Without Uzumaki Kushina's warning, Namikaze Minato had already noticed the attack from behind.
He leaped to the right to evade the bolt of lightning and landed atop a tree.
The spot where he had been standing was charred black by the sudden lightning strike, and Namikaze Minato could even clearly see smoke still rising from it.
Seeing that Namikaze Minato had dodged the lightning, Uzumaki Kushina finally relaxed.
But the moment she relaxed, the exhaustion in both her body and mind made it impossible for her to remain standing.
Her body first sank as she dropped to her knees. With her hands tied behind her back and no arms to brace herself, Uzumaki Kushina could only fall toward the ground.
Namikaze Minato was still wary of the lightning's owner, but when he saw Uzumaki Kushina about to fall, he rushed over and caught her.
"It's all right now."
As soon as he spoke, Namikaze Minato saw another bolt of lightning strike from deep within the woods.
He immediately helped Uzumaki Kushina up. Even as the lightning was about to strike him, he showed no fear.
Held up by him, Uzumaki Kushina saw the lightning coming, yet Namikaze Minato did not dodge.
She shut her eyes anxiously. In the instant before the lightning struck, she did not have time to say so much and could only think desperately.
Minato, run! Leave me behind!
In truth, Uzumaki Kushina's first reaction had been to push Namikaze Minato away so he would not be struck.
But Namikaze Minato had a firm grip on her arm, and she truly had little strength left, so she could not move him.
Time seemed to slow.
The bolt was only a few centimeters away from Namikaze Minato, yet he still wore that calm expression in the face of