The "Friendship Boat" Sinks
If Kazuki kept staying inside, Kushina was going to explode.
Minato had been hospitalized for days.
And Kazuki hadn't visited once.
What kind of classmate does that?
Just as Kazuki finally decided to invite Kushina to visit Minato—
He learned Minato had already been discharged.
Kazuki stared at the sky.
"…There goes our friendship."
"All because of salted fish mode."
And right then—
Knock knock.
Kazuki opened the door.
Standing outside was Minato Namikaze, still wrapped in bandages but smiling politely.
"Ka—Kazuki-kun, um…"
"What's with the hesitation?"
Even Kushina tilted her head.
Minato scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"I thought about our last fight a lot while I was in the hospital."
"I learned something."
"So… would you fight me again?"
Kushina blinked.
Minato swallowed and added quickly:
"If I get hurt again, it's completely my responsibility! Kushina can testify!"
Kazuki stared at him.
"…You enjoy this or something?"
Minato flushed.
"I-I just want to grow stronger!"
Kushina muttered, "Boys are weird…"
Training Ground No. 5
They couldn't spar inside the Uzumaki compound.
So Kazuki chose Training Ground No. 5.
Why?
Because recently—
It had fewer patrols.
And fewer witnesses.
The Moment They Left the Compound
Root moved.
Ten shadows.
Elite operatives.
All waiting for this exact moment.
"Operation begins."
"Do not reveal identities."
"Neutralize Kushina and Minato if necessary."
"Primary objective: capture Kazuki."
They moved like ghosts.
Kazuki felt it instantly.
Minato did too.
Only Kushina was unaware.
Kazuki suddenly pulled Kushina into a side alley.
"Kazuki—? Don't just—!"
Minato followed immediately.
He sensed killing intent.
Then—
A masked figure dropped in front of him.
"Minato Namikaze."
"Your opponent is me."
Minato narrowed his eyes.
"Yun shinobi don't introduce themselves."
"You're not from Kumogakure."
Before the man could respond—
Minato vanished.
A half-formed Rasengan spiraled in his palm as he appeared directly in front of the masked operative.
Alley — Kazuki's Side
Kazuki stopped.
Seven masked figures appeared around him.
Two more landed behind.
Elite chakra signatures.
At least three jōnin-level.
The rest chūnin or above.
"In broad daylight?" Kazuki muttered. "Inside Konoha?"
"You people have no fear."
Then calmly:
"You're Root."
A slight pause.
They hadn't expected that.
Yamanaka Fū stepped forward.
"Doesn't matter."
"Move."
They attacked instantly.
No wasted motion.
No speeches.
First Strike — Mind Transfer
Yamanaka Fū formed a seal.
Mind Body Switch Technique.
His consciousness launched forward like a spear.
Kazuki felt the intrusion immediately.
Spiritual pressure.
Attempting possession.
Second Strike — Aburame
Two masked shinobi released swarms of kikaichū.
"Parasitic Insects!"
Black clouds of chakra-eating insects surged forward.
Third Strike — Sharingan
A masked shinobi stepped into view.
Crimson eyes.
Three tomoe spinning.
Kushina gasped.
"Sharingan?!"
An Uchiha… in Root?
Genjutsu activated.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.
Leaves twisted in the air.
The world shifted.
Kushina's Illusion
She heard Kazuki call her name.
"Kushina."
She turned happily.
"Kazu—"
But what she saw—
Kazuki's body pierced with dozens of kunai.
Shuriken embedded in his chest.
Blood pouring.
He collapsed silently against a tree.
"KAZU—!"
Her scream echoed.
The world fractured.
Darkness swallowed her.
She fainted.
Simultaneous Assault
Root operatives surged forward.
Mind transfer connecting.
Insects closing in.
Genjutsu layered.
Blades descending.
A perfect execution.
Ten elites.
Overwhelming force.
Thunder strike.
They intended to end this in one breath.
Kazuki
Eyes opened.
Cold.
Calm.
20% Hashirama fusion.
Spiritual pressure exploded outward.
Yamanaka Fū's mind transfer hit—
—and shattered.
Rebound backlash.
Fū coughed blood instantly as his consciousness snapped back violently.
Wood roots erupted from the alley walls.
Insects were crushed midair.
The Sharingan wielder's genjutsu met something deeper—
Ancient chakra.
Dense as mountains.
The illusion cracked like glass.
Kazuki caught Kushina's falling body gently with one arm.
With the other—
He formed a single seal.
"Wood Release."
The ground split.
Massive roots burst upward like spears.
The alley became a forest in an instant.
Root operatives leapt back.
Formation broken.
Kazuki's voice was quiet.
"You made one mistake."
"You attacked her."
The air grew heavy.
Killing intent suffocated the alley.
From the other side—
A Rasengan detonated.
Minato had finished his opponent.
And he was coming back.
Root's perfect ambush—
Had just collapsed.