In Shiranui Riku's arms, Uzumaki Kushina dozed off again, her head resting gently against his chest.
Feeling her calm, rhythmic breathing, Riku felt as though energy surged through him like adrenaline. His whole body felt light, his fatigue forgotten.
He was overwhelmed by a feeling of indescribable happiness.
When Riku returned to Konoha, it felt like barely a moment had passed. He couldn't help but think how quickly time had flown.
But as soon as he stepped through the gates of Konoha, the warm smile faded from his face. He wore the cold, distant expression of someone who wanted to keep the world at arm's length.
The gate guards immediately took notice of him—and more importantly, the unconscious Uzumaki Kushina in his arms. They surrounded him at once.
"Riku, what's going on?! Why are you returning with Uzumaki Kushina from outside the village?"
The situation in the village had grown increasingly tense lately. Every shinobi leaving or entering needed to be registered, and this unaccounted return raised alarm.
Riku's cold gaze swept across the gathered shinobi. "Kushina was abducted—by Hidden Cloud Village ninja. Right here in Konoha. Haven't you noticed?"
"...What?!"
The guards were stunned.
In their minds, the abduction itself was shocking—but what was worse was that it happened inside Konoha. That was a security failure on a massive scale.
One of the guards broke from the group and dashed toward the Hokage's Office to report to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Riku ignored the rising panic and continued walking forward.
One of the remaining shinobi frowned, clearly agitated. "Hey! Shiranui Riku! We asked you a question and you just walk off like that? What the hell is your problem?!"
Riku didn't even look back. His voice was emotionless.
"What difference would my answer make? You, the supposed defenders of Konoha, didn't even know this happened. I don't know if it's incompetence or dereliction of duty, but either way, I don't owe you anything. You're not my superiors."
The ninja's face flushed with anger, but Riku paid him no mind and continued on.
He soon arrived at Uzumaki Mito's residence.
Mito had already returned to the mansion. When she realized that Kushina, who should have been back from her mission long ago, was missing, she immediately went to Hiruzen Sarutobi and raised the alarm.
Hiruzen had then dispatched ANBU to investigate, questioning Kushina's mission companions and sending search teams after her. The situation had become dire.
Mito had returned home, heartsick and worried, waiting for word.
At the sound of the gate opening, she rushed to the entrance.
Seeing Kushina sleeping peacefully in Riku's arms, Mito finally exhaled the breath she'd been holding for hours. The weight on her heart lifted.
Riku's expression was calm and impassive. "Lady Mito, I've brought Kushina back. She's exhausted. Please take her to rest."
Mito gently took the girl from him. Only now did she notice Riku's condition—burns on his clothes, signs of battle etched across his body.
"Riku… Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," he said. "But I need to report this to Lord Hokage. I'll take my leave."
Riku bowed respectfully and turned to go.
Mito stood in the doorway, watching his back disappear down the path, a complex look in her eyes.
Just moments after Riku left, an ANBU agent appeared in front of him.
"Shiranui Riku. The Hokage requests your presence immediately."
Riku followed him straight to the Hokage's Office.
Inside, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru were waiting.
Riku bowed. "Lord Hokage. Orochimaru-sensei."
Sarutobi stepped forward, his voice grave. "Riku… tell us everything."
Riku recounted the entire incident in precise detail.
As the story unfolded, Sarutobi's face darkened. Orochimaru's expression turned serious.
Sarutobi glanced sideways at his former student. "Orochimaru, your thoughts?"
Orochimaru's voice was cold and deliberate. "One thing is clear: the enemy has already infiltrated Konoha. They could not have abducted Kushina otherwise."
Sarutobi's jaw tightened. "So… the Hidden Cloud can't restrain themselves any longer."
Riku stepped forward. "Lord Hokage. I brought back the heads of the three Cloud ninja who attacked."
He handed Sarutobi a scroll.
Sarutobi's eyes lit up. "Well done, Riku! With these, the sensory division can extract memories. We may be able to uncover key intelligence."
He immediately called in an ANBU unit and had them deliver the scroll for analysis.
Riku continued, "There's one more thing, Hokage-sama. While eliminating pirates on my mission, I encountered three ninja I didn't recognize. I suspected they were trying to infiltrate the Land of Fire. I didn't kill them—I took them alive."
Riku formed a hand seal and summoned the white snake.
"White Snake, spit them out."
"Yes, Master Riku."
The serpent's belly wriggled unnaturally as it opened its jaws and disgorged the captured ninja.
One, however, had not survived—the one whose spine Riku had severed had died, crushed in the confined space inside the snake's body.
The other two were alive, but visibly shaken.
Seeing Riku, Sarutobi, and Orochimaru staring at them, they instinctively backed away, trembling with fear.
Sarutobi summoned another ANBU to take the dead one to the sensory division and escort the living ones to the interrogation department.
Then he turned to the large map on his desk.
"Riku, where exactly did you encounter the pirates?"
Riku stepped forward and pointed at a location.
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed instantly.
Orochimaru's voice slithered in from the side. "...So, the Hidden Mist is getting involved as well."
The location Riku indicated was near the Land of Waves. And the Land of Waves sat directly beside the Land of Water—the domain of the Hidden Mist Village.
Currently, Konoha had no official ties with the Land of Waves. But the Land of Waves had a notably strong alliance with the Land of Water.
That meant one thing: if Mist ninja wanted to enter the Fire Country by sea, they'd pass through the Land of Waves.
Sarutobi's expression turned grim.
If Mist joined the fray, then four of the five Great Nations would be standing against Konoha—Cloud, Stone, Sand, and now Mist.
If war broke out…
Konoha would be surrounded.
And the entire Land of Fire would become a battlefield.