Sora couldn't wait to return to Konoha.

  He was eager to see Uzumaki Kushina, who had only a small window of free time after pleting her mission.

  Retly, Kushina has been learning advanced sealing teiques from Uzumaki Mito. Three months ago, Mito had finally given Kushina permission to begin taking on missions.

  However, due to Kushina's importao Konoha and her role as the future jinchūriki, the scope of her missions had beericted to the Land of Fire.

  This limitatio that in the past eight months, Sora and Kushina had barely seen each other. In fact, the number of times they had met could be ted on one hand.

  Even so, Sora held onto the hope that she might see Kushina this time wheuro Konoha. The mere thought brought a smile to her face as she quied her pace toward the vilge.

  Konoha.

  Uzumaki Kushina, having just pleted her test missioed the Hokage's office.

  She pressed a hand to her sore neck, letting out a small groan. The reality of ninja life was far from what she had imagined.

  Up to now, Kushina aeammates had been stupleting a string of simple D-rank missions. The monoto her feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.

  'If Sora were here, it wouldn't matter if it was just a D-rank mission,' Kushina thought, pouting as she muttered to herself. She turned and began making her way to Uzumaki Mito's mansion.

  The sun had begun to set, painting the sky with hues e and red by the time Kushina reached the mansion.

  "I'm back!" she called out as she stepped inside.

  Silence.

  Kushina walked further into the rge home, her voice eg as she called again, "I'm back, Grandma Mito!"

  Still, there was no response.

  Stoppihe kit door, Kushina murmured to herself, "Is Grandma Mito not here?"

  Her gaze wao the window, where something caught her attention. The branches outside swayed unnaturally, moving in a way that made her instincts fre.

  Suddenly, three figures emerged from the shadows beyond the window.

  The intruders were shinobi from Kumogakure.

  These three ninja had been lurking in Konoha for days, biding their time. They had noticed Kushina's special chakra and coveted it. Today, with Uzumaki Mito absent, they saw the perfect ce to strike.

  The Kumogakure shinobi slipped through the kit window; their movements were silent and calcuted.

  Uzumaki Kushina, who had little to no practical bat experience, was overwhelmed with fear and immediately ran.

  As she sprihrough the mansion, she cried out for help, her voice eg, "Is there anyone? Help!"

  However, the three Kumogakure ninjas who had infiltrated Konoha were no ordinary oppos. Two were special Jōnin, and the other was a full-fledged Jōnin.

  They swiftly caught up to Kushina and subdued her with ease.

  With their target secured, the three ninjas wasted no time and quickly began their escape from Konoha.

  In the forests of the Land of Fire.

  Uzumaki Kushina's hands were bound tightly behind her back, and her chakra was suppressed. Two of the Kumogakure ninjas walked ahead of her while the third trailed behind, gripping the rope that restrained her.

  Kushina trudged forward, her steps heavy and her eyes dull.

  With each step, they moved farther and farther from Konoha, nearing the border of the Land of Fire.

  Suddenly, Kushina stumbled on a loose stone ao the ground.

  "Hey! Stop stalling! Get up!" barked the ninja holding her rope. Without hesitation, he ya roughly, pulling Kushina to her feet.

  Kushina clutched the small bell Sora had given her, which she had mao hide in her hand. She shook it gently, her heart filled with a faint hope for a miracle.

  But as they approached the border, no rescue came. Despair began to settle over Kushina, and tears streamed silently down her cheeks.

  Thinking of Sora and the possibility of never seeing him again, her heart felt as though it were being crushed.

  In desperation, Kushina shouted with all her might, "Sora!"

  "Shut up!" the ninja behind her barked. He raised his fist, ready to strike her.

  But before the punch could nd, the forest suddeed with the deafening roar of thunder.

  "Thunder Breath: Fourth Form – Distant Thunder!"

  In an instant, a blinding fsh of lightning tore through the forest. The Kumogakure ninja who had raised his fist was struck before he could react—his head was severed ly, flying into the air.

  The other two ninjas froze in shod instinctively leapt back to create distance.

  Before them stood Sora.

  His eyes locked onto Kushina, who was trembling in fear. Seeing her dishevelled and hurt appearance, Sora's heart ached.

  Without hesitation, he drew his bde and cut the rope, binding Kushina's hands. Gently, he cupped her tear-streaked face, his voice soft but filled with emotion.

  "Sorry, Kushina... I'm te."

  Overe with relief aion, Kushina threw herself into Sora's arms, sobbing untrolbly.

  Sora held her tightly for a moment, his heart pounding with both relief and rage. Then, his gaze shifted to the two remaining Kumogakure ninjas. His eyes burned with untrolble killing i as his Sharingan activated, the Two Tomoe spinning menagly.

  He gently pced Kushina against a nearby tree and softened his voice. "Kushina, stay here. I'll take care of them, and then I'll take you home."

  Perf the Summoning Jutsu, Sora summohe White Snake.

  "White Snake, protect Kushina," Sora anded coldly.

  Sensing the tension in Sora's voice, the White Snake coiled protectively around Kushina without hesitation.

  Sora turned back to his enemies. His Sharingan locked on their every movement. His breathing steadied as he prepared for battle.

  Earlier, when he heard the faint chime of the bell Kushina carried, an ominous feeling had gripped him. Without dey, he followed the sound, using his lightning chakra to enhance his speed.

  The Jōnin, Oyuro, stared at Sora with a greedy gleam in his eyes. "Sharingan... The Uchiha 's bloodline limit, huh? What luck! But this kid isn't ordinary. Atui, let's take him together!"

  The special Jōnin, Atui, nodded grimly. "Yes, Captain!"

  Both Kumogakure ninjas drew their bdes.

  "Lightning Style: Thunder Fsh!"

  Oyuro unleashed a wave of electric current, aiming it directly at Sora. Simultaneously, he teleported to Sora's side, his bde thrusting toward Sora's torso.

  "Thunder Breath: Sed Form – Rice Soul!"

  In a fsh, Sora tered with five lightning-irikes.

  The first strike shattered Oyuro's bde, while the remaining four targeted his vital points.

  Oyuro reacted quickly, blog three of the strikes, but the fourth nded ly on his chest.

  He stumbled back, clutg the scorched wound on his chest, his face twisted in pain and disbelief.

  Despite having witnessed Sora's incredible speed when he killed their panion, Oyuro had uimated just how fast the young Uchiha truly was.

  'If I hadn't reacted in time... that st strike would've been the end of me,' Oyuro thought, sweat dripping from his brow.

  Sora, however, frowned.

  He was starting to feel the strain. The prolonged use of his lightning chakra to reach Kushina so quickly had left his meridians tingling with pain.

  Still, Sorasteadied himself. These Kumogakure ninjas had to be dealt with here and now—there was no room for failure.

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