Rescue

With Akaseki there, the task of finding the hair became much easier.

Once he confirmed that Minato Namikaze wasn't planning to defect, Akaseki felt at ease accompanying him to track down the group that had kidnapped Kushina...

Finally, just before they were about to leave the perimeter of the Forest of Death, Akaseki and Minato spotted their target!

"Three enemies. They look like Cloud Ninja, and their Chakra definitely hasn't reached the level of a Jonin," Akaseki said after confirming the number of enemies.

As for their "look"...

Two dark-skinned, one light-skinned—this was clearly the standard configuration of Kumogakure!

Even without wearing forehead protectors, their clothing was unmistakably in the style of Kumogakure—they clearly hadn't intended to hide their identities, assuming that even if they were discovered, Kumogakure would simply claim they were rogue ninja.

Kushina was currently being marched along with her hands tied behind her back, and it looked like they were about to exit the borders of Konoha.

Fortunately, Kushina hadn't given up; she had been secretly pulling out strands of her unique red hair to signal for help, all while pretending to struggle with her pace, dragging her feet despite the kicks and shoves from her captors...

At the same time, because the rope used to bind her seemed to have the property of absorbing Chakra, the Cloud Ninja didn't dare to hoist her up and run.

"Let's get ready to move! I'll go ahead and draw their attention, and you will..." Minato suggested directly.

"Wait, I already sent a signal earlier... reinforcements should be here soon!" Akaseki was more cautious and didn't want to engage directly.

However, Minato shook his head and said, "No, we're about to leave the Forest of Death. Once we're outside, we'll be out of Konoha's territory. There's no telling how many Cloud Ninja might be lying in ambush. If they get out, it will be much harder to save her."

The Forest of Death was Konoha's Training Ground 44...

The barrier on the perimeter was Konoha's barrier!

Once they left the Forest of Death from this side, they would be completely outside of Konoha's territory, and there could be any number of experts lurking in wait to receive them.

Akaseki also felt that Minato's words made sense...

Inside the Forest of Death, at least the enemy's Jonin wouldn't dare to enter recklessly.

"Why are they so slow... Alright, but I'll use Genjutsu to strike first, and you go save her." After complaining about the speed of the reinforcements, Akaseki agreed with Minato's assessment.

Minato had suggested going first because Akaseki was only there because he had brought him along, so he was willing to shoulder more of the danger.

Akaseki had his own ideas; using Genjutsu for a sneak attack would be more effective at pinning down the opponents!

"Understood!" Minato didn't hesitate and nodded immediately.

"Sharingan, activate!" Akaseki activated his "2+1" Sharingan.

Then, the single tomoe in Akaseki's right eye began to glow with an increasingly scarlet light, and the tomoe slowly rotated...

"Demonic Illusion: Fox Illusion Technique!"

Two elite Chunin and one Special Jonin from Kumogakure were impatiently urging the stumbling Kushina forward.

"Move faster! Don't drag your feet, no one is coming to save you!" Soku barked.

Because the special rope was constantly absorbing her Chakra, Kushina was in a state of near-total depletion, and her stumbling wasn't entirely an act. Her eyes were gradually losing focus, yet she mechanically continued to break off strands of hair to signal for help.

"Be careful, everyone. We're about to leave Konoha's territory. Once we're outside... we'll have succeeded!"

"With a member of the Uzumaki Clan, our Kumogakure will finally be able to control the power of a Tailed Beast..."

"Hm? That's not right... it feels like we've..."

"What's wrong?"

Ah—

The three Kumogakure ninja, affected by the "Demonic Illusion: Fox Illusion Technique," had been walking in circles in the same spot, only realizing it after walking for quite a while!

It was a pity that Akaseki's Genjutsu wasn't strong enough; otherwise, he could have made the three of them walk all the way back to Konoha.

The next moment, a flash of golden light appeared—Minato Namikaze ambushed one of them, driving a kunai directly into his neck, while simultaneously grabbing Kushina's arm and swinging her toward the side...

Swish—

Before the Cloud Ninja could react, they saw Kushina vanish abruptly after hitting the bushes.

"Oh no! It's Genjutsu!"

"Release!"

Of the three Cloud Ninja, Soku, who had been ambushed first, was already clutching his neck and rolling on the ground; without a Medical Ninja to support him, he clearly wouldn't survive.

The other two, seeing this, hurriedly disrupted their Chakra to break the Genjutsu.

The surrounding tree shadows shifted instantly. At the same time, the vanished Kushina was seen lying in a clearing, with another Konoha ninja standing in front of her...

"Damn it... two brats!" The Cloud Ninja Boku realized that, including the one who had ambushed them, both of these Konoha ninja looked like mere children.

"Careful! It's a brat from the Uchiha Clan." The other Cloud Ninja, Hope, looked at Akaseki's eyes and warned solemnly.

However, while his attention was drawn by Akaseki's eyes...

Crack—

A sudden thunderous sound rang out. Hope turned his head in a daze, only to see that Boku, despite being prepared and in a one-on-one fight, had been kicked flying by the yellow-haired brat after only a few exchanges, slamming hard into a tree!

Zzzzt—

Before Boku, who had just crashed into a tree trunk, could react, Minato was already in pursuit, weaving hand signs—Dog, Dragon, Clap—Wind Style: Gale Palm!

At this moment, the "wind blades" unleashed by Minato's Gale Palm were significantly longer than they had been a month and a half ago.

Boku, unaware of Minato's intelligence, assumed this was an ordinary Gale Palm. He thought that as long as he kept his distance, the wind pressure would diminish sharply, so after scrambling backward, he didn't take it seriously, only to have a deep, gaping wound slashed across his chest and abdomen.

"You..." Kubo was clearly stunned that a mere child could cultivate the shape transformation of wind Chakra to such a degree, sustaining an injury that directly impacted his combat effectiveness.

Meanwhile, on Hope's side...

"Do you still have the leisure to look elsewhere?" Akaseki said, his hands moving through a series of seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

The fire Chakra had barely been exhaled by Akaseki before it transformed into a massive, heat-radiating fireball thirteen or fourteen meters in diameter, sweeping toward Hope.

This was from the perspective of a third party.

To Hope, who was not far away, it looked like a sea of fire surging toward him!

As for where this third-party perspective came from?

"This Minato Namikaze is quite good. He has a clean background and isn't held back by any ninja clans, Sarutobi..." Danzo watched Minato with covetous eyes.

"Call me Lord Hokage!" Sarutobi's tone made his answer clear.

"I just think it's rare to find such a talented civilian ninja. Most importantly, upon realizing his companion was in danger, he immediately pursued without fear..." Danzo said, refusing to give up.

Sarutobi's expression turned stern. "That is why I am very relieved that Jiraiya is teaching him now."

Seeing Danzo remain silent, Sarutobi said bluntly, "I said he is being taught by Jiraiya now. Did you not hear me?"

Sensing that Sarutobi was about to lose his temper, Danzo immediately replied, "Yes, Lord Hokage is wise."

However, after indicating he would not approach Minato, Danzo paused and added, "It's just that this Akaseki must be watched! Not only did he immediately track the future Jinchuriki upon noticing a situation, harboring malicious intent, but he is also quite talented!"

Sarutobi: ...

Do you even hear yourself right now?

Dongdong: Updating early for the Monday rankings. Please vote, please vote, please vote~~