Ch-51 Kushina Kidnapped.

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At that moment, Kiyomi appeared at the door and addressed Kakashi, "Kakashi, could you please go and catch some fish for dinner tonight?"

Kakashi nodded dutifully and replied, "Of course, Mother. I'll go to the stream and get some fish right away."

As Kakashi moved to fetch a bucket for holding the fish, Michikatsu intercepted him. "I'll come with you. I used to catch fish for dinner when I was young," Michikatsu offered, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.

Kakashi welcomed the idea, a competitive spirit taking hold. "Alright, then let's make it a competition—see who can catch the most fish in the shortest time."

"Agreed," Michikatsu responded with a competitive gleam in his eye, and together, they set off to the pond for their fishing challenge.

Observing the two brothers as they headed out, Kiyomi couldn't help but express her contentment. "Seeing both of them like this makes me so happy," she remarked.

Sakumo, sharing her sentiment, replied with a warm smile, "Indeed, it warms my heart as well."

++++

At the serene, small stream where Kakashi and Michikatsu had embarked on their fishing endeavor, Kakashi displayed his exceptional speed by swiftly catching a few fish. Michikatsu, however, observed this with a shake of his head and offered a piece of advice. "Kakashi, don't use Chakra to catch these fish," he advised.

Kakashi was puzzled by the request and questioned, "Why not?"

Michikatsu explained his reasoning, imparting a valuable lesson. "Catching fish can also serve as a form of training," he said.

Perplexed, Kakashi inquired further, "How does catching fish help in training?"

Michikatsu clarified, "From now on, refrain from using Chakra. Instead, rely solely on your basic physical strength, like an ordinary civilian."

Kakashi nodded in agreement and adhered to Michikatsu's guidance, attempting to catch the fish without utilizing his Chakra. During his initial attempts, the fish managed to elude him at the last moment, slipping away from his grasp. Frustration tinged Kakashi's expression as he struggled to secure a single catch without the aid of Chakra.

Michikatsu patiently explained the purpose behind this exercise. "This is why I insisted on catching fish without Chakra. By doing so, you'll come to realize that your current strength is inadequate to capture fish swiftly. Your reflexes need improvement, and your grip isn't yet suitable for catching slippery objects. As you practice catching fish, you will see improvements in various aspects, including strength, speed, and reflexes. The speed at which you can catch fish will serve as a clear measure of your progress."

Having imparted this wisdom, Michikatsu demonstrated the effectiveness of his method by effortlessly and rapidly snatching fish from the water with his bare hands, tossing them out of the river one after another.

"See, without even using Chakra, I was able to easily catch these fish even faster than when you were using Chakra," Michikatsu pointed out, a hint of pride in his voice.

Kakashi nodded, acknowledging the effectiveness of Michikatsu's method. Under Michikatsu's guidance, he continued to practice catching fish, honing his skills. By now, they had caught more than enough fish for dinner, yet they kept catching and releasing the fish back into the river, enjoying their friendly competition.

However, the moment of camaraderie was interrupted when Michikatsu suddenly sensed something amiss. Distracted, he couldn't hide his concern, prompting Kakashi to inquire, "What happened, brother?"

Michikatsu furrowed his brow as he explained, "I felt five Chakra signatures moving in the direction outside of Konoha."

Kakashi speculated, "Perhaps it's some Anbu ninjas on patrol?"

Michikatsu shook his head, his expression serious. "No, that's not possible. I recognize one of those Chakra signatures."

Kakashi was intrigued. "Who?"

"Uzumaki Kushina," Michikatsu replied, his tone conveying a sense of urgency. He then turned to Kakashi and made a decision. "Kakashi, you should go home. I'll investigate this further."

Kakashi offered to accompany him, but Michikatsu declined with a hint of caution. "No, if my suspicions are correct, it's best if you stay home for now."

Without further delay, Michikatsu left the area, leaping from the water and disappearing into the nearby woods, his senses focused on the potential threat that lay ahead.

++++

"Move quickly before someone arrives," the Kumo ninja urged, their sense of urgency evident.

One of the ninja, likely a sensor type, reassured, "No need to worry. I can sense that no one is following us."

The leader of the Kumo ninja team remained steadfast. "Do not underestimate the ninjas of Konoha. Be quick."

Amidst the tension, Uzumaki Kushina, the red-haired girl they had captured, couldn't help but question their motives. "Why are you doing this? Didn't you come here to watch the Chunin exams? Why kidnap me?"

The ninja holding her responded with a chilling revelation, "From the very beginning, our objective was to kidnap you."

Hearing this, Kushina felt a profound sadness wash over her. In that moment, she recalled all the disparaging remarks she had endured since her arrival in Konoha. As a foreigner from Uzushiogakure with distinctive red hair, she had always felt like an outsider. Her peers had mockingly dubbed her 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.' The same vibrant red hair that now she desperately tried to break and scatter on the ground, hoping someone would notice and come to her aid. Doubt crept into her heart, wondering if anyone would truly care enough to rescue her.

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