If this laziness continued, Kushina was going to get angry.
Minato had been in the hospital for several days, and yet Ryoma hadn't gone to visit him once. What kind of classmate was that?
Just as Ryoma was about to drag Kushina along to see him, news came that Minato had already been discharged.
Ryoma suddenly felt as though the fragile "boat of friendship" between him and Minato had capsized.
All because of that salted-fish lifestyle!
And then—Minato himself knocked on the door.
Ryoma froze. Standing there was Minato Namikaze, looking a little worse for wear, bloodstains on his clothes.
"Ryoma-kun, uh… that…"
"What 'that'?"
Not only Ryoma, but even Kushina was confused.
Minato scratched his head, looking embarrassed. "While I was in the hospital, I kept thinking about our last fight. I realized a lot… and I was wondering if you'd fight me again."
He quickly added, "Of course, if I get injured again, it's got nothing to do with you—I'm the one asking for it!"
Minato glanced at Kushina, grit his teeth, and declared, "Kushina can be my witness for that!"
Once wasn't enough? How many times did he want to get beaten up?
Ryoma couldn't help but suspect that Minato was a bit of an M…
…
In the end, Ryoma reluctantly agreed to Minato's masochistic request.
Kushina frowned. "That guy's strange… always wanting to fight."
Ryoma shot her a look. "Says the girl who used to punch people just to show she liked them."
"Hmph! Whatever!"
Of course, fighting in the Uzumaki compound wasn't a good idea, so Ryoma chose Konoha's Training Ground No. 5.
Why No. 5? Well… for reasons.
But the moment Ryoma, Kushina, and Minato stepped out of the Uzumaki compound, Root's operatives were already aware.
"Operation: Capture Ryoma—begin."
"Do not reveal your identities."
"Strike fast and hard. Ignore Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato. If they get hurt, it doesn't matter."
"Move out!"
From all directions, black-clad figures emerged, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Ryoma's senses went on high alert instantly.
Even Minato noticed that something was wrong, scanning their surroundings warily.
Only Kushina, bless her heart, remained oblivious.
Ryoma frowned and quickly pulled her into a side alley.
"Ryoma! Don't just drag me—"
Minato saw Ryoma pull Kushina away and, teeth clenched, followed them in. Something was clearly off, and he couldn't just leave them alone.
That's when a masked man dropped from above, landing in front of Minato. His voice was hoarse:
"Namikaze Minato, your opponent… is me."
Minato's brows furrowed. "Who are you?"
"We? We are undercover agents from Kumogakure."
Minato narrowed his eyes. "You're not from Kumo. If you were, you wouldn't just announce it like that."
Before the man could react, Minato vanished in a yellow flash, reappearing right in front of him, a glowing Rasengan spinning in his palm.
…
Meanwhile, Ryoma pulled Kushina deeper into the alley, only to find masked figures closing in from all sides. Judging by their chakra, they were all at least Chūnin-level, with several Jōnin among them.
"You've gotta be kidding me… broad daylight, and there's a kidnapping in the middle of the village?"
Did they not care at all about the Third Hokage or Uzumaki Mito?
"You don't have to guess," Ryoma said coldly. "You're from Root."
The masked attackers froze for a brief moment.
So… they actually guessed their identity?
Not that it mattered anymore.
As long as there was no solid evidence, it wasn't a problem.
Yamanaka Kaze, the squad leader, narrowed his eyes and gave the order.
"Go!"
At his command, the Root operatives surged forward.
Kaze immediately formed hand seals, activating the Yamanaka clan's secret technique — Mind Body Switch Technique.
Focusing his spirit into a single point, he sent his consciousness shooting toward the target. If successful, he would seize control of the enemy's body with overwhelming mental power, rendering them unable to move of their own will.
From two other flanking positions, masked operatives opened their coats, releasing swarms of poisonous insects that poured out like black clouds.
"Parasitic Insects!"
Directly in front of Ryoma and Kushina, another masked figure's eyes flared a deep, blood-red. The three-tomoe Sharingan spun menacingly in his gaze.
Kushina gasped. "Sharingan?!"
There were Uchiha in Root?
It didn't seem possible… yet here it was.
Ryoma's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Sharingan Genjutsu — Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"
Leaves whirled in the air, the breeze carrying them around Kushina as her mind began to blur.
Then she heard Ryoma's voice calling her name. She turned, relief in her eyes. "Ryoma!"
But what she saw made her blood run cold — Ryoma's body was pierced with shuriken and kunai, blood streaming as he collapsed against the base of a tree.
Her terrified scream tore from her throat before darkness claimed her, and she fainted.
At that same moment, multiple Root operatives lunged toward Ryoma and Kushina.
Ten elite members of Root moved in unison — their assault was swift, coordinated, and overwhelming, aimed to bring Ryoma down in one decisive strike.