They left before sunrise.
Again.
The forest was still covered in mist, the first light barely reaching the ground beneath the towering trees.
Nobody complained.
Not even Kushina.
The map rested safely inside Daichi's pack now.
Every step they took carried them farther from the hunters.
Or so they hoped.
⸻
The path quickly became steeper.
Roots disappeared beneath broken stone.
The forest slowly gave way to rocky cliffs and narrow mountain trails.
Walking became slower.
More careful.
Hana took the lead this time.
"I've been through this pass before."
Daichi watched her quietly.
"When?"
"While I was hiding."
A pause.
"They rarely patrol here."
Kushina looked around.
"…because nobody's supposed to survive long enough to reach it."
Hana nodded once.
"Exactly."
Silence settled over them again.
⸻
Hours passed.
The mountain air grew colder.
Clouds drifted low across the cliffs, hiding the peaks above them.
For the first time in days—
there were no signs of pursuit.
No strange symbols.
No observers.
No pressure.
Only the sound of their footsteps.
It almost felt peaceful.
Almost.
⸻
"…it's too quiet."
Kurama's voice had returned.
Still calmer than before.
Still different.
Kushina sighed quietly.
"…I was starting to miss you."
A low rumble answered her.
"…don't get used to it."
She smiled faintly.
Good.
He was still there.
⸻
Around midday they reached a narrow stone bridge spanning a deep ravine.
The river below crashed violently against the rocks.
Mist rose from the water, hiding the bottom completely.
Kushina stopped in the middle of the bridge.
"…that's a long way down."
Minato glanced over the edge.
"…I wouldn't recommend it."
She looked at him.
"…thank you for that valuable insight."
"…you're welcome."
Hana laughed.
Softly.
The first real laugh Kushina had heard from her.
It surprised everyone.
Including Hana herself.
⸻
On the other side of the bridge, Daichi suddenly stopped.
His hand rested lightly against the rock wall.
"There."
Kushina followed his gaze.
At first—
she saw nothing.
Then…
tiny marks carved into the stone.
Almost invisible.
Small spirals.
One after another.
"…the Uzumaki crest…"
Hana smiled sadly.
"Trail markers."
Kushina stepped closer.
Someone had carved them carefully.
Years ago.
They were faded now.
But still there.
"…someone wanted people to find this place."
Daichi nodded.
"Only those who knew what to look for."
⸻
They continued climbing.
The trail narrowed further.
Steeper.
More dangerous.
Until finally—
the path ended.
A solid cliff stood before them.
Nothing else.
Kushina blinked.
"…that's it?"
Hana stepped forward.
"No."
She placed her hand against the rock.
Near another faded spiral.
Nothing happened.
She frowned.
"…that's strange."
Daichi joined her.
He studied the wall silently.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"It's a seal."
Minato stepped beside him.
"…still active?"
"…barely."
Daichi placed one hand against the stone.
Very carefully.
A faint pulse answered him.
Old chakra.
Ancient.
Weak.
But alive.
Kushina felt it too.
"…it's responding…"
"…to Uzumaki chakra."
Daichi slowly looked toward her.
"Kushina."
She immediately understood.
"…you want me to try."
He nodded once.
"Slowly."
She stepped forward.
Her heart beating just a little faster.
The stone felt cold beneath her fingertips.
She closed her eyes.
Took one slow breath.
Then released the smallest amount of chakra she could manage.
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
the spiral beneath her hand began to glow.
Soft blue light spread through the cracks in the cliff.
Ancient seal formulas awakened one after another.
The entire mountain seemed to hum.
Low.
Deep.
Alive.
The ground trembled gently.
Stone shifted.
Dust fell from above.
And slowly—
the cliff began to move.
A hidden doorway emerged from solid rock.
Darkness waited beyond it.
Nobody spoke.
Kushina stared into the opening.
"…we actually found it."
Daichi looked into the darkness ahead.
"No."
A long pause.
"We found the entrance."
Silence settled over them.
Because they all understood.
Whatever waited inside—
had been waiting for a very long time.