Chapter 3: Forbidden Jutsu : Thausand years of death

The ninja of kumogakure Village had no awareness of the changes happening within Ryoto's body.

They simply saw his appearance as a joke.

"Kushina, I advise you not to play tricks."

"No matter how much you resist, no one will come to your rescue!"

Kushina gritted her teeth. "Aren't you afraid of causing war by kidnapping me?"

The kumogakure Jōnin laughed. "War? Your Konoha Village is even more afraid of war than we are!"

"I'll tell you straight: as soon as we return to kumogakure Village, Konoha won't dare to make a move! Once you're in our hands, you'll become our Jinchūriki."

Kushina's eyes widened. " You…?"

The kumogakure Jōnin smirked. "Kushina, you don't need to worry. Our village will treat you like an honored guest—even better than Konoha! If you don't mind, you could even become the wife of the next Raikage! In kumogakure , you would be the First Lady!"

Kushina's face turned pale.

So that's why she was kidnapped—to become a Jinchūriki for kumogakure Village?

And to be forced into marriage with the next Raikage?

No matter how pleasant he made it sound, she wanted no part of it!

"But doesn't kumogakure already have the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki?" she asked.

The Jōnin chuckled. "And why not have another?"

He clapped his hands. "That's enough talk. Resistance is useless. Obey, and you might be spared some suffering."

"The border is just ahead. The team coming to pick us up should be arriving soon."

Kushina felt like crying.

"I don't want to be the Raikage's wife. I don't want this!"

Fear gripped her as images of her past flashed in her mind.

"Hey, don't hit me! You're so violent—no one will marry you in the future!" Ryoto had laughed, rubbing his head.

Minato had smiled. "Your hair is fiery red—it looks good!"

"Kushina, come help me wash the dishes! A woman should at least know how to cook, hehe!" Mikoto had teased, wearing an apron.

"Kushina, don't you really want to swim? It's nice and cool!" Tsunade had called out.

Then, the warm, gentle voice of Uzumaki Mito: "We were brought to Konoha as vessels for the tailed beasts… But before that, we must find love to fill our hearts. That way, even if you live as a Jinchūriki, you can still find happiness."

She thought of Ryoto , Mikoto, Minato , Lady Mito, and all her friends.

She couldn't bear to leave them behind…

Just as she was sinking into despair, something unexpected happened.

Suddenly, countless small saplings sprouted from the ground, rapidly growing into towering trees!

The trees shot up in an instant, separating everyone!

"Mokuton?!"

"Who's there?!"

Kushina's eyes widened. Which Konoha shinobi had come to rescue her no one can use wood release?

"Grab her!"

At the command, the kumogakure ninja lunged toward her.

But at that moment, five figures suddenly appeared and intercepted them.

Kushina's heart pounded as she looked toward Konoha's shinobi—only to freeze in shock.

Ryoto?!

All of them were Ryoto?!

She was speechless, unable to process what she was seeing. Before she could react, thick branches wrapped around her and lifted her off the ground.

"Ahh!"

She let out a startled cry as she was pulled toward someone.

As soon as she was set down, her legs felt weak, and she nearly collapsed.

"Hey! Pepper, what are you doing?"

Ryoto caught her in his arms.

Kushina looked up to see his familiar black hair, sword-like eyebrows, and bright, confident smile.

The usually timid Ryoto… had been the first one to come to her rescue.

Her heart swelled with relief, and a happy smile spread across her face.

"Ryoto…?"

Ryoto grinned. "Surprised?"

The fear and anxiety in Kushina's heart vanished in an instant. She looked at the other Ryoto beside her, then at the five Ryoto fighting the kumogakure ninja.

"This… this is the Shadow Clone Jutsu?"

"What else?"

Ryoto had only fused about 5% of the power from Hashirama Senju's character card, but already, he could completely overwhelm these Yunyin ninja.

If he ever reached full fusion… the power would be unimaginable.

Kushina was stunned. Since when had Ryoto learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu?

And this Mokuton technique…

She looked ahead. Apart from one ninja who had broken free and tried to escape, the rest of the kumogakure shinobi were already defeated by Ryoto's clones.

The elite agents of kumogakure Village, who had infiltrated Konoha for years, were taken down so easily?

"You're trying to run? Not on my watch!"

Ryoto formed a seal, and countless roots burst from the ground.

"No!"

The escaping Jōnin turned around—only to see a wall of thick, gnarled roots closing in on him.

He was instantly swallowed by the forest.

Ryoto let out a breath.

Hashirama's bloodline limit was truly terrifying.

With just 5% of its power, he had already taken down a Jōnin.

The title of "God of Shinobi" was well deserved.

Kushina was still in shock. "Ryoto… are they all dead?"

Ryoto shook his head. "No, they're just restrained. Now, we just wait for our reinforcements."

Kushina blushed slightly. "Ryoto… can you untie my hands?"

[Given the host's current situation, three options are available!]

[Option 1: Wait for Yellow Flash—Minato Namikaze—to arrive and follow the original storyline. Reward: C-Rank Summoning Jutsu—Little Toad.]

[Option 2: Escort Kushina to kumogakure Village and become a villain! Reward: A-Rank Jutsu—Hell Stab Four-Finger Technique and konoha's infamous jutsu thausand years of death.]

[Option 3: Untie Kushina's hands and carry her! Reward: Kushina Affection +10! Supreme Gift Pack *1!]

Ryoto took a deep breath. It was time to make a choice…

end of chapter 3