Inside the carriage, Uzumaki Kuming had sent Kakashi and the others to deal with the bandits blocking the road. Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest again, Kurama's voice came from within his mind.
"Kuming, a few of those bandits have very strange Chakra. In terms of strength, it's no weaker than that white-haired brat's."
"Are you really not going to go take a look?"
Within Kuming's mindscape, Kurama slightly opened its narrow fox eyes and grinned as it asked.
"It's fine. A ninja's strength isn't determined by Chakra alone."
"Kakashi and the others can handle it. There's no need to worry."
"Still, Kurama, why are you suddenly concerned about those brats?"
Kurama's words surprised Kuming. Kurama wasn't the type to meddle in other people's business. Although Kakashi and the others had spent a long time with Kuming, Kurama had never shown any concern for anyone else.
"Hmph!"
"These people are important combatants in our fight against Madara Uchiha. I just don't want our side's strength to suffer any losses."
Kurama snorted. As soon as it heard Kuming's words, it closed its eyes and acted as if it had no interest in the matter. The word "tsundere" was practically written all over its fox face. Kuming chuckled without calling it out, simply reassuring it:
"Don't worry. I'm keeping an eye on things."
"Although Kakashi and the other two are Minato's students, after spending so much time together, I've already come to think of them as my own juniors."
"And just as you said, they'll be important combatants for Konoha in the future, and valuable allies in our fight against Madara Uchiha."
As Kuming spoke, Mind's Eye of the Kagura spread outward, covering the entire area. When he sensed a corpse lying by the roadside up ahead,