"Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato."
"Captain, congratulations on making your dream come true."
After parting ways with Naruto Uzumaki, Uchiha Aoba smiled at Namikaze Minato and congratulated him.
"That's something that'll happen in the future. It hasn't happened yet."
Namikaze Minato replied with an embarrassed smile, then his expression turned serious. "All right, let's put aside anything unrelated to the mission for now and continue with our original plan."
"Aoba, you lead the way. Use your Sharingan to observe the chakra flow, and we'll investigate along its path."
"Got it. Follow me."
At the mention of business, Uchiha Aoba grew serious as well.
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated.
The faint blue chakra flowing through the pipes came into view. Uchiha Aoba said nothing more and headed straight out.
Elsewhere.
Naruto Uzumaki leaped from building to building.
As he searched for the others and considered what to do next, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers caught his attention. After a moment's thought, he couldn't help heading in that direction.
"Her Majesty the Queen!"
"Her Majesty the Queen!"
It seemed some kind of celebration was underway.
The lively scene drew Naruto Uzumaki's attention, so he crouched up high to watch.
"Her Majesty the Queen?"
"Sara?"
The people's cheers reminded Naruto Uzumaki of the information Namikaze Minato had shared with him before they parted.
Just then,
a familiar figure wearing a queen's crown appeared in his view. Guarded by two puppets, she kept waving to the crowd below.
"She's the queen?"
The scene from when he had traveled through time came to mind. Naruto couldn't help smiling as he murmured, "What a coincidence. If I ask her, I should be able to learn a few things."
As soon as he finished speaking,
a hidden hand appeared behind Sara and gave her a hard shove.
"Ah!!"
Sara cried out as she broke through the platform and plummeted from the high tower.
Naruto Uzumaki saw everything. Without time to think, he leaped forward to save her, caught her around the waist in midair, then carried her bridal-style and landed safely on the ground before retreating into the shadows.
Naruto Uzumaki really was Namikaze Minato's son.
His dramatic rescue of a young woman was almost exactly like the time Namikaze Minato had rescued Kushina from Kumogakure ninja in his youth.
But the outcome was completely different for the father and son.
Namikaze Minato had won the beautiful girl's heart, while Naruto Uzumaki had a much rougher time.
The young woman in his arms not only failed to thank him, but treated him like a lecher and unleashed a flurry of slaps across his face.
Naruto Uzumaki was beaten until tears and snot ran down his face. He couldn't help muttering, "Teacher Aoba was absolutely right. Women are the most terrifying creatures in the world."
He'd barely finished speaking when another elbow strike landed squarely in his face, knocking Naruto onto his back.
"Pervert, let go of me!"
Sara held her hands to her chest, looking as if she'd been violated.
Naruto Uzumaki was angry now, too. "What are you doing?"
"I saved you, and this is how a queen shows her gratitude?"
"Hm?"
Sara froze. Then her expression changed, and she straightened up. "You're right. I should thank you."
"Thank you."
Naruto Uzumaki stared at Sara as she abruptly changed her attitude, a string of question marks popping into his head.
What is wrong with this woman? Does she have a split personality?
"By the way, who are you?" Sara asked.
"You don't look like one of the townspeople. You're an outsider."
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Naruto Uzumaki, a Konoha Ninja." Naruto pointed at himself.
"You're a Konoha Ninja?"
Sara's eyes lit up.
"I placed a request before, asking you to investigate the disturbance in the Dragon Vein."
"You're finally here."
"But... are you the only one?"
"It's a bit complicated," Naruto Uzumaki said, scratching his head. "How should I explain it?"
After a moment's thought, he added, "There are others with us, but we split up."
Then he immediately changed the subject.
"More important than that, there's something else I need to warn you about."
"I saw someone push you from behind, which is why you fell from the tower."
"Really? I had that feeling, too," Sara said, her expression downcast.
But then she objected, "That can't be right. Why would anyone want to take my life?"
"You saw how warmly my people welcomed me."
"For a queen, she's unbelievably naive. She's the perfect airheaded sweetheart."
Uchiha Aoba's teasing voice rang out. "I suddenly want to know how you made it this far."
"Aoba, that's very rude!" Namikaze Minato scolded.
Choza Akimichi said nothing, but his expression conveyed the same sentiment.
"Sorry, I couldn't help myself."
Uchiha Aoba shrugged helplessly.
"Who are you?"
Faced with three strangers who had suddenly appeared, Sara cried out in alarm and fear.
Naruto Uzumaki, on the other hand, was overjoyed.
"Dad, Teacher Aoba, Uncle Choza!"
"Um, you know each other?"
Seeing the reaction of the man who had saved her, Sara calmed down again. "So you three came with him to investigate the disturbance in the Dragon Vein."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Namikaze Minato replied with a nod.
"Aoba will explain the investigation to you."
"Aoba?"
"That's me!"
Watching Sara's puzzled expression, Uchiha Aoba folded his hands in front of himself and spoke calmly.
"You? You're just a child."
Sara's eyes were full of doubt, and she made no attempt to hide her distrust.
Uchiha Aoba's mouth twitched.
"Looks like I'll have to clear something up before I explain."
"I only look young. I'm actually not that young—I'm thirteen this year."
Without waiting for Sara to object, he continued, "And regardless of my age, Your Majesty, you're in serious trouble. Your country has fallen entirely into the hands of Anrokuzan, the Sunagakure missing-nin known as Mukade."
"Your people are being enslaved, and your country is on the verge of destruction."
"Impossible!" Sara protested in disbelief.
"Do you see these pipes?" Uchiha Aoba pointed to the pipes running between the towers. "Mukade draws chakra from the Dragon Vein through these pipes, which stretch throughout the town, and uses it to control his puppet army."
"As for where his puppet army comes from, you should know, as queen. How many people in your town have been out of contact for a long time?"
"They're being forced by Mukade to help him manufacture puppets."
Sara took the news like a thunderbolt. Her mind reeling, she murmured, "Impossible. You must be lying."
"I don't know who this Mukade you're talking about is, but he's definitely not Anrokuzan."
"He came to town six years ago. He's a capable man. My mother and I relied on him to build Rōran into what it is today."
Before you continue