Then he froze in place.
All twelve Anbu lay on the ground.
There were no wounds, no bloodstains. They had simply lost consciousness-each had a tiny needle mark on the side of their neck.
And two people stood among them.
One wore snow-white clothes, his black hair flowing.
The other was pale and cold, with emerald tear tracks.
"Uchiha... Ryūha." Minato forced the name out through clenched teeth.
"Good evening, Minato." Liuyu smiled in greeting, as though he were attending a tea party.
"I heard Kushina was about to give birth, so I came especially to offer my congratulations."
"What do you want?!" Minato's kunai was already aimed at Liuyu. "Leave immediately, or-"
"Or?" Liuyu raised an eyebrow. "Or will you kill me with a more advanced Flying Thunder God?"
Minato's pupils contracted slightly.
How did he know...?
"Relax. I didn't come to fight today." Liuyu walked slowly forward.
Ulquiorra followed silently behind him. "I just wanted to..."
He paused, his smile deepening.
"Give you a congratulatory gift."
"Stop!" Minato hurled his kunai, and his figure flashed. He was already behind Liuyu-Flying Thunder God Technique!
But his kunai pierced only an afterimage.
At some point, Liuyu's real body had appeared at the delivery room door.
He did not even glance at Minato. He merely raised a hand and gently pushed open the stone door.
"No-!!!" Minato roared and teleported again.
But Ulquiorra blocked his path.
The Fourth Espada raised his hand, a speck of pitch-black reiatsu gathering at the tip of his index finger.
"Do not disturb His Majesty."
"Get out of my way!" A Rasengan formed in Minato's hand, and he slammed it at Ulquiorra.
Ulquiorra neither dodged nor evaded. He simply touched the Rasengan lightly with that finger.
Pop.
The Rasengan burst like a bubble.
Minato's eyes widened.