During my time in Konoha, I became good friends with Namikaze Minato. We studied ninjutsu together and practiced against each other.
I also learned that Namikaze Minato had joined the Anbu some time ago and often went on missions. His strength had improved quite a bit, too.
We even exchanged kunai, each marked with the Flying Thunder God Formula.
"Minato, is there a girl you like?"
"I haven't seen you in a while. I heard you haven't been going on missions either." Namikaze Minato replied, looking a little uncomfortable.
"I guess there is."
"You guess?"
"Haha, so there is! I won't ask who she is. Just keep at it."
A red-haired girl came to Namikaze Minato's mind, and he lowered his head without realizing it.
Coming back to himself, Namikaze Minato asked, "Nawaki, is there someone you like, too?"
A figure appeared in Li Yu's mind: a tall, fair-skinned girl with purple hair and an alluring figure. He couldn't help blushing.
A lolicon, a creepy old man—he was old enough to be her uncle in spirit.
Caught off guard by the question, Li Yu said, "What are you talking about?"
"Ha, I knew it! You do like someone. You just won't admit it."
Once he realized what had happened, Li Yu knew he'd been had.
He hadn't expected Namikaze Minato to act like that. Despite seeing his warm smile, Li Yu couldn't bring himself to punch him.
Yue Ying was on my squad. We'd gone on many missions together, and I'd even given her one of my kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God Formula.
I'd already guessed that she was Uzuki Yugao's older sister, Uzuki Yuying. Both of them knew Konoha-Style Kenjutsu.
Then Li Yu received a message from the Anbu about a mission. He waved goodbye to Namikaze Minato.
Li Yu quickly put on his mask and went to report to the Anbu Base.
It turned out to be a patrol. I met up with several teammates: Yue Ying, Shui Qi, and me. The three of us would patrol together; Yan Xing had gone on a mission alone.
Since I'd just mentioned Yue Ying to Namikaze Minato, I found myself stealing a few extra glances at her. She was already sixteen, and had developed quite nicely.
Luckily, my mask hid my unblinking stare and spared me the embarrassment.
I shook my head, banishing those distracting thoughts.
According to the story, this should be the year Kumogakure kidnapped the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Kushina. But I had no idea exactly when or where it would happen.
I didn't know whether my presence would change the story.
The three of us continued patrolling the village, moving quickly through its streets.
Suddenly, I sensed that the barrier was weak in the distance.
Li Yu hurried to the nearest tree and carefully reached out to sense it. Someone had rushed through the barrier. Their chakra felt somewhat familiar.
"Namikaze Minato!"
"Something's wrong. Uzumaki Kushina might be in trouble!"
The three of us hurried to Uzumaki Kushina's nearby residence. She was gone. There were signs of a fight, and the five Anbu guarding her lay scattered across the ground.
"Yue Ying, get to the Hokage Office Building and inform Lord Hokage immediately."
"Shui Qi, treat the wounded here and keep them safe."
"I think I know where the enemy left through the barrier. I'll go after them."
Li Yu used the Body Flicker Technique and sprinted toward the spot where the barrier had been breached. He passed through it.
There were quite a few enemies. To take out five Anbu at once, they must have had at least three jonin among them.
After running for a while, he realized he didn't know which direction the enemy had gone. But Li Yu wasn't worried in the slightest. He closed his eyes and focused his senses.
"Found them."
His chakra flared, and his body vanished.
"Flying Thunder God Jutsu!"
In the moonlight, Namikaze Minato was carefully searching the ground for red strands of hair when the space beside him rippled.
Li Yu appeared next to him.
Without looking up, Namikaze Minato continued searching for hair and said,
"Nawaki, you're here."
"Help me look for the red hair Kushina left behind."
Namikaze Minato knew the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, too. The kunai he'd exchanged with Li Yu suddenly activated, so he immediately knew Li Yu was on his way.
As expected of Namikaze Minato—his sense of space was incredible. He wasn't afraid that someone else might suddenly attack. Perhaps he'd never encountered Obito wearing a mask; otherwise, he would've been more vigilant instead of focusing entirely on the red hair.
"Ha, Minato, you're getting anxious."
"At this rate, searching with your eyes by moonlight is too slow."
"Watch this."
As he spoke, Li Yu placed both hands on a tree and focused all his senses, sharing them with the trees throughout the forest.
"Twenty meters ahead, on a rock. Then thirty meters to the left, in the grass."
As soon as he heard this, Namikaze Minato dashed off before Li Yu could finish speaking.
"Minato, I found where the enemy is. There are eight of them, seven are ninja, and most of their chakra has a lightning nature."
"They've stopped to rest three kilometers ahead."
"Minato, finding enough hair is all that matters. You'll have plenty to flirt with her over."
Seven Cloud Ninja.
Seeing that his teammates were getting tired, their leader decided they needed a break. They'd been rushing at full speed and had used up a lot of chakra. They were almost out of Konoha's territory.
"Everyone stop. Rest for two minutes, then we move out."
A broad-shouldered ninja lowered Uzumaki Kushina from where he'd been carrying her over his shoulder.
After traveling for so long, Uzumaki Kushina's hair had fallen loose and disheveled. Even so, her beautiful red hair stood out.
"Captain, that Konoha Jinchūriki kept moving around. I think she was up to something."
"Why not use the break to cut off her hands? The mission only requires her alive, anyway."
The captain, who had a Ninja Blade strapped to his back, replied,
"Oh? She was up to something again?"
Hearing this, Uzumaki Kushina went pale and trembled uncontrollably.
"Then there's no need to hold back."