The Konoha ninja who rushed over only found their unconscious comrades. There was no sign of the enemy.
"Looks like they escaped. They were fast."
Ibiki shouted, "Send two men to treat our comrades. The rest of you, come into the shrine with me."
The group quickly entered and saw the Uzumaki Shrine in ruins.
Masks covered the floor.
"The enemy was after the masks? But what value do these masks have?"
"Th-these masks are decorations left behind by the Uzumaki Clan, aren't they? Some have Sealing Jutsu formulas carved on them, but they can't be used as ninja tools."
The Konoha ninja could not make sense of the situation.
What was there to steal about masks?
"Lord Ibiki, look over there!"
"Yes, I see it."
Ibiki stared at White Zetsu lying on the ground and was about to approach.
Whoosh!
A figure had already leaped past them and appeared before White Zetsu.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Mm. You have worked hard. I already know who the enemy is. Stand down."
Minato looked at White Zetsu's stomach, then at the Reaper Mask on White Zetsu's face, remaining silent.
Ibiki and the others looked confused, but they still withdrew respectfully.
Minato picked up the Reaper Mask.
"That Chakra that suddenly appeared just now must have been the Nine-Tails. That boy has some nerve, actually daring to return to the village. But this means Kushina's soul has been freed."
Minato felt conflicted.
As her husband, freeing his wife's soul was what he should have done most of all, yet he could not do it.
Putting on the Reaper Mask and breaking the Dead Demon Consuming Seal required one's own life as the price.
As Hokage, Minato could not sacrifice himself. His nature also would not allow him to sacrifice someone else for his own