Jin Uchiha froze for a moment.
Something was off.
Minato Namikaze's attitude was a far cry from the gentle, courteous Yellow Flash of the rumors.
Before he could finish that thought, two hands had already landed on his and Aburame Ryoma's shoulders.
His vision blurred. Space seemed to crumple, then stretch flat again.
When he found his footing, unfamiliar trees surrounded them.
Flying Thunder God really was absurd. In the blink of an eye, it had dragged them from Konoha into the wilderness.
But this place wasn't right.
There was no camp ahead, no cooking smoke behind them. This wasn't the Frontline Camp in the Land of Grass at all.
Jin Uchiha opened his mouth, but the words were still caught in his throat.
"Jin, hold your questions for a moment," Minato Namikaze said first.
"This isn't the front in the Land of Grass. It's a patch of woods near Amegakure."
"There are a few things I want to discuss with you privately."
His expression was taut, without any trace of his usual gentle smile.
Jin Uchiha narrowed his eyes, his mind starting to churn.
He turned several possibilities over in his head, but simply nodded. "Sure. No problem. Go ahead."
"I'll guard the perimeter," Aburame Ryoma said.
He had never been much of a talker. Once Jin Uchiha nodded, he shook his sleeves.
Swathes of kikaichū poured from both cuffs like black mist, covering the trunks and branches throughout the forest in an instant.
Once that was done, Ryoma retreated twenty-odd meters.
Whatever Minato Namikaze wanted to tell his leader, he wouldn't go over and listen to a single word without permission.
The guy had an instinct for knowing his place.
Minato withdrew his gaze and looked back at Jin Uchiha.
"Jin, I won't beat around the bush."
"I