Chapter 688: Kushina’s Wrath

Chapter 688: Kushina’s Wrath

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The Hokage's office was typically a place of order and calm, but today, a commotion shattered the serene atmosphere. The heavy door was thrown open, and Minato Namikaze looked up from his desk, his blue eyes widening in surprise. Beside him, Hiruzen Sarutobi also turned his head, eyebrows furrowing in concern.

"What's going on?" Hiruzen murmured, rising from the sofa just as several ANBU came crashing through the door, followed by an enraged Kushina Uzumaki.

"Kushina!" Minato exclaimed, stepping forward. But before he could reach her, the ANBU who had been used to break down the door sprang to their feet, ready to subdue Kushina.

"Stop!" Minato's voice was firm and commanding, halting the ANBU mid-action. Instantly, new ANBU appeared, the Hokage's personal guards, intervened to block the initial ANBU from getting close to Kushina.

The tension in the room was palpable as Minato's gaze shifted to the offending ANBU. "Return to base and await disciplinary action," he ordered, his voice like steel. The ANBU hesitated briefly before disappearing in a blur, leaving the room in stunned silence.

Minato nodded at the remaining ANBU, silently thanking them before they too vanished into their hidden positions. He then turned to his wife, his expression softening. "Kushina, what's wrong?"

Kushina's face was flushed with anger, her red hair flowing wildly as she glared at Hiruzen. "Why don't you ask that old bastard what he did?!"

Minato looked at Hiruzen, his expression a mixture of confusion and curiosity. "Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen sighed deeply, looking every bit his age as he met Minato's gaze. He knew this confrontation was inevitable ever since Peter had ordered undead Danzo to compile a list of all his wrongdoings. Hiruzen's own complicity in some of Danzo's actions was bound to come to light.

Kushina stepped forward, her voice shaking with rage. "Why don't you tell him, Hiruzen? Tell him how you knew my home was going to be attacked weeks before it happened and did nothing. Tell him how it was your friend Danzo who gave the idea to Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure, and made a deal with them that Konoha wouldn't stop them or aid Uzushiogakure in any way. Tell him how you left your allies, my family, to die!"

Minato's eyes widened in shock as he turned back to Hiruzen. "Is this true?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Hiruzen looked away, unable to meet Minato's eyes. "It's true," he admitted quietly. "Danzo... Danzo believed it was necessary for the village's safety. He convinced me that allowing the attack would solidify our alliances with the other villages and avoid further wars, keeping Konoha safe."

Kushina's fists clenched at her sides. "You condemned my family to death!" she cried, tears of anger and grief spilling down her cheeks. "You destroyed my home, my people... all for what? A false sense of security?"

Minato stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Kushina's shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Kushina," he whispered, his heart breaking at her pain. He turned to Hiruzen, his expression hardening. "How could you betray our allies, Hiruzen? Wasn't it you who told me to never abandon a comrade? To always live by the will of fire?"

Hiruzen nodded slowly, the weight of his actions heavy on his shoulders. "I know," he said softly. "And I will live with that guilt for the rest of my life—"

Hiruzen's words were cut off as Kushina's chakra flared, ethereal chains materializing around her body, their ghostly glow illuminating the room. Her voice trembled with fury. "Do you think I'm going to let you live after what you've done? My family is dead, my people are dead, my country is dead. Why should you get to live out the rest of your life with regret when they weren't even allowed that opportunity?!"

She slapped Minato's hand away, her eyes blazing with anger, and launched forward, her kunai-tipped chakra chains shooting out toward Hiruzen, ready to strike.

Hiruzen, accepting the justice in her words, sat still, bracing for the impact. He wouldn't dodge the attack, nor would he block either. His wife is dead, his friend was turned into an undead servant, and he even agrees with her logic. Why should he get to live when so many others didn't get the chance?

"No, wait, please!" Minato screamed, his voice filled with desperation. But it was too late. Kushina swung her leg, the force of the kick connecting with his head, sending him crashing into the barrier wall with a sickening thud.

The fight that ensued was one-sided and brutal. Kushina's fury drove her every move, each strike a manifestation of her pain and anger.

She darted forward, her chains whipping through the air with deadly precision. One chain wrapped around Hiruzen's arm, pulling him off the ground and slamming him into the dirt. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, the ground cracking under the force.

Hiruzen coughed, blood spraying from his mouth, but he didn't move to defend himself. He simply lay there, accepting the punishment.

Kushina didn't let up. She lifted Hiruzen again, her chains tightening around his body, squeezing the breath from his lungs. She flung him into the air and met him with a powerful punch to the stomach, driving the wind from his lungs and sending him crashing back down.

Hiruzen landed hard, his body leaving an impression in the ground. He groaned in pain, but still, he made no move to protect himself.

Kushina's eyes blazed with fury as she stomped toward him, her footsteps heavy with determination. She raised her arm, and her chains lashed out, carving deep gashes into Hiruzen's flesh. Blood flowed freely, staining the ground beneath them.

Each attack was relentless, a testament to the depths of Kushina's rage. She kicked him again, sending him rolling across the clearing. His body came to rest against the barrier, beaten and bloodied, but he made no effort to escape.

Kushina stood over him, her breath ragged, her body trembling with emotion. Her bladed chains hovered at his throat, ready to deliver the final blow.

Hiruzen looked up at her, his face a mask of pain and regret. But there was also a sad smile on his lips. "I'm sorry for what I did," he whispered. "It's okay. I forgive you for killing me. I only hope that one day, you can find it in your heart to forgive me as well."

Hearing these words, tears welled up in Kushina's eyes. She let out a final war cry, her chains lunging forward. "Aaaaarrrgggg!"

...

..

.

But instead of piercing his throat, the blades missed their target and embedded into the ground beside Hiruzen, surprising him, his eyes widening in shock.

Kushina stood there, tears streaming down her face, her chest heaving with emotion. She pulled her chains back and took a step away from Hiruzen, her expression a mixture of anger and sorrow.

"I do not forgive you," she said, her voice breaking. "And I don't think I ever will. But I won't kill you. Because I'm better than you..."

With those final words, she turned and walked away, leaving Hiruzen lying on the ground, broken and bloodied, but alive.

A/N: 1882 words :)

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