Nankain is dead!
The Chunin Captain is dead too!
This scene, presented before the Kumogakure ninjas, caused everyone's faces to turn grim.
This was something they had never imagined before they came here.
In their view, this was an extremely simple matter. After all, to everyone present, this place was merely the venue for the Chunin Ninja Exams, specifically used for those taking the Chunin Ninja Exams.
What kind of people participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams?
There is only one answer: Genin ( Genin ).
Facing a Konoha ninja team consisting of only three Genin, they not only deployed three ninja teams, but also two Chunin and one Jonin.
With such a formidable lineup, an attack was virtually impossible to fail, and none of them even considered the possibility of failure.
But...
Now...
The facts are right before their eyes.
This sight was difficult for the Kumogakure ninjas to accept, leaving them in a state of confusion and completely unsure of how things were going to develop.
However, just when they arrived, feeling absolutely certain of success, a dramatic change occurred.
In an instant.
The ninjas from Kumogakure were stunned.
Even Minato, standing in front of Kushina, was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
Minato's gaze towards Araki kept changing. In his previous impression, he knew that Araki was quite powerful, but he never expected that he could deal with Nankain so calmly.
It is definitely not an easy thing to do to do that!
Minato immediately realized that he had thought he had overestimated Araki as much as possible, but in reality, he had underestimated his comrade.
In such a split second, he was able to react so quickly, not only calmly facing the powerful Nankain, but also managing to use Clone Technique to release poison at that moment. Even he himself admired his ability to adapt to the situation.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
While Minato was silently pondering, Araki's figure flashed and moved among the remaining Kumogakure ninjas at a terrifying speed, leaving trails of blood wherever he went.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
The sounds of people falling rang out one after another. The faces of these Kumogakure ninjas were still filled with shock and surprise until their throats were slit, and only then did they realize they were dead in the instant their consciousness faded.
That concludes the discussion.
All the Kumogakure ninjas who participated in capturing Kushina are dead.
"Alright."
Araki turned to look at Minato, then nodded to him, his expression remaining calm, showing no fear whatsoever despite the intense events that had just transpired.
"Thanks to you for protecting Kushina in time!"
Araki's lips curled into a slight smile, as if he had just done something completely ordinary. He then said, "Now let's loot the spoils together. These Kumogakure ninjas, carrying out a mission that seems very simple to them, certainly don't think the mission will fail. Plus, with a Jonin like Nankain leading the team, they might not have bothered to organize the loot beforehand. There might be some good stuff in their ninja tool bags."
"..."
After hearing Araki's words, Minato remained standing there, stunned. Was the focus really on the spoils of war?
But...
Now he doesn't know how to respond to this matter.
And also...
Was Kushina really someone he protected?
For the next while, Minato stared blankly as Araki rummaged through the ninja tool bags of the Kumogakure ninjas, until he heard Araki call his name again.
" Minato, come give me a hand, they have so much stuff! Kushina, you come too, let's help take these spoils!"
"Ah!" Minato responded and quickly walked over to Araki's side.
Kushina also came running over with a smile.
Half an hour later.
The bodies of the Kumogakure ninjas here have been looted, their belongings completely taken.
There's nothing else available.
Under Minato's questioning gaze, Araki piled the corpses of the Kumogakure ninjas together like a human pyramid.
"This is..." A look of confusion appeared in Minato's eyes.
"Get rid of them," Araki said calmly. As he spoke, he took out a small bottle from his ninja tool bag, opened the cap, and immediately a very pungent smell wafted out.
Araki dripped the liquid from the bottle onto Nankain, who was at the top of the pile of corpses. After dripping several drops, he quickly put the cap back on and put the bottle back into his ninja tool pouch.
The whole process was extremely skillful, as if it had been repeated many times.
Immediately afterwards, a strange phenomenon occurred: the corpses that had been dripped with the liquid instantly began to twist and contort at a terrifying speed, hissing and continuously emitting white smoke with a putrid smell.
A few breaths later, the corpses had turned into a pool of black water, seeping into the soil.
Even the clothes on the corpses were not spared, though not completely corroded. Some metal parts, such as the ninja village insignia on the ninja Forehead Protector, were slightly blackened and fell to the ground.
"Hiss..."
Upon witnessing this scene, Minato couldn't help but gasp. Everything that was happening was greatly stimulating his senses, exceeding his expectations and imagination.
What's in that bottle?
Minato's lips twitched slightly, but he couldn't help asking the question, after all, the effects being produced were simply too miraculous.
" Corpse-Dissolving Water."
Araki simply uttered three words. This was the first time he had used this thing, which he considered a "divine artifact," in front of Minato. He had used it before in front of Kushina when the Hidden Kumogakure invaded.
"There's such a thing?" Minato exclaimed in surprise. He had never learned about Corpse-Dissolving Water when he was at the Ninja Academy.
Suddenly, Minato seemed to realize something. He looked at the black water on the ground, then at Kushina was still smiling. His brows furrowed slightly, and he looked thoughtful.
"Etc!"
Minato took a deep breath, his expression turning serious. He focused his gaze on Araki and said, " Araki, you didn't know from the beginning that Kumogakure would be hostile to Kushina, did you?!"
After uttering those words, Minato's breathing became rapid. He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and the more he thought about it, the less he dared to think about it, the more he felt that there might be some secret hidden in it that he didn't know before.
Instantly.
A silence fell over the room.
No one spoke.
"You guys didn't actually know all along, did you?!"
Minato's expression was grave. He had only suddenly thought of this possibility and asked the question casually, but judging from the current effect, it seemed that he had actually guessed correctly.
At least...
Minato believes he has guessed it.
Otherwise, Araki and Kushina wouldn't have both fallen silent.
In that instant, Minato sensed a deception, or more accurately, a concealment.
They were clearly teammates, yet a discrepancy arose in their information: two people knew something that the other didn't, and that other person was himself.
" Araki..."
Kushina pursed her lips and looked at Araki. She had realized that if this matter was not handled properly, it might create a rift between her and Minato.
She was very perceptive and keenly sensed the change in Minato's emotions, quickly thinking of a solution.
"Um."
Araki nodded, indicating that Kushina could speak, and he also understood that it would be more appropriate for Kushina to say it.
After receiving Araki's signal, Kushina turned to look at Minato and said, "Let me explain this to you!"
"So you really did know from the beginning?" A somber, helpless look appeared on Minato. He was quite bothered by this, feeling like an outsider, completely isolated from the world.
"We knew, but not entirely. We just had a feeling, so we didn't say anything," Kushina explained.
"You could have told me!" Minato muttered quietly.
"Actually, neither of us has discussed this topic. We just tacitly feel that the people of Kumogakure might take action against me. I can't just say things like that without any evidence, that would be too exaggerated," Kushina said with a wry smile.
"So, in other words..." Minato's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, then he glanced at Araki and said, "You guys didn't know we were coming to Kumogakure for the Chunin Ninja Exams, did you?"
"Yes."
Before Kushina could answer, Araki nodded in response and then continued the conversation.
He felt that it would be fine to leave the explanation to Kushina, as Minato wouldn't be too harsh on her. However, he believed that it would be more effective for him to deliver Kushina rest of the explanation.
"This story goes back to when we were in the Ninja Academy..."
A hint of reminiscence flickered in Araki's eyes. He had already begun to figure out how to fool Minato. Of course, it wasn't entirely about fooling him, but rather about using a relatively reasonable reason to get Minato to understand the matter in the way he wanted.
" Minato, I don't know if you remember, there was a group of invaders from Kumogakure back then, but it all just fizzled out." Araki only got to the beginning, not going into too much detail, but staring intently at Minato.
"Could it be that those invaders from Kumogakure are Kushina?" Minato immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
"That's right!"
Araki's lips curled up slightly. Minato, as expected of the smartest student in the Ninja Academy, reacted much faster. With just a hint, he immediately understood what was going on.
"At that time, the ninjas of Kumogakure wanted to kidnap Kushina, but the village was worried that such an incident would cause conflict with Kumogakure, so it was left unresolved. I only learned later that Kumogakure's attempt to capture Kushina was related to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
" Kumogakure wants the Nine-Tails!" Minato's eyes lit up, then he analyzed, "I'm not surprised at all that the village's higher-ups would make such a decision. Kumogakure is powerful, and a direct confrontation could trigger a war, which the village doesn't want to see. So, they've chosen to swallow their pride!"
"After that incident, the ninjas from Kumogakure came in again, but they still failed. However, I still don't know how they got through the barrier." Araki adopted a thoughtful posture.
"A mole!" This word immediately flashed through Minato's mind; it was the first thing he realized!
"I'm not entirely sure either, and no one can really explain these things clearly. We have absolutely no evidence regarding the matter in Kumogakure. It feels just like when we went to the border!" Araki immediately explained, because he sensed that Minato was about to be led down this line. It wasn't that he was trying to deceive Minato, but rather that he hoped to guide Minato's thinking in this direction through his own methods. After all, the Third Konoha at the moment.
"This matter is definitely not that simple!"