On the coast, a small squad was executing a mission.
"Ambush! Ambush!" Yamada Ōhiro's shout was almost swallowed by the wind. His team reacted instantly, protecting the merchant's son in the carriage.
They were secretly executing a Rank-B mission, escorting the wealthy merchant's son to another small country.
A group of figures burst from the forest ahead, each one robust and muscular, wearing single-shouldered ninja combat uniforms.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion — Pillar of Lightning Light!" The ninja leading Yamada Ōhiro's squad suddenly glowed white, incredibly dazzling.
"It's a Cloud Village Lightning Release Genjutsu! Look away!" Yamada Ōhiro shouted loudly, immediately clamping his eyes shut.
He had encountered a Cloud Village ninja using this technique before. By closing his eyes, he could block most of the incoming light.
This was his path of experience.
"Kill the target." Desatō roared, raising his katana and charging forward.
Their mission was commissioned by the merchant's enemy, demanding the death of his only son!
Once they killed him, the mission would be complete, and they could leave immediately without engaging the Leaf ninjas!
Yamada Ōhiro quickly kneaded chakra and performed hand signs.
"Water Release: Water Bullet!" Rotating water condensed in his right hand, taking the form of a water spear, which rapidly struck toward the Cloud Village ninja.
"Earth Release: Earth Mud Wall!" The Cloud Village ninja instantly performed hand signs and released a wall made of earth, blocking the path of the water spears and intercepting all of them.
Yamada Ōhiro tried to release another Water Release: Water Bullet, but a flash of a blade appeared, and a dramatic gash opened up across his abdomen.
He screamed, and his nearby teammates heard the commotion and quickly rushed to assist.
"Yamada, hold on!"
Suddenly, the scene turned chaotic. The merchant's son listened in terror to the sounds of fighting outside.
After some time, a dark shadow appeared before him.
Before he could even cry out, he felt a chill at his throat, and warm liquid streamed down his neck.
He reached out and touched it, a palm full of blood waving before his eyes. His mouth opened and closed, seemingly trying to shout something, but the sound was choked in his throat.
"Mission complete, retreat!" Desatō yelled, then sliced through the remaining flesh of the merchant's son, cut off the head, sealed it in a scroll, and quickly left the area.
"Damn it." Sakai Shinobu spat, his face anxious.
He was finally no longer paired with Kakashi, but with new teammates. However, the situation during this time was more severe than he had imagined.
Friction between countries was escalating daily, and there were even rumors that the Third Great Ninja War could break out at any moment.
He glanced at Yamada Ōhiro lying in a pool of blood. This was already beyond their squad's original mission difficulty.
Rank B was already pushing it; this mission's difficulty was at least Rank A.
"Quick, take Yamada back for medical treatment!"
***
Training Ground Three.
The sun hung high, the air filled with a faint scent of dust, and the ground was covered with craters made by impact forces.
"It's… too difficult to control this." Minato sat on the ground, panting, thin sweat covering his temples.
His hands trembled slightly, clearly showing that the training had consumed a large amount of chakra and energy.
Jiraiya stood beside him, thoughtfully watching Minato's palms, muttering to himself:
"I heard that when kneading chakra, it's easier to guide it according to the direction of your cowlick…"
Minato paused at the remark, blinking. "Eh?"
That sounded more like superstition, didn't it?
But Jiraiya spoke earnestly, as if he possessed some unique insight.
Seeing Minato's confusion and lack of progress, Jiraiya dropped the topic, pulled an ice pop from his robe, expertly snapped it in half, and handed one half to Minato.
Minato simply looked down at his palms, realizing something. He asked Jiraiya which direction his cowlick went.
After learning that he had two, Minato Namikaze extended both hands and began kneading chakra according to the direction of his cowlick.
"It's… it's taking shape!!" Minato Namikaze excitedly exclaimed as the constantly compressing and rotating sphere of chakra in his hands finally stabilized.
"I shall name it the Halo Ice Pop Inspired Cowlick Jiraiya Dual-Style Sphere!"
"Long and clumsy…" Jiraiya only felt that his student had no talent for naming things.
"In any case, let's call an end to the new technique development for today." Jiraiya handed the ice pop to Minato and casually instructed, "I have mission application matters to deal with, so I'll be going now."
Minato nodded, watching Jiraiya's back disappear into the forest path, and then slowly bit into the ice pop.
Not long after, he sharply noticed a peeking presence from somewhere behind him.
He turned his head and saw a head stealthily poking out from behind a large tree. Red hair swayed slightly, and her eyes were sparkling, carrying a hint of guilt.
"Huh?! Kushina?!" Minato abruptly stood up, his face full of surprise and tension. "How are you here? Is everything alright?"
He instinctively scanned his surroundings, afraid someone might be secretly monitoring them.
Kushina's identity was special; she couldn't casually leave the surveillance range.
If the Hokage found out she had snuck out… that would be terrible!
Seeing his reaction, Kushina gave a forced laugh and rubbed the back of her head, her eyes wandering:
"Uh… Lord Third granted special permission. He said I could temporarily step outside the barrier."
Kushina rubbed the back of her head, feeling uneasy.
She didn't sound entirely convincing, and Minato was somewhat suspicious that Kushina was deceiving him.
Hadn't Kushina always been unable to leave the sealing barrier?
Had the sealing power been strengthened now?
Minato Namikaze pondered, as this matter was too significant for him not to think deeply about.
Minato Namikaze was one of the few people who vaguely knew about Kushina's identity.
Just as Minato was about to say something more, Kushina's pale blue eyes suddenly turned into the vertical pupils of a wild beast.
"!"
This was **Tailed Beast Transformation**!
Minato Namikaze instantly realized the reason, seeing Kushina clutching her head, her face contorted in pain.
He had previously fought the Four-Tails Jinchūriki and the Five-Tails Jinchūriki during missions.
This was clearly a leakage of Tailed Beast chakra!
"Kushina!"
Before Minato Namikaze could attempt to seal Kushina, an abrupt voice rang out in the clearing.
Minato Namikaze looked in the direction of the sound. It was Kiyoshi Uchiha, whom he had seen several times during the Chunin Exams.
Kiyoshi quickly ran over, his face seemingly showing an expression of anxiety.
No wonder Kushina had mentioned Kiyoshi several times before.
Minato Namikaze instantly understood; it seemed their relationship was good.
The next moment.
*Poof!*
Minato Namikaze was sent flying by a tail formed by the leaked Tailed Beast chakra.
"Minato!" Kushina tried to run toward him.
***
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