"W-Wait, it's us! It's us, Lord Fourth Hokage!"
Facing the four wary gazes that were practically radiating killing intent, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza rose from their half-crouched positions at almost the same time, raising their hands as they spoke in unison.
Mr. Shikaku, Mr. Inoichi, Mr. Choza? At that moment, Yukina, who possessed the Byakugan, was the first to react upon seeing the three at the border between the clearing and the forest. She was also the first to withdraw the killing intent that had nearly burst forth on instinct.
This was...
The current Ino-Shika-Cho?
Reinforcements?
The second to react was Hirohiko, whose Mangekyō Sharingan's perceptive ability was second only to the Byakugan. He swiftly reined in his killing intent as well, and even the ocular power he had activated in preparation to use Amaterasu ceased.
"Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza? Why are you here?"
After the two withdrew their killing intent and Amaterasu's ocular power, Minato Namikaze spoke with slight astonishment. He quietly slipped the Flying Thunder God Kunai in his hand back into the Ninja Tool Pouch behind him, feeling somewhat relieved.
So it's Shikaku and the others! At the same time, Kushina, standing behind him with several Kunai clasped in her hands, also let out a long breath and slowly put them away.
"The Third Hokage sent us to rescue Chiba. A large number of reinforcements are still on their way."
In response to the Hokage's question, Nara Shikaku hurriedly answered.
As he spoke, he glanced at his two close friends, who seemed to have noticed their surroundings and gone somewhat blank.
This...
I remember this place being a clearing. How... how did it become like this? Was this...
A change in the terrain?
Hm? Was that Masked Man standing before Uchiha Hirohiko?
And that was...