The deafening aftershocks from a hundred explosive tags detonating simultaneously had not yet fully subsided.
The air was filled with the scorching scent of gunpowder. The soaring flames and thick smoke had gradually dissipated. The explosion had torn a gruesome scar across the grassland.
Haruki's vision, previously obscured by the dense smoke, gradually cleared. Beyond the dust and smoke, there were people.
Innumerable figures emerged silently, surrounding Haruki and his companions, leaving no escape.
Minato's heart immediately sank to a freezing point. He looked at the surrounding Iwa ninjas.
The Iwa ninjas stood before them like immovable rocks, their eyes filled with fury and hatred. Their gazes were uniformly fixed on Minato and his two companions.
Undisguised, pure killing intent surged towards Minato and his companions.
Fugaku's expression subtly darkened.
The Iwa ninjas' hands rested on their weapons, poised for action.
A suffocating sense of oppression, like a massive boulder, weighed down on the chests of Minato and his two companions.
If it were just Minato and his two companions, they might not have felt pressured. Such was the life of a ninja, one never knew when death might come. Everyone was prepared for sacrifice when heading to the battlefield.
But the two youths behind them were innocent. They were neither Konoha ninjas nor Iwa ninjas. They were innocent bystanders caught in the war.
Standing in front of nearly a hundred Iwa ninjas was an exceptionally tall and burly Iwa Jonin. He had a gruesome scar on his face and eyes like a hawk.
His rough, hoarse voice rang out, "Trading a frontline weapons depot for a pair of Sharingan, this deal isn't a loss."
The Iwa Jonin stared at Fugaku's dark eyes.
Fugaku calmly met the Iwa Jonin's gaze. Even if it meant death, he would not allow the Uchiha clan's Sharingan to fall into outsider hands. The Sharingan falling into enemy hands would be an immense disgrace for the Uchiha clan.
Fugaku's face flashed with the pride and resolve of the Uchiha clan.
Minato's fingers, gripping his kunai, turned white at the knuckles from the force, his expression calm.
No!
He couldn't die!
He hadn't gone back to see Kushina yet!
Kazue and Fugaku couldn't die either!
Minato's brain began calculating at an unprecedented speed.
Calculating distance, calculating angles, calculating every tiny gap...
He had to survive!
He had to protect his comrades!
Only this firm belief existed in Minato's mind.
The Iwa ninjas watched them indifferently, a flicker of vengeful satisfaction occasionally crossing their eyes. Finally, they could avenge their comrades who had died at the hands of Konoha ninjas.
Haruki felt his sleeve being tugged. He turned his head and saw Nagato, whose face was slightly pale.
"Haruki, let's escape." Nagato whispered, his voice low, into Haruki's ear.
This war had nothing to do with them, they didn't need to leave their lives here.
Haruki clasped Nagato's cold hand in return.
"Trust me, Nagato."
Haruki looked into Nagato's eyes and said, "I will protect you."
[Ding!]
[System detected Nagato's Affection value +3000]
[Your Love Curse growth value has risen to 52.2%]
"Haruki. I will protect you too." Nagato's expression firmed.
His gaze pierced the Iwa ninjas who had them surrounded. This was his first time feeling the pressure of the battlefield, and it was suffocating.
However, as long as one had someone they wanted to protect with their life, no matter how powerful the enemy before them, they would not feel fear.
Haruki had stood in front of him to protect him too many times. This time, he wanted to stand in front of Haruki to protect him.
"What's the deal with those two brats behind them?"
Haruki and Nagato's presence couldn't escape the sharp eyes of these ninjas.
"I don't know, never seen them."
"They don't look like Konoha ninjas either."
"Where did they come from?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Just kill them."
"Anyone mixed up with Konoha ninjas isn't good either."
"Just kill them all."
"Root them out."
"..."
The whispers of the Iwa ninjas reached Minato and his companions' ears.
Kazue gritted her teeth. "Damn it! These bastards!"
"You Konoha ninjas don't seem to have the right to say that."
Hearing Kazue's voice, the Iwa Jonin sneered, sparks of hatred flashing in his eyes.
"You've also killed no small number of children on the battlefield."
"Does that mean your Iwagakure is any better for sending children to the battlefield?"
Kazue said, "At least we in Konoha don't send children who haven't even graduated from the Academy to the battlefield."
"No need to waste words with them. Attack directly!"
The Iwa Jonin took a deep breath and drew the long sword in his hand.
Haruki squeezed out from between Fugaku and Minato. He was too fast and too sudden, Minato and Fugaku didn't even react.
Minato and his companions had not expected Haruki to dare to step out at this moment.
Nagato was about to repeat Haruki's action and stand beside him, but Minato and Fugaku immediately stopped him.
"Hey! You're being too reckless! Do you know what time it is? Get back and hide obediently!"
Kazue's nerves were taut. She hadn't expected this black-haired youth to be so bold. She had thought he was obedient before, but now it seemed he was a devil child.
Kazue's hand pressed on Haruki's shoulder, wanting to pull him back behind her.
According to the current situation, the Iwa ninjas were very likely to make an example of him.
The Iwa ninjas looked at this brat who had impatiently jumped out to court death, not even frowning.
[Ding!]
[System detected Iwa ninja A's killing intent value +3000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Iwa ninja B's killing intent value +3000]
[Ding!]
[System detected Iwa ninja C's killing intent value +3000]
...
[Currently collected killing intent value totals 18000. Your Slaughter Curse growth value has risen to 8.4%]
(End of Chapter)
New Story
Fairy Tail: Multiversal Travel
Ryoma mysteriously transmigrates to the world of Fairy Tail. But unfortunately, he remains a non-mage for seven years, becoming an ordinary person in the guild.
But one day, the dormant dimensional power in his body throws him into the Demon Slayer world. There, his Ice Breathing merges with his magic power, and finally, he gets an effective magic, Ice Magic.
And this was just the beginning. The dimensional power within him erupted from time to time, throwing him into various different worlds again and again.
Ice Magic from Demon Slayer's breathing style, Space-Time magic from Black Clover's Grimoire, Conqueror's Haki, Imperial tools, Zanpakuto...
Each time he returns, only a moment passes in the Fairy Tail world, but he rises with new powers.
With these newfound powers, Ryoma will eventually write the legend of the Dimensional Mage.