Chapter 42. Sparring
The conversation with Minato and Kushina was long and difficult. And, contrary to what I might have thought, it wasn't hard because they didn't believe me at all. No, it was something else. The issue was that they were genuinely interested in hearing the story of Lona Folding. And if the first time, in a surge of emotion, telling something to Indiana wasn't too hard, now everything was much more complicated due to internal contradictions. On one hand, I know and fully perceive myself as a transmigrator into Lona Folding. On the other hand, although, apparently, so to speak, the "higher-ups" intervened to keep me from going completely insane, I have memories of many thousands of years of Lona Folding's life and death experiences, which undoubtedly have long since distorted my personality. Even though I've fully accepted myself as Lona, I was still occasionally tormented by contradictions about how much right I have to associate these memories with myself.
In the end, I just tried to explain the essence of the problem of the cycles my world was stuck in, what kind of disaster was approaching, and what advantages joining the group actually brought, as detachedly as possible. In any case, refusing was already too late. After all, Kushina's trouble was her death during childbirth. So, either we save her and she becomes part of the group, or she dies.
Neither of them was an idiot, so they understood there wasn't much point in arguing about this. However, Minato Namikaze really didn't like the idea that in the future, his wife might have to participate in missions comparable to S-rank or even more dangerous, without his cover.
And that's how everything led to the current moment.
I stood in the middle of a large training ground with two staves in my hands (one for short-range teleportation, the other simply for enhancing my spells) and looked with a helpless expression at the serious blond in front of me. For some reason, he decided he absolutely must personally check my level of strength. I just didn't entertain high hopes, perfectly aware that he would simply overwhelm me with speed.
"Is this really necessary?" I asked again, clearly reluctant.
"Ah, don't worry so much, dattebane~, Minato won't hurt you," Kushina decided to reassure me with a sweet smile on her face, standing at a distance with her hands resting on her large belly due to pregnancy.
"Alright, I'll at least try to show what I'm capable of," I resigned myself. Besides, I need to show Kushina that I'm not the only one who'll gain something from her joining, aside from the obvious saving of her life.
As soon as Lona focused on the fight, the look of timidity vanished from her face, which, combined with her unusual skin color, seemed very cute. Now, with her face serious, she resembled a mature and experienced warrior.
"When this kunai touches the ground, you may begin," said Kushina, then tossed a kunai into the air. It soon began to fall rapidly, and as soon as it touched the ground, everything sprang into motion.
Several of Minato's special "Hiraishin" kunai shot out from him at speeds exceeding that of a bullet, and at the same moment, Lona changed her position, teleporting some distance away (so as not to be near one of the markers), hastily erecting a barrier of light around herself.
She had more than enough experience to quickly assess a combat situation. But even without "Hiraishin," Minato Namikaze was an incredibly fast shinobi with vastly superior physical abilities.
In one instant, he was already near one of the kunai behind her back, and in the next—before Lona could even react—another kunai was released, which was deflected by the barrier, but it had already served its main purpose. The blond, along with a swirling sphere of energy, appeared right in front of her, and a collision occurred. The light barrier flashed brightly and began to quickly crack with numerous fissures, but the gained moments were enough. Lightning flashed, melting the sand of the training ground where the Hokage had been just an instant ago.
"Not bad. That's already better than what many more average jōnin can show," praised Minato, keeping his distance and seemingly giving the girl a chance to restore her defenses.
"Honestly, you really are one of the most inconvenient opponents for me," sighed Lona, meanwhile preparing a new spell.
"You're not the only one," smirked the blond, immediately disappearing. And then, numerous kunai scattered all over the training ground, leaving little room for maneuver.
No more time for talk. I, invoking the power of the Sea Witch and channeling mana, created a watery vortex around myself, which was to serve as additional protection and, at the same time, pull more kunai from the ground to use as an abrasive, increasing the vortex's danger and also reducing the opponent's mobility, while trying to spread as much water over the ground as possible.
One second passed, then another, but no attack came. The vortex's effect ended, and almost the entire training ground was flooded with water, except for a small dry circle around me. All I needed now was for the opponent to be on the ground, and one lightning strike would become an AoE attack on everyone standing on it. But there was no enemy anywhere.
I looked around warily, prepared for a sudden attack, when suddenly, right in front of my face, a huge sphere of blue energy appeared, which, unlike the smaller one, literally swept aside the barrier as if it weren't there, then stopped a few centimeters from me, creating wind swirls that blew the hat off my head, revealing my cat ears. I dared not move.
"It seems this is my victory, isn't it?" came Minato's satisfied voice as the large Rasengan began to dissipate, and I finally saw the smiling blond.
"Yes... victory is yours," I didn't argue. Especially since I knew from the start I had no chance, particularly if he were in Sage Mode. Although, if I had time to prepare...
"You don't seem entirely convinced."
"No, I never doubted my defeat. Just a shame I didn't have much opportunity for preparation. Then I could have stabilized the space, and I... Alright, I still don't believe I would have won," I sighed, realizing this was starting to sound like excuses.
"Stabilize space? You can do that?" Minato asked interestedly.
"Yes," I nodded. "It's one of the main reasons I chose Kushina first. Because I'm sure that to defeat O..."
"Ahem, ahem!" Minato coughed particularly loudly, interrupting me. "Let's not voice the unnecessary for now."
"O-ka-a-ay," I slowly drawled, already roughly guessing that we had extra spectators, then bent down to pick up my hat, which, fortunately, was clean.
"So, what do you need to stabilize space anywhere?" asked Minato, while Kushina started walking towards us.
"Actually, I have everything with me, it was just all too sudden, so there was no time to make a portable anchor."
"Alright, you'll be living with us for now, so you'll have a place," nodded the blond.
"And for now, we'll take a walk through the village!" Kushina intervened and, grabbing me by the hand, started pulling me along.
"I'm not sure..." I began, but the red-haired kunoichi interrupted me.
"What is it? You don't agree, dattebane?" She looked at me as if to say I had no right to refuse.
"No, it's fine. I don't mind," I sighed.
Watching his wife lead the strange girl away, the smile faded from Minato's face.
"Wolf!"
As soon as he called out, a white-haired teenager in an ANBU mask appeared before him, kneeling on one knee.
"Make sure no one bothers them."
"As ordered!"