"The Senju clan, the Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan," Kaito said coldly.

"Each of those families could stand against an entire nation on their own. Add to that the Ino-Shika-Cho, the Aburame, and shinobi like the White Fang… and yet they let the Uzumaki fall?"

"In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi never planned to send reinforcements. To him, the Land of Whirlpools was nothing more than an outsider. Why risk his resources for someone he doesn't consider part of Konoha?"

"As for the Senju, they were probably 'relocated' by Hiruzen long before the attack—to some distant border to 'protect' Konoha," Kaito continued.

"Why do you think you survived? Why were you sent to Konoha?" His voice dropped to a calm but cutting tone. "Think about your purpose."

"Jinchūriki…?" Kushina echoed, her voice barely above a whisper, hollow with realization.

"You've seen it yourself, haven't you?" Kaito pressed. "After the Second Great Ninja War, the Senju clan practically vanished. Even Nawaki, their heir, died mysteriously on the battlefield."

"Now, aside from Tsunade, the Senju are a name only. The remaining few are either too old, too weak, or barely alive. No—scratch that. Even the weak are gone. Only husks remain," Kaito said with a bitter sneer.

Kushina's chest tightened. What had seemed like conjecture seconds ago was suddenly beginning to feel terrifyingly real.

Just over two months ago, Konoha had suffered a devastating infiltration. Three of the last Senju children were kidnapped by enemy spies. When the spies realized they couldn't escape, they murdered the children on the spot—then bit their own tongues and ended their lives before they could be interrogated.

The Senju bloodline had been snuffed out.

"You… you're right. Two months ago…" Kushina recounted in a trembling voice, her face pale.

She could barely believe what she was saying. Even thinking about it felt like betrayal.

Kaito's eyes darkened. "Hiruzen Sarutobi... he's far crueler than he appears. I doubt even Tsunade knows the truth. If she did, she wouldn't be holding the line so quietly on the front."

As he spoke, a trace of killing intent flared unconsciously in him.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi… Shimura Danzo…" Kaito's fists clenched. His body trembled with rage. The annihilation of the Senju stirred something primal inside him—something violent.

He looked down to find Kushina trembling too. Her body was cold to the touch. Kaito took a deep breath, forcing the bloodlust out of his system and releasing a slow exhale.

"Sorry," he said. "That slipped out."

"Ha… ha…" Kushina gasped, her knees weak. The oppressive presence that had just vanished had been suffocating.

"You… your presence almost made the Nine-Tails emerge," she said, clutching her chest.

Kaito's voice grew colder. "Tell Tsunade this—I'll be waiting here. If she wishes it… I'll tear Konoha to the ground."

"You…" Kushina's voice wavered. "You can't be… are you really Senju?"

"You should leave," Kaito said firmly. "And don't tell anyone about me. Someone from Konoha is already on your trail."

He felt them—multiple chakra signatures rapidly approaching.

"I will. Thank you… for telling me the truth about the fall of my homeland." Kushina bowed deeply, a shadow in her expression.

"I'll let Lady Tsunade know," she said, then turned and vanished into the forest, heading for Konoha.

---

"Kushina sama! You're not permitted to leave the village at will!" a Root agent barked as she reappeared.

"Do you have any idea what kind of chaos you've caused? Konoha is in an uproar!"

"Lady Kushina, we're here to escort you back safely," an ANBU captain said calmly, signaling to the others.

Four more ANBU appeared silently, surrounding her. While they claimed to protect her, it was obvious they were there to keep her contained.

"I know," Kushina answered, her voice cold.

Her heart was storming with thoughts of Kaito's words. The cold behavior of the ANBU only added fuel to her anger. Right now, she missed only one person—Minato. The village she once loved now felt like a cage.

And the people around her?

Liars.

Her fury began to boil. Her eyes started to shift, slowly turning into vertical slits. Crimson chakra leaked out from her body, enveloping her like mist.

"The Nine-Tails Chakra… she's transforming!" one ANBU shouted. "Fall back! Someone alert the Hokage immediately!"

One ANBU disappeared in a flash, racing back toward the village. The remaining four drew weapons and kept a cautious distance from Kushina.

None dared to engage. Kushina was a powerful jōnin even without the Nine-Tails' power. Now that she had started transforming, charging in would be suicide.

Suddenly—

Whoosh!

Kushina launched forward, eyes wild with rage.

Snap!

Before one ANBU could react, a crimson claw shot out and pierced his chest. His body collapsed to the ground, eyes frozen in shock.

"Damn it, spread out!" the captain shouted.

His voice drew Kushina's attention. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of him, claws raised and burning with red chakra.

Whoosh!

The ANBU vanished, just barely evading her attack.

Boom!

Dust exploded as her claws tore a trench into the earth where he had stood.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" the ANBU shouted from above, forming hand signs mid-air.

A massive fireball blazed from his mouth, roaring down at Kushina.

Roar!

Her body howled as she raised one hand. The fireball hit her directly… and then she crushed it in her chakra-formed claws like it was nothing.

"She caught the jutsu… with her bare hands?!" one of the ANBU gasped.

"As expected of the Nine-Tails' host," another whispered.

The captain landed, sweat on his brow.

"You alright, Captain?" his teammate asked as they regrouped.

"I'm fine," the captain answered. "We need to hold her off until backup arrives."

"Understood!"

They launched a barrage of ninjutsu—fire, wind, lightning—all crashing toward Kushina.

But none of it worked. The chakra surrounding her body dispersed every attack as if they were leaves in the wind.

Behind her, a second crimson tail began to form, curling and writhing.

---

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