An Iconic Scene

Before long, in less than two minutes, Minato Namikaze had taken care of the last Hidden Cloud Village jonin and arrived beside Kushina Uzumaki, who had finally realized what had happened and was staring at him with delighted surprise.

After going through such a sudden incident, his heart was now filled with courage, and he had endless things he wanted to say to the girl he liked before him.

"Are you hurt?"

Minato looked at Kushina, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "I came to save you!"

His voice, warm as a spring breeze, lingered by her ears. Kushina Uzumaki simply stared fixedly at Minato Namikaze before her for a long while without speaking. Yet countless emotions mingled within her gaze.

Before, she had only thought Minato Namikaze was a good classmate willing to be friends with her, though he was rather hesitant and somewhat effeminate.

But the instant Minato Namikaze appeared before her to rescue her, that impression was completely overturned.

At that moment.

A beam of bright moonlight passed through the clouds high overhead, then through the lush forest, spilling over Minato Namikaze. His golden hair, his warm and reassuring smile, and his sparkling sapphire-blue eyes were like a glimmer of hope in despair, instantly illuminating Kushina Uzumaki's darkened heart.

But then, having escaped death, Kushina Uzumaki's emotions swung wildly, and the strength in her body was suddenly drained away. Her legs went weak, and she collapsed helplessly toward the ground.

"Whoosh!"

Minato Namikaze's expression tightened at once. He instantly burst out with the fastest speed he could currently muster, even faster than when he had killed the Hidden Cloud Village jonin in a single blow. In one stride, he darted to Kushina Uzumaki's side and, without hesitation, swept her into a princess carry.

"Wait..."

Kushina Uzumaki blushed, but she only had time to let out a shy cry before she felt as though her whole body had taken flight.

Minato Namikaze was holding her as he made a romantic leap. Their figures shot high out of the forest, streaking through the moonlight in an instant.

"Um..."

"How did you find me?"

A few breaths later, Kushina Uzumaki shook off the embarrassment brought on by being carried in his arms and asked softly.

"Because you have such beautiful red hair, so you were easy to spot!"

Minato Namikaze answered without even thinking. His tone remained gentle, carrying a trace of affection that was hard to notice.

"Hmph! You never help me normally!"

After hearing that, an indescribable stirring and sweetness welled up in Kushina Uzumaki's heart, and she even began to like the red hair she had once somewhat disliked.

However, unwilling to lose face, she restrained the sweet feeling in her heart, turned her head away, and stopped looking at Minato Namikaze's face.

"Because I know you're strong..."

"Both in strength and in your heart."

Minato Namikaze gently landed atop the tallest tree canopy while holding Kushina Uzumaki. Silver radiance washed over its crown, dyeing it a tender frost-white, while the night wind carried the fresh scent of grass and leaves through the forest, brushing past Kushina's slightly reddened ears.

"But this time, it was a conflict between villages, unlike the fights before, so..."

After a brief pause, Minato Namikaze's tone became more serious than ever, even carrying the unique shyness of a young boy. "So, I don't want to lose you!"

Silver moonlight fell like a gauzy veil, softly draping itself over Minato Namikaze's sapphire-blue eyes.

And as if drawn in by his eyes, the moonlight gathered there, forming a brilliant starry sky that shone with a mysterious and captivating light.

Hearing this, Kushina Uzumaki's cheeks were once again dyed a deep crimson even brighter than her hair. Then she abruptly raised her head and met Minato's eyes, overflowing with moonlight and affection.

The instant their gazes met, her heart jolted, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

The night wind brushed softly past, carrying Minato Namikaze's clean scent despite his journey and battle. It mixed with the moonlight, wrapping Kushina Uzumaki's heart in warmth.

Even so, after hesitating faintly for several seconds, Kushina Uzumaki asked the question that she cared about, that concerned her, and that she had never understood since coming to Konoha.

After all, she was not some love-struck fool.

Even if she had nearly fallen beneath Minato Namikaze's offensive at this moment, she still retained a clear head.

"Even if..."

"I'm just an outsider?"

Kushina Uzumaki's voice was very soft, so soft that it was as though she feared Minato Namikaze might say something that would hurt her.

In those few short seconds, she thought of so many things.

Ever since coming to Konoha, apart from Minato Namikaze, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Grandma Mito from her own clan, and Tsunade, whom she called big sister, she did not even have a proper friend. No one had ever come to visit her at home, either.

Minato Namikaze was first taken aback, but he quickly understood. Before Kushina Uzumaki could notice, he smoothly picked up the thread of the conversation. "Why would you say that?"

"Since you joined Konoha and became a Konoha ninja, then you are Konoha's companion!"

Minato Namikaze spoke word by word, neither hurried nor slow. His voice drifted clearly through the night wind, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve.

As his words fell, Minato Namikaze turned slightly. The moonlight outlined his handsome profile, and those eyes carrying a gentle smile met Kushina Uzumaki's without blinking. They reflected her figure, as well as the clear moonlight filling the sky.

Moonlight fell upon them, overlapping their shadows on the tree canopy tightly together. Even the passing night breeze seemed to carry a sweet warmth, bearing witness to Minato Namikaze's gentle yet resolute confession.

Watching all kinds of emotions flicker through Kushina Uzumaki's eyes, Minato Namikaze decided to press his advantage. A gentle smile curved across his lips, like a flower quietly blooming under the moonlight.

"Kushina, I want to watch a moon like this with you many times. I want to... keep walking forward with you. Would you be willing?"

Her dark crimson hair swayed gently. Kushina Uzumaki looked into Minato Namikaze's sky-blue eyes, soaked in moonlight. Her eyes grew slightly hot, and she nodded firmly, her voice carrying a faint sob but incomparably clear. "I'm willing, Minato!"

"Then please take care of me from now on!"

"Poof!"

Along with Kushina Uzumaki's response, the sound of smoke bursting abruptly rang out in the quiet night.

The Shadow Clone Yin Jie, having watched the entire iconic scene, voluntarily dispersed and sent its memories back to Yin Jie's original body.

At the same time, Yin Jie, who was hurrying toward the town ahead after receiving the memories sent back by his Shadow Clone, could not help but pull the corners of his mouth beneath his mask into a broad grin.

That was satisfying...