STIN: Chapter 112/113

Chapter 112: Who Is She?

"System," Ryo called silently within his consciousness.

Since returning from Tsunade's camp, he had begun taking stock of the strength he had forged through months of blood and fire. Especially those two near-death battles. They had nearly cost him his life but greatly accelerated his fusion with power.

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[ Beep! ]
[ Host status: scan complete ]
[ Shanks' Legacy Integration increased to: 58.7% ]
[ Shanks' Legacy unlocked to: 60% ]
[ Strength: Kage-level ]
[ System Evaluation: You already have one foot across the threshold of Kage! ]

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Staring at the panel in his mind, Ryo remained calm. That 58.7% fusion rate was earned through countless brushes with death. He knew that as he advanced further, the fusion speed would slow. His young body still needed time to grow and adapt to the immense power born from the template, like a dormant volcano brimming with energy but requiring time to solidify its foundation and widen its conduits.

He scoffed at those Uchiha prodigies who reached Mangekyō-level strength at thirteen by burning away their potential and lifespan for temporary power. That was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst. Ryo had boundless potential and vast room for growth. The path lay clearly ahead. He just needed to let his body mature naturally. In a year or two, when the time came, that 60% barrier would break smoothly. His Armament Haki would awaken, and his Conqueror's Haki would no longer be restrained by his youth. When that moment arrived, his power would undergo an earth-shaking transformation.

For now, all he needed was patience, to wait for the tree of power to bear fruit.

Outside the tent, the campfire crackled. The sound seemed to echo the rhythm of the power surging within him, deep, long, and filled with explosive potential. There was no conversation that night, only the silent declaration of strength.

A few days passed, and under the surge of vitality, the last trace of Ryo's wounds vanished. The bandages were discarded carelessly. His exposed physique, sleek and solid, radiated explosive strength. He was ready to depart, accompanied by Mikoto, Shiguru, and Kaori, heading back to Konohagakure.

"Captain Kamiyama Ryo of the Kamiyama Unit!" A Chūnin's respectful silhouette appeared at the tent flap. His voice was filled with reverence. "The heavy-zone units are at the main gate, ready to relieve your command!"

Orders were absolute. Ryo grabbed his coat, washed white and scarred with cuts and burn marks, and put it on sharply. He stepped out of the tent, sunlight raining down like arrows, forcing his eyes to narrow.

At the gate, the scene was grim. A dozen crude stretchers lined up, telling the brutal story of war in silence. Mikoto and Shiguru were in the line, Shiguru checking bandages and Mikoto soothing the injured. Kaori stood quietly at Ryo's side, her slender frame steady in the sunlight.

On the stretchers lay faces pale as ash, chests faintly rising and falling, barely clinging to life. Severed limbs wrapped in cloth, empty pant legs flapping weakly. Blood seeped through bindings like stamps of despair. These were the severely wounded retrieved from the gates of death, personally confirmed by Tsunade. They had to be transported to Konoha's superior medical facilities to recover their ability to fight. The air was thick with the scent of medicine and infection, but there was still a faint trace of hope.

Every exhausted, bloodshot gaze, some blank, some resolute, fixed on Ryo's approaching figure. He alone symbolized the backbone of the team. Shiguru, Mikoto, and Kaori had become indispensable as well.

Ryo's gaze cut across the line. No speeches, no extra words. He walked to the front, tall and composed, and calmly spoke two words, his voice steady yet filled with unshakable resolve.

"Let's go."

Ryo led at the front, Kaori close by, with Mikoto and Nawaki guarding the wounded. His shadow stretched long across the ground, like a sword pointing home. With him leading, the group of wounded felt immovable.

The return journey was long, cutting through the Land of Fire. Though calmer than the front lines, the name of Konohagakure alone deterred most threats.

As for Danzō, a flash of mockery crossed Ryo's eyes. Between his own power, the order signed by Tsunade, and the will of Konoha's entire front line, who would dare lay a hand on them?

Days and nights passed as they crossed rivers and mountains. Ryo walked at the front the entire time, his Observation Haki spreading silently like a vast web, covering kilometers. Every movement of the wind, every flutter of wings, every hidden hostility, none escaped him.

A few wandering shinobi and bandits tried to watch from the shadows. The moment their gaze landed on Ryo, terror overwhelmed them. His presence alone crushed their courage. Without a word, they fled back into the dark. The journey continued without a single conflict.

Eventually, the towering walls of Konoha appeared on the horizon, beyond the sea of trees. The sunset melted into gold, dyeing the sky a warm amber. The Hokage Rock glowed like a god's face, majestic and peaceful.

At last, the great gate of Konoha stood ahead, marked by its carved scroll patterns. The guards recognized the figure leading the convoy. Each stood straight, saluting.

Fatigue, pain, and longing for home intertwined in everyone's hearts. Hope had never felt so real.

Then, just as the stretchers were about to roll through the gate, a voice filled with longing and joy tore through the dusk like lightning.

"Ryo!"

A petite red-haired figure burst from the open gate like a runaway flame.

Uzumaki Kushina. Her signature crimson hair streamed behind her in the sunlight. Her sky-blue eyes overflowed with joy and longing. Ever since learning from Hiruzen that Ryo was returning, she had waited every evening like a sentry.

Girl's dignity? Jinchūriki identity? All forgotten in that instant. In her world, there was only one heart that mattered.

Kushina slammed into Ryo's chest with full force, her slender yet strong arms locking around his waist like steel cables. The strength nearly crushed his ribs.

The familiar scent of him filled her senses, dust, smoke, and the battlefield. It calmed the heart she had held in suspense for days. She buried her face in his chest, feeling the pounding of his heartbeat. Each thump reassured her that he was alive.

She clung tightly, as if to make up for every lost moment in one embrace. After a long while, she reluctantly lifted her head, her tearful face glowing in the sunset.

"You big idiot! Why were you gone so long… sniff…" Her voice trembled, her complaint tinged with fear and the pain of almost losing him.

Ryo, always tense and alert like a drawn blade, softened. The coldness in his eyes melted away. His hand rested gently on Kushina's red hair, fingers brushing through the soft strands. His voice was low and steady.

"Yes, I'm back."

Those three words said everything. They were her comfort and his declaration of return from blood and fire.

Time seemed to freeze for Kushina. Then she smiled, radiant under the golden light. She opened her mouth, ready to scold him affectionately for making her worry.

But then, from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a girl standing nearby, Kaori.

A pale, fragile-looking girl, her face almost translucent. Her body looked as if a breeze could topple it. And that hair, bright, unmistakably red.

The sunset poured over that hair, and in that instant, the color stabbed into Kushina's eyes. Red hair. The mark of the Uzumaki.

Kaori stood frozen by the sudden reunion before her, her wide eyes filled with fear and confusion. Her gaze met Kushina's, sapphire meeting glassy brown, and the world seemed to stop.

Kushina's smile froze. A crack appeared on her expression as doubt rushed in like wildfire. Shock followed, then disbelief.

Who is she?

A survivor of the Uzumaki clan?

That thought thundered in Kushina's trembling heart.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 113: Mikoto Feels Guilty

Who is she?!

A red-haired girl that young?!

Uzumaki… aside from Grandma Mito and me… how could there still be a survivor in Konoha?!

That thought, absurd yet electrifying, erupted in Kushina's chest like long-buried magma, exploding through the calm surface of her heart. Joy, shock, disbelief, and breathless confusion flooded her all at once.

"S-She…" Kushina's lips parted, her throat bobbed, but no full sound came. She jerked her head up toward Ryo, her lovely blue eyes filled with disbelief, searching for an answer she both wanted and feared.

Ryo didn't keep her waiting. His steady voice, like a stabilizing anchor, broke through the silence. "Nawaki, Mikoto."

At once, the frozen convoy started moving again.

"Right!" Nawaki answered, spinning around and shouting at the escort shinobi. "Come on, move it! Easy with the stretchers! Don't jostle our brothers!" His loud voice shattered the awkward air.

Mikoto, quiet as a shadow, moved toward the wounded, her calm eyes scanning each stretcher. She nodded gently to the injured as if nothing had happened at all.

Amid the bustle, Nawaki jogged over to Kaori. Seeing the girl's timid, startled look, he grinned. "Hey, little one, don't be scared! We're home!" His bright smile was clumsy but full of warmth.

Ryo waited until the line was moving properly, then took Kaori's slightly cool hand and led her a step forward toward Kushina. The child instinctively leaned into him like a fledgling seeking shelter. Looking down at the bright red hair catching the sunset light, Ryo spoke calmly, as if confirming the truth.

"Uzumaki Kaori."

Those simple words completed the final piece of the puzzle.

Kushina's body trembled; her eyes instantly filled with tears as her composure collapsed.

"Uzumaki…" She repeated the name, her voice shaking.

Without hesitation, Kushina lunged forward, throwing her arms around the small girl and hugging her tightly. Kaori gave a soft yelp at the sudden embrace.

"Kaori!" Kushina's voice cracked, and hot tears flooded down her face. "I-I'm Kushina… Uzumaki Kushina!" She repeated it again and again, as if etching her name into Kaori's heart.

Kaori froze, overwhelmed. The hug was too warm, too full of a strange familiarity that melted her fear. Slowly, her own small arms wrapped around Kushina's neck, clinging back. Grief, loneliness, and a sudden rush of joy burst out of her as she sobbed uncontrollably. "Uwaaah… big sis…"

The two red-haired figures clung together, crying as one. Grief and joy intertwined into something wordless and immense. After the fall of their clan, this was blood calling to blood, a reunion across time and death itself.

Ryo stood silently aside. Nawaki scratched his head, glancing between the crying pair and Ryo's expressionless calm before grinning awkwardly. Mikoto watched them too, her face serene in the sunset's light. Her lips were pressed together, but her hands, hidden inside her sleeves, had tightened unconsciously until her knuckles whitened.

At the end of the long road, Konoha's gates stood wide open, keeping the front line's darkness outside. The wounded were lifted and carried quickly through the gate into safety.

When the last stretcher disappeared, the golden sunset washed over the towering doors, and the air smelled faintly of medicine and smoke fading away.

Finally, Kushina released Kaori, trembling from the outburst of emotion. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Her red, tear-streaked eyes glistened under the light, full of relief and gratitude.

She drew in a deep breath, still unsteady, then looked at Ryo with a heart overflowing.

"Ryo!" Her voice trembled with heat. "I don't even know how to thank you!"

Ryo met her burning gaze calmly. He lifted his hand naturally, brushing his thumb across her cheek to wipe the tears away. His touch was brief but sure, rough from battle yet strangely gentle.

"Kushina," his voice was low and clear, carrying the weight of a promise. "I told you." His eyes were steady, certain. "From now on, your business is my business." He paused, his tone turning firm. "Between us, there's no need to say 'thank you.'"

The simple statement hit her heart like a hammer. Kushina's face flushed red; her voice caught in her throat before she finally managed a small nod. "Mm!" Her blue eyes locked on him, unable to look away, full of warmth and trust.

A few meters away, Mikoto stood still, quiet and unmoving. From the moment Ryo had touched Kushina's face, her gaze had lowered to the ground. The evening wind lifted her black hair as her expression stayed calm, almost too calm.

But inside her sleeves, her hands trembled slightly, nails digging into her palms.

"In the end… I still…" The bitter thought circled in her chest. The brief moments at the Ame front—the brushes of fingers, that near kiss—felt suddenly small and meaningless under Kushina's radiant affection.

"Ahem! Ahem-hem!" Nawaki's exaggerated coughing broke through the heavy mood. "Hey! You two!" He put one hand on his hip, the other pointing toward the village. "Shouldn't we handle the important stuff first? Ryo! The mission report! The wounded! And—"

He slapped his forehead dramatically. "The Third Hokage's waiting! Jiraiya-nii told me a hundred times! I still gotta talk to him about Minato's training and that Flying Thunder God!"

Ryo's eyes flicked toward Nawaki, the calm of command returning in an instant.

"Mm." The single syllable was enough. His earlier softness vanished. He didn't linger with Kushina, only took Kaori's small hand firmly. "I'm taking Kaori to see the Third first." He looked at Kushina. "You and Mikoto catch up." Then he turned to Mikoto, giving a short, distant nod. "I'll find you later."

With that, he led Kaori away.

"Mm!" Kushina replied brightly. Watching Kaori walk beside him, she smiled, her expression soft and glowing. "Go on! I'll talk with Mikoto!"

"Hey, Ryo! Wait up!" Nawaki chased after him, still talking nonstop. "Jiraiya-nii's mission, leave it to me! We gotta get Flying Thunder God for Minato!"

Soon, the group at the gate dispersed, leaving only the two girls—Kushina and Mikoto.

Kushina's excitement hadn't faded. She hooked her arm through Mikoto's with a bright grin.

"Mikoto! My bestie!" she said eagerly, her voice brimming with joy and a hint of pride. "Tell me, was Ryo as amazing on the front lines as he is now? I heard he got seriously hurt and Tsunade-sensei had to save him! You were there with him, right? You must know everything! Did he… say he missed me or anything?" Her big eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Right now, Kushina's heart overflowed with gratitude for Mikoto. Thank goodness Mikoto had taken care of Ryo. She clutched her arm affectionately, waiting for the details.

But that simple gesture felt like a whip against Mikoto's already guilty conscience. The memory of her secret closeness with Ryo flashed like a blade. Kushina's bright smile stabbed deep into her heart, filling her with guilt.

Her pulse quickened. Her fingers went cold.

"We… we're best friends, after all!" Mikoto forced a smile, her voice light but tense beneath the surface.

Smoothly, she freed her arm from Kushina's hold, pretending to fix her hair as she turned her gaze toward the market. "Kushina," she said with forced cheer, "it's still early! I haven't had Konoha's three-color dango in forever. Those front-line rations were awful! Just thinking about soldier pills makes me sick! Let's grab some, okay? My treat!"

Without waiting for Kushina's answer, she strode ahead quickly. The sunset caught the edge of her violet skirt as the breeze lifted her hair.

She took a deep breath as she walked, forcing her voice into a lively rhythm. "Oh, and you should've seen Nawaki back there! You won't believe what he did once during a raid…" She launched into a story, hoping to drown out any talk about Ryo.

Kushina followed along, still smiling but slightly puzzled. Something felt… off. Mikoto had pulled away too quickly. Her cheer sounded a little too forced.

As the smell of dango drifted over from the market, the two girls' laughter mingled with the hum of the village. Yet beneath the light chatter, a faint, invisible tension began to stretch between them.

For the first time, Kushina felt a small trace of confusion when looking at her best friend.

The sisterly chat began, already tinged with unspoken unease.

(To be continued.)