Chapter 22: The Search for the Red Hair 3

Hikaru stood with Raiden and Minato, facing the east where Kushina's trail had led them. Though he couldn't see the path ahead, he could feel the subtle shadows, the way the terrain shifted underfoot, and the unique sensations each step brought. His senses were sharp, and he was ready to rely on them to find their friend.

"Alright," Raiden said, stepping forward confidently. "Here's the plan. Hikaru, you're the one who can sense Kushina's chakra trail, so you'll lead us. Minato and I will stay alert in case anyone tries to follow us or intercept."

"I don't have much chakra left. If she's within about a kilometer and a half, I'll sense her. But any farther… it's out of my range." "Raiden," Hikaru said quietly.

Minato's face tightened, clearly disappointed. "So, we're looking for a needle in a haystack…" he muttered, then sighed, quickly shaking it off. "Alright. We'll keep going east. Raiden and I will watch for anything that could lead us to her."

Raiden looked thoughtful, glancing around at their surroundings. "If Kushina's with the ANBU, they'd cover their tracks perfectly," he said. "But Kushina might not be as careful. We just need one small clue."

Minato nodded, his voice steady. "Exactly. We'll search carefully and keep our eyes open. There has to be something."

Hikaru took a deep breath, relieved that they weren't giving up. "I'll keep my senses on high alert—just in case she's close."

And with that, they pressed forward, each of them focused, hoping that Kushina had left something behind to guide them.

As they made their way east, Raiden's sharp gaze swept the ground and nearby branches, scanning for any sign of Kushina. Suddenly, he halted, his eyes catching something glinting faintly in the sunlight. He bent down, reaching out carefully, and picked up a single red strand of hair.

"Look at this, red hair" he said as he gave it to Minato, his voice laced with a hint of excitement. "Kushina was definitely here."

Hikaru felt a wave of relief. "Good catch, Raiden. At least we're on the right path."

Minato nodded, his determination renewed. "Then let's keep moving—she's close enough that we might catch up soon."

As they pressed onward, Hikaru suddenly slowed his pace, a familiar sensation tugging at the edges of his awareness. He focused, letting his shadow sense stretch just a little farther, and his heart skipped as he detected the presence of several shinobi. They were stationed around a small building up ahead—ten outside, guarding the perimeter, and two inside.

Among the shadows in the building, one felt unmistakably familiar. Kushina. Her presence flickered faintly, and he could sense something was wrong—she was moving weakly, as though burdened by pain.

Hikaru focused, trying to give Raiden and Minato as clear a description as possible.

"Listen carefully," he said. "It's about 1.5 kilometers ahead, just beyond the edge of the forest. There's a small building—it looks isolated, hidden by the trees. There are ten shinobi positioned around it, keeping watch on all sides, and two more are inside with her."

Raiden nodded, processing the information, while Minato looked tense but ready.

"She's in the center of the building, and... I can feel that something's wrong. She's in pain."

The moment he mentioned Kushina was hurt, Minato didn't hesitate. Without a word, he sprang forward, dashing straight toward the building.

"Minato!" Raiden called out, but there was no stopping him.

Raiden shot Hikaru a quick look, his face caught between frustration and urgency. "We don't have a choice—let's go!" he said, and the two of them took off after Minato.

Just as they neared the building, Hikaru felt the sudden shift in movement. The shinobi stationed around the building began closing in, moving swiftly and without hesitation.

"They know we're here!" Hikaru hissed urgently to his friends. "They're coming fast—"

But it was too late. Minato, who was closest, was the first to be grabbed, a kunai pressed against his neck, when they become close enough to Hikaru to sense their chakra, he knew they have no chance against those shinobis, they were all jonins. In a heartbeat, Raiden and Hikaru were also captured, the cold metal of kunai at their throats. They barely had a moment to react before they were restrained.

"Drop them. Now."

A firm, commanding voice cut through the tension. The shinobi didn't hesitate, then slowly released their grips, pulling back.

The man who had ordered the shinobi to stop came forward. Hikaru sensed his presence approaching—a steady, calm, unhurried. From this distance, he couldn't make out many details beyond a vague shape. But when Raiden caught sight of the man, his eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

"It's... the Third Hokage!" Raiden whispered, barely able to contain his awe.

The Third Hokage looked at the three boys with a calm but piercing gaze. He folded his arms, his expression unreadable. Next to him stood another man, his presence equally intense but far colder. His stare felt like ice cutting through them, unwavering and sharp, making Hikaru instinctively straighten. There was something unsettling in the man's quiet, watchful intensity.

After a long silence, the Hokage spoke. "And what exactly are you three doing here?" His tone was firm but not angry, just enough to make them feel the weight of the situation.

Raiden swallowed hard, his nerves evident. But, keeping his voice steady, he stepped forward and spoke up. "We were worried about Kushina," he explained, glancing at his friends for support. "She hasn't been at the Academy, and... we just wanted to check on her, make sure she's okay."

The Hokage's gaze settled on Hikaru, his calm eyes sharpening slightly. "And how exactly did you know she was here?" he asked in that same firm tone.

Hikaru felt his heart beat faster. He knew he had to answer carefully; lying would only make things worse, especially with the Hokage watching him so intently. Taking a steady breath, he decided honesty was his best choice.

Hikaru's voice dropped even lower, and he hesitated before speaking, "I… I sneaked into the Uzumaki clan's land to find something that belonged to Kushina," he confessed, his words barely above a whisper. "I needed something to track her... a hair or a trace of chakra. I found a hair, and... I used it to guide us here."

The man next to the Hokage spoke up suddenly, his voice sharp and cold. "You just broke into the Uzumaki clan, and no one stopped you?" He asked with a hint of disbelief.

Hikaru felt his heart race, but he stood firm. He wasn't about to back down. "There were three shinobi there," he explained quickly. "But I'm... I'm good at sneaking around. I was able to get by them without being noticed."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a wave of unease washed over him. His senses flared, and he immediately noticed something crucial. Kushina's shadow—it had stopped moving. She wasn't moving anymore.

His pulse quickened as he clenched his fists. "Kushina... passed out," he said, his voice growing more urgent, frustration and concern mixing in his tone. "What's wrong with her, Hokage sama? Why is she like this?"

The Hokage looked at Hikaru with a steady gaze, his expression calm but filled with a quiet authority. "She will be fine, Hikaru," he said reassuringly.

But Hikaru wasn't satisfied. His thoughts were swirling, his heart heavy with confusion and anger. He took a step forward, his voice sharp. "I don't understand," he muttered, his hands clenched at his sides. "I read the books in her room. About jinchūriki... I know what they are. But why did would you do that to her? Why did you put her through all this?"

As the Hokage fell silent, a calm, steady voice interrupted the tense atmosphere. "Kushina is strong," a woman said, her voice carrying a sense of quiet authority. "It is her responsibility and duty to be the next jinchūriki, to protect the village."

Everyone fell silent, their attention now on the woman stepping forward, holding Kushina in her arms. Hikaru's senses sharpened as she moved closer, It was the same one he'd felt before, back in the building.

She smiled softly at them, though it wasn't a smile of ease—there was a wisdom in her eyes, a kind of serenity that seemed to come from years of carrying the same burden that Kushina now bore. "And with friends like you to watch her back," she continued, her gaze resting on each of them, "nothing will stop her."

Hikaru immediately figures out who she is, Mito Uzumaki.

Mito noticed Minato's shift in demeanoras as he saw Kushina, "she is okay", she said .Small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "She will wake soon," Mito reassured him, her eyes gentle and understanding.

Kushina's eyes fluttered open. She scanned the room, confusion washing over her. "What are you all doing here?" she asked, then noticed Minato holding her red hair. Her brow furrowed. "And, Why are you holding my hair?"

Minato's face turned red, flustered and caught off guard. "I—uh—I didn't—"