"Save, save me! Help! Aaaaah!!!"
Watching the Shukaku's arm getting closer and closer, the Konoha's Ninja lying on the ground, who looked to be about fourteen or fifteen, screamed in terror.
Seeing that Jin had no intention of intervening at all, Minato gritted his teeth, grabbed a kunai, and charged forward.
However, before Minato could take more than two steps, a blue flash streaked past, and the Shukaku's arm was cleanly severed.
"White Fang-sama!?" Minato exclaimed in shock at the figure standing before him.
"Damn White Fang! I was so close to getting the Hokage's son..." Bunpuku muttered a low curse, cautiously retreating two steps.
Although both were Kage-level, Sakumo's strength was far beyond what he, a Jinchuriki who could only control a portion of Shukaku's power, could hope to match.
"Are you alright, Shinsuke?" Sakumo glanced down at the young ninja who had just been scared out of his wits. (T/N: Asuma's sibling don't have name, so I'll just use Shinsuke as his name.)
"Y-yes, I'm fine." The boy called Shinsuke hurriedly scrambled to his feet, shooting a resentful glare towards Jin.
Even though he'd been terrified, he clearly saw that Uchiha brat refuse to save him!
"Bunpuku, are you alright?" The Second Kazekage, Shamon, arrived at Bunpuku's side and asked.
"I'm fine, Kazekage-sama," Bunpuku replied in a low voice, "It's just a shame... I was so close to getting the son of Sarutobi Hiruzen..."
Shamon raised a hand to indicate Bunpuku shouldn't worry, "It's fine. The main issue is that I couldn't stop him. His speed is too great."
'So that little bastard is Sarutobi Hiruzen's eldest son,' Jin thought, glancing at the brat glaring at him, 'Although he's not very strong, killing him could indeed severely damage Konoha's morale, or at least annoy Sarutobi Hiruzen. It's a win-win for Sunagakure.'
…
The first battle after Jin's arrival at the front lines was that Konoha and Sunagakure locked in a fierce struggle. It lasted from noon until dusk without a clear conclusion, ending in a stalemate with heavy losses on both sides. The end of the war seemed far off.
If Jin recalled correctly, the Fourth Great Ninja War only lasted three or four days. The difference was huge.
But thinking about it, it wasn't surprising. After all, the Fourth War had Kage-level fighters everywhere, and those beyond Kage-level were almost common.
The outcome was truly decided by just a few Six Paths-level individuals. Whoever won among them decided the war's result, and everyone else was just filler. That's why the Fourth Great Ninja War ended so quickly.
…
"Why didn't you save me back then?!" As soon as the army returned to camp, Shinsuke rushed up to Jin, pointing at him and shouting angrily.
His words drew the attention of everyone in the Konoha's camp, including Sakumo, Jiraiya, and others.
"Why should I save you? Because your father is the Hokage?" In contrast to Shinsuke's rage, Jin's face was full of mockery, "If you come to the battlefield, you should be prepared to die at any moment. If you lack that resolve, don't try to morally blackmail me here."
Jin continued with sarcastic scorn, "I think you shouldn't stay here. Hurry back home and live your rich second-generation life. I heard your little brother was born too, right? Perfect timing to go back and catch a drink of your mother's milk."
Jiraiya and Minato's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, 'Damn, what a vicious tongue.'
Dan even had the illusion that Jin's assessment of him at noon was actually quite generous.
"You, you son of a-" Shinsuke was so angry he was stammering, his face red as he swung a fist at Jin.
However, a large hand intercepted his punch.
It was Sakumo again!
Facing the man who had saved his life just hours earlier, no matter how arrogant Shinsuke was, he had to give him the respect.
Sheepishly withdrawing his fist, he turned and left with his lackeys from the Sarutobi Clan.
"You could have saved him today," Sakumo said, turning to Jin with a solemn expression after Shinsuke left.
"Why should I have saved him?" Jin repeated his earlier response to Shinsuke with an amused look.
"We are all comrades of Konoha," Sakumo said, his expression growing even graver.
"Ha ha ha ha~" Jin let out an exaggerated laugh. This felt like the funniest joke he'd heard since transmigrating.
'Comrades? I really hoped you would still think that way in a couple of years when your 'comrades' hounded you to suicide.'
…
"Ahhh, I'll be sleeping here from now on!" Back in the tent, Jin lazily sprawled on the rather simple bed. The sheets and pillow faintly carried a subtle fragrance.
"Brat! Get up!" But the moment Jin lay down, Tsunade roared, charging in to kick him off.
'This is my tent, damn it!'
"Grandma Mito already approves of our relationship. What's wrong with sleeping together?" Jin half-opened his eyes, speaking lazily.
"You dare bring up Grandma?!" Tsunade wanted to punch this kid even more.
During his first meeting with her grandmother, he actually dared to mention 'taking mistresses'. When Tsunade saw those words in the letter from Mito, she almost couldn't stop herself from rushing back to Konoha Village to strangle the little bastard.