Beneath the glaring sun, the thick clouds overhead scattered in the breeze, revealing the deep blue sky.
At that moment, on this desolate stretch of land,
dust billowed in every direction. Three figures slowly emerged from the thick haze.
The surrounding ninjas stared intently at the people who had descended from the sky, their faces full of shock.
Where had these guys come from!?
Of the three, Minato—with his pair of pale eyes—naturally drew the most attention. Nanli Hu had initially thought the newcomers were reinforcements from Iwagakure, but when he recognized those Byakugan, his face fell into utter despair.
He had Byakugan... There was no doubt that he was a Konoha ninja...
In the distance, Namuie watched the three newcomers warily. He didn't ask who they were, instead remaining silent as he pondered.
He scrutinized Minato, who stood in the middle of the trio, then glanced at the expressionless Sasori and Ulquiorra beside him. He thought to himself:
Hyuga Clan members?
Then... those two beside him must be from Konoha as well...
But just as Namuie was thinking this, he happened to notice the faintly shocked look on Hyuga Soshi's face. His eyes narrowed.
It seems... things aren't as simple as I thought...
In the distance, Hyuga Soshi watched the sudden appearance of Hyuga Minato—already engraved on the Konoha Hero Memorial Stone—with two ninjas of unknown identity. His expression darkened, and he said sternly,
"Hyuga Minato... Why, despite still being alive, didn't you return to the village?"
"You know that your actions could be judged as treason against Konoha, don't you?"
As Hyuga Soshi's words fell, the Hyuga Clan ninjas beside him all turned to look at Minato. Some eyed him with suspicion, while others were still stunned that he was alive.
Only Hyuga Sotsugu, the instant he saw