The words had barely left his mouth when a brief rush of wind came from the mouth of the valley, followed immediately by Rin's startled cry.
Kakashi turned the instant he heard it and saw a figure dart out of the darkness, moving incredibly fast as he reached for Rin.
Clack! Five strong fingers clamped directly around the intruder's arm, as swift as lightning.
Minato Namikaze's expression was cold.
Trying to take someone right in front of me? Aren't you underestimating me a little too much?
But in that split second, another figure shot out, emerging from the earth and grabbing Rin precisely by the back of her neck.
In the blink of an eye, he dragged her out of her hiding place.
Without pausing, he turned and shot off in the opposite direction.
The figure wore the dark uniform of the Iwa Shinobi and moved incredibly fast, as though he had already pinpointed Rin's location.
The wolf in front had only feigned sleep to lure in its prey.
It was not that Minato could not react, but the moment he let go, an orange-red figure cut in from the side, landing between him and Rin Nohara.
The man was short and stocky, with rough skin and a steady, compassionate gaze beneath his forehead protector. He wore purple clothing and a breastplate that blazed with searing firelight.
His hair was tied into a small tuft at the back like a ponytail, and he sported a large crimson beard.
He was Roshi, the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki. Lava Release chakra flowed across his body, abruptly raising the surrounding temperature.
He stood before Minato Namikaze without wasting words. "Your opponent is me."
"A Jinchūriki?"
Minato Namikaze watched Roshi gravely. He had not expected the Iwa Shinobi to have this up their sleeves!
They had