Just as Soseki's throat was going dry from all his shouting, someone leaped down from a tree in a dashing pose.
Seeing Kushina so clearly out of character, along with Soseki beside her shouting embarrassing things, Namikaze Minato hurriedly asked, "Kushina, what's wrong? And what is all this?"
"Big sister is being consumed by the monster sealed inside her!" Soseki answered, then asked, "Big brother, are you big sister's friend?"
"Friends? I suppose... maybe... probably... we are?" Namikaze Minato looked somewhat bashful. Though he had always watched her from afar, Kushina had been very resistant to everything around her, so the two of them had barely spoken.
"That's great!" Soseki cheered. "Big sister is fighting the monster with her own willpower right now. Big brother, hurry and say something that'll make her happy and confident. It'd be best if you can make her remember the bond between you two!"
"Is that so?" Hearing that Kushina was in such critical danger, Namikaze Minato could no longer think of anything else. In a rush of emotion, he blurted out words he had buried in his heart for a long time.
"Because of your beautiful red hair, I noticed you the moment you came to the academy. Back then, people mocked you for your red hair, and I was furious. I wanted to step forward and help you."
"But even when you were bullied, you didn't cry weakly. Instead, you bravely and fiercely fought back. From that moment on, I knew you were strong, both in strength and in spirit!"
"I truly like that side of you, Kushina! Also, today is actually the anniversary of the day you first came to the academy. I didn't have the courage to ask when your birthday was, so I kept this day in my heart instead."
"I had planned to ask you out on a date, but I unexpectedly discovered that you had been kidnapped... and I don't want to lose you!"
Soseki's mouth twitched slightly. What was this? Some cheesy pickup line?
As expected of Namikaze Minato. He even had uniquely profound insights when it came to words!
Yet once Namikaze Minato's sweet words left his mouth, the ominous red mist wrapped around Kushina rapidly dissipated, dropping away as though it had fallen off a cliff.
In just a few breaths, Kushina returned to normal. Then her body went limp, and she collapsed into Namikaze Minato's arms.
Asuma stared in stunned disbelief. "I-is this the world of the strong?"
The next day, at the Hokage Tower.
"Hiruzen, you already know about what happened yesterday, don't you?"
"Of course. They are both good children!"
"Don't play dumb with me!" Danzo sneered coldly. "Are you just going to let the matter of the Nine-Tails' seal being breached slide?"
"Hehe, take a look at this." The Third Hokage did not get angry. He took a puff from his pipe and pushed a document over.
Danzo snorted and took the document. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
The document actually stated that the crisis had been caused by him allowing the Cloud Village spies to run loose.
Only then did he finally remember. Because of the test subjects, he had intended to follow the trail and catch more spies, so he had not paid much attention to that group.
Besides, he had never thought a group of genin could carry out any secret mission. Who could have expected those Cloud Village spies to hit the jackpot with a casual grab?
"Cough, cough." Danzo calmly pushed the document back. "Let's put this matter aside for now and discuss the next issue."
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who were seated nearby, both shook their heads inwardly. Danzo really was no match for Hiruzen.
The Third Hokage smiled calmly. "Then next, let us discuss the rewards for Namikaze Minato and Shimizu Soseki..."
"Wait a moment." Danzo, who had only just settled down, immediately interrupted. "I believe it is necessary to bring Namikaze Minato and Shimizu Soseki back to Root for me to personally train."
"Danzo, do you know what you're saying?" The Third Hokage's gentle face abruptly turned stern.
"You're the one who's too weak, Hiruzen!" Danzo shot back. "One of them can make a Jinchuriki go berserk, while the other can calm a Jinchuriki down. This bond can become the best tool for us to control the Nine-Tails!"
"Lady Mito once said that if one wishes to avoid being corroded by the Nine-Tails' hatred, one must first fill one's heart with love!" The Third Hokage lowered his eyelids. "Kushina has now filled the emptiness in her heart. I will not allow you to push her into the abyss!"
"Foolish. Ninjas are tools by nature, and Jinchuriki are nothing more than containers." Danzo spoke with unyielding force. "In any case, Namikaze Minato and Shimizu Soseki, I must—"
Bang!
The doors were violently shoved open, sending fragments flying everywhere.
The Anbu ninja hidden nearby instantly emerged, but after seeing who had arrived, they consciously retreated.
One look was enough. These were people they could not afford to provoke.
Seeing the two of them striding toward him aggressively, Danzo's eyes darkened. "Jiraiya, Tsunade, what are you two trying to—"
Before he could finish, Tsunade raised her fist and smashed it down.
Boom!
A huge crater was punched directly into the spot where Danzo had been standing, and even the entire Hokage Tower trembled.
The next moment, Danzo emerged from a dark corner. His face was no longer merely grim; he was so enraged that his hair stood on end. "You two bastards, are you trying to betray the village?"
Tsunade's face was cold as she declared with overwhelming authority, "I came here today to say one thing. If you dare touch my disciple, don't blame me for fighting you to the death!"
Jiraiya laughed heartily beside her. "The same goes for my disciple."
Danzo's face was dark enough to drip water. "For the sake of Leaf Village, a few sacrifices are worth—"
Bang!
Another substitute was directly blown apart by Tsunade.
"I didn't come here to listen to your nonsense." Tsunade braced one hand against the desk. "In short, I don't care whether Root was responsible or not. But as long as my disciple encounters danger in the village, I'll blame it all on Root. Every time she is attacked, I'll kill one person!"
This time, even the two advisors who had been watching the show slammed their hands onto the table and rose. "Tsunade, do you know what you're saying? No matter what, Root's ninja are still your comrades in Leaf Village!"
Jiraiya clicked his tongue inwardly as he listened. Tsunade really was as hot-tempered as ever!
"Comrades?" Tsunade sneered. "Do you think those people truly understand what comradeship means?"
"Enough!" Danzo shouted furiously as he emerged from the corner yet again. "Do you think I truly wouldn't label you a Rogue Ninja?"
"Go ahead." Tsunade waved a hand nonchalantly. "If I weren't waiting for Shizune to graduate, I would have taken her and left Leaf Village long ago."
"Tsunade, don't be impulsive!"
"Danzo, calm down too!"
The two Hokage advisors hurriedly stepped forward to mediate.
Setting aside Tsunade's symbolic status, her strategically vital medical skills alone made them unwilling to act rashly.
However, Tsunade did not buy it. "I didn't come here today to discuss this with you. I merely came to tell you this fact. As for whether you choose to believe it, that is not my concern!"
With that, she strode out decisively.
Jiraiya stood there in a daze for a moment. It seemed like he had only said one sentence today?
Shaking his head, he tossed out one last remark before following her.
"Let me give you some advice: don't provoke a crazy woman. And an angry sage is no different!"
Thanks to Zuimeng Wuxiao for the 1,000 reward, Haitang Zui Ri for the 500 reward, zhenglei325 for the 100 reward, Fengzi... for the 100 reward, and That Person Under the Bed for the 100 reward.
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