Kushina and Mikoto were best friends, and she was well aware of the rift between the Uchiha and the Village. It was already considered steady of the Uchiha not to have rebelled in response to Madara at this time.
It was fine as long as things could be discussed; what she feared was someone who wouldn't discuss anything and acted as if they would give their all for Konoha, swearing never to associate with that villain Madara.
That kind of Uchiha was the most sinister; they might just set fire to the Village and rebel in the middle of the night.
Open the gates to welcome King Madara; once King Madara arrives, no more grain taxes shall be paid.
Kushina rubbed her forehead, her head buzzing as she said, "What should we do now? Who can go save Tsunade-nee?"
"Tsunade-nee must be suffering through terrible torture right now."
Kushina shuddered just thinking about it; on the battlefield, many female Ninjas would prepare poison in advance to avoid being captured alive by the enemy.
A Ninja's methods were too numerous and too cruel.
Especially toward beautiful female Ninjas.
"Damn it, it's all that bastard Ryou's fault! Who told him to resurrect Uchiha Madara?"
Kurenai quickly comforted her, "Lady Kushina, please don't be angry anymore. Ryou is already dead."
Kushina tilted her head, "Dead again?"
Why say "again"? Because Ryou had already died once a month ago.
"How did he die? It's not another fake death, is it?"
Asuma snorted, "He was captured by my old man, and to avoid leaking information about Madara, he blew himself up."
"Hmph, he got off easy. If I had been there, I definitely would have captured him alive."
Shizune ruthlessly exposed Asuma, "Asuma, stop lying. Back then, you were controlled by one of Ryou's Genjutsu and even called Hokage-sama a dying old man."
Asuma's face immediately scrunched up in misery, "That doesn't count. I wasn't prepared. If it happened again, I definitely wouldn't be controlled by his Sharingan."
Kurenai smiled and shook her head, "Asuma, stop acting tough. So many Ninjas couldn't do anything about Ryou back then."
"My father said that an Ryou who has already awakened the three tomoe Sharingan is someone even an average Jonin can't handle, let alone with how much Chakra he has."
"I remember his Sharingan was always active; just making eye contact with him would lead to being hypnotized."
"If it hadn't been for Lord Hiashi and Lord Hizashi using the Gentle Fist to break the Genjutsu, many people probably would have died."
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked by Ryou's transformation.
One must know that Ryou used to be known as the Humorous Uchiha.
The Uchiha were a warlike clan. Instead of going to the Police Force to arrest criminals or the battlefield to kill enemies, Ryou chose to hide in the logistics department to help people?
To traditional Ninjas, this was the Funny Uchiha, and the Uchiha clan also found Ryou to be quite an eyesore.
Guy suddenly shouted, "What are you talking about? How did Ryou-sama become a defector?"
Everyone looked at Guy in shock; they had already talked about Ryou's second death, and only now did Guy realize Ryou had defected.
Their brain waves were simply not on the same frequency as Guy's.
Ebisu and Genma weren't in the dark; even if they had been at the front lines and the news of Ryou's defection hadn't reached them...
...they had been back in the Village for so long that they should have heard something.
Guy was really living under a rock!
Rin looked at Kakashi, "Didn't you tell Guy about Ryou-senpai's defection?"
Kakashi shook his head.
Rin and Kakashi had returned to Konoha once with Minato midway, and they had learned about Ryou's defection then.
But as soon as Kakashi returned to the front lines, he was busy killing enemies. He hadn't seen Guy many times and had no chance to tell him about Ryou's defection.
Furthermore, he was afraid Guy would be sad.
Guy pushed open the door, "I don't believe such a kind person like Ryou-sama would defect. Hokage-sama must have made a mistake."
"Guy—"
Ebisu wanted to chase after him.
Genma held him back, "Forget it, Ebisu. Guy is probably the one who believes in Ryou the most!"
Might Duy was a Taijutsu Ninja who was often injured from training, but because he couldn't afford the fees for a Medical Ninja, he always endured it.
His body was full of hidden injuries, and he would often wake up from the pain at night.
Ryou discovered Might Duy's pain and treated him for free.
He also frequently checked on them, sent various gifts, and would visit to give New Year's greetings during the holidays.
Dai had even prepared to give the Eight Gates technique to Ryou, but he was stopped by the Anbu.
Ryou's kindness was truly something Dai and Guy, father and son, could never repay. This was why Guy was the one who believed it the least when Ryou defected.
He would never believe that the Ryou who had continued to encourage them even when everyone else was mocking the father and son would be a rogue ninja who betrayed the Will of Fire.
Even at the moment his life's flame flickered out, Dai was still instructing Guy: "Ryou-sama's kindness can never be fully repaid; find an opportunity to give the Eight Gates technique to Ryou-sama."
Kushina sighed; Ryou's crime of murdering fellow villagers was real and couldn't be washed away, but his kindness toward Guy and his father was also real.
The affairs of the world are truly difficult to explain clearly!
Asuma tried to persuade everyone, "Don't be fooled by Ryou. His kindness toward Guy and his father was definitely for the sake of the Eight Gates in Guy's family."
Kurenai said, "Forget it, Asuma. Ryou is already dead. Let's not mention the past anymore."
Asuma got a bit angry, "Kurenai, how can you speak for him? I heard that bastard Ryou previously used the Sharingan to control you and even called Lord Shinku his father-in-law."
"To do something like that at his age, how shameless!"
Kurenai's face instantly turned red, "Asuma, don't say that."
Kushina found it interesting and asked Shizune about it. Hearing about Kurenai's embarrassing incident of looking directly into Ryou's Sharingan, she immediately burst into laughter.
Kurenai was exasperated, clenching her fists, "I've already undergone special training from my father since I returned. The next time I encounter the Sharingan, I won't be as pathetic as before."
Kushina's laughter gradually died down, and she asked Asuma gloomily, "Asuma, did that old man Sarutobi tell you anything about Tsunade-nee? We must rescue Tsunade-nee."
Asuma said, "The old man has already made arrangements. Over a dozen Jonin from the Senju Clan have been deployed, but the opponent is Uchiha Madara, so the chances are slim."
Kushina slammed her fist hard, releasing a terrifying amount of Chakra, "Damn it! Sarutobi is incompetent, forfeiting sovereignty and humiliating the nation. It seems I must come out of retirement!"
"I originally wanted to get along with you all as an ordinary Ninja, but all I got in return was distance. I'm not pretending anymore; I'm laying my cards on the table. I'm going to release the beast sleeping within my body."
"Uchiha Madara is nothing but a maggot that can't stand the light. I will avoid his sharp edge!"
"This time, let me, the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero, save the entire Ninja World!"
Everyone was horrified—truly horrified, not joking.
Kushina was of the Uzumaki Clan and was the Jinchuriki chosen to suppress the full Nine-Tails with her Chakra.
Once this massive Chakra was released, it made it difficult for these young Chunin to breathe.
Kushina's aura was even more terrifying than the Hokage's.
Not good, the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero is returning to the Ninja World! Quick, go to the Pure Land and invite the Sage of Six Paths!
"Kushina!"
Minato's gentle voice rang out, and all of Kushina's sharpness vanished as she leaped into Minato's arms like a delicate little woman.
"Minato!"
Everyone wiped the sweat from their foreheads as they looked at the transformed Kushina, all of them saying they had just seen a red-haired demon.
After acting spoiled, Kushina punched Minato in the face, sending Konoha's most outstanding young talent flying against the window.
The delicate, fragrant rose from just a moment ago instantly turned back into the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.
"Minato, why did you wait so many days after returning to the Village to come see me?"