Minato noticed that Iwa's condition had visibly improved after taking the medicine, and the misunderstanding between them was resolved. He promptly introduced himself.
"My name is Namikaze Minato. This is Uzumaki Kushina."
Kushina gave Iwa a respectful bow, which momentarily caught Iwa off guard.
After introducing himself and Kushina, Minato went on to introduce the rest of his team.
Only then did Iwa learn that the boy carrying a short blade on his back was actually the son of that cold and distant man, Hatake Sakumo, and the two siblings were the jinchuriki of the Two-Tails from Kumogakure.
What intrigued her the most was learning that the Third Hokage had truly ended up with that woman Tsunade.
In the future, they even had two children, a boy and a girl, both of whom were exceptionally gifted.
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, Iwa looked at Minato and asked, "How did you all get dragged into this time period?"
Minato himself hadn't anticipated what had happened to them and explained to Iwa.
"We were acting under the Third Hokage's orders, tracking down a rogue ninja named Shinno in the Roran region.
Everything was going according to plan, until we happened to encounter a fluctuation in the power of the Dragon Vein.
Shinno was the first to be swallowed by it, and our entire team was pulled in right after."
Iwa nodded, signaling for him to continue.
Minato sighed helplessly.
"When we woke up, we realized that although we were still in Roran, everything around us had changed completely.
Fortunately, Arata sensed your chakra in time, so we rushed over to check things out. As for the rest, you already know. We've traveled through time, we're now in the past."
As she listened to Minato, Iwa was already considering her next move. With Minato and Kushina's help, she'd be able to resolve Seramu's crisis much faster.
She could feel her strength returning. Though she wasn't yet at her peak, she could at least move freely without being hindered by her injuries.
In her heart, she marveled, Who would've thought Tsunade in the future would be this capable? This medicine she created really works wonders!
Iwa turned to Minato and Kushina and said, "Don't worry about tracking Shinno for now.
The Third Hokage is on his way here. Before he arrives, we need to ensure Seramu's safety. In the future, Konoha and Kumogakure will need to form an alliance with Roran."
Since they hadn't been able to find Shinno's trail anyway, and Iwa's suggestion made the most sense, Minato and the others quickly agreed to act alongside her.
After all, now that they were in the past, every action they took could have massive consequences on the future.
With that, the group swiftly set off toward the Dragon Vein.
Under heavy guard, Seramu arrived without issue at the underground location where the Dragon Vein lay buried.
Stepping up to the Dragon Vein altar, she used her bloodline power to calm the turbulent energy. Slowly, the violent tremors subsided.
Just as she was about to let out a breath of relief, she heard the sound of clapping from above.
Startled, Seramu looked up toward the source of the noise and saw a strange figure cloaked in black, clinging to the stone wall with his feet, staring directly at her.
His gaze brimmed with a possessive, destructive hunger. Even from a distance, the malice radiating from him was palpable.
The guards, alarmed by the intruder's silent entry, immediately loosed arrows in his direction. But the figure was extremely agile, every single arrow missed.
The stranger dropped down and advanced toward the queen with frightening speed.
Saburo quickly ordered the queen to be taken through a secure escape route while he and the guards stayed behind to hold off the attacker.
But against overwhelming power, mortal effort meant nothing.
Even the best swordsmen among the guards couldn't so much as scratch the intruder.
And with the altar's narrow passages, their numbers provided no advantage, if anything, they risked striking their own allies.
The enemy was getting closer and closer to the queen. She hadn't yet reached the escape mechanism, and Saburo and the others had no effective way to stop the intruder.
Out of desperation, Saburo ordered the guards to use their own bodies to form a human wall around the queen.
The tactic slowed the enemy's advance, but casualties spiked immediately. Realizing their intent, the attacker's strikes grew even more ferocious.
Soon, the guards had been decimated. Few remained standing near the altar.
Seramu couldn't bear to watch any longer. She cried out, "Who are you? Why are you killing my people?"
The man laughed hoarsely and replied in a raspy voice, "You're a fine-looking woman, delicate skin, nice figure.
Bet I could have a few good days of fun with you. I came here for the power of the Dragon Vein, but it turns out there's an even better prize right here. What a bonus."
The queen's heart clenched in fear. She could already imagine the horrors that would befall her if she fell into his hands.
Though she'd faced many storms in her life, she couldn't help the chill of terror that crept into her bones. She regretted not listening to Iwa's advice.
Glancing around, she saw not a single guard still standing. Even Saburo lay motionless nearby, his fate uncertain. A wave of grief and sorrow washed over her.
The black-cloaked figure deliberately slowed his approach, each step hammering into her heart like a death knell.
He was toying with her, breaking her spirit bit by bit to make her easier to control later.
Despair overwhelmed Seramu. Her hand went to the dagger at her chest. She'd thought of a way to avoid shame, even if it meant death.
The only thing holding her back was the thought of her daughter, Kana. Her own life and the fate of the kingdom no longer mattered.
The man, noticing her intent, sneered.
"Maybe you didn't know, but I once learned a few odd tricks from a doctor.
There's this medical forbidden jutsu, Body Regeneration. Even if you stab yourself in the heart, I might just be able to save you in time. What do you think?"
Now even the freedom to choose death had been stripped from her. Her spirit broke completely.
She murmured, "I ruled with integrity, loved my people like my own children… Do I really deserve such a cruel end?"
Hearing that, the man stopped just a few steps away. He no longer needed to approach, her will had crumbled, and now he could enjoy his prize at leisure.
From such close range, he could smell the faint fragrance wafting from her body. It stirred his blood, and his breathing grew heavier.
The queen could feel how intensely her scent affected him. Her heart screamed silently, Isn't there anyone who can save me? I'd give up everything, just let me be free!
Perhaps the heavens could not bear to watch a good person suffer.
Just as the man reached out to stroke her delicate cheek, a shuriken whistled through the air, striking his arm and halting his advance.
Snarling, he lunged for the queen, intending to seize her first and deal with the rest later.
But to his shock, he grabbed nothing but air. Seramu had vanished from right in front of him.
Spinning around, he spotted the attacker fleeing with the queen in their arms.
He gave chase immediately, but quickly lost track of them. When he returned to the Dragon Vein altar, it had already sealed shut. He had no way back in.
Fury erupted in his chest. His destructive urges surged, he wanted to reduce this country to ashes. Without hesitation, he resolved to return to Ancor Vantian and dispatch the Sky Ninja to obliterate this place.
At that moment, Seramu, who had already fallen into the depths of despair, suddenly felt herself being gently lifted. In the blink of an eye, she vanished from the attacker's sight.
Turning her head, she saw a face both familiar and strange.
She blinked, dazed, and whispered, "Third Hokage-sama?"
Arima smiled softly. "Hello, Queen Seramu."
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