Chapter 9: Remote Island

Chapter 9: Sheltered on the Remote Island

The horizon seemed to stretch endlessly, a blurry line where sky and ocean merged into a dark, impenetrable blue.

The cold sea wind whipped into Kaito and Kushina's faces as the boat moved forward, each crash of the waves a reminder of what they had left behind:

the smoking ruins of Uzushiogakure and the remains left behind.

The darkness enveloped them, and only the fire that Kaito kept lit on the bow illuminated their path, creating a faint glow that barely broke the blackness of the surroundings.

Kaito kept his gaze fixed on nothing, his mind trapped in a spiral of thoughts.

Every wave that hit the hull of the boat seemed to bring with it an echo of the danger they had left behind.

The ANBU, the Uchiha, even Kurama... everything seemed like a distant wind, but it was something that stalked him in the shadows of the ocean. I couldn't let my guard down.

I didn't know what would happen at the end of this trip.

"Do you think it will happen from now on?" Kushina's voice broke the silence, her tone heavy with exhaustion and hope.

Kaito didn't respond immediately.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the horizon, looking for any sign of land.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, a dark silhouette appeared in the distance, a small speck in the middle of the vastness of the ocean.

"I don't know," he finally answered, his voice firm.

"But I think we can find somewhere to rest."

The boat approached the island, and Kaito kept his guard up, watching for any sign of danger.

The shore was calm, the waters barely whispering against the white sand.

They disembarked in silence, their steps cautious as they moved towards the interior of the island, where they found a small village, almost hidden among the dense vegetation and leafy trees.

The town was picturesque, almost like something out of a fairy tale.

The houses were small and rustic, built of wood and stone, and a peculiar calm permeated the atmosphere.

The villagers, seeing the newcomers, approached with curiosity, but without the slightest sign of hostility.

They were simple people, oblivious to the chaos of the outside world, and their hospitality was confusing to Kaito and Kushina, who until now had had to fight and run with doubt within them decided to watch cautiously.

"Welcome," said an old man, who seemed to be the leader of the town.

His eyes showed the wisdom of years, and his voice was soft, comforting.

Our island is small, but you are safe here, I don't know where you escaped from but this island welcomes all those who wish to escape the war between nations.

You can stay as long as you need.

The old man said with a smile returning to the center of the village.

The warmth in his words made Kushina sigh in relief, letting go of some of the tension she had built up.

Kaito, however, maintained a latent caution.

He was grateful for the offer, accepting a small house on the edge of town, near the forest that surrounded the island.

Over the next few days, Kaito and Kushina slowly integrated into village life.

Kaito, with his medical knowledge, began helping the villagers with minor injuries and simple illnesses.

It wasn't the kind of medical practice he was used to, but it was comforting in its simplicity.

The villagers thank him with smiles and small offerings, showing him a gratitude that was not expressed in words, but in actions.

Kushina, on the other hand, became the heart of the village almost immediately.

Her lively nature and indomitable spirit made her irresistible to children, who followed her everywhere, fascinated by her energy and the warmth of her laughter.

Despite everything she had suffered, Kushina found another way to smile again, and that gave Kaito a strange feeling of peace, as if, for the first time in a long time, they were allowing themselves a break.

But the nights were another story.

While the village slept under the cover of darkness, Kaito stayed awake, his thoughts revolving around what would come next.

He couldn't afford to rely completely on the apparent tranquility of the island. 

He knew that the outside world would not stop for them, the changes in the world would begin to show.

Many things have happened since he came into this world. 

Meeting Kushina, facing ninjas, facing the Anbu of Konoha, the confrontation against the members of the Uchiha clan, meeting the sage of the 6 paths and the liberation of Kurama.

What he had experienced these days was something beyond his current strength.

He would know that without the help of the Rikudou sennin, Kushina would surely have died or been taken back to Konoha.

Kaito knew that being in this time was dangerous and his strength wouldn't be enough at this moment but there was something he couldn't understand a strange feeling was here.

Rikudou said that he was the one who contacted the system to bring me to this world, but because he wanted me to come to this world.

Kaito was left thinking without being able to understand the reason behind everything.

That night, as silence reigned in the small house they had been given, Kaito watched Kushina sleep.

His breathing was calm, regular, and his face, relaxed in sleep, showed a peace that he could not find.

He admired her for that, for the strength she had shown since he met her.

But he also knew that peace was fragile in this world and that danger still surrounded them, invisible but constant.

As he leaned over her, a notification flickered in his vision, a system message that brought him out of his thoughts:

Congratulations, you have completed the World Starter quests:

Estimated return time: 48 hours. 

Remaining: 48 hours.

Rewards will be calculated upon return to the world. 

The message hit him with the force of an icy wave.

48 hours.

Their time left in this world was numbered, and the reality of what that meant hit him with an intensity he hadn't anticipated.

They would have to be prepared, ready for whatever awaited them when the clock hit zero.

Frowning, Kaito made a decision.

Those two days would be crucial.

He would take advantage of that time to rest, to regain strength, but also to plan his next move.

He wouldn't know how long he would be out of this world or when he would be able to return but he promised that he would return to be by his side.

Closing his eyes Kaito prepared himself for a new tomorrow.

Kaito woke up to the first rays of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the wooden wall.

He hadn't slept much, but the light sea breeze that blew into the cabin gave him a feeling of calm.

It was a deceptive calm, he knew, but he decided to enjoy it while it lasted.

Kushina was still sleeping, tangled in the blankets, her expression soft and peaceful.

Without a sound, he stood up and left the cabin, letting the door close softly behind him.

Outside, the town was already beginning to wake up.

The villagers emerged from their homes, ready to begin their daily tasks.

Some greeted him with a smile as he passed, and Kaito responded with a nod, keeping his expression neutral.

His thoughts, however, were far from the routine of the town.

I had 48 hours.

The system had been clear, and that time limit weighed on him like a sword of Damocles.

He walked to the edge of the forest, where the trees stood tall and proud, forming a natural wall between the town and the rest of the island.

The silence of the place was almost palpable, broken only by the occasional song of a bird or the crunch of a branch underfoot.

Here, away from the curious gazes of the villagers, Kaito allowed himself to release some of the tension he had built up.

He knew he couldn't let his guard down, but he needed a moment to reflect, to plan his next move.

With a sigh, he sat down on a mossy rock, his mind working at full speed.

There were too many unanswered questions, too many loose ends.

The system, their own powers, the limited time they had left in this world... Everything mixed together in his head, creating a whirlwind of uncertainty.

"Kaito..."

Kushina's soft voice brought him out of his thoughts. Turning, he saw her approaching, her red hair shining in the sunlight, a picture of vitality that contrasted with the harshness of his thoughts.

He still wore fatigue on his face, but his eyes were full of determination.

"I didn't get much sleep," he admitted, sitting down next to her.

"What are you thinking about?"

Kaito considered talking to Kushina about the future but thought it would be too complicated to explain at the moment.

Kaito sigh.

Saying nothing just thought about what I was going to do from now on

The silence that followed was dense, charged with the reality of their situation.

Kushina, always so full of energy and life, seemed calmer, more thoughtful.

"I understand," he finally said.

"But we also need to rest, Kaito. We can't keep fighting if we're exhausted."

Kaito looked at her, surprised by her concern in her words.

She was right, of course.

They were not invincible, and exhaustion could be their worst enemy.

He nodded, acknowledging her point.

We will rest, but we will also train.

We cannot leave anything to chance.

They spent the next few hours training in the forest, away from the curious gazes of the villagers.

Kaito used the time to improve his control over fire, honing his skill until he could manipulate it with almost surgical precision.

He knew he couldn't rely on his brute strength alone; I needed to be smarter, more strategic. Kushina, for her part, focused on perfecting her kunai skills, her movements quick and precise as she threw the weapons with impeccable aim.

The training was exhaustive, but necessary.

Every drop of sweat, every second of effort, brought them one step closer to being prepared for whatever lay ahead.

When they finally finished, they were both exhausted.

They returned to the village at dusk, just in time for the dinner the villagers had prepared for them.

The food, simple but abundant, was a reminder that there were still good things in the world, small joys that could be enjoyed even in the midst of adversity.

While they ate, the villagers told them stories of the island's past, legends from ancient times that spoke of heroes. 

Kaito listened quietly, his thoughts still revolving around what would come next, but allowing himself to enjoy the tranquility of the moment.

That night, back at the cabin, Kaito sat next to Kushina, watching her fall asleep.

Exhaustion had finally overcome her, and he could see the relief on her face as she drifted off into sleep. Kaito, however, couldn't rest yet.

His eyes turned to the window, where the full moon was shining over the island, bathing everything in a pale, ghostly light.

He closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of calm before the inevitable storm overtook them.

They had found a brief respite on this remote island, but they knew it wouldn't last.

Time was running out, and with it, the peace they had managed to find.

But as long as Kushina was safe, it didn't matter what came next. 

This is the end of chapter 9.

I will be posting the chapters twice a week.

If you like it, leave a comment or add it to your library to read it when you have more chapters.

Tomorrow there will be an extra chapter for surpassing 100 collections.