Rescue Successful

The other two Hidden Cloud Village jonin reacted just as swiftly.

The instant they sensed something was wrong, they spun around and drew their kunai, slashing backward with all their strength.

And so—

Clang!

Clang!

As the sounds of metal striking metal rang out, Minato Namikaze's kunai, which had been intended to press the attack, collided head-on with the kunai swung back by the two Hidden Cloud Village jonin.

The three of them immediately retreated at the same time, leaving Kushina Uzumaki, her hands bound, standing there in a daze.

However, when one of the Hidden Cloud Village jonin retreated with several leaps and landed on a tree branch, his expression suddenly changed drastically. It was as though his foot had caught on something, and he instantly lost his balance and fell toward the ground.

But before the Hidden Cloud Village jonin could adjust himself in midair—

Screech!

The sound of steel wire scraping rang out in quick succession. In the blink of an eye, it tightly bound him to the thick tree trunk.

Moonlight spilled down, and the transparent threads flashed with a silver gleam.

Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!!!

Under precise chakra control, intensely condensed, high-temperature flames transformed into a massive crimson dragon with a ferocious head and bared fangs. Accompanied by a deafening roar, it followed the steel wires stretched through the air, tracing a scarlet arc as it charged straight at the Hidden Cloud Village jonin bound to the tree trunk.

The dragon's body carried scorching heat waves, while its swaying tail whipped up rolling thermal currents, as though the surrounding air would ignite the very next second.

Aah!!!

The fire dragon crashed into the Hidden Cloud Village jonin's body, setting both him and the massive tree behind him—so thick it would take several people to encircle it—ablaze.

The flames spread madly as though alive, instantly devouring the Hidden Cloud Village jonin's clothes and flesh. Before his miserable scream could fully escape his lips, it was drowned out by the crackling of burning flames.

The tree bark rapidly carbonized and peeled away under the intense heat. Its lush green leaves turned black in an instant, and countless burning fragments of leaves fell like a meteor shower amid showers of sparks.

In just an instant, the entire tree became a blazing torch.

Thick smoke billowed into the sky, dyeing the pitch-black night—lit only by occasional moonlight filtering through the leaves—a suffocating crimson...

The one who had acted was Yin Jie, who had been waiting for quite some time!

After dealing with the Hidden Cloud Village jonin who had ambushed him at noon, he had learned from his teacher, Orochimaru, that Kushina Uzumaki had been kidnapped.

Although he and Kushina Uzumaki had never interacted before, because Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Hidden Leaf Village higher-ups would never permit an Uchiha to proactively approach the future Nine-Tails jinchuriki, even if he was now part of the Hokage's faction and even a future "bridge."

Moreover, according to the original plot, Minato Namikaze would make his appearance at the end, instantly kill the three Hidden Cloud Village jonin, rescue Kushina Uzumaki, and stage the classic moonlit confession scene.

But this was the real ninja world, after all. Who knew whether some unforeseen mishap might occur?

Just like that Hidden Cloud Village jonin who had ambushed him, who was obviously there to provide support—nothing like that had ever been mentioned in the original story.

Therefore, since he had happened to come across this, he simply went with the flow. Taking action was only natural.

So, after spending several hours recovering, Yin Jie had waited here all along, ready to give the Hidden Cloud Village ninja who had kidnapped Kushina Uzumaki a brutal surprise.

However, what surprised Yin Jie was whether the Hidden Cloud Village jonin who had kidnapped Kushina Uzumaki were a little too weak.

He clearly remembered that, in the original story, there had been three Hidden Cloud Village jonin who infiltrated the Hidden Leaf Village and kidnapped Kushina Uzumaki!

First, one had been instantly killed by Minato Namikaze with a slash of his kunai across the throat.

Then another had been instantly killed by Yin Jie using only the C-rank Dragon Fire Technique in combination with the steel wires he had set up in advance.

The gap between them and the Hidden Cloud Village jonin he had taken out at noon was way too huge...

Yin Jie was speechless.

Had he known they were this pathetic, why would he have bothered setting an ambush or launching a sneak attack? He could have just charged them head-on and been done with it.

At this level, taking on seven of them alone would not have been much of a problem for him.

Not to mention, he had other arrangements!

Aah!!!

At that moment, another scream came from the direction of the remaining Hidden Cloud Village jonin.

A black streak of light had silently slipped behind the Hidden Cloud Village jonin at the same time Yin Jie unleashed the fire dragon, using a wind blade to sever his right leg at the root.

Moonshade, the ninja cat.

Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!!!

Whoosh!

Minato Namikaze flashed into existence near Yin Jie. Upon seeing Yin Jie's attire, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had taken down a Hidden Cloud Village jonin and was wearing the village's ANBU uniform. He was undoubtedly an ally.

"My mission is complete! I'll leave the rest to you!"

Seeing Minato Namikaze approach, Yin Jie spoke calmly, sweeping his gaze over him.

He was somewhat disappointed.

He had originally hoped for a fierce, satisfying battle to gain more practical combat experience against enemies.

But the utterly pathetic performance of these Hidden Cloud Village jonin before him had truly made him lose interest.

Yin Jie was even beginning to wonder whether these three jonin had bought their ranks with money.

So he would leave this place to Minato Namikaze. In any case, the last Hidden Cloud Village jonin only had one leg left.

Sharingan!

The scarlet eyes beneath Yin Jie's mask gave Minato Namikaze a jolt.

He remembered his teacher, Jiraiya, telling him that due to the somewhat tense relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village, there were no members of the Uchiha Clan in the ANBU.

But what was this situation now?

Could it be...

However, he quickly pushed that thought out of his mind for the time being.

After all, no matter what, the other party had saved Kushina and helped him as well.

Thus, any questions he had would naturally be answered once he returned and met his teacher's teacher—the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Minato Namikaze then used the Body Flicker Technique again, charging toward the Hidden Cloud Village jonin whose leg Moonshade had just severed.

"Let's go, Moonshade!"

Yin Jie called to his ninja cat. He was going to find a nearby town and get a good night's sleep.

He had already contacted his teacher, Orochimaru, so he was in no hurry to return to the village and report his mission.

However, not long after leaving, Yin Jie created a Shadow Clone and secretly sent it back to the "scene."

Then, he concealed his chakra presence and quietly waited for everything to end.

He did not want to miss that iconic moonlit confession scene!