If this went on any longer, and Haru continued lying low like a salted fish, Kushina was really going to get angry.
Minato had been hospitalized for days and Haru hadn't visited him once. Weren't they classmates?
Just as Takayama Haru was thinking of calling Kushina to go check in on Minato together, news came that Minato had already been discharged.
That moment, Haru suddenly felt as if the fragile boat of friendship between him and Minato had quietly sunk.
It was all the salted fish lifestyle's fault!
But just then, Minato unexpectedly showed up at his door.
Watching the sight of the blood-stained Minato walking up and trying to talk to him, Haru stood frozen in surprise.
"Hey, uh… Haru-kun…"
"What is it?"
Not just Haru—even Kushina looked a bit puzzled.
Minato scratched the back of his head and said, "Back when I was in the hospital, I did a lot of thinking and had some realizations. I was wondering… would you be willing to fight me again?"
"Of course, if I get hurt again, it has nothing to do with Haru-kun—it's my decision!"
Minato glanced at Kushina, then bit his lip and added, "What I'm saying now—Kushina can be my witness!"
Getting beaten once wasn't enough? He wanted to be pummeled again?
Haru stared at Minato, suddenly thinking—this guy might be a bit off…
In the end, Takayama Haru reluctantly agreed to Minato's self-inflicted torment.
Kushina looked at the two with a weird expression. "That guy is so strange. Always wanting to fight and get beat up."
Haru turned to her. "Says the one who used to punch people with her favorite moves."
"Hmph!"
Of course, it wouldn't be appropriate to fight inside the Uzumaki residence.
So they chose Konoha's Training Ground No. 5.
Why Training Ground 5? Because lately…
The moment Haru, Kushina, and Minato walked out of the Uzumaki estate, the Root operatives in hiding were instantly alerted.
"Operation Capture Haru is a go!"
"Minimize exposure—don't reveal your identities!"
"Strike fast and hard. Don't worry about Kushina Uzumaki or Minato Namikaze. If necessary, injure them too!"
"Move!"
From all directions, countless masked figures appeared in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Takayama Haru's instincts immediately went on high alert.
Even Minato scanned the area, sensing something wasn't right.
Only Kushina remained oblivious, clueless about what was going on.
Haru grunted softly and pulled Kushina into a side alley.
"Haru! Don't go in—!"
Minato saw Haru dragging Kushina into a corner. He bit his lip and followed.
Something felt off, but he couldn't ignore the two of them.
Just then, a man in a black mask dropped from above.
In a raspy voice, he said, "Minato Namikaze… I'll be your opponent."
Minato frowned. "Who are you?"
"We? Naturally, we're spies from the Hidden Cloud Village."
Minato's gaze grew cold. "If you were really Cloud spies, you wouldn't be admitting it so openly."
Before the sentence even finished, Minato's body flickered—instantly appearing in front of the masked man, Rasengan blazing in his hand.
Meanwhile, Haru pulled Kushina aside and looked up.
Masked figures were emerging from the shadows all around, each with a sinister aura. From their chakra signatures, they were at least mid-level ninja, with a few even reaching jonin level!
"No way. In broad daylight, they're launching a kidnapping inside the village?"
Takayama Haru couldn't believe it. Did these people really have such disregard for the Third Hokage and Uzumaki Mito?
"You don't need to guess—we are Root."
Everyone froze for a second.
He'd guessed their identity?
But it didn't matter.
As long as there was no evidence, nothing could be proven!
The leader, Yamanaka Kaze, narrowed his eyes. "Attack!"
With that command, all of them charged forward.
Yamanaka Kaze activated the clan's secret technique—Mind Transfer Jutsu.
His spiritual energy focused into a single point and shot toward Haru's body, aiming to take control.
At the same time, from two other directions, Root agents unleashed swarms of insects from their mouths.
"Parasitic Insects!"
And right in front of Haru and Kushina, a masked figure's eyes suddenly glowed blood-red—the Sharingan was spinning with three tomoe.
Kushina gasped, "The Sharingan?!"
There were Uchiha in the Root?
It wasn't so surprising, but Haru still felt deeply unsettled.
"Scarlet Chakra Genjutsu—Naeru's Curse!"
Leaves swirled in the air, dancing on the wind.
Kushina's vision blurred—she was beginning to fall into a genjutsu.
Then suddenly, she heard Haru's voice calling her name.
She turned, smiling happily. "Haru!"
Only to see Takayama Haru, his body pierced with kunai and shuriken, bleeding heavily as he slumped against a tree.
Kushina screamed in horror—and fainted on the spot…
At the same time, the other Root agents surged toward Haru and Kushina.
The ten-man Root squad struck like a lightning storm, poised to take Takayama Haru down in one clean sweep.