They didn't go far.
Not really.
Just far enough to not stand still.
But not far enough to forget.
Kushina walked ahead.
Slower now.
But steady.
"…you're thinking about him…"
"…obviously…"
"…careful…"
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm not interested."
"…liar…"
"Shut up."
Footsteps behind her.
Two this time.
That was new.
Kushina didn't turn.
"So… are you following us now or what?"
Silence.
Then—
"I said I would leave."
Minato.
Calm.
Same tone.
Kushina smirked faintly.
"Yeah, you did."
A pause.
"…and yet."
Another step.
Daichi didn't speak.
But his presence sharpened.
Not aggressive.
Not relaxed either.
Minato continued:
"You're being tracked."
"We know."
"Not like this."
Kushina slowed.
Then stopped.
Turned.
Minato stood a few steps behind.
Same distance.
Same calm.
Daichi shifted slightly in front of her.
Kushina noticed.
Of course she did.
"…relax."
She stepped around him.
"I can talk."
Minato's gaze moved between them.
"…you work together."
Kushina snorted.
"Unfortunately."
"…she talks too much."
"…he talks too little."
A faint shift in Minato's expression.
"…balanced."
Kushina grinned.
"See? He gets it."
Daichi ignored that.
"Say what you came to say."
Minato nodded.
"They're mapping your movement."
Silence.
Kushina frowned.
"I don't have patterns."
"You do."
No hesitation.
That annoyed her.
"…everyone does…"
"…don't agree with him…"
She crossed her arms.
"…fine. And?"
"They're adapting faster."
A pause.
"They're not working alone."
That hit.
Daichi's gaze sharpened.
"…organization…"
"…likely."
Kushina sighed.
"Perfect."
"Why tell us?"
Daichi again.
Direct.
Minato didn't look away.
"Because if they find you…"
A pause.
"They don't stop here."
Kushina blinked.
"…meaning?"
"They expand."
A beat.
"More people. More areas."
Silence.
"…so I'm the center of this…"
"…everything moves around you…"
Kushina exhaled.
"…great."
"You shouldn't trust me."
Minato added.
That threw her off.
"…wow."
"…honest…"
"…I like that…"
"I'm giving information."
He continued.
"What you do with it is your decision."
That changed everything.
No pressure.
No control.
Just… presence.
Kushina tilted her head.
"…so what's your plan?"
"Stay alive."
She smirked.
"Same."
Daichi stepped forward.
"You're still following us."
"Yes."
"…why."
Minato paused.
Then:
"Because you're going to be attacked again."
Silence.
"…confident…"
"…certain…"
Kushina shook her head slightly.
"You're weird."
"…you like him…"
"…shut up…"
She turned.
Started walking again.
"…we're moving."
No discussion.
Just decision.
After a moment—
two sets of footsteps followed.
Not one.
Kushina didn't look back.
Didn't ask.
Didn't question it.
She just kept walking.
And this time—
she wasn't alone.
Not really.