There was little doubt about how the battle would end. Under the combined assault of Konoha's White Fang, one of its strongest fighters, and several elite ANBU, the four formidable Kumogakure ninja were soon subdued, left with no strength to resist.
Only once the danger had passed did Shinji's taut nerves ease a little. He finally realized that cold sweat had soaked his back and that his sword hand was trembling slightly. He looked at Minato and Kushina beside him.
Minato was carefully supporting the nearly exhausted Kushina, helping her sit down slowly. Then he quickly took out a clean handkerchief and wiped the stark blood from the corner of her mouth, his movements as gentle as though he were handling a priceless treasure. His blue eyes, usually full of sunshine and warmth, now brimmed with lingering fear, anguish, and a profound, complicated emotion that defied words.
"You were far too reckless!" A barely perceptible tremor ran through Minato's voice. It was a rebuke, but even more than that, it was concern he could not hide. "How could you disregard your own safety like that..."
Kushina leaned weakly against him, her face pale, yet she managed a faint, slightly triumphant smile. Her voice was barely a whisper, but utterly resolute. "I couldn't just... stand there and watch you... watch all of you... get hurt because of me..."
Shinji wisely decided not to interrupt the two young people who had just faced death together, their feelings undergoing a dramatic deepening and transformation. He turned and hurried toward the Third Hokage and Hatake Sakumo, who were directing the ANBU as they cleared the scene and secured the prisoners. In clear, concise, objective terms, he reported what had happened, including the enemy movements he had first spotted and the broad course of the