you get some sleep." She turned to Kushina. "I'll leave him in your care, Kushina."
Kushina nodded. "Yeah, I'll do that."
Kaito glanced between them. "Can I go home?"
Tsunade gave a small nod. "Yeah, you're free to leave. Just make sure you rest and don't do anything strenuous. I'll leave it to your mother to keep you in line. And if it happens again, just give him the pills and come to me."
Kushina frowned. "Are you sure, Kai-kun? I think you should stay and rest at least another day, ya know."
Kaito swung his legs over the side of the bed.
Kaito met her gaze and gave a faint smile. "I'm fine, Mom. I'll just rest at home, I feel more relaxed there, ya know." He stood, stretching lightly to loosen the stiffness in his shoulders.
She turned to Shizune. "Come on, Shizune. We have work to do."
Shizune nodded, then offered them both a small smile. "Take care, Kaito-kun. You too, Kushina-nee." With that, she followed Tsunade out.
Kushina sighed and rose to her feet. "Alright. But if you even think about doing anything that strains your body, I'll tie you up."
Kaito chuckled. "Sure, Mom."
"Good," she said, softer this time, and together, mother and son left the hospital room.
…
The sun had fully set by the time they exited the hospital and began their walk toward the Uzumaki residence.
They moved through the village at an unhurried pace, lantern light spilling across the streets in warm patches. Kushina hummed a soft tune as they went, the sound quiet but steady, like she was keeping her own nerves in check.
"I forgot to ask, Mom—where are Naruto and the others?" Kaito asked.
"I sent a shadow clone to pick them up at the academy while I was with you," she said. "My clone's keeping an eye on them until we get back."
"You didn't tell them?" he asked.
Kushina shook her head. "No. I was already panicking enough—I didn't want them to do the same, ya know. It's a good thing I sent a shadow clone to keep them company." She paused, then muttered with a faint huff, "I don't want to leave your brother alone. Naruto might just burn down the house."
Before long, they reached the Uzumaki home. Stepping inside, they found Karin sitting at the living room table, pencil in hand, a workbook spread open in front of her. She looked up, confusion flickering across her face.
"Huh? Aunt Kushina… how are you here? Weren't you cooking?"
Kushina rubbed the back of her head. "Oh, that. I sent a shadow clone to pick you guys up, ya know. Tsuna-nee called me in to discuss something."
Kaito gave a long yawn and walked past them toward the hall. "I'm going to sleep, Mom."
Kushina frowned. "But you haven't eaten yet, Kai-kun."
He stopped, glanced back with a tired look. "I'm not hungry, Mom."
Kushina crossed her arms. "I'll bring you food to your room. You haven't even eaten lunch yet, ya know. Now go take a bath—I'll bring it to you."
Kaito sighed but nodded, heading down the hallway.
Kushina's frown deepened as she watched him go.
"Is Kai-nii alright?" Karin asked quietly.
Kushina nodded. "Yeah. He's just tired."
Kaito slid open the door to his room and stepped inside.
His eyes landed on the two books he'd dropped earlier—right before the panic attack hit. They were still lying on the floor where they'd fallen. He bent down, picked them up, and With a sigh, he flopped onto his bed, arms spread, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The silence in the room pressed in, and without thinking, his hand drifted to the necklace resting against his chest—the one Minato had given him before his death.
What am I going to do… the thought circled in his mind, heavy and relentless.
Then his eyes flicked over to the scroll lying open on his desk.
Kaito sat up slowly, the earlier heaviness in his chest giving way to a sharper focus. He crossed the room, each step quiet against the floorboards.
His gaze moved from the open scroll to another one rolled neatly beside it. Thoughts began to connect in rapid succession, calculations and possibilities layering over each other.
"…That could work," he muttered
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