All the shinobi of Kirigakure had heard of it—the Blood-Red Pepper, the Red Flash.
The one who led the Konoha forces, who single-handedly slaughtered over 5,000 Iwagakure shinobi.
Fast as a red flash, unstoppable as a force of nature.
That was Uzumaki Kushina.
But in addition to the title of the Red Flash, another name had begun to spread—the Devil of Konoha.
She was a legend in the making, a name whispered in fear even among the most hardened warriors. Her exploits had even begun to overshadow those of A, the son of the Third Raikage, once considered one of the strongest young warriors of his generation.
And then, there was Uchiha Mikoto, leader of the Uchiha Clan, feared in equal measure.
It was she who had taken A's arm in battle, an act that had sent shockwaves across the shinobi world.
Together, these two Konoha kunoichi had become the focus of Kirigakure's attention.
They had planned to ambush them in the waters near the Red Isle of Judgment.
Yet, when the time came, they never appeared.
"Tch, Ao, what's the big deal about those two women?"
A short, cocky boy sneered, his fingers tightening around the hilt of Hiramekarei. He was the current wielder of the blade, hozuki and a prodigy among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
"We are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!" he declared with pride.
The towering Fuguki Suikazan, wielder of Samehada, gave a toothy grin. "he got a point. My Samehada will feast on their chakra."
He hadn't killed enough yet. The battlefield still called for blood.
But one among them remained wary. "Don't get too cocky," Juzo Biwa muttered, arms crossed. "It's not just the Red Flash and the Uchiha we should be wary of."
he scoffed. "You mean that blond kid?"
"Yes," Ao answered grimly. "I fought him briefly today. He's strong. And he's killed dozens of our shinobi already."
His gaze drifted towards the horizon. There was something about the boy that unsettled him. Something beyond talent—something dangerous.
"He's Jiraiya's disciple. Namikaze Minato."
Originally, Kirigakure had planned to push forward, to take advantage of Konoha's weakened state and ensure they had no room to breathe.
But... Konoha still had its strength. And the battlefield shifted like a living beast, its terrain ever-changing.
A direct pursuit could be a trap.
Even so, the battle had delivered a devastating blow to Konoha.
Land of Fire – Konoha Camp
The nights in the Land of Fire were bitterly cold.
Konoha's forces sat in silence, their morale shaken. The weight of defeat pressed on their shoulders.
Kurama looked around the dimly lit camp, taking in the broken expressions.
It was bleak.
"Kushina, let's go back to Konoha."
She turned to him, her exhaustion momentarily replaced with curiosity. "Alright, Kurama."
She had wanted to ask before, but now the words slipped out.
"Why don't you just use the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Kurama smirked. It was an easy thing, after all.
"Should we take Mikoto and Hikari with us?" Kushina added.
The two had been on the front lines for too long without proper rest.
His smirk deepened. "Of course."
Kushina narrowed her eyes. "That smile... You're up to something."
Kurama only chuckled.
A short while later, Kushina approached Mikoto and Hyuga Hikari, her movements oddly stealthy.
"What's with you being all sneaky?" Mikoto asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kushina grabbed their hands. Before either could react, Kurama's hand was on her shoulder.
Swish!
The world shifted in an instant.
Suddenly, they were standing in Kushina's home in Konoha.
Both Mikoto and Hikari's eyes widened.
"Is this... Konoha?!"
"How the hell—" Mikoto started.
Kushina grinned. "Ha! That's the Flying Thunder God Technique for you! Courtesy of Lord Kurama."
Kurama waved at them with an infuriatingly smug smile.
Mikoto and Hikari shot him a glare, then turned back to Kushina.
"No wonder you always look well-rested," Hikari muttered.
Mikoto crossed her arms, nodding. "Makes sense now."
While Kushina basked in their newfound admiration, both women exchanged knowing glances.
That night, as Kushina and Kurama lay together, the stars of Konoha twinkled above them.
"Kurama, can you extend your tail?" Kushina asked, her voice laced with mischief.
"Why?"
She pouted. "Just do it!"
Kurama chuckled but obliged.
Kushina reached out, stroking the soft fur. "Heh. Little Nine-Tails."
Her face turned as red as her hair.
Kurama smirked.
The night was far from over.
The Next Morning
Mikoto and Hikari arrived at Kushina's doorstep early, prepared to return to the battlefield.
Kurama's Flying Thunder God was their only way back.
After knocking for a while, the door finally creaked open.
Kushina stood there—barely.
Her head was bowed, her waist bent, her steps unsteady.
Mikoto frowned. "Kushina... Did you not sleep last night?"
"Ah... um... no... Lord Kurama kept me awake..."
Silence.
Mikoto and Hikari exchanged a look. Then their faces turned a deep shade of red.
BAM!
The door slammed shut.
Mikoto clenched her fists. "That damn Kushina! She's flaunting it in front of us!"
Hikari huffed. "Absolutely shameless."
Inside, Kushina blinked in confusion.
"Did... did I say something wrong?"
She turned to Kurama with a pitiful look. "It's your fault! I can barely walk straight!"
Kurama merely smiled. "That's new. Kushina being shy?"
Her pout deepened, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Lord Kurama, please, let me recover! I can't be stumbling around in front of them—it's embarrassing!"
Kurama chuckled, running a hand through her hair. "Fine, fine."
Dark red chakra enveloped her, the healing power of the Nine-Tails flowing through her body.
Almost immediately, she felt better.
She grinned.
Then, without warning, she threw herself into Kurama's arms.
"I love you, Lord Kurama!"
Three Days Later – Konoha, Hokage's Office
The tension in the air was palpable.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo Shimura, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu sat in silence, their faces grim.
Konoha had suffered heavy losses.
The tides of war were shifting.
And in the shadows, plans were being made.
For better... or for worse.
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