Once You're Here, You're a Konoha Shinobi

Watching Akashi Uchiha's performance, Danzo grew increasingly wary.

He was only twelve, yet he had already gained considerable mastery over chakra transformation...

This was far beyond what could be explained by the benefits of awakening the Sharingan. Clearly, he was another Uchiha genius!

And unlike most members of the Uchiha Clan, whose chakra transformation usually manifested as an "increased range," the most remarkable aspect of Akashi's Fire Style was not just its wide reach, but its "heat"!

Faced with the scorching Great Fireball Technique, the Cloud Ninja barely managed to dodge the fireball itself, but the heat still roasted his pale skin until it turned red.

"Lightning Style: Scattering Strike!"

Hope, his pale skin flushed red, now had lightning flashing around both fists. He dodged the Great Fireball and prepared to attack Akaseki.

Feeling the stinging pain across his body, Hope's heart sank further.

The Great Fireball Technique...

The Uchiha Clan loved this technique, and shinobi from every village knew it well.

Generally speaking, because its attack path was so "straightforward," the technique could only force people to dodge. It was difficult for it to actually hit anyone!

But now...

The heat was far beyond what he'd expected, and Hope was still burned by the residual heat.

At the same time, Hope saw Akaseki already prepared...

Seeing Akaseki adopt the opening stance commonly used in Uchiha Style Taijutsu, Hope thought furiously, Damn Uchiha brat, don't underestimate me!

He knew that Uchiha Style Taijutsu was powerful, but if it had a weakness... it was its low margin for error. The stronger the fighter, the more effective it was.

As far as Hope was concerned, it was one thing for a kid to hone a single ninjutsu technique. But could he really be just as skilled at taijutsu...?

The next moment, just as the fist crackling with lightning was about to hit Akaseki, Akaseki leaped up and dodged. His perfectly timed evasion gave him a wide-open opportunity to counterattack—the very essence of a "dodge and counter"!

At the same time, Akaseki brought down his right hand, which he'd held behind his back in his opening stance. A layer of rock already coated it...

Earth Style: Super Lightweight Rock Technique!

Empowered by Earth Style, his fist slammed into the back of Hope's head, knocking him out of the fight in a single blow.

As Akaseki landed with a somersault, he glanced over at Minato, thinking he should go help. But Minato had already dealt with his opponent too.

After exchanging a look, Minato immediately ran to Kushina. Akaseki pulled out a kunai...

Though Kushina was still bound, she had already struggled to her feet on her own.

"Kushina, are you hurt? Akaseki and I came to save you," Minato said.

Only then did the dazed Kushina finally realize that her fellow villagers had arrived.

The clouds parted, and in the moonlight, Minato Namikaze looked even more yellow.

Just then...

Squelch—

Ah—

A sound that ruined the mood rang out. They turned to look and saw Akaseki, his face utterly calm, using a kunai to finish off the opponent he'd just defeated. Blood splattered across his face.

"One prisoner is enough. It'd be hard to take two back with us," Akaseki said calmly when he noticed them looking.

Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze: ...

They were both still "children," but they were children who'd graduated from the Ninja Academy. Though killing someone for the first time was unpleasant, neither of them had any strong emotional attachments holding them back.

Minato untied Kushina, then bound the only surviving prisoner.

Though Kushina was free now, her legs were still unsteady. Seeing that she could barely stand, Minato lifted her into his arms. Akaseki escorted their sole Cloud Ninja prisoner. Ever since the coup in Kumogakure had led to the Second Hokage's death, relations between Kumogakure and Konoha had been especially fraught. And now they'd actually sent people to kidnap an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan from Konoha...

Capturing this prisoner was a huge achievement!

Seeing Minato nobly carry the girl, Akaseki stood tall and proudly accepted the credit for himself.

"I..." Kushina still felt a little embarrassed.

"We're too close to Konoha's border. There must be Jonin from Kumogakure waiting outside to help them. We should hurry back," Akaseki reminded them.

"Only... you two came after me?" Kushina asked, puzzled.

"Yeah. I left a warning technique behind. How come everyone was so slow...?" Akaseki complained.

"I mean... you two actually came after me yourselves to rescue me?" Kushina asked, touched.

"Of course. You're an important companion from our village. I don't want to lose you," Minato replied with a calm smile.

Akaseki glanced at him. How can you say something so mushy?

"But you never did anything when you saw other people picking on me..." Kushina murmured.

She was clearly talking about what had happened at the Ninja Academy—when she'd fought back against the bullies.

"Because I believe you're strong and resilient, in both body and spirit," Minato said, then added after a pause, "But this is different. It's no longer just kids messing around. This is a conflict between villages."

"So... you were willing to risk yourselves to rescue even an outsider like me?" Kushina seemed somewhat relieved.

"Don't be silly. You've lived and studied in Konoha, and graduated here... You're one of Konoha's own!" Minato said matter-of-factly.

"Exactly! Once you're here, you're a Konoha shinobi! If we're going to be that particular about it, then aside from our Uchiha and Senju Clans, aren't all of you outsiders?" Akaseki added, even more matter-of-factly.

Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze: ...

"Our Uchiha and Senju Clans called on everyone to build the village. We never considered you outsiders! Hahaha..."

Akaseki. Fire Style range +1.jpg.

Faced with Akaseki's explosive remark, which nearly got Minato kicked out of the village too, Kushina turned her head slightly and edged a little closer to Minato.

"Akaseki, thank you," Minato said gratefully.

"Hmm?"

"I mean, it's a good thing you were nearby. Otherwise, I might have lost track of them..."

Elsewhere, the several Konoha elders who'd been following the three were nearly speechless too.

"Hahaha, honestly, what is that child saying?" Lanyu said in the tone of someone making excuses for a kid who'd spoken out of turn. At the same time...

Lanyu. Fire Style range +1.jpg.

"But he's not wrong. The other ninja clans and the civilian shinobi are all important companions in the village. Just like now—what would we do without Lord Hokage Sarutobi? Hahaha..." Though Jiancheng stressed how important "Lord Hokage" was, his pride was impossible to miss.

Jiancheng. Fire Style range +1.jpg.

"Exactly. What would we do? Hahaha..." Lanyu chimed in.

Kagami: ...

Kagami. Fire Style extinguishing difficulty +1.jpg.

Sarutobi merely smiled at the Uchiha Clan's usual antics and said nothing, but Danzo beside him frowned deeply.

The people following them never showed themselves. Only when Akaseki and Minato were about to leave the Forest of Death did the Anbu sent by the village appear. They took custody of the prisoner Akaseki had brought back and arranged for Kushina to receive medical treatment.

Akaseki and Minato had to be questioned as well. After all, on the surface, "the candidate Jinchuriki had nearly been kidnapped."

In reality, though, it was only a formality. The Hokage knew full well what was going on...