Today was a significant day for Uzumaki Jiuno, Uzumaki Kushina, Namikaze Minato, Konan, and Senju Nawaki.
They had graduated from the Ninja School—the day they officially became ninjas.
To celebrate, Saigoji Youmu treated them to a big meal.
Over the past few months, the group had become quite familiar with one another.
Uzumaki Jiuno was more relaxed now, having shed some of her initial shyness.
But she still had a ways to go.
"Cut," Uzumaki Kushina said, looking at her sister in disgust.
"What do you mean by that?"
Kushina headed toward the bathroom, her thoughts elsewhere.
Uzumaki Jiuno wasn't entirely happy—especially with Minato present.
Kushina knew very well how her sister felt about Minato.
She had helped Jiuno on more than one occasion, both openly and secretly.
However, Jiuno's nature made her hesitant to express her feelings.
Kushina felt a wave of frustration every time she saw her sister struggle.
But recently, Jiuno seemed to have grown more confident, and her interactions with Minato had become more casual.
"I just hope my teacher isn't a nasty guy," Kushina murmured, lounging lazily in the bathtub.
Then she heard a sound—
A slight noise that made her turn her head.
"What was that?"
Kushina dismissed it as nothing—
After all, Jiuno was known for being a bit of a troublemaker at home.
An Alarmed Realization
"Kushina, save...!"
The sound came again, this time distressed.
Kushina's eyes widened.
Her sister's voice echoed from the other room.
Before she could react, a chill ran down her spine.
"Jiunuo!"
She dashed out of the bathroom, heart racing.
But the room was empty.
Only the fading light of the setting sun illuminated the room, casting eerie shadows.
Kushina's heart sank.
Something was wrong.
"Where are you, Jiuno?"
Panic clawed at her as she called her sister's name several times.
No response.
"Damn it!"
Kushina's expression turned serious.
She needed a plan—fast.
"Saigoji-senpai and Tsunade!"
In a rush, she bolted out the door.
As she arrived at Saigoji Youmu's doorstep, she found Konan waiting.
"Did you see Saigoji Youmu?" she asked breathlessly.
"He went out a few minutes ago," Konan replied, her brow furrowing with concern.
"What's wrong, Kushina?"
"Jiunuo is missing!"
Konan's expression shifted instantly from confusion to alarm.
"What?!"
"We need to find Tsunade!"
Without wasting another second, Kushina grabbed Konan's hand and rushed to Tsunade's house.
"Wait, Kushina!"
Konan struggled to keep up, nearly tripping.
"Tsunade went out on a mission yesterday."
Kushina's heart sank.
"What should we do?!"
"Calm down, Kushina," Konan urged, trying to comfort her friend.
But Kushina's eyes suddenly fixed on a shadow nearby.
"Look!"
They spotted something unusual just a few feet away—a strange figure lurking in the shadows.
Konan tensed, unsure of what to make of it.
"Do you see that?"
"Yes!"
Kushina edged closer, her instincts on high alert.
But as they drew nearer, the figure darted into the night, disappearing from sight.
Kushina felt a surge of determination.
"We can't let this go on! We need to find Jiuno!"
As darkness fell over Konoha, the urgency of their situation intensified.
Kushina and Konan stood resolute, ready to search for their friend, determined to unravel the mystery of Uzumaki Jiuno's disappearance.
With each moment passing, their hearts raced with the fear of the unknown.
But they had each other—and they were willing to face whatever dangers lay ahead.
"Let's go!"
Together, they ventured into the night, seeking answers and hoping to find their friend before it was too late.
The bonds of friendship would be put to the ultimate test, but they were prepared to fight for each other—just as a true ninja should.