In the Forest
Amidst the trees, over a dozen lifeless bodies lay scattered, their pupils dull and unfocused, their warmth fading away.
The corpses were in various tragic states—so hanging from tree trunks, others sprawled in the grass. There were traces of ninjutsu, kunai, and shuriken, along with the distinctive marks left by dogs, insects, and the effects of Gentle Fist techniques.
"It's finally over."
A voice broke the silence as a group of Konoha shinobi erged from the canopy above. Though breathing heavily, they remained vigilant.
Nara Shikaku, panting heavily, cast a glance at the group before his gaze settled on Shirou. Inwardly, he was startled.
As expected of soone seasoned in battlefield combat. Even though this mission had gone smoothly thanks to Shikaku's strategy, Shirou stood out as the one who had conserved the most chakra and stamina after the battle.
It wasn't that Shirou hadn't put in effort; rather, his combat style prioritized swift movents and precise use of shuriken and other techniques, conserving energy wherever possible.
In contrast, many others had relied on overwhelming displays of large-scale ninjutsu during the high-intensity battle. While effective, it would leave them at a disadvantage if a second confrontation arose.
Kushina, though panting, wore a victorious smile.
"Not as tough as I thought."
"All right, let's clean up the battlefield and gather any useful intel," Shikaku ordered.
The group quickly got to work, adeptly searching the area. As Chūnin, they were experienced enough to handle such tasks efficiently.
"Hizashi, Hiashi, stay on guard. Everyone else, hurry up," Shirou said calmly as he sheathed his blade. His gaze briefly swept over the group before settling back into composure.
He nodded to himself. No wonder these people would beco the village's elite Jōnin in the future. While their backgrounds helped, their skills were undeniably honed through tough experiences.
"Is everyone unhard?"
With a bright smile, Minato exuded his characteristic warmth and charm, checking on the team. However, his subtle glance toward Kushina did not escape Shirou's notice.
"Shirou-kun even learned dical ninjutsu under Sister Tsunade," Kushina teased, her tone playful, yet with a hint of amusent from an earlier incident.
Shirou smiled and nodded.
"I know a bit of basic dical ninjutsu."
The battlefield had a way of forging bonds, and after this fight, the group shared an unspoken trust that hadn't existed before.
"Let's move!"
With a flash of movent, the group dispersed, swiftly leaping through the forest.
As they traveled, Shirou leaned closer to Kushina and spoke teasingly in a low voice.
"Looks like soone cares about you."
Kushina glared at him, clearly knowing who he ant.
"I don't like sissies!"
Minato's occasional glances didn't escape anyone's notice, least of all Kushina's. However, at this point, she felt no affection for Minato.
Shirou smirked faintly at the scene.
"Really? Too bad your identity ans people will always have sothing to gain from being around you."
His blunt words made Kushina glare again, her small tiger-like fangs bared in irritation.
"And you? Aren't you here because of my identity too?"
"Don't misunderstand! You've already said it yourself—I'm only here to connect with Captain Tsunade," Shirou replied, shrugging with a teasing grin.
Despite the banter, Kushina found herself subconsciously growing wary of Minato, the seeds of doubt sown.
...
Back in Konoha, at the Hokage's Office
"Hiruzen, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is crucial. My Root division has identified five suitable vessels for the seal. We can proceed imdiately," Danzo Shimura said grimly.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi remained composed, smoking his pipe as he listened, his expression calm.
Danzo's frustration grew.
"Hiruzen! Are you listening? The village cannot have divided voices. An uncontrolled Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is a perpetual threat. This must not be allowed!"
Hiruzen finally spoke, his tone steady but firm.
"Danzo, I am the Hokage."
Danzo's face reddened with suppressed anger at being rebuffed.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" he spat before storming out.
Left alone, Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke and retrieved a scroll from under his desk. It contained information on Minato Namikaze.
"Danzo, you're too impatient. If the village were left in your hands, things would only get worse."
Gazing out at the village bathed in the sunset, Hiruzen's expression hardened.
"As long as nothing unexpected happens, everything will proceed as planned. But if Kushina cannot align with the village..."
For the sake of Konoha, Hiruzen resolved never to let the village's strongest weapon fall into the hands of an outsider.
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