Kumogakure's Extortion

Early winter, Konoha Year 51.

Kumogakure and Iwagakure clashed on a small scale.

After discovering that Iwagakure had additional fighting power—the Akatsuki—Kumogakure decided to form an alliance with Konoha.

Once word of the alliance between the two sides spread, Iwagakure withdrew. Kumogakure had been the one to start the trouble in the first place, and now that Iwagakure saw Kumogakure backing down and even going to Konoha, there was naturally no need to keep dragging things out with them. They could even save on a sum of hiring fees.

After both sides reached a preliminary intent to ally, Kumogakure also began discussing who to send to Konoha to negotiate the alliance matters.

By the time everything was settled, nearly a month had passed.

Only then did Kumogakure's diplomatic delegation arrive in Konoha.

The cooperation talks between the two sides were very harmonious.

The two sides made preliminary decisions on some cooperative matters. Since it was already late, they decided to hold new talks the next day.

"Byakugan freak!"

Several seven- or eight-year-old children were bullying a little girl of around three, shoving her down into the snow. All kinds of filth stained the little girl's clothes.

When a three-year-old blond brat saw this, he decisively played the hero and saved the beauty.

Whether it was some kind of unseen inertia or not, Naruto still saved Hinata once. This time, unlike in the original where Naruto got beaten up, things were different.

Under the Uchiha Clan's basic education, Naruto had a strong physique and plenty of combat experience. He easily beat those kids so badly they ran home crying for their mothers.

Aside from how he treated Sasuke, the three-year-old Naruto was very polite to everyone else.

He thoughtfully escorted Hinata back to the Hyuga Clan Estate.

At this time, a celebration was being held in the Hyuga Clan Estate. At the same time, it was also the day when the branch family's children were branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

Hinata's cousin, Neji, had already been branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

This was also a day when the branch families' spirits were low. After all, the branch families remembered this day all too clearly.

And tonight was destined to be far from peaceful as well.

Because Kumogakure's envoy died in the Hyuga Clan Estate, and the one who struck was Hyuga Hiashi.

Kumogakure immediately condemned Konoha for this act.

But after Kushina Uzumaki heard the news, she showed no intention of worrying at all.

However, Minato in the Sealing Space could not sit still.

"Anju, what should we do?"

"You're asking me? Can I go out and beat Kumogakure up?"

"That's right! I'll go!"

After hearing Anju's words, Minato Namikaze was very happy, feeling as if he had gotten some incredible idea.

"Do you think Kushina will let you go?"

Anju rolled his eyes and lay on the table, saying nothing more.

Minato Namikaze immediately asked Kushina.

Kushina also rolled her eyes. "Do you think I'd help the Third Hokage? That rotten old man is wicked to the bone."

"But I'm doing it for Konoha's stability!"

"Relax, relax. With me here, can Konoha's stability really make any waves? And if it really doesn't work, don't we still have you?"

"But this is already a time when we can make a move."

"That's your opinion, not evidence."

Kushina rejected it without hesitation.

"Anju, why doesn't Kushina agree?"

Minato Namikaze was very dejected.

He also did not understand why Kushina would not agree to release him so he could help Konoha.

"Minato, have you forgotten? Your identity as the Masked Man has conflicts with all of the Five Great Nations. If you make a move this time, and if you act against Kumogakure, then anyone with eyes will know you're helping Konoha. Konoha will be the one in real trouble.

"If you still want to go after the Ninja Villages' Jinchuriki like before, then the first one you'd have to target is Kushina. Can you do that?"

"Then..."

"Your current identity as the Masked Man can no longer threaten the Five Great Ninja Villages. It's not like before, when Kushina was badly wounded and the major Ninja Villages were unprepared."

"Then what about Konoha? What if war breaks out?"

"It won't. Kumogakure won't truly let war break out. They just want some benefits."

"How do you know?"

"Orochimaru defected. Rumors about the conflict between Kushina and the Hokage faction have been spreading for so long, and the Uchiha nearly disbanded themselves because of the population disappearance case.

"If there really is a need for war, which top-tier combatants can the Third Hokage mobilize? The Ino-Shika-Cho Clan? But they also have a little friction with the Hokage faction now.

"Will Kushina go, or will the Uchiha go?"

"But if there really is a war, they'll definitely step forward."

"But the Third Hokage is about to step down and take responsibility." One sentence from Anju shut Minato up.

He understood.

The logic was simple. The Third had no successor, so he would not allow war to happen.

And Kumogakure had most likely already figured that out as well.

So this time, Kumogakure only wanted some benefits. They would not truly force Sarutobi Hiruzen into starting a war.

Because they already knew Sarutobi's bottom line.

Since it was only a matter of making the Third pay a price, Kushina was naturally happy to see Sarutobi Hiruzen suffer a setback.

Fugaku was on the same side as Kushina. He had also learned the intelligence Anju had told Kushina, and unlike after the Nine-Tails' Rampage that time, he did not directly lead the clan's ninja to the border to pressure the Kumogakure Ninja.

And events unfolded just like the original work.

Hyuga Hizashi's Death.

It was a bit of a pity about Hizashi, but this was equivalent to removing yet another great clan that supported Sarutobi Hiruzen.

For Anju, that was not a bad thing either.

After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was no good man. He spent every day scheming against his own people, all for the sake of power.

Anju had not seen Kurama in Kushina's Sealing Space for some time, so he asked Minato about it.

"Oh, right, Minato, have you actually developed a new ninjutsu yet?"

"I have, but it isn't perfected."

"It's not your Rasengan, is it? That would be way too obvious!"

"No, it's a Sealing Jutsu formula."

"Hm!?"

The moment Anju heard that, he immediately stopped feeling sleepy.

"What is it?"

"A Sealing Jutsu formula that seals Yin Yang Attribute Chakra."

"If you want to directly seal a Tailed Beast Ball, just say so. Don't beat around the bush."

How could Anju not understand what Minato wanted to do?

But after thinking about it, Anju realized this Sealing Jutsu formula might be able to play an even greater role.

"Minato, keep it up! I've got high hopes for you!"

(???_??)?

After saying that, Anju arrived in Naruto's Sealing Space.

It had already been a long time since Naruto last entered the Sealing Space. Kurama simply refused to let Naruto into the Sealing Space, and Naruto could not get in by himself.

Originally, Anju had wanted to properly educate Naruto so that Naruto would not grow crooked.

"Kurama, Minato has already developed a ninjutsu, you know. What about you?"

"What kind of developing a ninjutsu does he count as? He kept slapping a Sealing Jutsu on me every day. I'm not researching with him anymore."

Anju's mouth twitched.

No wonder Kurama had stopped going to Kushina's Sealing Space. So it turned out Minato had been doing it on purpose.

"Anju, how come you have time to come over to my place?"

"I was just wondering why you stopped researching ninjutsu with Minato, so I came to ask. But now I already know."

"By the way, about that brat, you can call him in. But this time, if he mouths off again, I'll teach him a lesson!"

Anju chuckled softly. Kurama clearly could pull Naruto into the Sealing Space himself, but he could not swallow his pride, so he still wanted Anju to bring Naruto in.

"Whoa, what a huge fox."

"Naruto, hello. You can call me Anju. That one there is called Kurama."

"Hello, I'm Naruto." Naruto seemed very polite, and that made Kurama very satisfied.