Chapter 6: Rains of Castamere III

The sun was setting as Naruto, along with his parents, Minato and Kushina, arrived at the Grand Hall. The day had been a whirlwind of festivities, with villagers coming together to celebrate Naruto's birthday. The celebrations, while joyous, had delayed their arrival, but the main event was set for the evening, so they were just on time.

Naruto's eyes darted around the grand hall, taking in the scene. Banners and lanterns decorated the space, casting a warm glow. The hall was filled with an array of dignitaries. Yet, one face was conspicuously absent: the Fire Daimyo. Present were the Daimyos from Lightning, Water, and Earth. Notably, the Kazekage himself had come, given the strong relationship between the Land of Wind and Fire.

Naruto's gaze met that of the Lightning Daimyo, a cold shiver running down his spine as he sensed something sinister in those eyes. He quickly decided he didn't like the man.

The Earth Daimyo's eyes, on the other hand, were filled with undisguised murderous intent, which wasn't a surprise considering the humiliation they had to suffer because of his father in the war.

The Daimyo of the Land of Water was a different case entirely; his presence was almost ghostly, as if he was not really there. Naruto remembered Obito's control over Yagura and remained wary, knowing that such manipulation was not beyond the realm of possibility here.

Minato noticed the tension and smiled reassuringly, trying to ease the atmosphere. "Why so stiff, everyone? I invited you all to mend our relationships, not to glare at each other."

This gathering was exclusive, with the elders and other significant forces of the village notably absent. The Grand Hall's proximity to the Fire Capital, the residence of the Fire Daimyo, made it a fitting location for this delicate diplomatic endeavor.

Suddenly, a disturbance rippled through the air. Naruto and Kushina felt it instantly, their senses honed to detect such anomalies. Minato, ever vigilant, also sensed the presence. Before Naruto and Kushina could react, Minato had already turned, striking with his kunai at the intruder's neck. To his shock, the weapon passed through as if the neck was merely an illusion.

Space seemed to warp around them as the man, now clearly seen as masked, pulled Minato, Kushina, and Naruto towards his eye. Acting swiftly, Minato teleported away, but Kushina and Naruto were sucked into the vortex.

The masked man chuckled, his voice dripping with malice. "He's fast," he acknowledged. Then, turning to the gathered Kages, he declared, "Isn't this what you all wanted? Go on, take him down. I'll handle the jinchuriki."

Rasa, the Kazekage, stepped forward, a hint of confusion. "What about Naruto?"

The masked man's eyes glinted beneath the mask. He looked at the Kazekage as if he just raised his eyebrows and then turned his head towards the Raikage. "He's been transported outside the Land of Fire to be captured as Ay requested."

Ay, the Raikage, nodded with a grin. "Well then, let's get to work."

----

(With Kushina)

Kushina Uzumaki found herself in a dense forest, the canopy of trees casting dappled shadows on the forest floor. Her mind raced as she tried to make sense of her surroundings.

The attack, the masked man, and worst of all, the separation from her child. Anger surged through her veins as she cursed the masked man for his audacity.

"That bastard," she muttered through clenched teeth. "I'll kill him..."

As if summoned by her words, the masked man appeared before her, his presence as unsettling as ever. His voice, dripping with mockery, echoed in the clearing.

"Lost something, Jinchuriki?" he sneered, his single visible eye glinting with amusement.

"You...!" Kushina's rage flared. Without hesitation, she unleashed her Uzumaki chains, the golden links shooting out toward the masked man. But to her dismay, the chains passed harmlessly through him, as if he were a ghost.

He chuckled, the sound grating on her nerves. "You should know by now, that won't work on me."

Undeterred, Kushina surged forward, chakra enhancing her speed. She closed the distance in an instant, aiming a powerful punch at his masked face. Yet, with a fluid motion, the masked man dodged, retaliating with a swift roundhouse kick to her stomach. The impact sent her flying, her back crashing against a tree.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, brandishing his kusarigama. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the sickle towards her, the chain clinking ominously as it followed.

Kushina's instincts kicked in. Using chakra, she altered her trajectory mid-air, narrowly evading the sickle's deadly blade. She landed on the ground, one hand bracing against the earth as she steadied herself.

"Good at running away, aren't you?" the masked man jeered.

She focused on his movements. His confidence was his weakness, she noted. He was trying to provoke her, to make her lose her cool. 

"ARGHHH!" She acted.

She launched her Uzumaki chains again, this time with greater precision. The chains split into dozens of smaller tendrils, weaving through the air like serpents. The masked man danced through them, his body flickering and phasing in and out of the world.

"Your patience is wearing thin, Jinchuriki," he observed, dodging yet another chain. "Attacking without thinking won't get you anywhere."

But Kushina was anything but reckless. Each chain she launched was a calculated move, testing a theory she had formed. She had noticed something peculiar each time her chains passed through him – it was as if parts of his body disappeared from the world itself.

Drawing on her knowledge of space-time ninjutsu, a field her husband Minato had mastered, she began to piece together his technique. He was transporting parts of his body to some other place, making him untouchable.

But, since she couldn't sense the missing body parts within her vast sensory range, she hypothesized that his body were being transported to some other dimension.

Most importantly, she also sensed the timing, the brief windows when he had to rematerialize.

The masked man's voice cut through her thoughts. "This has gone on long enough."

With a burst of speed, he shot through the web of chains. Kushina was momentarily off balance, her body swaying as she tried to regain control. The masked man seized the opportunity, lunging at her with his hand outstretched.

"Got you," he whispered, his fingers inches from her.

Wooden spikes of great proportion emerged from his extended arm, driving a hole through Kushina's stomach.

"Well, that was a lot faster than I thought," the masked man whistled.

"Think again, bastard," Kushina growled, grabbing his arm. She had waited for this chance when he would finally materialize.

So she knowingly lost her balance and gave up defending herself.

Due to this, she finally managed to wrap her Uzumaki chains on him.

The masked man's eyes widened, feeling his chakra being suppressed.

"It's time for a beatdown!" Kushina growled, a dense orange cloak enveloping her.

___

A/N:

It's been five years since Naruto was born. Kushina was even strengthened by Naruto when he was in her womb. These two factors have played a role in her being strong. And, well, she is also the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, so I guess this much is sensible.

And Minato has also become much stronger than his counterpart. The next chapter will be some Madara vs the Five Kages level of beatdown hahahaha!

Don't worry I haven't forgotten our boy. His time will come and I'm very hyped about it!!!