Visitors from Kumogakure

A month later

"Lightning Shinobi visitors?" Hiruzen Sarutobi removed the conical hat from his head, looking somewhat confused.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. They said they had come to congratulate us on our great victory in Amegakure," said the ANBU agent wearing a strange cat mask.

"Heh, those Kumogakure bastards really do have noses like bloodhounds. We haven't even announced the news yet, and they've already come to offer their congratulations in advance." Danzo, seated on the other side, narrowed his eyes, though no one knew what he was thinking.

"What should we do, then? Do we need to receive them?" Utatane Koharu looked at the others.

"I don't think that's wise. Most of our main forces are still in Amegakure and haven't returned. Konoha is vulnerable right now, so we have to stay on guard!" Mito voiced her objection.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and looked at the ANBU agent again. "How many of them are there?"

"There are four in total. Judging by their insignias, one is a Jōnin and the other three are Chunin, but..."

"But what?"

"The Jōnin leading them is Sa Lei, the previous generation's Lightning Shinobi partner," the ANBU agent answered.

"Oh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat surprised.

"They actually sent that old bastard with one foot in the grave here. Those Kumogakure people clearly mean no good." Mitokado Homura sounded indignant. "Hiruzen, you absolutely cannot let them enter the village."

"I don't see what the problem is. They mean well, don't they?" Danzo smiled when he saw Mitokado Homura objecting. "This is our territory. Even if they have extraordinary abilities, what can they do? Does he really intend to take on our entire village by himself? Besides, he's just an old man who could be buried any day now."

"I think Danzo has a point. How could we possibly neglect distinguished guests at our door?" Utatane Koharu, who had been wavering until then, immediately voiced her support.

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Utatane Koharu, then at Danzo, who had resumed pretending to nap. After pondering for a moment, he said to the ANBU agent beside him, "Bring them all here. I'll meet them personally."

"Yes!"

With that, the ANBU agent vanished from the room...

That night, at the Namikaze Household

"Minato, why did you invite the boss lady too?" Feng Xun peeked fearfully at the red-haired girl sitting in the living room as he hid behind the door.

"Uh, since it's Xun's birthday, I thought it would be better with more people." Minato looked a little embarrassed. "And this is a good chance for the two of you to make up."

Feng Xun curled his lip. "If possible, I'd naturally like to make up too. But Minato, are you sure the boss lady won't beat me up when she sees me?"

As he spoke, Feng Xun shrank back, as though he had recalled something terrifying.

"Today is your birthday party. Kushina probably won't do that, right?" Minato said uncertainly. Even now, the bloody incident from a month ago remained fresh in his mind.

"Let's hope so!" With the expression of a man marching toward his death, Feng Xun entered the living room.

"You brat, what took you so long?" Kushina, who had long since become restless, spotted Feng Xun the moment he stepped inside.

"I was getting things ready, getting things ready." Feeling immense pressure, Feng Xun answered while repeatedly signaling Minato with his eyes, asking him to smooth things over.

"Kushina, today is Xun's birthday, you..."

Before Minato could finish, Kushina waved him off. "Relax. I didn't come here to fight today."

As she spoke, the girl blushed slightly and took an exquisite little package from behind her back. Turning her head away, she explained, "This is for you. I didn't want to come today, but that sissy kept pestering me, so I came. But let's be clear, this isn't for your birthday. It's just a simple housewarming gift."

Hearing that, Feng Xun accepted the present from her, flattered and surprised. "Thank you."

To be honest, this was the first time he had received a gift from someone outside his family, and it felt pretty good.

"Tch, I don't need my little brother thanking me." After putting on a generous front, Kushina hesitated again. "So... you... you don't need to keep avoiding me from now on. As my number one little brother, if you don't follow your big sister around, I'll lose face."

Seeing Kushina's hesitant expression, Feng Xun suddenly understood. He looked up at Minato beside him, and after seeing his brother smile and nod, he suddenly said boldly, "What are you talking about, boss lady? I was testing the bond between us."

"Our bond?" Kushina looked at her little brother, unable to understand what that had to do with a bond.

"That's right, our bond. The reason I kept avoiding you was to see whether I mattered to you, boss lady." Feng Xun spouted nonsense without batting an eye.

"So, have you gotten your answer now?" Kushina asked curiously.

"Of course. The answer is that the bond between me and the boss lady is second only to the bond between you and Minato." After saying that, Feng Xun gave his brother a sly grin, as if saying, Thank me. I'm helping you two out again.

Yet after hearing that, Kushina's face instantly turned red. She stammered in protest, "W-Who has a bond with that sissy?! I don't even know him!"

Kushina's reaction left Feng Xun dumbfounded instead.

What's going on? I only said it casually like I used to. Why is Kushina reacting so strongly? Could something have happened between these two during the month I was gone?

Feng Xun's gaze moved back and forth between them, trying to find some clue.

Unfortunately, aside from Kushina's unusual behavior, his brother still looked as meek and submissive as ever. That made him wonder if he was overthinking things.

Just as Feng Xun was about to dig deeper into the gossip, Minato, the household husband, said, "It's getting late. I'll go make dinner first. You two wait here."

"I'll go too!" The moment Minato finished speaking, Kushina, who had long been unable to sit still, hurriedly said.

Then, without waiting for Minato to refuse, she grabbed him and hurried out of the living room.

Watching their retreating figures disappear, Feng Xun rubbed his chin.

Something's up. These two definitely did something behind my back during the month I was gone.

However, Feng Xun quickly put the matter aside.

After all, as long as Kushina and Minato could be happy, no matter what had happened between them, he would choose to bless them.

My brother and Kushina probably won't finish cooking anytime soon. I should go practice by myself for a while.

With that thought, Feng Xun could no longer suppress the restlessness in his heart. He began practicing the Afterimage Technique energetically in his family's courtyard.

Strangely enough, he had clearly hated training and cultivation before, but ever since gaining Saiyan blood, he found himself wanting to train at every moment. Was this why Saiyans inherently loved battle?

Feng Xun didn't know the reason, but thanks to that instinct, his current strength had already reached the level of an Elite Genin. If he continued like this, he would likely reach Chunin level within half a year. That was still a conservative estimate, assuming he did not exchange for any skills.

P.S.: Special notice, the following content is complete x** nonsense.

On the question of exactly how many chakra natures the Fourth Hokage had.

First, he had Lightning nature. That was a must, right? How else could he use Flying Thunder God without Lightning nature? Heh heh.

Then, he also had Wind and Water natures. No matter what, he could use Rasengan. After all, everyone initially thought Rasengan was Wind nature. And the Fourth Hokage was a perfect man, gentle as water, so hitching a ride on that logic shouldn't be a problem.

Finally, he also had Fire nature. He was the Hokage, after all. It wouldn't be scientific for a Hokage not to have Fire nature! Though honestly, I don't know why none of the Hokage specialized in Fire Release.

Final conclusion: we'll seriously and calmly analyze it in the next chapter. Heh heh heh heh!!!!