Reinforcements

Compared to the "Thunderstorm Birth"—a long-range Lightning Release technique copied via the Sharingan that was slightly flashy but lacked substance—the close-quarters Lightning Release used by the Cloud Ninja before him seemed far more powerful.

After dodging the big man's attack, Uchiha Matsuri formed hand seals and unleashed the Great Fireball Technique. As expected, it failed to pose any significant obstacle to the two Cloud Ninja.

Seeing the hulking Cloud Ninja and the one named Luo charging toward him, Uchiha Matsuri offered a faint smile and once again utilized a genjutsu through his Sharingan.

"Damn it." Seeing the big man fall into the genjutsu, Luo's heart skipped a beat.

Not giving Uchiha Matsuri a chance to launch a sneak attack, Luo leaped in front of the big man and helped him break free from the illusion.

Upon regaining his senses, the big man couldn't help but shudder. If not for Luo's help just now, he feared he would have ended up a corpse just like that shorty.

"Idiot, didn't I tell you not to look into his eyes?" Luo scolded with slight dissatisfaction. "If I accidentally fall into a genjutsu later, you need to be quick to break it for me, and vice versa. Do you understand?"

"Understood," the big man replied, convinced.

Seeing the opponent break his genjutsu, Uchiha Matsuri did not lose heart; instead, he quickly formed hand seals:

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

Seeing Uchiha Matsuri launch another attack, Luo and the big man exchanged a glance and simultaneously formed hand seals:

"Lightning Release: Heavy Flow Violence!"

In an instant, wisps of lightning flickered across their hands. After dodging the dozen or so fireballs, they charged toward Uchiha Matsuri.

Clang, clang, clang.

The kunai of both sides struck each other before falling to the ground.

After side-stepping a round of attacks from Luo, the big man suddenly appeared behind Uchiha Matsuri.

Bang.

Uchiha Matsuri was sent flying with a kick.

Damn it. Even with the Two-Tomoe Sharingan active, I still couldn't track his attack, Uchiha Matsuri thought to himself as a trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.

After seven hours of running at full speed, he had exhausted so much chakra that he was forced to rely on Sharingan genjutsu, while the two men before him were still capable of using powerful ninjutsu and taijutsu.

Thinking of this, Uchiha Matsuri felt quite frustrated.

It seems I have no choice but to use Thunderstorm Birth and end this in one move, Uchiha Matsuri thought. However, just as he prepared to form the hand seals, a sudden turn of events caused his pupils to constrict sharply.

Just as Uchiha Matsuri was sent flying, Luo and the big Cloud Ninja had unleashed the "Lightning Release: Four-Pillar Binding Technique." In an instant, four pillars glowing with wisps of lightning appeared around Uchiha Matsuri, trapping him tightly inside.

Seeing Uchiha Matsuri trapped, Luo clapped his hands and sneered, "Kid, don't struggle. No one has ever survived being trapped by our 'Four-Pillar Binding Technique'."

"This is bad." Uchiha Matsuri glanced at the barrier surrounding him and above him, and a sense of despair took hold.

If he weren't trapped, he could have fully utilized the chakra stored in his Yin Seal to unleash a "Thunderstorm Birth." Furthermore, if he truly couldn't win, he could have chosen to simply run away.

But now, trapped within the barrier, he could neither fight nor flee. If he used Thunderstorm Birth to forcibly break the barrier at such close range, he likely wouldn't survive the blast himself.

Perhaps seeing through Uchiha Matsuri's thoughts, Luo and the big man simply decided to wait him out.

For the two of them, stalling Uchiha Matsuri was enough. Likewise, Uchiha Matsuri's goal was to hold them off to buy time for Minato Namikaze to rescue Kushina Uzumaki.

Thus, for the next few minutes, the two sides remained in this eerie standoff.

"Not good, there are many chakra signatures approaching rapidly from the southwest," Luo, who possessed superior sensory abilities, suddenly frowned.

"Hmph, the Hokage's reinforcements have arrived. Your death is at hand," Uchiha Matsuri sneered upon hearing this.

"What do we do, Luo?" The big man was suddenly at a loss.

"Retreat!" Although unwilling, Luo still gave the order to withdraw. After all, for the two of them to resist a dozen high-level Konoha ninja would be no different than a moth flying into a flame.

"Then, what about this kid..."

"Forget him."

As the two ran further and further away, the Four-Pillar Binding Technique gradually lost its power and eventually vanished.

A few seconds later, Jiraiya, Dan Katō, and a dozen unnamed ninja appeared in Uchiha Matsuri's field of vision from the southwest.

Seeing a black dot appear in the middle of the road from afar, the dozen ninja simultaneously drew their kunai and assumed combat stances.

Upon realizing the small black dot was Uchiha Matsuri, Jiraiya waved his hand, and the group came to a halt.

"Matsuri, why are you here?" Jiraiya asked with slight surprise.

Due to the sudden nature of the incident, the Third Hokage hadn't had time to inform Jiraiya that Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Matsuri had already gone to the rescue.

"Are you alright, Matsuri?" Seeing Uchiha Matsuri's pale face, Dan Katō asked with concern.

"I'm fine. Jiraiya-sensei, Dan-senpai, Minato has already gone to rescue Kushina. Please, go and provide support!" Uchiha Matsuri hurriedly pointed toward the northeast.

"Dan, you stay behind and look after Matsuri. Everyone else, follow me."

"Yes!"

Ten minutes later, after finishing his treatment, Uchiha Matsuri saw Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki walking slowly from the northeast, escorted by Jiraiya and the others.

"Minato, how is Kushina?" Uchiha Matsuri asked with concern.

"She's fine, just exhausted and currently asleep," Minato Namikaze said, looking tenderly at the sleeping Kushina Uzumaki in his arms.

"Uh..." Looking at Minato Namikaze's sweet expression, Uchiha Matsuri suddenly didn't know what to say.

After returning to Konoha, the Third Hokage naturally gave Uchiha Matsuri and Minato Namikaze a stern reprimand. Although the two of them had joined forces to rescue Kushina Uzumaki from the Cloud Ninja, they were, after all, Genin under the age of twelve. In the eyes of many adults, pursuing the enemy without the assistance of a Jonin was both dangerous and reckless.

From Kushina Uzumaki, Uchiha Matsuri gradually learned of things he hadn't known before.

A month ago, the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Mito Uzumaki, had passed away. On her deathbed, the Third Hokage had transferred the Nine-Tails from Mito Uzumaki to Kushina Uzumaki.

This was also the reason why the Third Hokage had insisted on keeping Kushina Uzumaki in the village when the teams were originally assigned.

Having become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki was naturally placed under secret surveillance by the Anbu, and her residence was moved from the bustling streets to that desolate, uninhabited house.