The Land of Waterfalls, the Daimyo's Residence.
Minato stepped out from this grand estate. His right hand formed several hand seals, and in an instant, his figure vanished before the guards' eyes.
One guard was startled and exclaimed, "Where did that Konoha ninja go? He just disappeared suddenly?"
Beside him, another guard said, "That's his ninjutsu. Every time, he appears and disappears abruptly."
"Such techniques exist too?"
The guard was stunned. From what he knew, ninjutsu was simply based on the five elemental natures—fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning.
...
Over a period of more than half a year, Minato traveled across the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth, as well as merchant guilds and daimyō residences in smaller nations. At each location, he left behind his Flying Thunder God markers.
Therefore, when traveling back and forth among these places to deliver messages, he typically needed only half a day to complete tasks that would usually take regular ninja a month or even longer.
Cargo transport was handled by other ninja.
The only countries Minato had not yet visited were the Land of Wind and the Land of Water.
The latter seemed closed off from the world, its borders sealed with no clear information about what was happening inside.
Though Minato had slight knowledge about it, he didn't fully understand the situation.
As for the Land of Wind, it was because during a battle, Minato had assisted Sakumo Hatake in killing Kouhi and Liufei, the couple from the Land of Wind.
Takumi Fujihara's assignment concerning the Land of Wind was reassigned by the Third Hokage to other Konoha ninja.
Hence, Minato could train without distraction.
Backyard of the Hatake Clan.
"You're back?" Sakumo asked, watching as Minato suddenly appeared but showing no surprise, only a faint smile.
"When you can apply your Flying Thunder God Technique in combat, its effect will be terrifying," Sakumo remarked.
He had once tried erasing the spatial coordinates of Minato's Flying Thunder God. Although it was possible, it required an immense amount of chakra.
Even someone like Sakumo found it difficult—in battle, anyone bearing Minato's Flying Thunder God marking was effectively doomed.
Only, Minato hadn't reached that level yet.
"How is Junko and the baby doing?" Minato asked.
Sakumo smiled gently. "Only ten days remain before the expected day. But the physician says everything is normal."
Upon hearing this, Minato nodded.
"Let's begin then."
The moment Sakumo finished speaking, he unsheathed the chakra-infused tanto from behind his back in one fluid motion.
Minato's eyes sharpened instantly, his body tensing up as if facing a formidable opponent.
*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*
Both men lunged nearly simultaneously, but before the golden light could travel far, a sharp blade—bright as the legendary White Fang—savagely slashed down toward his head.
Minato dared not withstand the strike directly and shot backward rapidly. In his left hand, every finger held a specially crafted kunai.
*Whoosh!* *Whoosh!* *Whoosh!*
Several kunai, infused with Wind Release blades, shot forth sharply, as if capable of slicing through air itself.
Seeing this, Sakumo flicked his blade a few times, effortlessly knocking all the kunai away, although much of the lightning aura on the sword was also cut apart.
Just as he swung the blade downward, Minato formed a single-handed seal with his right hand.
Just as Sakumo's blade was about to strike Minato from only inches away, Minato suddenly vanished.
"Flying Thunder God Technique..."
Sakumo narrowed his eyes. The last time Minato sparred with him, the Flying Thunder God required two hands to form hand seals, so he had no chance to perform it in time.
But this time, he had completed the technique with just one hand.
"Not good!"
In an instant, he realized the danger. Beneath his feet, Minato's figure flickered into view beside a Flying Thunder God Kunai that had previously been knocked aside.
However, right after the teleportation, Minato's body staggered for a moment.
Quickly recovering from the hesitation, Minato hurled his last kunai with his left hand while lunging forward with his right, launching a fierce counterattack.
"Bang!"
Yet during that brief pause, Sakumo had already reacted. He swept his blade backward, intercepting Minato's kunai midair.
The force of the clash sent both warriors' weapons flying, and Minato himself was flung several meters backward.
"My body still can't keep up after teleportation."
Minato's expression darkened. Although he barely managed to activate the Flying Thunder God in battle, his body couldn't respond quickly enough after spatial movement.
That last slash had been mercy from Sakumo; otherwise, there would have been a deep wound across his chest.
"You still shouldn't carelessly use the Flying Thunder God, or it'll put your life at risk."
Sakumo said seriously. Opponents of equal strength to Minato wouldn't even warrant the use of the Flying Thunder God. But when facing someone stronger, using this still-undeveloped technique could be dangerous due to his body's inability to adapt to rapid spatial shifts.
Minato nodded.
At that moment, the sliding door to the backyard opened. Junko Watanabe, nine months pregnant, approached with visible effort, her large belly making movement difficult.
Seeing her, Sakumo immediately appeared at her side, gently supporting Junko.
"With such cold weather and you being so close to giving birth, you really shouldn't move around on your own," Sakumo advised tenderly.
"But you heard what the doctor said this morning—it's all fine," Junko replied with a soft smile, her tone warm and gentle.
Looking at her, Minato recalled their very first mission together when Sakumo had told her to change her expression.
Where was the feared Anbu "Witch" now?
"It's been ages since I last went on a mission—I'm so bored I could cry," Junko sighed.
Upon hearing this, Minato and Sakumo exchanged knowing smiles.
Junko joined in the laughter, but suddenly winced from a sharp cramp in her stomach.
Tiny drops of sweat glistened on her lovely face.
Seeing this, Sakumo's handsome features tensed instantly. In a flash, he reappeared beside her and carefully steadied her.
"Senior Sakumo, I'll take you both to the hospital," Minato offered. Knowing Junko was near her due date, he had placed a marker at Konoha Hospital earlier that day.
Sakumo nodded, placing one hand on Minato's shoulder while wrapping an arm protectively around Junko's slim waist.
Several hand seals formed in quick succession, then Minato, Sakumo, and Junko vanished from the Hatake residence.
...
Outside the delivery room, Sakumo paced back and forth anxiously.
"Ahh!"
At this moment, pained groans echoed from the woman inside the delivery room. Even though Sakumo Hatake was by nature a calm and composed man, when it came to his wife and child, he could no longer remain serene.
Outside the delivery room, another figure came rushing over. After Minato brought Sakumo and his wife to the hospital, he quickly notified Kushina and the others.
For hours on end, everyone anxiously paced back and forth outside, their faces twisted with worry and hope.
One life's birth often comes at the cost of another's pain.
The anguished cries coming from within the delivery room triggered Minato's memories.
Back then, it had been exactly the same scene...
But as soon as his own child was born, the Masked Man had taken him away. After that, even though he gave it his all, he was still powerless to change the outcome.
"Waa—"
Then, a piercing cry from the delivery room shattered Minato's thoughts.
In that instant, everyone sharply turned their heads, eyes locked intently on the delivery room door.
...
...
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