Damn Cloud Village, Daring to Impersonate Konoha Anbu

It seemed that in order to shake off any potential pursuers, the three of them had circled the village for a while before finally heading toward the Eastern Forest, according to Minato's sensory perception.

Katsuyu crawled out of the room at a leisurely pace: "Minato, has the battle ended?"

"They have retreated, but I have left a tracking mark on them."

Minato created a Wood Clone: "Sensei will be back soon, and I still need to pursue them. I will leave the rest to you."

"Leave it to me!"

The Wood Clone nodded, while the original body vanished from the spot using Body Flicker, chasing in the direction of the Eastern Forest.

"Lady Katsuyu, please let them out."

"Very well."

Katsuyu's body rippled, pushing Kushina and Nawaki out from within herself.

"Ugh! I almost suffocated!"

Nawaki collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.

Kushina, meanwhile, threw herself into the clone's arms: "Minato!"

"I am a clone."

The clone patted Kushina's back: "The original has gone to track those people."

Hearing that the original had left, Kushina's expression tightened: "Tracking? Will there be danger?"

"There won't be."

The clone reassured her: "I would never act rashly without being fully prepared."

As he spoke, several figures broke through the air, and Tsunade appeared in the courtyard with a few Anbu members.

Seeing who had arrived, Nawaki's face lit up: "Sister!"

"Nawaki! Are you two alright?"

Tsunade stepped forward quickly, pulling them toward her to inspect them carefully, her eyes filled with lingering fear.

"We're fine..."

Nawaki sighed: "Kushina and I were protected by Katsuyu; only Minato fought them."

Tsunade looked at Minato: "Minato, you..."

"I am a Wood Clone!"

The Minato before her spread his hands: "The original is chasing them toward the Eastern Forest."

"The Eastern Forest..."

Tsunade's expression darkened: "Who were the ones who attacked you?"

"They were wearing Kumogakure uniforms during the fight, but I couldn't be certain. Let me ask the original."

As the Wood Clone spoke, he created a Shadow Clone and then dispelled it, quickly receiving the information transmitted back by the original.

"It is indeed Kumogakure! They have established a base beneath the Eastern Forest and even disguised themselves as Anbu!"

"Disguised as... Anbu?"

Tsunade instantly understood the implications and couldn't help but sneer: "So that's it. Those despicable Kumogakure ninjas actually dared to disguise themselves as Konoha Anbu! Can you handle it?"

"No problem!"

Hearing their conversation, the few Anbu members behind Tsunade were momentarily stunned.

If they remembered correctly, wasn't that the location of the Root base?

The Anbu captain hesitated and spoke up: "Wait a moment, Lady Tsunade, over at the Eastern Forest..."

"What about over there?"

Tsunade turned her head sharply, her eyes brimming with coldness: "If it isn't Kumogakure, are you suggesting it's the Anbu? Only the Hokage has the authority to directly mobilize the Anbu. Are you suggesting the Third wants to assassinate Nawaki?"

"This..."

The corner of the Anbu captain's mouth twitched beneath his mask.

According to the Konoha Anbu system, the Konoha Anbu had a full complement of 70 members—at least, that was the official number.

Excluding the captain and vice-captain, the remaining 68 members were divided into four squads of 17, each with a squad leader and four teams.

The Root, controlled by Danzo, was technically considered one of those squads.

So, strictly speaking, the Root was also directly under the Hokage!

But he didn't dare admit to that; otherwise, he might be assigned a mission to assassinate the Raikage by tomorrow.

They were just a regular surveillance team, drawn here to investigate the situation after the explosion; there was no need to risk their lives for someone like Danzo.

"Alright, don't make things difficult for them, Tsunade."

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with two advisors, followed by several Anbu members.

"I will give you an explanation for this matter."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was solemn; having overheard the conversation between Tsunade and the Anbu, it was not difficult for him to guess who was behind it.

Tsunade let out a cold sneer, her slender fingers cracking as she clenched them into fists: "Damn the Cloud Village, to think they would dare disguise themselves as the Third Hokage!"

"..."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a massive headache coming on.

"Alright, Tsunade, Hiruzen is the Hokage after all, and he is your teacher."

Utatane Koharu breathed a sigh of relief; since Tsunade had not pierced through this layer of pretense, they would certainly not be the ones to do so.

Although she was also dissatisfied with Danzo's actions, as an advisor, she still had to prioritize Wood Release.

"The most urgent priority is to reach the Eastern Forest as quickly as possible. For Konoha, the existence of Wood Release cannot be lost. The Cloud Village has strength in numbers, and after all, Minato is just a child..."

"Cannot be lost?"

Tsunade gave a light scoff: "Is this what you call 'cannot be lost'?"

Seeing that Tsunade seemed ready to tear off the mask of civility, Utatane Koharu frowned: "Tsunade, what do you mean by this? Are you not worried about that child?"

Tsunade paused slightly; she was indeed very worried about Minato.

The main issue was that she did not fully understand Minato's specific strength.

She only knew that his raw power was not inferior to her own and that he possessed large-scale destructive techniques, but a ninja's battle involved more than just that, and she worried that Minato might fall into the enemy's traps.

"This adult's words make sense."

The clone tugged at the corner of Tsunade's sleeve: "Teacher, the main body is only one person after all. If he cannot wipe out that group from the Cloud Village, the thought of the mastermind lurking in the shadows makes me so afraid that I can't even use Wood Release."

As these words fell, the faces of the two advisors shifted slightly, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyelids twitched. How could he not hear that Minato was forcing their hand?

This child's reaction was incredibly fast!

Tsunade's eyes widened slightly, and then she burst into a laugh: "That's right, too. Nawaki, take Kushina to Grandma's place first; have the Anbu escort you there."

Following that, she scooped up the Wood Clone: "Lead the way. I want to see exactly how that group from the Cloud Village managed to pull this off right under the noses of the Anbu!"

With that, ignoring Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, she took the lead and rushed toward the Eastern Forest, with the Third and his party following closely behind at a slight distance.

"Hiruzen, his behavior this time has gone too far."

Mitokado Homura said in a low voice: "No matter the nature of your disputes, they should never involve others. If he wants your position, he should compete fair and square, not resort to such low-handed tactics against a child."

Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement, chiming in: "People change. That man has already changed, and as Hokage, you shouldn't remain as naive as you were in the past."

"I know..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed: "Once I find evidence, I will arrest him immediately."

Arrest?

Mitokado Homura shook his head and said nothing.

As expected, his habit of being soft-hearted had not changed at all.

If they did not provide Tsunade with a satisfactory explanation for this incident, Konoha would simultaneously lose Wood Release, the backup Jinchuriki, and the political support of the First Hokage's descendant.

Although they were supporters of Hiruzen Sarutobi, as advisors, they had to view every matter from the perspective of the village first.

What was most important to the village right now?

Naturally, it was Wood Release and the backup Jinchuriki; these were the foundations of the village and existed as things that absolutely could not be lost!

In a critical moment, they would even have to risk their own lives to shield them from harm!

The group rushed toward the Eastern Forest, while at the same time, inside the Root Base in the Eastern Forest.

Minato was in the middle of a slaughter!