Kyūsei tightened his grip on the soft hand in his own and said quietly,
"He's here. About twenty minutes away."
"Mm."
Hearing the voice she relied on most, Kaoru stood up and stretched her body, calmly preparing for the upcoming battle, showing no sign of nervousness.
Twenty minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
Under Kyūsei's gaze, a tall figure gradually appeared in the distance.
Black hair. White mask. Black robe.
It was Uzumaki Menma, without a doubt.
"So this is what the two of them look like in this world."
"I didn't expect Konoha to send you two to stop me."
"How ridiculous."
Menma's voice was slightly hoarse. Behind the mask, his eyes were filled with malice as he stared at the red-haired and golden-haired figures before him.
Kaoru froze slightly.
For some reason, she felt a strange sense of familiarity coming from him.
"…"
For a moment, the blonde girl couldn't even speak.
"Hah… as expected."
"Even in another world."
"Even after becoming a woman."
"You still look at me with that disgusting gaze."
The tall, black-haired young man frowned impatiently at the stunned blonde girl.
"Tch, speaking so viciously to the counterpart of your own parents."
"Looks like Uzumaki Kushina really failed to discipline you."
Kyūsei slowly stood up, looking down at the brat who had dared insult his wife.
Even if he was his son's counterpart—
If he bullied Kaoru , he'd still get beaten.
"Hmph. You really do resemble that woman."
Menma's tone remained cold as he looked at the man whose features closely resembled his mother's.
"Kyūsei, you mean…?"
Kaoru subconsciously turned to him.
She knew his abilities well.
With the Uzumaki clan's Mind's Eye and the Nine-Tails' emotion-sensing ability combined, he was almost capable of seeing through people's hearts.
Especially when it came to chakra.
"Yes."
"This guy's chakra is extremely similar to ours."
"Even though it feels very different from Naruto's to me…"
"It's still fundamentally identical."
"This is our child's counterpart, Kaoru ."
Kyūsei's words left her completely shocked.
Someone like this…
Was actually Naruto's counterpart?
She couldn't help but think of that kind, optimistic, resilient child.
A child who had grown up in hardship yet still lived like stubborn grass, cheerful and strong.
That heartbreaking child…
How could he be connected to this unsettling existence?
"Stop pretending!"
"You're disgusting no matter what you look like!"
Menma stared at Kaoru intensely.
Even through the mask, his malice was unmistakable.
Why…
Why did he hate Kaoru —no, Minato's counterpart—so much?
"Tell me your name."
Kaoru asked softly.
"Heh. Uzumaki Menma."
He looked at her with pure hostility.
"Menma…"
"A nice name…"
Before her words even fell—
A golden flash appeared beside Menma!
Kaoru had instantly teleported to his side.
Facing an attack far beyond normal human speed, Menma twisted his wrist and raised a kunai, blocking her Flying Thunder God strike!
"I'll never acknowledge someone like you!"
"I'll never accept you as Naruto's counterpart!"
Kaoru 's eyes were sharp, devoid of any warmth.
"What are you even talking about?"
"But honestly, your moves are always the same."
"Next you're planning on Shadow Shuriken or Rasengan, right?"
Menma seemed extremely familiar with her fighting style and even predicted her next move.
"Or maybe a Rasengan—"
Before he could finish—
A golden arrow shot toward him!
Menma instantly dodged sideways.
The arrow brushed past him and slammed into the forest behind, exploding violently.
A golden shockwave roared out, whipping his cloak wildly.
Using the opportunity, Kaoru retreated instantly.
"Heh. Just like you."
Menma glanced at the familiar explosion behind him and chuckled hoarsely.
"When dealing with disobedient children…"
"You have to teach them a lesson."
The golden light in Kyūsei's hand dispersed in the night wind.
Looking at the completely unharmed Menma, his voice turned icy.
"Since you're blocking our path…"
"I won't hold back anymore."
"I'll leave you both here forever."
Killing intent erupted from the tall youth.
He clasped his hands together and shouted:
"Nine Masks: Suvāha!"
As the jutsu activated, a purple barrier formed behind him, creating a formation-like structure.
Nine overlapping sealing arrays?
At the instant the technique appeared, the vast sealing knowledge passed down from Uzumaki Mito took effect.
Almost immediately, Kyūsei understood its structure.
Only someone who truly understood fuinjutsu could grasp how terrifyingly complex it was.
Sealing techniques were already the most difficult category in the shinobi world.
Let alone stacking nine of them into a stable new technique.
At this moment, Kyūsei had to admit—
Menma's attainments in fuinjutsu were extraordinary.
Azure, White, Vermilion, Black, Three, Jade, South, North, Void.
Nine massive characters appeared behind Menma.
From the nine sealing arrays, nine different summoned beasts surged forth!
And Kyūsei could sense tailed-beast chakra within them.
Summons modified with the Nine-Tails' chakra?
For a moment, the situation tilted overwhelmingly in Menma's favor.
"Kyūsei, leave these to me."
Kaoru spoke calmly as she looked at the terrifying summons.
Kyūsei frowned.
He trusted her strength, but these beasts had once required the entire Akatsuki to defeat in Menma's world.
"Please trust me."
"I'm really strong, you know."
Without waiting for his reply, Kaoru bit her finger and formed seals.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Bang!
A massive cloud of white smoke engulfed the battlefield!
Gamabunta.
Gamaken.
Gamabiro.
With a single summoning, Kaoru brought out the three giants of Mount Myōboku.
"Alright, then."
Seeing that she was already going all out, Kyūsei nodded.
He turned toward Menma.
Golden chakra flames burst forth and wrapped around his entire body.
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SORRY FOR THIS WRITING HERE BUT I SAW A NOVEL -Konoha: Preparing to defect, the system has arrived. BUT THE LAST AUTHOR HAD DROPPED IT AND I WAS THINKING OF TRANSLATING IT WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE SAY SHOULD I OR SHOULD I NOT I WANT YOUR OPINION PLEASE DO MENTION IN THE COMMENT SECTIONS.