Inside a cave.
The Konoha ninja who had just survived battle were doing their best to recover. Most looked dejected.
Among them were Nawaki and Yan Uchiha, both new to the battlefield.
However, Tsunade and others now serving as leaders had no time for sentimentality.
Though they had won, the war supplies had been nearly destroyed in Iwa's surprise attack. Though some had been recovered from beneath the rubble, it wouldn't last long for the hundreds of remaining shinobi.
Their top priority was to report back to Konoha and request backup and supplies.
Furthermore, this battle had drastically changed the situation in the Land of Rain. The Iwa forces had been completely annihilated, and Suna would not be making any major moves in the near future.
As for the Rain ninja, Hanzo had let Jiraiya and his companions go—his intention being to avoid further conflict within the Land of Rain itself.
So what came next wasn't up to them to decide; it was now up to Konoha's higher-ups.
...
In front of the Hokage Tower, Konoha.
An empty street saw a toad roughly the size of a human head hopping toward the Hokage Tower.
At that moment, members of the Sixth Guard Unit, hiding in the shadows, watched with visible surprise. One asked, "What is that thing? A toad?"
Only a red-haired girl among them noticed. Her normally calm eyes suddenly stirred with emotion. "This chakra… Could it be a toad from Mount Myoboku?"
The girl was naturally Kushina. Having met Kai the toad from Mount Myoboku twice before, she could immediately recognize its distinct chakra resonance through her sensing ability.
Just then, a Konoha ninja rushed out from the Hokage Office. The giant toad spat out a scroll directly into his hands before vanishing with a loud puff of smoke.
Whoosh!
Kushina landed on the street, just ten meters from the Hokage Tower, her fists clenched tightly.
"Minato… exactly how are you doing out there?"
...
Inside the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage slowly set down the scroll in his hands. His eyes flickered coldly but also carried a hint of relief—for Hanzo hadn't gone all-out against Jiraiya and the others.
"All Iwa forces wiped out? I'd love to see Onoki's face when he hears about this…"
The Third gave a quiet chuckle. Unlike Konoha's losses, this time the Iwa ninjas had shot themselves in the foot.
Not only had their ambush failed completely, the entire Iwa unit had been destroyed. Their leader Tsuchigawa had even been personally killed by Sakumo Hatake.
All the momentum Iwa had built over half a year in the Land of Rain crumbled overnight.
Therefore, for Konoha, only one direct threat remained now:
The Hidden Sand Village in the Land of Wind.
"So then…"
The Third's gaze hardened slightly, though he did not make an immediate decision. He needed time to plan and discuss things thoroughly.
Though Hanzo had made his stance clear, the situation in Rain Country still required further observation for a while longer.
The immediate priority was to rush supplies to the Land of Rain and deploy more ninja to make up for recent losses.
...
Two hours later, hundreds of ninja had gathered in front of the Hokage Tower.
Not long after, those ninja carried supplies and headed toward the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
At this time, inside the Hokage Office—
"Let me go right now!"
Kushina struggled desperately against the ropes binding her, but no matter how hard she tried, turning red-faced from effort, she couldn't break free at all.
Meanwhile, the Third sat calmly behind his desk with a smile. "You're staying put in the village, understood? As for going to the battlefield—absolutely not."
Half an hour earlier, an Anbu had informed the Third that a Chunin assigned to head toward the Land of Rain had been found unconscious in a deep alley within Konoha.
This news surprised the Third somewhat.
Looking at the culprit before him, he asked, "How did you manage to knock out a Chunin so suddenly?"
Kushina pouted slightly. "If I tell you, will you let me go fight on the battlefield?"
"That's impossible," the Third immediately refused. He stopped questioning and instead murmured, "Looks like your Sealing Technique has improved quite a bit."
Kushina's eyes widened slightly, then she stared at the Third in disbelief.
"Well, with your physical skills alone, instantly taking down a Chunin would be impossible," the Third smiled. "But if you used a Sealing Technique to seal their chakra, it wouldn't be too difficult. If I couldn't even tell something like that, I wouldn't deserve sitting in the Hokage seat."
Hearing this, Kushina hesitated, then retorted, "So what if it is?"
She kept struggling—but those ropes weren't made of ordinary material. No matter how much strength she applied, it was useless.
Seeing Kushina's stubborn expression, the Third said with a smile, "You want to go to the battlefield in the Land of Rain because you're worried about Minato, aren't you?"
At the sound of that name, Kushina visibly stopped resisting, then finally nodded.
"You know your responsibilities well, so that's completely out of the question. But as for that boy's situation, I can certainly keep you updated. How does that sound?"
The Third began negotiating with Kushina—but she didn't really have a choice. She simply nodded again.
Then, the Third recounted to Kushina everything Jiraiya had reported back regarding Minato's performance in that battle.
Even though she knew Minato better than anyone, her eyes still widened in shock—clearly struggling to believe it.
Three Jonin… Even Akai Shuji, captain of her own Sixth Guard Unit, was just a Special Jonin.
When had the Minato she saw every day become so strong without her realizing?
She used to think she'd closed the gap between them. But now, clearly, that wasn't the case at all.
"So there's absolutely no need to worry about his safety. He definitely has enough ability to protect himself on the battlefield—and even earn credit." The Third paused, then added gently, "I'm sure that guy didn't leave without giving you something before he went off, right?"
"
Sandaime said, knowing the extraordinary relationship between Minato and Kushina. Given Kushina's personality, it was unusual for her to stay calm for so long after learning that Minato had gone to the battlefield.
At first, Sandaime thought she had grown up enough to understand, but judging from today's situation, it seemed more likely that Minato had made some preparations before leaving.
Upon hearing those words, Kushina immediately recalled the last line of the letter Minato had entrusted to Kai before his departure.
"Kushina, I've decided to protect my comrades and Konoha on the battlefield. As for you, staying in the village, you must protect our family here. We share the very same dream. And to become Hokage, wherever we are, we must fulfill our duties in our own way. I believe you can do it!"
It was as if Minato's familiar, gentle voice rang in her ears. Her previously restless heart gradually calmed...
"Minato, I will do it. And you, come back safely!"
"You promised—we'll always be together!"
...
...(to be continued.)
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