Naruto: Random Flying Thunder God Technique? Intercepting the Dark-Dark Fruit

"Hey, don't try anything funny!"

Yunren, who was holding the rope, frowned and impatiently raised his leg to kick the red-haired girl on the ground.

Then the next instant.

The Cloud Ninja's pupils constricted sharply, and his body stiffened on the spot.

A line of blood cut from his neck, and warm blood splattered onto the cold ground.

Chapter 37 The Third Hokage: ?

Kushina, who had closed her eyes and curled up, noticed that the kicks she feared hadn't come yet, and cautiously opened her eyes.

What came into her view were two different figures cutting through the darkness.

A dark purple streak, a smoky hue

The Yunren, whom she considered almost invincible, were so easily slit open in the throat and pierced through the heart by those two voices, like ordinary people who couldn't even hold a chicken.

"So strong."

Under the hazy moonlight, she was momentarily stunned.

She had already recognized who the two people were.

Shiranui Sho and Namikaze Minato were classmates with her at the Ninja Academy for several years, but they both applied to graduate early.

After passing the exam, the two geniuses graduated two years ahead of schedule and embarked on the battlefield of the Second Shinobi World War.

Later, they only occasionally saw each other in the village, but their achievements on the battlefield and in missions had already spread among their peers.

Soon, all the Cloud Ninjas around Kushina were killed.

She stood up excitedly, but her legs gave way from exhaustion.

In the instant she lost her balance, she instinctively fell towards the angle where Shiranui Sho was standing.

The boy with short, dark purple hair reacted quickly and caught her, preventing her from falling into the mud again in an embarrassing manner.

"Are you alright, Kushina-kun? My apologies."

What reached her ears was the boy's concerned inquiry.

Before she could react, she felt herself being easily lifted up and pulled into a warm embrace.

Since it's for the sake of convenience, then there's no other way...

As she thought this, she silently adjusted the position of her head, pressing her cheek against the cool ninja vest, yet feeling a long-lost warmth.

"Xiao..."

My thoughts drifted away from that night and returned to the bright living room where I am now.

Kushina smiled with a relieved expression, her fiery red hair framing her face.

Oh, and there's what happens next.

……

Inside the kitchen, Xiao cleaned the food containers and tableware efficiently, her wrists and below covered in thick foam.

"Ok?"

Shiranui Sou paused slightly, her gaze fixed on a splash of red.

He reached out and brushed aside a layer of foam, then gently picked up a strand of bright red hair from the bowl and chopsticks that Kushina had used.

This led him to recall that night not long ago.

First, they were on their way to track down the Cloud Ninja.

Because of the darkness, they lost track of their target and were at a standstill.

Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of a vibrant color.

"Watergate, this way!"

With a cold and calm expression, Shiranui Sho's right hand brushed across the treetop, and a few strands of red hair that were wrapped around it fell into her hand.

Next, they finally rescued the kidnapped girl from the Cloud Ninja.

Completely exhausted, Kushina collapsed into his arms, her once vibrant energy now feeling as soft as if she had no bones.

"Xiao... classmate, how did you find this place?"

The red-haired girl curled up wearily in his arms and asked in a soft, barely audible voice.

Seeing the girl's terrified expression, as if she had just escaped a disaster, Shiranui Sho sighed and gently stroked her bright red hair to comfort her.

"Kushina's hair is so dazzling that there's no reason not to notice it."

"Kushina is so strong that she didn't forget to leave her hair as a mark even in such a situation. Don't worry, it's all over now."

The night was too dark for him to see the girl's expression clearly, but he could feel that the person in his arms had become slightly warmer.

My memories of what happened after that are a bit hazy.

All he remembered was that Minato killed the last fleeing Cloud Ninja before returning to meet him, and then went back to Konoha to report back.

After thanking them, Kushina was taken away by Tsunade for treatment, while the Third Hokage, still shaken, kept the two of them behind as a reward.

"and many more……"

Shiranui Sho paused in her movements.

He suddenly realized why Kushina had made that abrupt movement last time, reaching out to gently ruffle his hair.

Looking back now, she must have felt a sense of security from that action that night.

Mistakenly believing that Shiranui Xiao was unwell, she wanted to imitate the action to convey a sense of reassurance.

After thinking it through, a gentle smile appeared on Shiranui Sho's lips.

However, although this matter has been over for some time, he still has to emphasize again that he really had no problems after eating the Dark Fruit!

……

It was getting late.

"It's getting late, so I'll head back now."

In the entryway, Kushina carefully slipped her delicate white feet out of her slippers and put on her ninja sandals.

Carrying her empty vegetable basket, she smiled and waved goodbye to the boy.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Kushina." Shiranui Sho smiled and waved.

The two have undoubtedly grown much closer during their brief time together today.

After all, who could resist a cute, energetic girl who would cook tonkotsu ramen for you?

"Let's go, Xiao, no need to see me off~"

"Okay, be careful on the road!"

click -

The door closed, and a moment of silence fell between the two, who had briefly met, and then separated again.

"..."

After hesitating for a few seconds with her back to the door, Shiranui Sho turned around and faced the door again.

He reached out and grabbed the doorknob, turning it quickly to greet the moonlight outside.

He thought Kushina had already gone far away, but he was surprised to find that the girl was still standing there, staring blankly at him as he suddenly opened the door.

Shiranui Sho blinked and said, "The mission isn't over yet. Let me take you back."

"Hmm~"

The red-haired girl nodded gently with a smile.

With her hands, carrying the basket, behind her back, she turned around, her flowing hair resembling the burning flames in her heart.

……

The next morning, in the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, carried a pipe, surrounded by swirling smoke.

dong dong dong-

The knocking on the door drew his attention away from the documents on his desk and made him look at the door directly in front of him.

"Please come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, he watched a girl with bright red hair walk in.

The Third Hokage put down his pipe, a gentle and kind smile appearing on his lips.

"Lord Hokage, I've come to you to discuss the matter of the Anbu protecting me..." Kushina began cautiously.

"Kushina, although the Cloud Shadows have revealed some clues this time, it will still take some time to completely eradicate their spy network."

I know it makes you uncomfortable to be watched by strangers, but please try to get through this period.

The Third Hokage patiently and skillfully persuaded him, appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him.

In his view, Kushina came to him specifically because she didn't want to be constantly watched by the Anbu.

No, that's not what I meant.

To the Third Hokage's surprise, Kushina shook her head, her tone somewhat unnatural.

"What I'm trying to say is... that cracking down on spies can be done gradually, after all, it's not something that can be accomplished overnight."

"From my perspective, extending the protection time in the shadows as much as possible is perfectly fine."

"?"

Looking at the girl who had clearly resisted being assigned to the dark forces for protection just a few days ago, her attitude had completely changed today.

A big question mark involuntarily surfaced in the mind of the Third Hokage.

Chapter 38 The Hangover

Another morning dawned, and Shiranui Sho once again stood in front of Tsunade's house.

dong dong dong-

He knocked on the door three times, and then stood there quietly waiting.

Soon after, the sound of the door hinges turning rang out, and the heavy solid wooden door was pushed open from the inside.

However, the person who appeared before Shiranui Sho was not Tsunade as expected, but someone else.

She was an elderly woman with a kind face, dressed in a white kimono.

Her dark red hair was tied into two buns, and there was a purple diamond mark in the center of her forehead. Her once stunningly beautiful face was now full of the marks of time.

The moment he saw the old man's face clearly, Shiranui Sho bowed respectfully.

"Mito-sama."

Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage Hashirama Senju, also dedicated her life to the village.

At this time, she was also nearing the end of her life, and was filled with the weariness of old age.

"Son, you are..."

Seeing a young man wearing a Konoha headband outside the door, whom she hadn't seen before, Mito Uzumaki couldn't help but ask curiously.

"I am Shiranui Sou. I made an appointment with Lady Tsunade today to ask her for advice on super strength."

"I see..."

After Shiranui Sho introduced himself and the purpose of his visit, Uzumaki Mito invited him in.

She looked at the boy, who still had a childlike appearance, her expression seemingly a mixture of surprise and relief, which ultimately turned into a kind smile.

"Tsunade... is still sleeping, child, go and wake her yourself."

Mito Uzumaki paused for a moment when she spoke, her tone filled with tenderness and sorrow.