Along the coastline, a squad was carrying out a mission.
"Ambush! Ambush!"
Yamada Dayu's shout was nearly swallowed by the wind as his teammates reacted swiftly, forming a protective circle around the wealthy merchant's son in the carriage.
They were secretly executing a B-rank mission—escorting the merchant's son to another small country.
From the forest ahead, a group of figures rushed out. Each was burly, with knotted muscles, wearing single-shoulder ninja combat gear.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion Flash Pillar!"
The ninja at the front of Yamada Dayu's team suddenly glowed with dazzling white light.
"It's a Lightning Release genjutsu from the Cloud Village—avert your eyes!"
Yamada Dayu shouted, closing his eyes first.
He had encountered this technique before—closing one's eyes could block most of the blinding light.
That was his experience speaking.
"Kill the target."
Desato shouted, raising his katana as he charged forward.
This mission had been commissioned by the merchant's enemy—to kill his only son!
As long as they killed him, the mission would be complete. There was no need to get entangled with the Konoha ninjas—they could leave immediately!
Yamada Dayu quickly molded chakra and formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!"
Spinning water gathered in his right hand, forming into spear-like projectiles that shot toward the Cloud ninjas.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
The Cloud ninja instantly formed hand seals, raising a wall of earth that blocked the water projectiles entirely.
Yamada Dayu was about to cast another Water Fang Bullet when a flash of blade light appeared—his abdomen was suddenly split open with a gruesome gash.
He let out a scream. His teammates, hearing the commotion, rushed to support him.
"Yamada, hang in there!"
For a moment, the battlefield descended into chaos, while the merchant's son listened in terror from the carriage.
After an unknown amount of time, a shadow appeared before him.
Before he could even cry out, he felt a chill at his throat, followed by warm liquid flowing down his neck.
He reached up—his hand came away covered in blood. His mouth opened and closed, trying to say something, but no sound came out.
"Mission complete. Retreat!"
Desato shouted, slicing off the remaining flesh and severing the merchant's son's head, sealing it into a scroll before quickly departing.
"Damn it."
Sakai Nobuo spat, his face tense.
He had finally gotten the chance to avoid teaming up with Kakashi, switching to new teammates—but the situation had grown more severe than he had imagined.
Friction between nations was intensifying, and there were even rumors that the Third Great Ninja War could break out at any moment.
He glanced at Yamada Dayu lying in a pool of blood—this had already exceeded their mission's original difficulty.
A B-rank mission had been pushing it; this was at least A-rank.
"Hurry and take Yamada back for treatment!"
...
Third Training Ground.
The blazing sun hung high, and the air was filled with a faint dusty scent. The ground was covered in craters from impact.
"Controlling this… is way too hard."
Minato Namikaze sat on the ground, breathing heavily, sweat forming on his brow.
His hands trembled slightly, clearly drained of chakra and energy from the training.
Jiraiya stood nearby, staring thoughtfully at Minato's palm, muttering:
"I once heard that when refining chakra, if you guide it according to the direction of your hair whorl, it becomes easier…"
Minato froze for a moment and blinked. "Huh?"
That sounded more like superstition, didn't it?
But Jiraiya spoke seriously, as if it were some secret technique.
Seeing Minato confused and making no progress, Jiraiya dropped the topic, pulling out a popsicle and skillfully snapping it in half, handing one piece to Minato.
Minato lowered his head, staring at his palm as if he had an insight, and asked Jiraiya which direction his hair whorl turned.
Upon learning it turned both ways, Minato extended both hands, refining chakra according to the directions.
"I-it's… taking shape!!"
The rotating, compressed chakra sphere in Minato's hand finally stabilized, and he exclaimed excitedly:
"I'll name it 'Spiraling Halo Popsicle-Inspired Twin-Style Jiraiya Orb'!"
"So long and ridiculous…"
Jiraiya felt his student had absolutely no talent for naming.
"Anyway, let's call it a day for developing this new technique."
Jiraiya handed him the popsicle and casually added, "I've got to handle a mission request. I'll head off first."
Minato nodded, watching Jiraiya disappear down the forest path before slowly taking a bite of the popsicle.
Not long after, he keenly sensed a faint presence watching him from behind.
Turning his head, he saw a head peeking out from behind a tree—red hair swaying slightly, bright eyes filled with a hint of guilt.
"Huh?! Kushina?!"
Minato sprang to his feet, his face full of shock and concern. "Why are you here? Is it okay?"
He instinctively looked around, worried someone might be monitoring.
After all, Kushina's identity was special—she wasn't allowed to leave the surveillance zone freely.
If the Hokage found out she had snuck out… that would be bad!
Kushina scratched the back of her head with an awkward laugh, her gaze drifting:
"Um… the Third Hokage gave special permission. Said I could step outside the barrier for a bit."
Though she said it, her tone lacked confidence.
Minato couldn't help but suspect she was lying.
Wasn't Kushina always confined within the sealing barrier?
Had the seal been strengthened?
Minato pondered, knowing the matter was too important to take lightly.
He was one of the few who vaguely knew about Kushina's identity.
Just as Minato was about to say more, Kushina's light-blue eyes suddenly turned into vertical beast-like pupils.
"!"
This was… tailed beast transformation!
Seeing Kushina suddenly clutch her head in pain, Minato instantly realized what was happening.
He had fought against the Four-Tails and Five-Tails jinchūriki before.
This was clearly tailed beast chakra leaking out!
"Kushina!"
Before Minato could attempt to seal her, a voice suddenly rang out.
Minato turned—it was Uchiha Kiyoshi, whom he had seen several times during the Chunin Exams.
Kiyoshi rushed over, his face seemingly filled with urgency.
No wonder Kushina had mentioned him several times before.
Minato immediately understood—they must have a good relationship.
The next moment—
Bang!
Minato was sent flying by a tail formed from leaking tailed beast chakra.
"Minato!"
Kushina tried to run toward him.
(End of Chapter)
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