Hello all Storm here with a new story! Yes I know, another new story but this one is an idea I know hasn't been done before and will certainly be interesting. I won't spoil anything, only that things are going to get much worse for the Elemental Nations before they get better. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
"I'm home!" Said Kushina as she arrived back at the Senju Compound, where she's been living ever since being brought to Konoha.
Originally having stayed with Mito Uzumaki until the time came to transfer the Kyūbi from her into Kushina, leading to the elderly Uzumaki's death with the loss of the Kyūbi. With Kushina being placed with caretakers until she was a Ninja and old enough to take care of herself.
'And now I'm a Ninja, so hopefully soon I can get my own home.' Kushina thought, having not enjoyed being placed in the care of strangers, especially after the Kyūbi was transferred to her, as they felt more like guards than actual caretakers.
Though the redhead was pulled from her thoughts when she realized that no one had responded to her presence, making Kushina frown slightly.
"I'm home!" Kushina called out, wondering if they just couldn't hear her, only to once again not get a response.
"Anyone here?" Questioned Kushina in a lower tone, now feeling wary at how quiet the compound was, as she began checking the rooms only to find them all empty.
With each room she checked only setting Kushina further on edge, not finding any sign of where they could be. Nothing showing that they had to leave, no sign that a fight might've taken place, not even a note saying when they'd be back.
'Where is everyone?' Thought Kushina as she checked the kitchen only to find it empty as well, her hand twitching towards her weapons pouch, unable to shake the feeling that she wasn't as alone as she thought.
But just before she could leave to continue searching, Kushina froze as her eyes widened and slowly looked back into the kitchen. While her hand now went into her weapons pouch, ready to throw her shuriken at a moment's notice. Given the fact the young Uzumaki realized that the window in the kitchen was wide open, seeing that something was definitely wrong.
Before Kushina gasped in shock and horror when three Ninja emerged from the shadows, grinning wickedly at her, along with recognizing their uniforms and headbands, showing they were Kumogakure Ninja. Acting quickly, Kushina threw a handful of shuriken at the Ninja, then instantly slid the door shut and took off running.
'Kumo Ninja?! Here?! How?!' Kushina thought, panicking that Kumo Ninja were here, wondering how they were able to get inside her home, let alone get past the villages defenses and guards.
"Where do you think you're go-AAAHHH!" Said one of the Kumo Ninja, catching up to the Uzumaki and grabbed her by her hair, only to cry out when Kushina spun around and stabbed a kunai into his arm.
"Fuck off asshole!" Said Kushina before slamming her foot right into the Ninja's crotch, making him double over, gasping in pain.
Kushina shoved the Ninja back into the others and kept running, pulling out another kunai as she did and cut her palm just as she rounded a corner. Waving her hand and splattering her blood across the wall caused a seal to light up, revealing a hidden compartment that unleashed a barrage of kunai.
'And they said I was paranoid!' Kushina thought, having set up dozens of traps around the Senju Compound after Mito died.
Keying them all to a Blood Seal, only she could activate since anyone else that tried tampering with the seals would trigger the Explosive Seals she incorporated into them. The redhead having refused to take any chances with how everyone treated her as nothing, but an outsider. Along with then becoming a Jinchūriki, something that's viewed as little more than a weapon to certain people.
And now Kushina was really glad she set them all up as she ran from her pursuers. Only to cry out when another Kumo Ninja appeared in front of her. Gasping in pain when they slammed their fist into her stomach before they grabbed her by her neck and slammed her against the wall.
"Little bitch! You're starting to-FUCK!" Said the Kumo Ninja, only to scream in complete pain when Kushina managed to pull out a shuriken and slash it across his face, destroying one of his eyes.
"If you spent less time talking, you might still have both eyes and your nose wouldn't be broken." Kushina said, gasping for air when the Ninja released her and held his ruined eye.
Before Kushina grabbed him by his flak jacket, pulling the Ninja down and slamming her forehead protector into his face, making the Ninja cry out again and hold his now broken nose.
'Gotta get out! Gotta get out! Gotta get out! Gotta get out! Gotta get out! Gotta-' Kushina thought, only to scream when something wrapped around her legs, making her fall to the ground before she was pinned down.
"Fucking bitch! You should've just come quietly! One of you tie her up, quickly!" Said the Kumo Ninja, scowling as he pinned the struggling redhead down, while another Ninja quickly pulled out some rope.
"I can't believe how hard it was to grab damn kid, barely out of the Academy." The Kumo Ninja muttered while tying Kushina's arms behind her, before the others soon showed up.
"Where the fuck is that brat?! I'm gonna kill her!" Yelled the Ninja, scowling in pure rage while covering his destroyed eye while blood leaked from his nose.
"Get in line!" Said the Ninja Kushina stabbed and kicked in the crotch, holding his injured arm.
"Both of you, shut it! We need her alive, those were the Raikage's orders!" The apparent lead Ninja said while pulling Kushina up once her arms were tied.
"Let's just get out of here before-FUCKING DAMNIT!" Screamed the fourth Ninja when the Uzumaki suddenly lunged forward and bit into his arm.
"Get this psycho off of me!" The Ninja said punching Kushina repeatedly, only for her to bite down harder on his arm.
Only to scream in pure agony when the others managed to pry Kushina off of him, tearing off part of his flesh in the process.
"Fuck! You little…AH!" Said the Ninja, holding his arm before grabbing Kushina and slamming her head into the wall.
Kushina grunted and groaned as her head impacted the wall, before she fell to the ground with spots in her vision.
'Someone…help…' Kushina thought before darkness overtook her.
Though unknown to the Kumo Ninja as they began patching themselves up, they were being watched by several Anbu hiding in the shadows. But rather than wearing the stand Anbu uniform, they were instead wearing more personal attire. The only single distinguishing garment they all wore were short, black, midriff jackets with red straps over the shoulders along with the tip-less tanto. While also wearing the standard black cloaks and Anbu masks, only being blank instead.
"Report to Danzō-sama, tell him the target will soon be on the move, and we will capture it once they reach the border." Said one of the Anbu, with one nodding before Shunshining away.
While the remaining Anbu stayed behind, waiting until the Kumo Ninja began moving to follow them.
*Later*
After taking a moment to bandage their injuries, the Kumo Ninja quickly got out of the Konoha before they were discovered. With Kushina falling in and out of conscious as she was forced to walk between the Ninja, two in front and two behind her. While the lead one held the ropes restraining her, given the other three seemed more likely to want to kill her for their injuries.
The redhead was unable to do anything as she was dragged along, still feeling dazed from the blow to her head. But Kushina was able to focus long enough to try and think of a way to escape, knowing she couldn't escape on her own. Before realizing that she could leave a trail behind that someone would hopefully notice and follow.
With her plucking out strands of her hair and dropping them on the ground when the Ninja weren't looking, knowing it'd be impossible to miss bright red hair lying on the ground. But as more time passed, the closer they got to the border of the Land of Fire, the more Kushina began to lose hope that anyone was coming.
'Is no one really coming? Does anyone even know I've been taken?' Kushina thought, starting to believe that no one was coming to rescue her.
She knew that someone must've realized by now that she was gone, that the Hokage would've begun sending Ninja out to look for her. If for no other reason, than because she was Konoha's Jinchūriki and they couldn't afford to lose her. But the closer they got to the border, the more Kushina began thinking that no one was coming, or maybe no one even wanted to save her.
'Am I…really just an outsider to everyone? If they knew I was taken, would they even care to save me?' Thought Kushina, feeling despair as she knew it wouldn't be long before they reached the border and it'd be over for her.
"It's not much farther. We should meet up with the other team, soon." Said the lead Ninja, while the others merely grunted.
"Good, the sooner we're back the better." One of the Ninja said, wanting this mission over and done with after all the trouble they went through.
"At least the bitch will be put to better use once we figure out how her Chakra works." Said another while leering at the redhead, making Kushina shiver in disgust, but did her best to not physically react.
'Yeah, enjoy it while you can assholes. You'll all be chew toys soon enough.' Kushina thought, having already made her decision on what to do if no one would save her.
She's going to release the Kyūbi.
It was the only thing she could think to do, if no one showed up to rescue her, as she couldn't fight them all off on her own. Especially since they'd be less likely to underestimate her, now. Even more so if there are more Ninja waiting up ahead, then Kushina knew there'd be no hope to escape. And despite how freeing the Kyūbi would end in her death, she'd prefer that over whatever fate awaited her in Kumo.
'I only hope I can live long enough to see their reactions.' Thought Kushina, wanting to see their fear and panic at realizing they were dead before she died.
Though unknown to Kushina, someone did find the trail she left behind, one of her old classmates from the Academy, Minato Namikaze. Someone she believed to be a wimp, along with thinking he was flaky and girly looking.
With Minato having been among the Ninja mobilized to retrieve Kushina, spotting the trail of hair she left behind and quickly followed it. Managing to catch up to the Kumo Ninja, thanks to his above average speed.
'I need to act fast.' Minato thought crouching on a tree branch while watching the Kumo Ninja that took Kushina, before he looked up and saw clouds passing over the moon covering the area in darkness
Knowing that was his chance, Minato instantly jumped down and rushed behind the first Ninja, striking him in the back of the neck before jumping back into the shadows.
"What was that?!" Said one of the Ninja as they turned only to see their comrade unconscious on the ground.
"Were we followed?!" The second Ninja said as they looked around for their attacker, only to grunt when Minato moved again.
The Genin jumping down behind the second Ninja, flipping around and smashing his foot into his head, taking him out as well before escaping again.
"Move now!" Said the lead Ninja as the remaining two jumped into the trees, leaving Kushina on the ground, pulling out kunai and waiting for their attacker to reveal themselves.
'Wh-what's…happening?' Kushina thought in a daze as she stopped walking, not even realizing she was still moving despite no one guiding her.
Looking around, Kushina was surprised to see two of her captors on the ground unconscious, while seeing the remaining two were nowhere in sight. The sight making her feel some hope that someone actually did find her trail and came to save her.
While in the trees, Minato pulled out a kunai before kicking off the tree he was hiding in, launching himself at one of the remaining Ninja. Slashing him across the throat before he could react, the force of the blow sending the body crashing into another tree before falling to the ground.
'Okay, there's just one-' Minato thought before his eyes widened and quickly turned, blocking a strike to his back, shocked to see it was an Anbu that attacked him.
'An Anbu?! But why did they-' Thought Minato, not believing an Anbu was here and attacking him.
Only for the boy to gasp in pain when another Anbu appeared, slashing him across his side, before the first then stabbed their tanto into his chest.
'Tr-tr-trai-traitors…' Minato thought, only having a moment to realize that this entire situation was a setup, and that someone in Konoha let Kushina be taken, before the last of his life left him.
With the Anbu letting Minato's body fall to the ground, making Kushina gasp and stumble back at the sight before her eyes widened when she recognized who it was.
'M-Mi-Minato?' Thought Kushina in disbelief at seeing it was Minato, not believing he was here or that he found out where they were.
Only for her disbelief to turn into shock and horror when the Lead Ninja and the Anbu jumped down in front of her.
"And where the hell were you assholes, earlier?!" The Ninja demanded glaring at the Anbu.
"The plan has changed, it seems." Said one the Anbu, much to Kushina's growing shock and horror.
'Plan?! What plan?! Was this…' Kushina thought before realization dawned on her as she put the pieces together.
How Kumo Ninja were able to sneak into Konoha, past their defenses and guards. How they were able to know where she was staying to get into her home, and about her special Chakra. They had been told where she was, where she lived, how to get past the defenses and made sure her caretakers were absent, and now they'd been unknowingly taking her to be kidnapped by someone else.
'Someone…someone inside Konoha...' Thought Kushina, feeling nothing but shock, despair and betrayal that someone in Konoha arranged for her to be kidnapped, just to capture her themselves.
"No shit, the plan's changed! Why didn't any of you show up when this brat started-" Said the Ninja, only for his eyes to widen when two Anbu suddenly rushed forward and killed the two unconscious Kumo Ninja.
Before he gasped in pain and shock when another Anbu stabbed their tanto through his back.
"No. The plan has changed, in that we discovered Kumo Ninja infiltrating the Land of Fire and Konoha to capture one of the last remaining Uzumaki, who Konoha gave sanctuary to. Killing a Genin in the process, who'd come to rescue her. Unfortunately, we ultimately arrived too late to recover her, but were able to eliminate the invaders and avenge the Genin they killed. And everyone will know that Kumogakure is now making attempts to capture the last known survivor of one of Konoha's oldest allies, dating back to even before the village was founded." The Anbu said, much to the Ninja's shock and anger.
"Y-yo-y-y-yo-you…tr-tr-tr-tra-traitors." Said the Ninja before they were decapitated by the Anbu.
"It's hard to be a traitor when we were never truly allies." The Anbu stated before they turned their attention towards Kushina and went to grab her.
With Kushina looking around, not believing what was happening, and for what? Just because she's a Jinchūriki, something she didn't even have a choice in! She didn't ask to be born with some special Chakra or to be taken from her home to a village, where no one wanted her around! To be treated as some outsider just because of her appearance!
'And I was supposed to love that place?!' Kushina thought as anger and hate began filling her, remembering what Mito had told her on how they were meant to counter the fox's hatred.
"We came here to be the vessels of the Kyūbi…but before that, we must find love and fill the vessel with it."
'No…you weren't brought here to become a vessel, you chose to seal the fox into yourself! You chose to become a Jinchūriki! I didn't! I didn't get a choice, it was taken from me like everything else! You…you're nothing but a liar, Mito! You and the rest of that worthless village!' Kushina thought, knowing that she'd never find love in Konoha or ever consider it anything, but a cage that's tried imprisoning her.
"You…you want the Kyūbi so bad…" Kushina said with her hair shadowing her eyes and red Chakra wisps floating off of her, making the Anbu tense and reach for their weapons.
"Stand down Kyūbi Jinchūriki and come quietly." Said the Anbu, making the Uzumaki grit her teeth in anger before her head snapped showing her crimson red eyes and slit pupils.
"…Take it, then!" Yelled Kushina before without warning golden chains erupted from her back, shooting towards the Anbu.
The Anbu attempted to dodge the chains, only for them to begin multiplying and moving faster than they could dodge. Before the Anbu were either impaled by the spikes tips or ensnared by the chains, with them then ripping the Anbu into pieces.
Kushina panted as soon the last of the Anbu were dead with her chains receding back into her, making the Uzumaki look at them.
'These…these are the Adamantine Attacking Chains.' Kushina thought, recognizing the incomplete form of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, which only a select few in the Uzumaki Clan were capable of awakening.
Along with being the reason she was chosen as the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki, given the chains were known for being strong enough to restrain anything. As well as possessing the ability to suppress the Chakra of anyone bound by them, similar to the Shodai Hokage's Mokuton.
Once her chains had fully receded, Kushina went over to one of the Anbu, taking a few moments to grab their tanto before cutting her bindings. Glaring at the bodies of the Anbu and Kumo Ninja for a moment, the redhead looked over at Minato's body with a solemn expression.
"Thank you…for trying." Kushina said, figuring it's the least she could say, given he seemed like he was here to save her.
"But I'm never going back to that prison, again." Stated Kushina, tearing off her forehead protector and throwing it as far as she could into the forest.
Before she then took off running away from the Land of Fire, wanting to get out of it as soon as possible.
*Timeskip-One Day*
After getting out of the Land of Fire, Kushina had made her way to the nearest port town that she could find, where she managed to procure a boat while no one was around. Given with how she effectively defected from Konoha and was still considered missing, she'd be hunted by Konoha Ninja. While if the other nations discovered she was an Uzumaki and the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki, she'd be hunted by them to be turned into a weapon and a breeding stock.
Leaving Kushina with a limited number of places she could travel to, but knew there'd be one place where she could be safe and would likely be the last place anyone would look for her in.
The ruins of Uzushiogakure.
Which is what lead to Kushina stealing a boat to travel to her clans island home, having been taught since she was born how to safely navigate the maelstroms that surrounded the island. With it not taking long before the boat arrived on the land, much to Kushina's relief at being back in familiar territory.
Only for her relief to be short-lived when she got her first look at what was left of her old village, feeling heartbroken at seeing the once great village being reduced to just a pile of ruins.
Remembering when she still lived here, the high-rise buildings that went up higher than anything else in Konoha, with sky bridges built in between them. The rivers that were once filled with different boats and ships with several bridges running along all of them. And not just the village, but the island itself with how big it was and all the different areas.
The forest with massive, towering trees, the caves you could find running all throughout the island that lead into massive caverns, the large bay not far off from the village where the main ports had been built, and the smaller isles just off the coast. There were so many places on the island, even with how long the Uzumaki Clan settled on it, they still didn't explore everything. It had always been something she wanted to do, explore every inch of the island to see everything it had.
But the worst part for Kushina was seeing all the bodies lying in the streets, both Ninja and civilians alike, men, women, and children of her clan butchered. As well as the bodies of the invading Ninja from Iwa, Kiri, Suna, and all the minor nations and villages they'd allied with to destroy her clan.
'And why? Just because they thought we were too powerful to continue existing. Because of our skill in Fūinjutsu. Because they were afraid they wouldn't be the strongest anymore? They're all nothing, but cowards! We just wanted to be left in peace!' Kushina thought, knowing her clan only ever got involved in conflicts when they were asked for their assistance or their allies needed help, otherwise they kept to themselves.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu." Kushina said, creating dozens of clones to start collecting and burying the bodies of her clansmen, along with looting the invaders' bodies before disposing of them.
'At least something good came from getting sent to that damn village.' Thought Kushina as she watched her clones work.
Given how the Uzumaki Clan had much larger Chakra Reserves than the average Shinobi, on top of becoming the Kyūbi's Jinchūriki, it was impossible for Kushina to use the normal Clone Jutsu. Leading to her being taught the Shadow Clone Jutsu, an incredibly useful Jutsu and one that very few could safely perform without risk of using up all their Chakra.
With Kushina being one of the few that could create dozens of clones at once without worry or even putting a dent in her reserves. Even better is when she learned that anything a Shadow Clone learns or experiences is transferred back to the original once they dispel. Making them more useful than just being solid clones.
Kushina then began helping her clones in burying her clansmen and disposing of the invaders bodies, uncaring who they were or which villages they came from. They attacked her home and slaughtered her clan, as far as Kushina's concerned they can rot at the bottom of the ocean or be reduced to ashes.
Unfortunately, as the redhead was collecting some of the bodies, she froze when she noticed some of the invaders' ragged uniforms and headbands were different from all the other ones.
'No…' Kushina thought, grabbing the skeleton and turning it over, not wanting to believe it was true.
Only to be horrified when she saw it was a Konoha Ninja, with her horror only growing when she looked around and noticed even more bodies belonging to Konoha Ninja. And from the way they looked, they hadn't been helping to defend her clan, they were helping to wipe it out.
With her horror soon turning into anger and even greater distaste for Konoha, seeing that they actually helped in wiping out one of their own allies.
'It wasn't enough, they had to take me away just to make a new Jinchūriki. They helped destroy my home and clan just so they could control the Kyūbi, themselves?!' Kushina thought, enraged at another betrayal from Konoha.
As she didn't need to be a Nara to figure this out and why Konoha would betray Uzushio since the Uzumaki Clan did have a claim to the Kyūbi. After all, it was their clan members who were able to become its Jinchūriki, as well as their Fūinjutsu that help seal it away in the first place.
Along with the fear from their mastery of Fūinjutsu and the desire to take their clan secrets for themselves.
'They couldn't be satisfied with what Mito already gave them or the fact that the Mask Storage Temple was built near Konoha with all our masks stored inside.' Kushina thought with a scowl, angry that Konoha wouldn't stop until they'd taken all of the Uzumaki Clans secrets.
Before her eyes widened at this thought, with Kushina taking off running towards the center of the island, running through the forest that surrounded the center. Following a path that she'd been taught to follow for as long as she could remember. That to anyone else would just seem like she's running in random directions, but Kushina knew it'd take her straight to her destination.
With it not taking long before Kushina arrived at her destination, sighing in relief when she arrived.
Arriving in a smaller, more traditional looking village built along either side of a river. Being surrounded on all sides by mountains and a waterfall at the far end of the village. While on one side of the river nestled in the trees, looked to be a temple shrine. And on the other side of the river, built against the side of a mountain and being above the other buildings was medium-sized fortress/palace.
'It's safe, thank Kami. The seals still work.' Kushina thought, relieved to see the first settlement was still safe and intact.
With the first settlement having been where the Uzumaki Clan first settled when they travelled to the Land of Whirlpools. Before it was abandoned once they started spreading out and building Uzushiogakure, but it had been kept preserved and kept in perfect condition with Fūinjutsu. As it served as a sacred spot for the Uzumaki Clan, to remember where they first started and grew from.
And Kushina had been taught how to reach it for as long as she could remember, given her status as the Clan Heiress before being sent to join Konoha. Leading to the title of Clan Heir being passed onto her younger brother.
'But…now I guess I'm heiress, again…or Clan Head. Yippee…' Kushina thought, feeling her heart break even further at the thought of her parents and brother.
Especially since she now knew they died because their allies betrayed them, likely revealing Uzushio's defenses to the other invaders to help them get into the village.
Though Kushina wanted to check on the first settlement for another reason, as in addition to being where the Uzumaki Clan first settled, it's also where everything of value was being kept. Weapons, scrolls filled with Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, and Fūinjutsu of course. Along with various gold and jewels, as well as many important artifacts in generals, it was all kept here. The only thing missing were the masks they had created, including the Mask of the Shinigami. All of which had been transported to the Mask Storage Temple near Konoha once it was built.
'I'm gonna have to eventually go back one day and get those.' Kushina thought, refusing to leave those masks alone for anyone in Konoha to take or use.
Kushina then looked around the first settlement before making a promise, a promise to get stronger and keep the Uzumaki Clan's legacy alive.
"I won't let my clan fade away, I'm going to make sure no one ever forgets the Uzumaki Clan and give them a real reason to be afraid. And I'll do it on my own, I'm never going to make the mistake of joining another Hidden Village, again." Kushina swore, refusing to let anyone use or manipulate her again.
With her also remembering something else Mito once told her, about the last time Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha met each other before the latter defected from Konoha. How Madara had labelled Konoha as a failed experiment. How the history of Shinobi was just a failed cycle of fighting and failed attempts at peace.
'He was right. Konoha and the Hidden Village System that was inspired by its founding, all of it is nothing but a failed experiment. Peace could never be achieved like this. All it is, is a perverted dream that's ruled by corruption and greed.' Kushina thought, agreeing with Madara that Konoha and the Hidden Village System is just one big, failed experiment
And Kushina had no intentions of being part of it, anymore. Before she then made her way to the Clan Archives to begin her training.
So, what did you think, good. Yep this time we're starting out with Kushina and first we see her, now a Genin, returning home (if you watch the Shippuden episode "The Orange Spark" is does show Kushina's home in Konoha and that she was staying with others), only to find no one around before seeing Kumo Ninja have snuck into her home. Leading to Kushina trying to escape, fighting them off as best as she can only to end up being captured. Only for none of them to be aware of the ROOT Anbu watching and following after them.
Then we see Kushina being taken to the border, while leaving behind a trail of her hairs for someone to hopefully find, only to start losing hope the farther they get. Along with even planning to release the Kyūbi if no one shows up, refusing to let herself be a prisoner and worse in Kumo. Only for Minato to arrive and start taking out the Ninja to save Kushina, only for things to take a terrible turn as the ROOT Anbu attack, killing Minato and the remaining Kumo Ninja. While Kushina begins realizing how exactly the Ninja could get into the village and close enough to capture her, that someone in Konoha sold her out, leading to Kushina tapping into the Kyūbi's Chakra and awakening her Adamantine Attacking Chains to kill the Anbu.
With us then seeing Kushina leaving Konoha, refusing to be part of a village that'd treat her as nothing but a tool and a weapon, fleeing the Land of Fire and traveling back to Uzushiogakure. Being saddened and heartbroken at the state her home was now in, before starting on burying her deceased clansmen and disposing of the invaders bodies. Only to be horrified at seeing Konoha had helped attack Uzushio as well, and realizing why they'd help destroy their allies, to have complete control of the Kyūbi and take all of the Uzumaki's secrets.
Finally we see Kushina going to the first settlement, relieved to find it's safe and intact, with this being where the Uzumaki kept all their valuables, aside from the masks in the Mask Storage Temple. With Kushina realizing that Konoha and the Shinobi System as a whole are a failed experiment like Madara once said. While swearing to keep her clans legacy alive and make sure the Uzumaki Clan is never forgotten, before she begins her new training. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out