While the Raikage, Kisame, and the others were locked in fierce battle,
the moment a flash of golden light appeared at Konoha's command center, the entire force soon began to withdraw.
They seemed to have some highly efficient, long-range means of communication. Although the whole force was retreating, they showed no sign of panic or haste. Instead, they continued to fall back in good order, as though they were on guard against a powerful enemy pursuing them.
At the very rear of Konoha's retreating forces, Minato Namikaze stood atop a tall tree.
He gazed anxiously at the enormous sphere of water in the distance. Brilliant bolts of lightning had still been flickering inside it, but gradually, they began to subside.
"Madara Uchiha, Souya..."
"Both of them are surely targeting Konoha in the end..."
"How am I supposed to protect the village...?"
Minato's toad-like eyes shifted toward the woods on the other side. There was no sign of movement there, but he knew it was because a powerful barrier was concealing that area.
"Dad!"
A voice suddenly cried out, brimming with excitement.
When Minato turned around, a cheerful blond boy appeared behind him. Six whisker-like marks ran across his cheeks. He wore a Konoha Forehead Protector and a Konoha flak jacket over a black mesh shirt.
"Ah!"
"Naruto!"
"It's been years. You've grown so tall..."
Minato smiled warmly at the boy, who looked a lot like him, and gently patted his head.
"Hehehe..."
"Dad, I've grown into an excellent shinobi now! I'm not a kid anymore!"
Naruto quickly ducked away from Minato's hand, then waved his arms as he regaled him with tales of his heroic deeds, punctuating them every now and then with his usual "Dattebayo!"
When Minato noticed the bandages wrapped around Naruto's right hand, a look of concern