The ninjas from the Hidden Cloud Village hadn't noticed the changes happening in Takayama Haru's body at all.
They simply regarded Haru's appearance as a joke.
"Kushina, you'd better stop trying anything funny," one of them sneered.
"No matter how hard you try, no one's coming to rescue you!"
Kushina gritted her teeth. "Aren't you afraid that kidnapping me will spark a war?"
The Hidden Cloud jonin laughed loudly. "War? Your Leaf Village fears war even more than we do!"
"I'll tell you something — once we return to the Hidden Cloud, Konoha won't dare to act. Because once you're there, you'll become our new jinchūriki."
Kushina's eyes widened in shock. "A jinchūriki? You mean...?"
The Hidden Cloud ninja grinned. "Kushina, don't worry. We'll treat you like an honored guest — even better than the Leaf ever did. If you agree, you'll become the wife of the next Raikage. In the Hidden Cloud, you'd be the First Lady!"
At those words, Kushina's face turned pale.
They had kidnapped her not just to make her a vessel for a Tailed Beast... but to force her into marriage?
"No... don't you already have a jinchūriki for the Eight-Tails?" she protested.
The jonin chuckled. "Sure, but why have just one?"
He clapped his hands. "Anyway, it's too late for you to resist. We're almost at the border. Our reinforcements should be waiting for us!"
Kushina's heart sank.
I don't want to be the Raikage's wife... I don't want this!
Panic clouded her thoughts, flashing images across her mind.
— "Hey! Stop hitting me! If you're this violent, no one's ever going to marry you!" Haru laughed, shielding his head.
— Minato smiling warmly: "Your hair is as bright and beautiful as fire."
— Mikoto teasing her: "Come help me wash the dishes, Kushina! A woman should know how to cook, right? Hehe!"
— Friends waving from the river: "Kushina, come swimming with us! It'll be so much fun!"
— The gentle voice of Mito Uzumaki: "We were brought here to carry the burden of the Tailed Beasts. But before that, find someone to fill your heart with love. That way, even as a jinchūriki, you can still find happiness..."
Scenes of Haru, Mikoto, Minato, Lady Mito, and many others flashed through her mind.
I don't want to lose them...
Just as despair was about to crush her, the ground suddenly trembled.
Tiny saplings sprouted everywhere, growing into massive trees within seconds!
The towering trees instantly separated her from her captors.
"Wood Release?!" one of the Cloud ninjas shouted.
"Who the hell is it?!"
Kushina gasped, stunned. Who was it that came to save her?
"Capture her!" someone roared, and the ninjas rushed at her again.
At that moment, five figures appeared, clashing with the enemy.
Kushina's heart leapt with hope — until she looked closer.
Haru?
Every one of the five rescuers looked exactly like Takayama Haru!
She froze, her mind struggling to process it. Before she could react, a thick tree branch wrapped around her, pulling her away.
"Ahh!"
Kushina cried out as she was swept toward someone standing among the trees.
Her legs gave out beneath her, but before she could fall, strong arms caught her.
"Hey! What's this clumsiness?"
Haru laughed, holding her gently.
Kushina looked up. Haru's black hair, sharp eyebrows, and bright smile filled her vision.
The timid, scared Haru she knew... had rushed in to save her first?
A soft smile broke across her face.
"H-Haru?" she stammered.
Takayama Haru grinned. "Surprised to see me?"
Seeing his warm smile swept away all the fear and anxiety in her heart.
She glanced at the Haru holding her, then at the other five Haru fighting the Cloud ninjas.
"This... is the Shadow Clone Jutsu?" she whispered.
"Yeah, what else?" Haru chuckled.
He had only fused about 5% of the First Hokage's power from the SSS character card he received, but even that much let him completely overpower the Cloud ninjas.
If he ever achieved full fusion, the results would be unimaginable.
Kushina was stunned. When had Haru learned the Shadow Clone Technique? And that Wood Release too...
Looking around, she saw that except for one ninja who had broken free and fled, the rest of the Cloud elite had been completely subdued by Haru's clones.
All this... by Haru alone?
"You think you can run?"
Haru's hands quickly formed a seal, and thick roots shot out of the ground like spears.
"No!"
The fleeing jonin turned — only to see an endless wall of massive roots racing toward him. Within seconds, he was overwhelmed and captured.
Haru sighed softly.
The power of the First Hokage's bloodline was simply monstrous.
At just 5% fusion, he had already taken down a full jonin.
The title "God of Shinobi" was truly deserved.
Kushina stared in awe. "Haru... are they... are they all dead?"
Haru shook his head. "Nope. Just knocked out and tied up. Our reinforcements will be here soon."
Kushina blushed slightly, hesitated, and then said shyly, "Haru... can you untie my hands?"
At that moment, the system prompt rang out in Haru's mind:
[Considering the current situation, you have three choices!]
[Option 1: Wait for the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, to arrive. Follow the original story!]
Reward: C-rank Summoning Contract – Little Toad.
[Option 2: Escort Kushina to the Hidden Cloud Village and become a villain!]
Reward: A-rank Ninjutsu – Hell Raid Quartet.
[Option 3: Untie Kushina's hands and carry her in your arms!]
Reward: Kushina's affection +10! Supreme Starter Gift Pack ×1!