Minato Namikaze

In the Anbu's changing room, Yagami waited for the first batch of Anbu ninjas to graduate from Root.

Three new members.

They had each chosen three masks familiar to Yagami: Rei, Purple Cat, and Black Bull.

Yagami adjusted his Fox mask. Perhaps after he died, the Fox mask would also be returned to a locker in the changing room and worn by the next Anbu.

"Good day, Captain Fox!"

Yagami nodded and said, "The most important mission for the Fox Squad currently is to obey the command of Captain Black Gorilla and protect the Uzumaki Princess.

The Uzumaki Princess may die behind us, but she cannot die in front of us."

The three squad members quickly replied, "Yes!"

As dawn broke, the Black Gorilla Squad left the Forest of Death and arrived outside the Senju Clan Compound to switch shifts with another squad.

Anbu were not allowed to enter the Senju Clan Compound. When Uzumaki Kushina was inside the compound, her safety was the responsibility of the Senju Clan.

After leaving the compound, it became the Anbu's responsibility.

In the early morning, over ten children emerged from the Senju Clan Compound.

These children chatted and laughed, chasing each other playfully, carrying their school bags as they ran towards the Ninja Academy.

Among these children was Uzumaki Kushina.

Uzumaki Kushina's red hair was extremely striking in the morning light. She had just experienced the extermination of her clan, and her face showed no trace of the innocence belonging to her age, carrying sadness and melancholy.

Three young Senju girls surrounded Uzumaki Kushina, treating her very kindly.

Uzumaki Kushina entered the school.

Yagami hid behind the school building, using binoculars to observe the situation inside the classroom.

The teacher was explaining the parabolic trajectory of a kunai's descent.

Yagami didn't look at Uzumaki Kushina in the front row, but instead watched a blond child in the back of the classroom.

Minato Namikaze, the most dazzling genius of Konoha for the next fifteen years.

Minato Namikaze occasionally looked towards the front row, paying attention to the new transfer student with red hair.

After watching the classroom for a while, Yagami left the treetops and patrolled the Ninja Academy, checking every corner where someone might be hiding.

He encountered school teachers along the way. The teachers were unfazed, knowing that Anbu were protecting the Uzumaki Princess.

Following closely behind the recently graduated young clan head of the Senju, Nawaki, the Ninja Academy had welcomed its second important student, the Uzumaki Princess.

In the afternoon, it was the Ninja Academy's sparring class.

During the sparring class, Yagami was stunned.

Minato Namikaze's reaction speed was astonishingly fast.

After his reaction speed had been enhanced once, Yagami could see it more clearly.

The moment his opponent's shoulder twitched, Minato Namikaze had already raised his arm to block.

Minato Namikaze was so fast it was as if he could predict others' movements.

His Taijutsu defense was impenetrable, and when his opponent left an opening, a simple jab knocked them down.

The entire process looked effortless and graceful.

During the sparring break, Uzumaki Kushina was surrounded by some children who pointed and whispered at her.

Bullying the transfer student, the teacher quickly came over and chased the children away.

At 4 PM, the Anbu changed shifts, and the Black Gorilla Squad's duty ended.

Yagami went to Tsurutsuki Izakaya.

He ordered a pot of sake and some braised meat, passing the time alone.

The large amount of meat quickly strengthened Yagami's body.

Meat in Konoha was too expensive.

Just eating meat for one night cost 10,000 Ryo.

Even a Jonin like Asuma Sarutobi couldn't afford to eat this much meat.

The benefits were also obvious.

In the more than a month since he returned to the village, his Chakra reserves had naturally increased significantly.

Swallowing a large piece of beef, Yagami pondered that he needed to find a way to generate income, otherwise he wouldn't be able to afford meat.

The female owner, Kyouko, occasionally came to Yagami's side, asking if he needed anything else.

She really liked Yagami. He often stayed here, ordering the best sake and eating plenty of meat every day, spending a lot of money.

If she weren't a spy and was just the izakaya owner, she would surely like Yagami even more.

All the money Yagami earned was invested in food and drink.

He bantered with Kyouko, telling her not to diet recently, as her chest had become too thin from hunger.

Kyouko retorted that her bra was too tight today, and it definitely wasn't because she had lost weight.

After Kyouko went to attend to other matters, Yagami's pupils narrowed slightly.

The izakaya was filled with a mixed crowd.

The way one person, who had just entered, pulled out a chair made Yagami's heart skip a beat.

The movements of his shoulders, elbows, and wrists were exceptionally coordinated. When dragging the chair, its legs lifted off the ground, always hovering about an inch above the floor.

Cloud Style Swordsmanship…

Yagami couldn't be mistaken. This peculiar way of flicking the joints was definitely Cloud Style Swordsmanship from the Cloud Hidden Village.

After ten years of dedicated swordsmanship training, even without holding a sword, one's arms would be different from others.

Yagami was skilled in Cloud Style Swordsmanship, which was why he recognized it.

Using a sake cup to cover half his face, Yagami pondered. In the original story, a spy from the Cloud Hidden Village had kidnapped Uzumaki Kushina. Could the Cloud Ninja already be targeting Uzumaki Kushina?

This event should have occurred before Uzumaki Kushina became a Jinchuriki. The security for a Jinchuriki was much stronger than for the Uzumaki Princess.

The suspected Cloud Ninja spy chatted for an hour before leaving the izakaya.

Yagami haphazardly stuffed all the meat into his mouth and also got up to leave.

If he could contribute to guarding the Uzumaki Princess, he could at least get an A-rank mission, which would cover his meat expenses for the next month.

Without meat, there was no strength.

Kyouko quickly chased after him, "Hey! Aren't we going to research Yin Release together tonight?"

"Taking a day off. Researching Yin Release every day would be too much even for the Hokage's back."

Kyouko looked at Yagami leaving with regret.

After leaving the izakaya, Yagami didn't pursue the suspected spy. Instead, he took out a fox mask from his ninja tool pouch and went directly to find Uzumaki Kushina.

Yagami found Uzumaki Kushina in a small park near the Senju Clan Compound.

Not only did he find Uzumaki Kushina, but he also found another guarding Anbu squad.

Eight-hour shifts, three shifts per day. The Black Gorilla Squad's shift change was at 4 PM, with the next shift change at midnight.

Yagami didn't approach the guarding squad, keeping his distance.

The Anbu also didn't urge Uzumaki Kushina to return to the Senju Clan Compound. This was Uzumaki Kushina's adaptation period to Konoha, so it was better to let her move freely.

In the park, there were children from the Senju Clan, as well as Uzumaki Kushina's classmates.

Yagami saw Minato Namikaze in the park from afar using binoculars.

It was very late, and many children had already left the park. Even Minato Namikaze had gone home, walking towards the west.

The park was quiet.

Yagami yawned. How could these children have so much energy? Why weren't they going home?

Suddenly, Yagami's expression turned serious.

They're here!

At the edge of the park, five people appeared!

One of them was the person Yagami had seen at the izakaya.

Spies who could enter Konoha Village wouldn't be too strong.

The named Jonin of the Cloud Hidden Village were all key targets for intelligence reconnaissance. Chunin, at most Elite Chunin, would be more likely to infiltrate.

For Uzumaki Kushina, the Cloud Hidden Village had deployed its entire spy network.

Yagami quickly entered the park.

More than ten seconds later, Yagami looked up at the night sky in confusion.

Why wasn't there a signal flare?

Such a major incident as the Uzumaki Princess being attacked should have triggered a signal flare according to Anbu regulations.

Were there spies from the Cloud Hidden Village among this batch of new Anbu recruits?