CH 12: To Hunt a Sannin

Kushina sat cross-legged on the rooftop of her house.The sky was turning golden, twilight stretching slowly across Konoha's horizon. Her eyes stared sharply ahead, but her mind was far removed from the beautiful scenery.

'Aside from controlling the Kyuubi's chakra... what other shortcuts are there to get stronger?' she thought, biting the tip of her thumb.

That thought had been nagging her for days. Living in a world she once knew only from fiction, Kushina realized her strength wasn't enough... and she couldn't just rely on the Kyuubi's rage or chakra seals.

"Senjutsu..." she whispered, her voice almost lost in the wind. "If I could master that, at least... I'd have another layer of defense."

Jiraiya's face flashed through her mind.

"If I asked, I bet Jiraiya would agree, right?" she muttered louder this time.

But then her brows furrowed, lips forming a familiar pout.

"But damn it... isn't Senjutsu training in Mount Myoboku all about sitting still and meditating for hours? Sitting still without thinking?" Kushina groaned loudly, slapping her own forehead. "Ughhh, that's so not me!"

The image of herself sitting calmly like a frog statue at Mount Myoboku made her want to laugh and cry. She knew she was far too impulsive, too loud, for long meditation.

"Come to think of it, Naruto's amazing... that kid managed to learn Senjutsu even though his brain's not that different," she said with a small laugh, though her tone carried a clear admiration. "He must've trained like hell. Heh... of course. He's my kid, after all."

Then, another name entered her thoughts.

"Orochimaru..." she whispered.

His face appeared in her mind. Cold. Cunning. Full of secrets. But also... a genius. A terrifyingly brilliant one.

"If I remember right, he's still in Konoha right now, yeah? But probably not for long," she said, leaning back against a wooden beam behind her. "The Sandaime must already be suspicious."

Kushina squinted toward the horizon.

"Once Orochimaru defects, Jiraiya will leave too. And then... the fall of the Uchiha."

Her breath hitched.

"Konoha will fall low. But... somehow still strong. It's ridiculous how even at its lowest, this village is still a threat to others."

She bit her lip.

Kushina was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"I don't hate Orochimaru," she murmured. "I don't like him either. He's just... a mad scientist. His twisted experiments go against Konoha's morals. But in this world, morals are a luxury. Sometimes it's people like him who bring real change."

She recalled how Orochimaru's experiments not only crossed lines—but gave birth to brilliant, though terrifying, ideas.

Kushina sighed, gazing at the darkening sky.

"This world's too small for Orochimaru. He won't stay in Konoha forever. His betrayal is just a matter of time."

Then her eyes lit up, like someone struck with a brilliant idea.

"Wait... the curse seal! That also grants access to Senjutsu, right?"

She stood, pacing back and forth across the rooftop.

"But... has Orochimaru met Jugo yet? If I recall, the perfected curse seal came after experiments on the Jugo clan."

Kushina thought hard. Then her eyes widened.

"Jugo! He should've been born by now! If Naruto's a baby, Jugo's probably just two years older!"

She clenched her fists.

"If I find the Jugo clan first... and sell that info to Orochimaru... he'd definitely be interested! Maybe... I could even request a custom-made curse mark."

Kushina raised an eyebrow and grinned.

"Besides, Orochimaru would love a spoiler from the future. Freaks like him live for surprises."

But her smile slowly faded as reality hit her.

The next day, Kushina received the news.

"Orochimaru... has defected?"

She repeated it in her head. Her heartbeat quickened.

"So... it's already happened."

Kushina stared blankly out her window.

'Goodbye, pre-order curse seal plan...' she thought bitterly.

Then she chuckled quietly—soft, and bitter.

"Just like always... everything moves faster than planned."

---------------------------------------------------

"What do you mean, Hokage-sama?" asked Kushina, her voice calm but firm. Her eyes were sharp, her expression far from the usual cheer she wore. No sweet smile. No playful words. This time, Kushina was completely serious.

Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the red-haired woman for a moment. He took a slow puff from his pipe, blowing smoke into the air. His wrinkled face looked tired, but his gaze remained firm.

"I want you to join Jiraiya and the ANBU unit to pursue Orochimaru," he said finally, his tone quiet but full of that unwavering weight of command.

Kushina's brow twitched. "Why me? I'm a jinchūriki, not a bounty hunter."

Inside, her emotions churned—anger, confusion, suspicion. Orochimaru wasn't an ordinary enemy. He was one of the Legendary Sannin, a genius with terrifying potential... and now, a traitor. Sending someone like her—someone housing the Kyuubi—after someone like him felt like lighting a match next to a powder keg.

'Is this some kind of trap? A test? Or... are you trying to get rid of me?' she thought warily.

But then again... this was also a chance. If she wanted to meet Orochimaru, there'd be no better time.

Hiruzen nodded slowly and set his pipe down on the desk.

"Kushina... we've kept you under tight watch, day and night. But so far? There's been little progress. The Kyuubi's power remains unstable."

He looked her straight in the eye. "If things go on like this, you won't grow. And if—pardon my bluntness—if the Kyuubi ever takes control again, no one will be able to stop it... except you. That's why I want you to learn. To grow. To become a real shinobi—through real experience."

Kushina was silent. Her expression hardened. There was a storm brewing behind her eyes. On one hand, she knew Hiruzen was right. On the other... this was Orochimaru they were talking about.

"And... what if I fail? What if I fall into Orochimaru's trap?" she said quietly, her eyes lowered with unease.

Hiruzen exhaled deeply. "If that happens... then it's a risk we'll have to take. But I believe in you, Kushina. This isn't about throwing you away. It's because I believe you're stronger than you think."

The air in the room grew heavy, like storm clouds gathering overhead. But slowly, Kushina lifted her head. She looked the Third Hokage in the eye, and a faint smile curved at the corner of her lips.

'It's a strange feeling... like the guy who used to chase you finally gave up and picked someone else,' she mused with a quiet chuckle. "But alright... if this is what Hokage-sama believes in, I'll prove I'm not some weak girl meant to be hidden in the shadows."

Her voice lightened, nearly playful again—but her eyes held steel.

"I'll do my best. And hopefully, I'll bring back more than just bad news." She bowed respectfully and turned to leave the room with confident strides.

Hiruzen could only watch her retreating back, then leaned back in his chair. He brought the pipe to his lips again, lighting the flame and inhaling deeply.

"I hope... this time, I'm not wrong," he murmured. In his mind, Danzo's face flashed—unyielding, always in disagreement about Kushina. They had argued fiercely over this very decision.