After they finished eating, the tension in the air melted away. Conversations gradually turned casual, and laughter began to fill the small clearing.
Among everyone, Uzumaki Kushina was the most energetic. She buzzed with curiosity, asking question after question about the visitors from other worlds—especially Jaeger.
And since she trusted Miyuki Uchiha more than anyone, her friendliness extended naturally to the entire group.
And honestly?
It wasn't even that surprising.
The ninja world already had aliens, reincarnated corpses, artificial humans, dimension-hopping Otsutsuki, and literal gods of chakra.
Meeting people from another world?
That was practically normal.
As talk drifted from culture to history to power systems—everyone in the group had something to contribute.
"You know," Kushina said suddenly, pressing a hand to her stomach, "the Nine-Tails has been really quiet ever since I met you guys."
Inside the seal, Kurama's ear twitched.
Quiet?
Quiet?!
What do you want me to do? Bark?!
Scream?!
Announce my existence?!'
With Uchiha Miyuki—whose glare carried the same pressure as a young Madara—and two monsters named Jaeger and Luo Hao sitting within clawing distance…
Kurama didn't dare to inhale too loudly.
Once upon a time, Mito had sealed him like a misbehaving housecat.
Now?
These people could probably use him as a training dummy.
Kurama's thoughts were short, simple, and filled with trauma:
Fight them?
HELL. NO.
"Let's hope the Nine-Tails stays on its best behavior," Jaeger said lightly, glancing at Kushina's stomach with a playful glint—and a quiet, unmistakable threat.
Everyone understood what that look meant.
But truthfully, neither Jaeger nor Miyuki bothered taking the Nine-Tails seriously.
If it were the Ten-Tails, sure—
that would be a conversation.
But the Nine-Tails?
Just a glowing practice plushie for Susano'o.
The chatter continued without pause. Kushina's energy carried the flow naturally, her excitement infectious.
"So Luo Hao-san is a Godslayer? That's incredible! Are there actual gods in your world?"
"And wait—over two hundred years old?! Your skin's better than mine!"
"And Jaeger-san, you're a noble? Even Luo Hao lost to you… That's so cool, dattebane!"
Kushina gasped every few seconds like she was discovering hidden treasure.
Whether pure excitement, playfulness, or both—no one could tell.
In truth, she admired Miyuki deeply.
Miyuki's world was more vast—more open—than anything Kushina had ever seen.
Kushina had been brought to Konoha as a child, became a jinchūriki before she even understood the world, and remained confined for most of her youth.
Her life was small.
Seeing Miyuki interact with gods, monsters, and mysteries from distant realities awakened something unfamiliar in her.
A soft, quiet envy.
Miyuki isn't just stronger than me…
Her world is bigger than mine.
"Actually," a calm voice cut in, "I have a pretty unique ability too."
Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Miyuki blinked, then snapped her fingers.
"Oh right! Time stop."
"That's correct," Utaha said, casually brushing her hair back. Even that small motion drew everyone's eyes.
"Time stop?" Kushina gasped. "Actual—time stop?!"
"Yup. The real kind."
Miyuki leaned forward, whispering mischievously into Kushina's ear.
"If I had that power, I'd definitely use it on you, Kushina~"
"You pervert!"
Kushina turned as red as her hair and smacked Miyuki's shoulder.
Still flustered, she turned back to Utaha.
"C-Can I see it? I've seen space-time ninjutsu before, but time itself… that's different."
"Of course."
Utaha glanced at Jaeger and Luo Hao. "Would either of you like to experience it too?"
"Certainly," Luo Hao said, eyes gleaming. "Even among Heretic Gods, time-stop abilities are rare. I am honored."
Jaeger nodded.
"I've seen plenty of fictional depictions of time stop… but trying one myself? That's new."
Utaha felt a weight lift from her shoulders.
She'd been worried her ability—gained through the chat group—might seem childish in front of monsters like Jaeger and Luo Hao. But with their permission, her hesitation faded.
More importantly, she wanted to know:
Would her time stop even work on them?
She had been an ordinary girl from a peaceful world.
But after witnessing Jaeger's battles… after experiencing Luo Hao's overwhelming aura…
A sense of urgency had been growing inside her.
She didn't want to be left behind.
She didn't want to be protected forever.
She wanted to stand beside them.
As an equal.
Taking a deep breath, Utaha raised her hand.
"Time—Stop."
The words were soft, but the effect was instant.
A pulse of unseen energy rippled outward.
The world froze.
Birds halted mid-flight.
Rivers stopped flowing.
Leaves hung suspended in midair like fragments of a painting.
Utaha turned toward Jaeger.
He didn't move.
Neither did Luo Hao, Kushina, or Miyuki.
All statues inside a world of stillness.
"…It worked."
Her fingers trembled as she reached out and gently touched Jaeger's cheek.
He didn't react.
Her heart pounded.
Even Jaeger-kun…
Even he can't move in my time stop.
A spark of hope ignited in her eyes.
Maybe…
maybe I can become strong too.
Strong enough to stand on the same battlefield.
Strong enough to walk beside the people she admired.
Strong enough to not be left behind.
•••
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