In the Forest

  Amidst the trees, over a dozen lifeless bodies y scattered, their pupils dull and unfocused, their warmth fading away.

  The corpses were in various tragic states—some hanging from tree trunks, others sprawled in the grass. There were traces of ninjutsu, kunai, and shuriken, along with the distinctive marks left by dogs, insects, and the effects of Gentle Fist techniques.

  "It's finally over."

  A voice broke the silence as a group of Konoha shinobi emerged from the canopy above. Though breathing heavily, they remained vigint.

  Nara Shikaku, panting heavily, cast a gnce at the group before his gaze settled on Shirou. Inwardly, he was startled.

  As expected of someone seasoned in battlefield combat. Even though this mission had gone smoothly thanks to Shikaku's strategy, Shirou stood out as the one who had conserved the most chakra and stamina after the battle.

  It wasn't that Shirou hadn't put in effort; rather, his combat style prioritized swift movements and precise use of shuriken and other techniques, conserving energy wherever possible.

  In contrast, many others had relied on overwhelming dispys of rge-scale ninjutsu during the high-intensity battle. While effective, it would leave them at a disadvantage if a second confrontation arose.

  Kushina, though panting, wore a victorious smile.

  "Not as tough as I thought."

  "All right, let's clean up the battlefield and gather any useful intel," Shikaku ordered.

  The group quickly got to work, adeptly searching the area. As Chūnin, they were experienced enough to handle such tasks efficiently.

  "Hizashi, Hiashi, stay on guard. Everyone else, hurry up," Shirou said calmly as he sheathed his bde. His gaze briefly swept over the group before settling back into composure.

  He nodded to himself. No wonder these people would become the vilge's elite Jōnin in the future. While their backgrounds helped, their skills were undeniably honed through tough experiences.

  "Is everyone unharmed?"

  With a bright smile, Minato exuded his characteristic warmth and charm, checking on the team. However, his subtle gnce toward Kushina did not escape Shirou's notice.

  "Shirou-kun even learned medical ninjutsu under Sister Tsunade," Kushina teased, her tone pyful, yet with a hint of amusement from an earlier incident.

  Shirou smiled and nodded.

  "I know a bit of basic medical ninjutsu."

  The battlefield had a way of forging bonds, and after this fight, the group shared an unspoken trust that hadn't existed before.

  "Let's move!"

  With a fsh of movement, the group dispersed, swiftly leaping through the forest.

  As they traveled, Shirou leaned closer to Kushina and spoke teasingly in a low voice.

  "Looks like someone cares about you."

  Kushina gred at him, clearly knowing who he meant.

  "I don't like sissies!"

  Minato's occasional gnces didn't escape anyone's notice, least of all Kushina's. However, at this point, she felt no affection for Minato.

  Shirou smirked faintly at the scene.

  "Really? Too bad your identity means people will always have something to gain from being around you."

  His blunt words made Kushina gre again, her small tiger-like fangs bared in irritation.

  "And you? Aren't you here because of my identity too?"

  "Don't misunderstand! You've already said it yourself—I'm only here to connect with Captain Tsunade," Shirou replied, shrugging with a teasing grin.

  Despite the banter, Kushina found herself subconsciously growing wary of Minato, the seeds of doubt sown.

  ...

  Back in Konoha, at the Hokage's Office

  "Hiruzen, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is crucial. My Root division has identified five suitable vessels for the seal. We can proceed immediately," Danzo Shimura said grimly.

  Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi remained composed, smoking his pipe as he listened, his expression calm.

  Danzo's frustration grew.

  "Hiruzen! Are you listening? The vilge cannot have divided voices. An uncontrolled Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is a perpetual threat. This must not be allowed!"

  Hiruzen finally spoke, his tone steady but firm.

  "Danzo, I am the Hokage."

  Danzo's face reddened with suppressed anger at being rebuffed.

  "You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" he spat before storming out.

  Left alone, Hiruzen exhaled a cloud of smoke and retrieved a scroll from under his desk. It contained information on Minato Namikaze.

  "Danzo, you're too impatient. If the vilge were left in your hands, things would only get worse."

  Gazing out at the vilge bathed in the sunset, Hiruzen's expression hardened.

  "As long as nothing unexpected happens, everything will proceed as pnned. But if Kushina cannot align with the vilge..."

  For the sake of Konoha, Hiruzen resolved never to let the vilge's strongest weapon fall into the hands of an outsider.