The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
Kushina lay in her bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling.
"I was his prison…"
The words would not leave her.
She turned onto her side.
"…What is that even supposed to mean…?"
A faint crack.
Kushina sat up immediately.
"…Hello?"
No answer.
But this time, it did not happen suddenly.
The air in the room began to change.
Colder.
Heavier.
The scent of salt suddenly filled the air.
Kushina frowned.
"…What is this…?"
The floor beneath her feet felt different.
Damp.
Cool.
She looked down.
No more wood.
Stone.
Wet from the sea.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
Her room was gone.
In front of her lay the village.
Or what was left of it.
Destroyed houses.
Smoke.
Flames.
People running through the streets.
Screams echoing through the air.
Kushina took a step back.
"No… this… this isn't real…"
"Yes."
Kushina turned around.
Akane stood behind her.
Calm.
Still.
But this time, she felt heavier.
As if something was weighing her down.
"What… is this place…?"
Akane looked out over the village.
"My memory."
Kushina's gaze returned to the burning houses.
"This is… Uzushiogakure…?"
"Yes."
A loud crash shook the ground.
A building collapsed.
Kushina flinched.
"We're being attacked…!"
Akane only gave a slight nod.
"And no one can stop it."
Kushina stared at her in disbelief.
"Then we have to help!"
Akane turned her head toward her.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I thought that too."
Kushina was about to speak—
But then she heard a shout.
"Over there! They broke through the barrier!"
Kushina looked ahead.
A younger version of Akane ran through the streets.
Alive.
Determined.
Her eyes full of fire.
Several Uzumaki stood around her, fighting.
Seals glowed.
Chains of chakra shot through the air, striking the attackers.
Kushina's eyes widened.
"That's… us…"
"Yes."
Kushina stepped closer.
But the closer she got, the stronger something became.
A pressure.
Slow.
But constant.
Like a weight pressing against her chest.
She grabbed her stomach.
"What… is this feeling…?"
Akane answered quietly.
"Can you feel it?"
Kushina nodded weakly.
The pressure grew stronger.
The air vibrated.
The ground began to tremble slightly.
Then
A deep growl.
Not loud.
But heavy enough to echo through her entire body.
Kushina froze.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze.
For a moment, she saw him.
Massive.
Dark.
With glowing eyes.
"…That is…"
"The Nine Tails."
Kushina's voice trembled.
"Why… is he here…?"
Akane answered without hesitation.
"Because we called him."
Kushina immediately turned to her.
"You did WHAT?!"
Akane remained calm.
"The war changed everything. Our enemies grew stronger… so we had to as well."
Kushina looked forward again.
The scene did not shift suddenly.
It became clearer.
Sharper.
The Uzumaki now stood in a circle.
Their hands formed signs.
Seals glowed on the ground.
Blood dripped from their fingers.
Kushina whispered,
"This is a ritual…"
"Yes."
"You forced him…"
Akane shook her head slightly.
"No."
A pause.
"We bound him."
Kushina swallowed.
Slowly, she began to understand.
"…And then…?"
Akane looked ahead.
Her younger self stepped out of the circle.
Everyone else moved back.
The fox thrashed.
Bound.
Furious.
Its eyes burned with hatred.
Kushina held her breath.
"Why… you…?"
Akane's voice softened.
"Because I was the only one… who could survive it."
A faint smile.
Without joy.
"At least, that is what they believed."
The scene slowly began to change.
The light faded.
The sounds grew quieter.
Until only darkness remained.
Then a room formed.
Cold.
Silent.
Seals covered the walls.
Chains lay across the floor.
The younger Akane knelt there.
Alone.
Her body trembling.
"…Please… stop…"
A deep growl answered her.
Not from outside.
But from within.
"You are weak…"
Kushina stepped back unconsciously.
"…He's talking to you…"
Akane nodded slightly.
"Every day."
Kushina's voice softened.
"Were you afraid…?"
Akane was silent for a moment.
Then she said calmly,
"I had no one."
Kushina's eyes softened.
"But… your clan…"
Akane looked at her.
And this time, there was no emptiness.
Only pain.
"They were afraid of me."
Kushina said nothing.
She understood.
That feeling…
of being too much.
Another growl filled the room.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Akane continued,
"One day… I stopped fighting it."
Kushina looked at her, shocked.
"What do you mean…?"
Akane lowered her gaze slightly.
"I listened to him."
Kushina's heart began to race.
"And he… listened to me."
Silence.
A brief moment.
Then a faint, sad smile.
"And for a moment… we were both just… alone."
The world around them slowly began to fade.
Not suddenly.
But like mist dissolving.
Kushina stepped forward.
"Wait—!"
She reached out for Akane—
But her hand passed right through her.
Akane grew fainter.
"That is why you are important, Kushina."
"Why me…?"
Her voice was barely audible.
"Because you are stronger… than I ever was."
Kushina shook her head.
"No, I'm just—"
"You are an Uzumaki."
Then she disappeared.
⸻
Kushina's eyes flew open.
She was back in her bed.
Her breathing was fast.
Her heart pounded.
Slowly, she placed a hand on her stomach.
Warm.
Heavy.
Alive.
Kushina whispered,
"…I will not be alone."
For a moment, everything was still.
Then
Very quietly
Something answered.