I Won't Let You Hurt My Companions!

"Ugh!"

White Fang clenched his teeth and clamped his hands over his ears, while enduring the scorching heat of the steam!

But soon, he felt someone catch him. After a flash, he landed steadily on the ground.

"Are you all right, Senior White Fang?" Minato asked with concern.

"Mi... Minato?" White Fang's ears were still ringing, but he recognized Minato's voice. (He hadn't endured the sonic attack for very long.)

"I didn't expect to run into you here, White Fang."

The old man's voice was somewhat cold, yet it gave White Fang an incomparable sense of security.

"Lord Hokage, you... what are you doing here?" White Fang was shocked, and even felt a little moved.

Konoha had received his distress signal after all. The Third had even personally led a team to reinforce them!

"Now isn't the time to talk about that." The Third stared fixedly at the enormous figure in the distance.

"Let's deal with the Five-Tails Jinchuriki first. We can't let the Five-Tails Jinchuriki threaten the village!"

"...Yes!" White Fang got to his feet and patted Minato on the shoulder to show he was fine.

Looking again at the Five-Tails, now back on its feet, White Fang gritted his teeth and rolled his shoulder. "I just fought the Five-Tails and learned some new information."

"The Five-Tails Jinchuriki... may have some kind of genjutsu. The content is absurd, but it feels real."

"I realized what was happening, but no matter what I did, I couldn't break it."

White Fang's expression was grave. "Everyone, please be extremely careful!"

Everyone grew solemn. The Five-Tails Jinchuriki had such powerful genjutsu, too?

"Even Senior White Fang couldn't break it... This is going to be tricky." Minato pondered.

Unexpectedly, Aburame Shibi, who was usually so quiet, stepped forward.

"If it's genjutsu, I may be able to help."

"I've recently bred a new type of bug called an 'Illusion-Breaking Bug.' It needs to attach itself to you." (A little headcanon.)

Aburame Shibi held out a hand. A bug about the size of an adult dung beetle appeared in his palm.

"The bugs will absorb a small amount of chakra. If they sense that you're under genjutsu, they'll forcibly disrupt your chakra... It may be a little painful, but it'll definitely work."

"Be careful, Indra. I can sense hostility from those humans..." The Five-Tails still sounded just as disgusted.

"Yeah, I can sense it too..."

Ruohuo silently formed Hand Seals and summoned a Shadow Clone.

Even when reality was right in front of them, people often found it hard to believe if it was beyond their understanding.

Besides, this world had genjutsu, which offered people a convenient excuse for their ignorance...

But killing a Five-Tails Jinchuriki and capturing the Tailed Beast at the age of seven does sound a little absurd, huh.

Ruohuo scratched his head, suddenly understanding how White Fang had felt.

He'd abandoned the mission and taken a huge risk to barely make it back to Konoha with his companions.

Then, along the way, a classmate of Team Kakashi showed up, riding the Five-Tails and carrying its Jinchuriki, and told him everything had already been taken care of: Kanabi Bridge had been blown up, so there was nothing to worry about...

Aside from Orochimaru, probably no one would believe this wasn't genjutsu...

But the system gave me all this stuff. What can I do about it...

Three Tomoe + a super Fire Style buff, and Han wasn't even a "complete" Jinchuriki.

Honestly... even Grandmother could win in this situation.

As for the Five-Tails...

He'd earned this mount with his own strength. The Five-Tails had simply taken a liking to Indra's Chakra. What was he supposed to do?

"They're coming, Indra..."

The Five-Tails Kokuō warned him, its chakra growing hotter as steam poured from its nostrils. It was officially entering battle mode.

"Then let's go all out, Kokuō!"

Ruohuo clapped his hands together, his eyes growing brighter with excitement.

All he had to do was wait for them to attack first. Then he could claim self-defense!

"ROAR!!!!!"

The Five-Tails let out another earth-shaking roar!

"Everyone, move!"

The Third formed a Hand Seal with one hand. Enma thrust forward. "Extend!"

Enma stretched over a hundred meters, stabbing toward the Five-Tails like a javelin!

"Dodge first," Ruohuo ordered.

The Five-Tails Kokuō immediately abandoned its plan to deflect Enma with its horn and charged to the left!

"Don't think you can get away!" The Third shouted, swinging Enma at the Five-Tails. Then he yelled, "Minato!"

"Right!"

Minato was ready. He placed a hand on each of his two teammates and activated the Flying Thunder God, appearing at the very tip of Enma!

Minato wasn't yet the renowned Yellow Flash, but all he lacked was a reputation that made enemies fear him. At the very least, he had already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Their current goal was to restrain the Five-Tails temporarily, then have the Sealing Squad seal the Five-Tails and its Jinchuriki by force!

"Don't let them get close, Kokuō! Charge!" Ruohuo ordered again through their mental link.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The three had just teleported when they used the Body Flicker Technique, aiming to land on the Five-Tails' massive body.

But the Five-Tails suddenly bent its legs, gathered its strength, and sped up again, evading them!

"Hold on tight!"

Minato immediately threw a Flying Thunder God Kunai inscribed with the Sword of Shinobi Love. The kunai barely caught up with the Five-Tails, and then Minato activated the Flying Thunder God again.

Whoosh!

Team Minato appeared again, this time in the air behind the Five-Tails. Minato caught the Flying Thunder God Kunai in his teeth, while Akimichi Choza grabbed his two teammates and hurled them down at the Five-Tails!

"Go!"

"Secret Technique: Insect Infestation!" Aburame Shibi released a mass of Kikaichū, which surged toward the Five-Tails like black smoke!

Minato's attack was simple and direct. Chakra gathered in his hand and rapidly expanded. "Rasengan Super Dance Sky-Piercing God Strike!"

Isn't that just a Big Ball Rasengan? Ruohuo's eyebrow twitched, but he didn't dare let his guard down.

Though the technique's name was a little over-the-top, its power was no joke. If it hit the Five-Tails head-on...

"I won't let you hurt my companions!"

Shadow Clone No. 1 rushed in front of Minato, ready to protect Kokuō with his life!

"Why is there a child here? Uchiha!? Sharingan!? And Three Tomoe!?"

Minato was shocked. He immediately remembered what Senior White Fang had said and realized this was very likely genjutsu.

A completely absurd genjutsu... The Five-Tails couldn't possibly have been brought here by this boy riding on its back, could it?

Had the Five-Tails Jinchuriki been replaced? But he was even wearing Konoha's Headband!

But the key thing was, Shibi's Illusion-Breaking Bugs weren't reacting!

Could the Five-Tails' genjutsu fool even bugs?

One thought after another flashed through Minato's mind. The little sun couldn't bring himself to attack a child, but that wasn't his only option.

The Flying Thunder God Kunai fell from his mouth. Minato activated the Flying Thunder God where he stood, but forcibly changed his position mid-teleport!

Instead of facing Ruohuo's Shadow Clone No. 1, he ended up upside down, facing him—and slammed the Big Ball Rasengan into the Five-Tails!

"ROAR!!!!!"

The Five-Tails let out a pained roar. After all, the technique could split mountains and shatter stone!

"Did it work?" Minato was thrilled. He quickly turned to look at the Uchiha boy, only to see that his eyes had reddened and his hands were forming Hand Seals!

"Why are you hurting my companions?!"

"Damn it! You're not Konoha shinobi at all!"

"Then face the fury of my Will of Fire!"

The Shadow Clone sucked in a huge breath. "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"