Konoha Village.
Due to the ongoing war, most ninjas of Chūnin rank and above had been deployed elsewhere, effectively halting all external mission requests, leaving everything on hold.
Even the ninja academy temporarily closed; both higher-year reserves and lower-year students were granted extensive leave by the village officials.
During this particularly chaotic ti, Kushina found life in Konoha even more dull than usual.
One day, with nothing to occupy her ti, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure at her doorstep.
For a mont, she was taken aback, doubting her own eyes, and hurriedly rubbed them. Upon focusing again, she realized it was indeed her acquaintance.
The figure stood out with a sculpted silhouette, clad in a black midriff-baring outfit that displayed her curves enticingly. Her long, black hair was tied into a ponytail, and oversized sunglasses shielded her exotic beauty. Leaning against the doorfra, she waved slightly toward Kushina.
"Lady Hikari!!!"
Kushina exclaid in delight, her face lighting up like a blooming flower as she instantly darted into Hikari’s embrace.
The fragrance enveloped her, and she quickly beca lost in the warmth of the mont.
"Lady Hikari, what brings you here?"
"Since I thought you might be bored and I had so free ti, I ca to check on you," Hikari gently stroked Kushina’s little head, her voice soft.
"Yay! I just knew Lady Hikari was the best to !"
"But..."
Kushina seed to rember sothing suddenly, tightening her little face as she ushered Hikari into the house.
She peered sneakily left and right, ensuring no one was observing before quickly shutting the door and letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Given the tight security in Konoha, how did you manage to get in, Aunt?" Kushina asked, wiping nonexistent sweat from her brow, her voice lowered.
Hikari lowered her sunglasses, revealing her crimson Sharingan sparkling with light. "The barriers and guards of Konoha are nothing to ."
"Wow... Lady Hikari, you’re amazing..."
After a mont of affectionate excitent, she grasped Hikari’s slender, soft hands. "So, what do we plan to do today?"
Hikari pondered for a mont and then lifted her chin. "I know a tavern in the southern district with delicious food. Kamihane took there once; let’s treat your little tummy today!"
"Sounds great!"
Hikari rubbed Kushina’s smooth cheek, her eyebrows furrowing slightly with reluctance. "Kamihane said that once you officially beco a Jinchūriki, I won’t be able to visit you as often."
Kushina nodded silently. Becoming Konoha’s Jinchūriki was indeed the second task assigned to her by Uncle Kamihane.
Just then, there was a gentle "tap, tap, tap" at the door.
With only three light knocks, it indicated that the visitor was polite and patient.
Kushina gestured for Hikari to stay calm, then approached the door curiously. When she opened it, a head of bright yellow hair ca into view.
"Minato!?!!"
She gasped, suddenly rembering that in her boredom, she had arranged to hang out with Minato...
"What’s wrong?" Little Minato stepped back slightly, revealing a refreshing and gentle smile.
"Uh, sorry, Minato-kun... I have sothing to do today, so you should have fun on your own."
"Eh?" Minato blinked in surprise. "Kushina, you suddenly have sothing to do?"
"Yeah, a relative ca to visit ."
Kushina puffed out her cheeks in feigned seriousness, trying to look intimidating. "She ca here secretly, so don’t tell anyone! Otherwise... I won’t talk to you anymore!"
Minato scratched his head. "Why would I? Since it’s Kushina’s family, I don’t see anything to worry about. Let’s just plan for another ti..."
"Uh-huh."
Kushina breathed a sigh of relief and quickly shut the door with a decisive "bang!"
As Minato stood outside, he rubbed his chin, a thoughtful look on his face.
"A relative, huh?"
Just as the door was closing, his quick reflexes allowed him to catch a glimpse of a striking silhouette inside—completely unlike Kushina’s black hair.
"Whatever." He shook his head. "Since Kushina has plans, I’ll just go train on my own."
Descending the steps, he glanced toward Hokage Rock where the sunlight glimred brilliantly on its surface.
"One day, I will earn everyone’s recognition!" he declared, pumping his fist with determination in his azure eyes.
...
anwhile, in Uzushiogakure, on the shore training ground.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru flicked his sleeve, and six stout snakes shot forth sequentially, like soul-binding chains, accurately striking the target.
"Aren’t you going to dodge?" Orochimaru asked, raising an eyebrow at Hiruko, who was entangled like a dumpling.
Hiruko broke free from one of the snakes, which had blocked his mouth. "Such a weak attack isn’t worth dodging."
"I’ll pull you close for a follow-up Rasengan," Orochimaru warned, frowning. "Are you sure you’re ready for this?"
"Hey, hey, don’t look down on . I’m not the weakling I used to be! Please take seriously!" Hiruko replied, irritated, feeling underestimated. "Give it your all, okay?"
Orochimaru kept his face straight, but the snakes simultaneously opened their mouths, revealing sharp fangs as they lunged at his vital spots.
"Now you’re on the right track!" Hiruko took a deep breath, channeling chakra throughout his body. "Steel Release: Steel Transformation!"
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
Accompanied by crisp bone-cracking sounds, the venomous fangs shattered instantly, and the snakes hissed in pain.
Hiruko’s physical appearance changed drastically as his once pale skin darkened, becoming strong and resilient, gleaming with a tallic luster under the sunlight.
Orochimaru had predicted this; he pulled Hiruko close using the snakes’ coils, focusing blue energy in his left hand, preparing to unleash the charging Rasengan upon Hiruko’s chest.
Hiruko still showed no signs of struggle but instead closed his eyes and tightened his arms, bracing himself as if he had beco impenetrable!
"Steel Release: Iron Body!"
The Rasengan inevitably struck Hiruko’s chest, the airflow surged, and the impact pushed him back slightly without inflicting any harm—it rely produced a muffled thud.
The only result Orochimaru could claim was the low "thud" sound.
"How about that? Hahaha! My defense is impeccable!"
Hiruko dispelled the Iron Body state, bringing his fingers together, forming his palm into a blade. "Steel Release: Autumn Dew on Leaves!"
The inky black sheen quickly elongated and condensed into an extraordinarily thin, razor-sharp blade, as light as a cicada’s wing, and imnsely sharp. With a simple spin, Hiruko sliced through all the snakes, leaving them shredded.
"When did you learn this technique?" Orochimaru’s slit pupils narrowed slightly, his tone noticeably shifting.
"Hehe, my master taught ; paired with Steel Release, it takes things to another level!" Hiruko laughed triumphantly, "Perhaps my Steel Release is more suited to the ’Autumn Dew on Leaves’ technique than yours is to your sage art!"
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru’s voice grew cold as natural energy began to circulate slightly within him; a horn protruded from his forehead as he entered Sage Mode in an instant.
"Are you finally going serious?" Hiruko’s eyes lit up with excitent. "Let’s see! I’ve been wanting to test your sage techniques!"
He held his breath, steeling himself. "Steel Release: Iron Body!"
"Sage Art: Ouroboros Octagonal Light Wheel!"
"Damn it, you’re serious!!!"
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