At the same time, in a Hot Spring Village twenty kilometers away from Konoha.
Inside a certain hot spring inn, Tsunade leaned against the edge of the hot spring pool with her head tilted back and her arm resting on her forehead, looking somewhat dejected.
Minato Namikaze... The image of a certain blond-haired boy kept flashing through her mind, and Tsunade sighed despondently.
How did it come to this?
When exactly did it all start?
Unknowingly, Minato had quietly occupied every corner of her life in an innocuous manner.
He would go grocery shopping and cook with her, patiently help her pick out clothes, coax her into a good mood when she was angry, play dice and cards with her, and occasionally watch the sunset together in the courtyard.
Although he was younger than Nawaki, he looked after Nawaki like an older brother.
Even she was being tenderly cared for by him... In fact, the moment she left the Village, she had already regretted it.
Especially at the thought that the girl Kushina already had designs on Minato, and that her own departure had given her an opportunity, a wave of bitterness couldn't help but rise in her heart.
But remembering her hurried and resolute attitude when she left, she was truly too embarrassed to just go back like that.
At the very least... she should develop that Ninjutsu before returning.
Otherwise, it would be too embarrassing!
But after going back, what could she even do?
Actually, the customs of the Ninja World were relatively open.
A fourteen-year age gap wasn't an issue.
The master-disciple relationship wasn't much of a hindrance either.
What Tsunade truly found difficult to accept was Minato's current age!
To think that she actually... Forget it, it's better not to say it!
Perhaps it was because Minato was only five years old that she had ignored the 'threat' from him.
And his precocious mind had made her subconsciously overlook his age, which led to the change in her mindset.
But the most troublesome thing about feelings is that even if one can straighten out their thoughts, they might not necessarily make a rational choice... This was also what Tsunade was most distressed about right now.
Should she let nature take its course, or cut the Gordian knot?
She leaned against the edge of the hot spring pool, sinking deep into thought.
Minato... how does he see me?
Will he think I'm a pervert?
He's so smart, he must be able to see something, right?
And how should I Face him?
Suddenly, with a bang, a cloud of smoke erupted. Tsunade felt her body sink as the hot spring water turned into warm mucus, and her surroundings became pitch black.
"Reverse Summoning Jutsu?"
Tsunade reacted instantly.
Because the Shikkotsu Forest, where the Slug's main body resided, was unsuitable for human survival, every time she was reverse summoned, she was directly enveloped within the Slug's body.
"Little Tsunade, someone has infiltrated your home. Minato asked me to notify you immediately. Also, Nawaki and Kushina are inside my Clone's body, so you don't need to worry."
The Slug's voice came from the darkness, and then the Reverse Summoning Jutsu was quickly released.
Splash—
Tsunade fell back into the hot spring water. After a brief moment of daze, a fierce and murderous Evil Qi suddenly appeared between her brows!
Minato is in danger!
Damn it, who did it?!
I just left Konoha, and someone is already targeting Minato?
Without bothering to dry her body, she quickly dressed and vaulted over the wooden fence of the women's bath, rushing towards Konoha at top speed.
Meanwhile, at Tsunade's home.
Minato was eating with two Wood Clones, pondering the intentions of the intruders.
Four people. One was guarding outside Kushina's window, one was between his and Kushina's rooms, and the other two were both in his room.
Judging by the formation, the opponents intended to prevent him from supporting Kushina.
If that was the case, the purpose of the two in his room might not be to kill him, but to stall him. Otherwise, given Nawaki's status as the grandson of the First Hokage, he should have also been a target for assassination.
From the look of it, the intruders were likely from the Village, with Danzo being the most probable culprit.
As for the specific situation, he would have to make contact first.
If it really is Danzo... Heh!
Having made his calculations, Minato made a hand gesture.
"I'm full!"
Kushina put down her chopsticks. "I'm going to take a bath in a bit, so you guys wait a while~"
As she spoke, she walked towards her room with light steps.
"I'm full too. Wait, Kushina."
Minato followed closely. "Have you finished reading the manga Nawaki lent you last time?"
"I finished it. Wait until I get back to my room and I'll get it for you."
"Yeah, thanks."
Minato shouted towards the living room, "The last one to finish does the dishes, Nawaki!"
"I know..."
Nawaki's tone was helpless.
Minato smiled and turned into his bedroom.
Just as the door closed, the next second, a towel smelling of anesthetic was pressed against his mouth!
Bang!
Minato's figure dissipated, leaving a wooden log in his place.
"Substitution Jutsu?"
Two figures wearing Kumogakure attire and masks suddenly appeared in the room.
"People from Kumogakure?"
With his back against the wall, Minato looked at the two warily.
"The plan failed; we can only use force now."
The two exchanged a glance and quickly launched an attack on Minato.
Clang—
The sound of metal clashing echoed in the bedroom.
During the brief exchange, Minato deliberately showed two openings and found that the two in front of him indeed had no intent to kill.
"Not good, Kushina!"
Minato feigned anxiety, turned to smash through the window, and rushed into the courtyard. The two in the room followed closely behind.
Just then, the glass of Kushina's room shattered simultaneously. The lurker outside her window and the person in the hallway completed their encirclement.
Puchi—
In an instant, the Kushina inside the bedroom was pierced through the chest by a long sword.
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"
Puchi!
With a dull thud, under the assassin's bewildered gaze, a sharp tree branch stabbed into his body.
"It's a Wood Clone! The operation is exposed!"
The branch inside his body suddenly bloomed, growing countless offshoots within him. He fell to the ground like a hedgehog as the other person in the room shouted towards the courtyard.
Minato's expression turned cold. "As expected, they're after Kushina..."
"The target isn't here. What do we do?"
"Mission failed, retreat!"
Shangui did not hesitate. They were currently wearing the guise of Kumogakure, and it hadn't reached the point where they had to die.
Though they were completely loyal to Danzo, biological instincts still existed.
With those words, the three had no intention of continuing the fight. They used Body Flicker to leave the courtyard and fled in different directions.
"Heh..."
Minato was in no hurry to give chase. Just as he was about to check the corpse, a loud boom erupted as a violent explosion occurred in Kushina's room.
Destroying the evidence... Minato sensed the direction in which the three were fleeing, his smile cold.
He always felt that the greatest strength of Wood Release was never its power, but its utility.
Growth, construction, scouting, endurance, and... parasitism!
This was the inspiration given to him by the clone seeds. The size of the seeds was still a bit too large, but spores were very stealthy... If it really was Danzo, even the Third Hokage wouldn't be able to protect him, because Minato had no intention of giving him that chance.
He had no intention of reasoning with him... ————