Sakumo Hatake frowned as he watched Kazuki lift Kushina into his arms and completely ignore him.
"Kazuki," Sakumo called out, voice firm. "It's not safe. I'll escort you back."
Kazuki glanced at him calmly.
"The Kumogakure shinobi are restrained. I'll take Kushina back first."
"Wait—"
"No need."
With that, Kazuki stepped lightly onto a tree branch and leapt into the night.
"Kushina, let's head home."
"…Mm." She nodded softly.
They vanished into the forest.
Sakumo watched them go. Since they were clearly heading toward Konoha—and the Hokage's crow was tracking them—he chose not to pursue.
He turned to Minato.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Minato replied quietly.
But his eyes were distant.
His confidence had taken a heavy blow.
All his life, he had been praised as a prodigy.
Tonight—
He had been completely overwhelmed.
Sakumo studied him thoughtfully.
Those injuries… surely they weren't caused by a genin-level shinobi.
No.
It must have been from fighting the Kumogakure jōnin.
That made more sense.
"You've done enough," Sakumo said. "Leave the rest to me."
He summoned his ninja hounds, who efficiently secured the unconscious Kumogakure agents and dragged them back toward the village.
Under the Moonlight
The full moon bathed the forest in silver.
Kazuki moved steadily through the trees, Kushina resting in his arms.
Above them, a black crow followed silently.
Kazuki's eyes flicked upward.
He felt it.
A watcher.
Konoha.
Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi observed through the crow's vision, then smiled faintly.
"He noticed."
He stood up slowly.
"They're returning safely. That's enough."
The crow dispersed into smoke.
Kushina didn't notice.
She was staring up at Kazuki instead.
"…How did you find me?" she asked softly.
Her voice lacked its usual fiery energy.
This vulnerable side of Kushina was something Kazuki had never seen.
He smiled gently.
"Your hair gave you away."
She blinked.
"It's hard to miss. That beautiful red stands out anywhere."
Kushina touched her hair shyly.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Her cheeks turned pink.
Her heart beat faster.
Kazuki continued, his voice softer now.
"The first time I saw you… I thought your red hair was amazing."
Those words had never been spoken before.
The old Kazuki—the timid orphan—wouldn't have dared.
But tonight, he said them.
For himself.
For the past.
For the girl in his arms.
The breeze carried her long crimson hair through the air like silk.
Under the moonlight, she looked radiant.
"You mean that?" she asked quietly.
He nodded.
Her chest tightened.
Was this… a confession?
She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck.
"…Thank you, Kazuki."
Her forehead rested against his shoulder.
Under the moonlight, their silhouettes seemed to merge.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She remembered Mito-sama's words:
"Before carrying the Nine-Tails… find love. Fill your heart."
For the first time—
She felt like she understood.
[Ding!][Kushina Favorability increased.]
Kazuki ignored the system prompt.
Some moments didn't need rewards.
But of course—
The system interrupted anyway.
[Three options available:]
Option 1:Return Kushina to the village immediately.Reward: C-Rank Ninjutsu.
Option 2:Engage the Raikage's border forces and act as a hero.Reward: Kekkei Genkai — Byakugan.
Option 3:Spend this quiet night with Kushina.Reward: Forbidden Technique — Impure World Reincarnation.
Kazuki stared at the options.
C-Rank ninjutsu?
Pass.
Fight the Raikage?
Absolutely not.
Option 3.
He smirked slightly.
Why rush?
He shifted direction mid-jump.
Kushina blinked.
"Kazuki… this isn't the way back to the gate."
"You'll see."
They moved through the forest—
Until two massive stone faces emerged from the darkness.
Hokage Rock.
At this point in history, only two faces were carved:
Hashirama Senju.Tobirama Senju.
Hiruzen hadn't yet added his own.
They landed atop Hashirama's stone head.
Kushina's eyes lit up.
"Put me down!"
She stood carefully on the monument, gazing out over Konoha.
The village glowed warmly under the night sky.
"It's beautiful…"
She sat beside Kazuki, swinging her legs.
Her hand brushed his accidentally and instantly withdrew.
Kazuki simply reached out and held it.
Her face turned bright red.
She tried to pull away—
Lost her balance—
And slipped.
"Ah—!"
Before she could fall, thick wooden branches rose from below, catching her safely.
Wood Release.
The roots gently lifted her back up.
She sat down again, flustered.
"I almost fell…"
Kazuki chuckled softly.
"You're safe."
She stared at him curiously.
"Kazuki… how can you use Wood Release?"
Was he secretly related to Hashirama?
An illegitimate descendant?
It made no sense otherwise.
Kazuki only smiled mysteriously.
At that moment—
[Ding!][Hokage Rock discovered. Check-in successful.][Reward: S-Rank Space-Time Ninjutsu — Flying Thunder God Technique.]
Kazuki's eyes flickered.
An unexpected bonus.
Knowledge flooded his mind instantly.
Marking formulas.
Chakra pathways.
Teleportation mechanics.
In this timeline—
Minato hadn't mastered the Flying Thunder God yet.
But Kazuki had just learned it.
Ahead of everyone.
He suppressed his surprise.
Kushina sat beside him quietly.
The village lights shimmered below.
For a moment—
Everything felt peaceful.
At Konoha's Gate
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood waiting.
Beside him were Biwako Sarutobi and Mito Uzumaki.
They had expected Kazuki and Kushina to return directly.
But the road remained empty.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Where did those two go?"