In the stone-clad halls of Iwagakure, Rōshi stood before Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, accompanied by a silent sealmaster from the village. In Rōshi's hands rested a small ornate box—inside it, the talisman Hinata had entrusted to him.
The room was dim, only natural light pouring from the narrow windows above. Ōnoki rubbed his temples in frustration. He had heard Rōshi's proposal, and the reasoning was… disturbingly sound.
"You're old," Ōnoki grumbled, as if accusing Rōshi of a personal betrayal. "And you want to pass the bijuu to someone younger while you're still alive to train them."
Rōshi gave a respectful nod. "If the talisman works as she says, I can survive the extraction. I could give the next host something I never had—guidance, understanding. A real chance to bond with the beast."
The sealmaster beside them cleared his throat. "We have tested the talisman. Its construction is beyond anything we've seen, but the signatures are real. It may indeed allow the host to survive, provided the process is done carefully and the jinchūriki is compatible."
Ōnoki stared at the talisman, then at Rōshi. "This could fail. You could die."
"I know," Rōshi answered simply. "But if it works, you gain a loyal jinchūriki and a mentor for him. If it fails, I would've died soon anyway—and the beast would be lost to rage."
Ōnoki leaned back, exhaling slowly. The war hawk in him railed at the risk. But the leader, the strategist, the weary old man who had seen too many soldiers die—he saw the value.
"Very well," he said at last. "The next candidate has been chosen. He won't have the talisman's protection, but he'll have you. And that may be worth more."
Rōshi bowed deeply.
Ōnoki added with a grunt, "If this works for you… we'll consider it for Han next."
Ōnoki remained in silence for a moment longer, his eyes lingering on the talisman in Rōshi's hands. Then, with a tired sigh, he reached for the armrest of his chair, his fingers brushing its carved edge like a man preparing himself for a weight he wished not to carry.
"Hinata Gin... it's possible she has more of these talismans," he muttered. "Too many questions."
He turned his gaze toward a shadowed corner of the room. "Reports say she's already been to Suna. Then Konoha. If that's true…"
Ōnoki's voice sharpened. "Send a team. ANBU. Follow her. Find out how she acquired these amulets, how they're made. And most importantly—make sure they don't fall into other villages' hands. Capture her if you can. Don't kill her unless you must… but if force is required, so be it."
Two masked figures emerged from the shadows of the chamber, bowed in absolute silence, and vanished like mist into stone.
Ōnoki leaned heavily back into his seat.
"I've never liked these kinds of decisions," he whispered to no one. "But it's what must be done—for Iwa."
<<<< o >>>>
The great celebration had come and gone, and with it, the last of the tensions lingering over Konoha had begun to settle. Stability returned to the village, albeit briefly.
My father, Takama Gin, departed the village three days after the wedding. He left with thirty samurai from our homeland and was accompanied by two squads of Konoha shinobi—an escort provided by none other than the Fire Daimyō himself. It seemed the two men had forged a swift and respectful bond during their time at the wedding. In fact, my father had promised to attend the coming-of-age ceremony of the Fire Daimyō's son—clearly intending for the young heir to meet me. It didn't take a strategist to see he was planting the seeds of political alliance through family ties.
As the time passed, Mitsue completed her recovery. The moment Lady Tsunade gave her approval, Mitsue, now fully recovered, shrank herself back down from her true size—coiling in my waist with grace and renewed strength, claiming her place at my side.
Tsunade remarked that the operation had likely been a success, but the true test would be Mitsue's effort from now on. As for Kuro, she had been quietly slipping away to meet with the elder ninken of the Inuzuka clan. According to Kiba, she had made significant strides—perhaps not yet able to speak, but certainly capable of continuing on her path of learning.
Neither of them had yet formed words, but the silence between us had never needed them.
When it was finally time to leave Konoha, something felt different. Years ago, when I left this place behind, I was wounded and searching. This time, I left at peace. I had reconnected with my sister. I had bridged unspoken gaps with the village. My thoughts swam with memories—spirited debates with civilians, thoughtful conversations with shinobi, both old friends and new faces. All of them mattered.
Once more, my steps carried me away from Konoha. Leaving behind me a network of new silver connections. But this time, I knew I would return. And I would not return alone.
<<<< o >>>>
The journey through the Land of Fire was as beautiful as always. We stopped at every village we could, and what I've always loved most about this country is how open and kind its people are. But then, mid-travel, I felt something shift. A disturbance in Yumegakure no Kai. I asked Kenshiro for a few minutes and entered the Yumegakure.
I arrived immediately at the temple atop the crystal tower, and there I felt the tremor—like a great pillar of vitality was piercing the heavens, soaring upward toward the real world.
Michel sensed me before I even turned. He appeared silently at my back.
"It happened," he said gravely. "One of the things we feared. Iwa used one of the talismans."
He pointed toward the distance, toward the site where Kenshiro and Reika had stored the vital energy. From that place, a crimson column of power blazed skyward.
I exhaled. "Do you think he survived?"
Michel nodded slightly. "I've spoken with Rōshi here many times. I think his bond to his people, to the children he rarely mentions but clearly cares for, is strong enough to carry him through. If they do the same with Han... well, he only has a granddaughter. And she refuses to even speak with him."
I lowered my gaze. "I didn't want it to come to this. But Iwa..."
I didn't finish my sentence. Something changed. I felt it. The cost Rōshi was paying. My form shifted without conscious will—my eyes turned silver, my body more regal, my clothes flowing like celestial silk. I had become the Silver Lady.
With a motion of my hand, a portal tore open in front of me. And from it, Rōshi emerged.
He staggered into the crystal temple, disoriented, a weight clinging to him that hadn't been there before. "Michel... where am I? And who is this woman?"
The Silver Lady answered with a voice deep and resonant, making the very structure tremble.
"Rōshi of Iwa... You have chosen to part from your companion, the bijuu. I must inform you—you survived. But there is a cost. One we've only recently come to understand."
His eyes narrowed as recognition dawned.
"This realm," I continued, "is the source of the vitality that kept you alive. What was given, must be returned to maintain the balance. You are strong. Your body can withstand what others could not. But you will feel it. Fatigue. Drain. Yumegakure hungers when it gives too much. You may ask Michel about this later. For now... return. They're waiting for you."
Another portal opened, and Rōshi was drawn back through it.
The silver faded from my form, and I was once more simply Hinata.
Michel let out a slow, amused breath. "You could have warned me you were bringing guests."
I gave him a small smile. "I couldn't help it. I felt him lose consciousness and I needed to tell him—tell you—what I felt."
Michel's eyes darkened slightly. "So he'll be like you were. During the month of the prisoners."
"Not that bad," I replied. "That's why we built the energy reserve—to spare anyone that level of collapse. Still, he'll feel like the years have caught up with him for a few months."
Michel nodded. "I know you hoped this wouldn't happen. That your gift would be used only if Akatsuki succeeded."
"Iwa was always the exception," I murmured. "Let's just hope the others don't follow."
"Let's hope indeed," Michel echoed.
<<<< o >>>>
In the depths of a shadowed chamber beneath the Foundation headquarters, Danzo Shimura stood with arms behind his back, flanked by his most trusted agents—Torune Aburame and Fū Yamanaka.
Fū stepped forward. "We've intercepted a transmission through the hidden communication line used by the Cloud agent embedded in Iwa. It contained two key pieces of intel. First—Rōshi has successfully transferred his Bijuu to an unknown younger host. More importantly, he's still alive."
Torune added, "The source claims the transfer was made possible through an artifact of foreign origin—an amulet believed to have come from the Land of Iron. The trail points to Hinata Gin. Convenient, considering our reports placed her in Iwa months ago."
Danzo narrowed his one visible eye. If she has access to that kind of technology… it's too valuable to ignore. Tsunade must have it by now—she wouldn't let that kind of knowledge slip by. And she surely kept the matter restricted to a tight circle. There's only one sealmaster in the village capable of understanding such constructs. He will answer to me… or his secrets will be exposed.
She's been to Iwa, to Suna, to Konoha. The Land of Iron is too quiet… too precise. What are they planning? Takama Gin parades through with a full entourage, but the daughter—Hinata Gin—she's the anomaly. Five guards. Two pets. A blind girl. No… Takama is not a fool. He wouldn't leave her exposed. There must be hidden assets, shadow guards.
Danzo fell silent for a beat. Then, with steely finality, he said, "When Iwa makes its move against Hinata Gin—and they will—Torune, have your people strike at the same time. I doubt her security is limited to those seven. Observe. Track. Then capture her unconscious and bring her to me. Her father's remaining talismans will be part of our negotiations. Discretion is key—we do this outside official channels. Also, ensure her movements don't go unnoticed in mercenary circles—leak just enough for Iwa to track her more easily. The sooner they find her, the sooner we can act."
Torune bowed and vanished.
Danzo looked to his remaining operative. "Fū, this information is too valuable to risk. Ensure the Cloud agent in Iwa is exposed before they can reroute the intel. I want this leak silenced."
Fū nodded silently and disappeared into the shadows.
Danzo exhaled slowly. "A method to extract a Bijuu while keeping the jinchūriki alive... The balance of power is shifting. We can't let it slip from our hands."