Lightning Realm

On the way, Feng Xun explained to Minato that he knew Kushina would be in danger because he had previously had a dream—an incredibly vivid dream in which he learned that Kushina would be abducted by Lightning Shinobi.

Granted, that reason was highly far-fetched. Even Minato, who trusted him greatly, only half believed it. Yet neither of them said anything further, as though they both understood.

In Minato's mind, no matter where his younger brother had heard such news, he would never intend to harm him, much less make up a story about Kushina being captured just to toy with him.

Feng Xun was more than happy with that. Fortunately, the boy before him was his older brother. If it had been old hands like the Third Hokage, they might have handed him over to the Yamanaka Clan for interrogation the moment they confirmed the information.

Even if they did not think he was a transmigrator, they would certainly suspect him of being a spy sent by some ninja village.

Before long, the two arrived at Kushina's door.

Kushina's front door stood wide open, while the house within was pitch-black.

After entering to investigate, Minato emerged with a grim expression.

"Kushina really is gone. Damn it, I should have realized earlier that those three Lightning Shinobi were suspicious." Minato clenched his fists in self-reproach.

"Don't worry, bro. Not much time has passed since you came back. Those Lightning Shinobi probably haven't left the village yet. I know a shortcut out of the village. If we set off now, we can definitely catch them."

Upon hearing Feng Xun's suggestion, Minato did not leave at once. Instead, he frowned and said, "Xun, chasing them is too dangerous. I'll go alone. Hurry and inform Lord Hokage so he can send people to support me."

"What nonsense are you talking about? There are three of them. How can you handle them alone? Let's go together, now. If we delay any longer, it'll be too late."

Feng Xun objected.

Seeing the unyielding look in his younger brother's eyes, Minato gritted his teeth and agreed. "All right, then we'll chase after Kushina together. But remember, don't push yourself. Your life is what matters most."

"Don't worry, bro! Haven't I already proved my strength to you over the past month? There won't be any problem." Feng Xun spoke confidently.

Seeing his younger brother's confidence, and recalling the strength he had displayed over the past month, Minato said no more and turned to run toward the distant forest.

Feng Xun hurried after him.

Honestly, according to the original plot, Minato could successfully rescue Kushina even without his help. But who could guarantee reality would play out the same way? After all, Kushina had never said in the original work that she was drunk at this point.

Of course, there was another reason: he did not want to come into contact with the Third Hokage too early, especially while Danzo had not yet fully retreated into the shadows.

Even with the soul of an adult, he could not guarantee that those two would not notice something unusual about him.

Just as Minato and Feng Xun set off in pursuit of Kushina, Sa Lei checked the time in his room and left the inn.

"Night, report to Lord Hokage that Sa Lei has left the inn." Outside the inn, an ANBU squad captain assigned to surveillance instructed his subordinate.

"Yes!"

"You're saying Sa Lei left the inn alone?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked the half-kneeling ANBU before him. "His three companions didn't come out with him?"

"No. Those three Chunin from Kumogakure have not left the inn." The ANBU answered.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had yet to figure out what the other side intended, another ANBU appeared in the Hokage Office.

"Lord Hokage, Kumogakure's envoy Sa Lei requests an audience."

He came directly to me?

After pondering for a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi said to the ANBU before him, "Bring Sa Lei in. Then summon Danzo and the two advisors."

After saying that, Sarutobi stood before the window and stared at the gloomy weather outside, a hint of foreboding rising in his heart.

Seated behind his desk, Sarutobi folded his hands and got straight to the point. "Brother Sa Lei, rather than resting in the middle of the night, you came to see me. What brings you here?"

Sa Lei did not reveal his purpose. Instead, he deliberately yawned and replied sleepily, "In truth, I did not come late at night to discuss any important matter. I merely wished to catch up."

"Catch up?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze for a moment.

"Yes. Come to think of it, more than a decade has already passed. I never expected that you, who were still just a brat back then, would now be the renowned Lord Hokage."

As Sa Lei casually began reminiscing, Sarutobi raised a brow. Rather than refusing outright, he quietly listened. He wanted to see exactly what the other man was planning.

"To be honest, I truly never expected those two beasts, Kinkaku and Silver Horn, to dare plot a rebellion..."

"You still have the nerve to say that? If it weren't for your Kumogakure, our Second Hokage would not have died." The office doors were pushed open from outside. Danzo entered with a cold expression, openly disdainful of Sa Lei's words.

"But our Second Raikage also died in that battle." Sa Lei's voice turned equally cold.

Just as the two stood in sharp opposition, neither willing to yield, an ANBU hurried into the office and whispered to Sarutobi.

Upon hearing the news the ANBU brought, Sarutobi's face darkened like water. His gaze fell upon Sa Lei, and like a lion awakening, he asked in a low voice, "May I ask where Kumogakure's three Chunin are at this moment, Lord Sa Lei?"

Have we been exposed? Sa Lei's heart sank, but his face feigned ignorance. "What do you mean by this, Lord Hokage? Could it be that my three subordinates have caused some trouble for your village?"

Old fox!

While cursing inwardly, Sarutobi could not be bothered to continue bickering with him and directly prepared to send people to search for the missing Kushina.

However, just as he was about to order the ANBU to begin searching, Sa Lei, who had been sitting in his chair, suddenly pulled a scroll from his robes.

"Lightning Realm!"

With Sa Lei's roar, an electric net formed from bolts of lightning spread from the scroll and swiftly enveloped the entire Hokage Office.

"Sa Lei, what are you doing? Are you trying to start a war between our villages?" A cold gleam flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. He had not expected the other man to dare attack openly here.

"Cough, cough! It seems Lord Hokage does not yet know that, even before I arrived, Lord Raikage had already branded me a rogue ninja. I no longer have any connection to Kumogakure."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sa Lei pulled a long blade roughly two fingers wide and four feet long from another scroll.

"Come. Let me see how much you two have improved after more than a decade apart." As he spoke, Sa Lei shifted his gaze toward the silent Danzo beside him.

"One more thing: this lightning not only blocks sound, but is also maintained at the cost of my life force. Therefore, if you wish to leave this place, you must kill me. Otherwise, you will have no chance of getting out."