As soon as Liufei finished speaking, the expressions of the thousands of Suna ninjas behind her shifted instantly.
There was no doubt—anyone who dared show even a flicker of discontent would suffer a fate far worse than being carved into a Human Urn.
Chiyo said nothing about her methods. Everyone had their own way of handling things, and she chose not to comment further.
"Konoha will likely strike again in a month," Chiyo murmured along the way, her tone laced with concern.
Kouhi's face darkened instantly. "Let them come! Are we afraid of them?"
Although he was already a father of a five-year-old child, provocation from Sakumo like that made it impossible for him to remain calm.
All great warriors possessed their pride.
Those who dared provoke them—would surely perish.
"When will you ever learn to be more level-headed, boy?" Chiyo sighed. But she knew well enough that no one could change another's nature.
"So what Mother is saying is… do you think Konoha has something planned?" Liufei remained composed. Some of Tsunade's earlier words clearly carried hidden meaning.
"Mm," Chiyo nodded approvingly and said, "But I still haven't figured out exactly what it is."
"Among Konoha's key figures, both Tsunade and Orochimaru are seriously injured. While Sakumo Hatake and Hiashi Hyuga are strong, both of us can handle them. Then where exactly does Sakumo Hatake's confidence come from?" Liufei questioned.
Chiyo's injuries, as well as those of Orochimaru and Tsunade, wouldn't fully heal within just a month.
In the end, it would come down to a confrontation between themselves and Sakumo Hatake and Hiashi Hyuga. It was hard to imagine what kind of plan Konoha might have.
"You've overlooked someone," Chiyo said gravely, her tone heavy with implication. "That blonde brat from Konoha wasn't there, but… I always feel this matter involves him somehow."
"So what if he gets involved too?" Kouhi scoffed. Minato wasn't weak, but in the eyes of someone at his level, the difference was clear.
Even if they added Minato to the equation—what real change would that bring?
At this, Chiyo immediately flew into a rage. "I've already suffered two secret defeats at his hands! Are you belittling me with that attitude?"
"Of course not!" Kouhi quickly denied.
Liufei's eyes flashed with icy resolve. Her voice darkened as she spoke. "Mother, rest assured. That brat's life—I will take it myself…"
…
Half a day later, inside a tent at Konoha's temporary base camp, Tsunade slowly regained consciousness.
She forced herself upright, each movement sending jolts of agonizing pain through every part of her body.
A lantern beside her flickered. As Tsunade gazed out at the darkening sky, a heavy weight settled on her mind.
At that moment, Junko Watanabe noticed her awakening and entered the tent, quickly stepping over to support her.
"How is Orochimaru?" Tsunade asked immediately.
Junko answered, "He's already awoken and has been treated by other Medical Ninjas."
Tsunade finally felt reassured, exhaling a breath of relief before lifting her gaze. She asked, "Minato and Mikoto Uchiha are both alright, right?"
She faintly remembered seeing two figures before passing out, but remained uncertain whether it was real or just an illusion.
"Yeah," Junko Watanabe chuckled slightly. "Minato used chakra excessively during training and couldn't move anymore. Mikoto Uchiha saved him."
"This kid... he trains like his life depends on it, just like Jiraiya," Tsunade laughed. Among the three, Jiraiya had always been the least talented, so he'd worked harder since childhood than either Tsunade or Orochimaru.
In this regard, Minato didn't seem like his disciple at all; after all, Jiraiya had only taught the boy for a single year.
While Jiraiya himself hadn't even mastered S-ranked ninjutsu yet, his student had already begun developing his own techniques.
Junko Watanabe nodded—she understood Minato far better than Tsunade ever could. After all, he had nearly died saving her life back in the Land of Hot Springs.
"But that girl Mikoto is clever too—right at that moment, she actually turned back..." Tsunade smiled again softly.
"Boom!"
Right as she finished speaking, a faint rumbling sound reached her ears.
She was quite familiar with this kind of noise.
Her expression suddenly changed. "That brat! He dares to resume training the very day after overusing his chakra? Does he think he's got nine lives or something?"
They'd already heard such sounds countless times within this past month.
Junko Watanabe was momentarily surprised as well, though she soon replied calmly, "That's just how that child is... After all, you did say those encouraging words to Chiyo."
Tsunade froze for a moment.
...
About a kilometer away, beside a small stream—
Minato lay sprawled by the gently flowing waters, panting heavily. Glancing sideways with his brilliant blue eyes, he stared at the ruined ground several meters away and let out a faint chuckle.
"Just one more time. I won't give you Nine-Tails' chakra again after this."
A voice echoed from inside him. Minato could only nod helplessly in response.
Even with an extraordinary ability to recover, constant physical strain was starting to wear him down.
"Only one month left," Minato muttered under his breath. Yet at this moment, his chakra was completely drained, making it impossible for him to stand up.
"Not even eating dinner? You trying to live forever?"
Suddenly, Mikoto emerged once more from the nearby woods beside the stream.
"Immortality's probably out of reach—I might just die of starvation first," Minato joked.
"A starving ghost, no less," Mikoto responded with a smile, tossing some cooked meat and dried bread she carried toward him.
"Thanks for the extra snack," Minato caught it, chuckled, and began eating by the riverside.
Mikoto rubbed her smooth forehead, her beautiful eyes blinking thoughtfully as she said, "I bet Kushina would worry herself to death if she knew about this."
At this, Minato simply smiled and replied, "That's precisely why I need to train harder—to end her worries sooner. That way, I can return to Konoha faster and see her earlier."
"One eager to rush to the battlefield in search of the other, while the other longs to end the war as soon as possible and return to your side. You two... truly are like a couple destined to be together until the end of time."
Mikoto said. Given her experience, she had made such an observation about Minato and Kushina's relationship.
"Of course."
Those words sent Minato's mind reeling.
Mikoto was absolutely right—Minato and Kushina were not only husband and wife, but bound by a love that transcended even death.
He gently closed his eyes; memories from four years ago, or perhaps scenes from a dozen years or more from now, all vividly surfaced in his mind.
Minato opened his eyes again just a moment later—it wasn't the ending he wanted.
So he remembered, but could never bring himself to dwell on it.
Those were memories he never wanted to carry.
...
...
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