Rumble!
The terrifying flames tore straight through the forest, leaving a scorched black trail.
The three Root ninja hiding nearby were immediately forced to reveal themselves.
Uzumaki Kushina let out a cold snort but said nothing.
Namikaze Minato frowned as he looked at the three. He had naturally sensed their presence before.
It was standard practice for Jinchuriki to be "protected." While he was usually around, it wasn't typical for Anbu, let alone Root, to be present.
However, with Sarutobi Asuma there, he had simply accepted it.
Sarutobi Asuma didn't bother looking at Minato or Kushina's expressions. He pretended to be unaware of the situation and coldly addressed the three Root ninja, "Did Danzō send you to monitor me?"
The three Root ninja replied coldly, "Anbu mission. You have no right to know!"
Sarutobi Asuma sneered, "Get lost!"
"Or I'll kill you!"
"Don't think I don't know about that old geezer Danzō's twisted mind. I was on a mission in the Land of Bears, and bounty hunters showed up so quickly, they even knew about Master Sakumo. Do you take me for an idiot?"
This statement greatly surprised both Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato.
They had indeed heard about Sarutobi Asuma being offered a bounty of Ten Million Ryo, but they hadn't expected there to be more to the story.
But did the Third Hokage know about this?
Asuma was his second son!
Under their masks, the three Root ninja's expressions changed for the first time.
This brat in front of them really didn't play by the rules.
Sarutobi Asuma then summoned a Wind Style: Rasenshuriken and declared, "Go back and tell that old geezer Danzō that if I could get into his hideout right now, I'd have already gone over there and killed him!"
"Don't treat me like my father; he'll consider the bigger picture, but I won't!"
Uzumaki Kushina's eyes lit up at his words, and she looked eager to fight.
Namikaze Minato felt a headache coming on, but his gaze had also turned dangerous.
If Sarutobi Asuma was going to make a move, he would definitely intervene and capture the three Root ninja immediately.
Sensing danger, the three Root ninja exchanged glances and vanished simultaneously.
Uzumaki Kushina was somewhat disappointed and couldn't help but mutter, "Cowards!"
If only those three Root ninja hadn't left so quickly; then they could have had a good fight!
Namikaze Minato, however, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Sarutobi Asuma dispersed his Ninjutsu and smiled, "Kushina-neechan, not now. When the time is right, I'll take you to raid Root's hideout and drag Danzō out."
"Okay!"
"You have to let me join!"
Uzumaki Kushina immediately replied excitedly.
Minato, his head aching, quickly said, "Asuma, stop joking!"
"Also, what did you mean by that just now? Could it be..."
Uzumaki Kushina also looked at Sarutobi Asuma with concern.
Although they hadn't known each other for long, she really liked this young man.
Sarutobi Asuma briefly recounted the ambushes he encountered during his mission and then said with a smile, "Before, I only suspected it. After all, there was no concrete evidence, and there are spies within the village. Perhaps it was a spy who leaked the information."
"But now I'm sure."
When Kakuzu appeared for the second time, Sarutobi Asuma became suspicious.
Those Jonin felt unusual; they gave him the impression of being from Root.
Of course, it wasn't just Konoha that had ninjas who felt like emotionless killing machines.
So, it was just a suspicion.
After all, he had become famous, a rare genius. It was normal for other ninja villages to put bounties on him or even send powerful ninja to kill him along with Kakuzu.
Disguised assassinations were the most common activity for the major ninja villages.
But just now, he suddenly realized how Root ninja could be sent to monitor a Jinchuriki when Minato was present.
Even if they were monitoring the Jinchuriki, it wouldn't be just Root ninja.
Was his father so trusting?
As he thought about it, he had a feeling that these three were targeting him to gather his information.
So, he instinctively tested them, and it turned out he was right.
Even though the three Root ninja hadn't said anything.
Sarutobi Asuma already knew.
He certainly wished he could kill Danzō.
But with his current strength, he couldn't.
And right now, he had no one to help him.
After all, Danzō currently held a high position and great prestige within Konoha.
But the harsh words he'd just spoken weren't just for show.
Upon hearing Sarutobi Asuma's words, Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina exchanged a glance, then Minato said, "Asuma, it's best not to provoke that person right now. It wouldn't be good for you."
Even as the Hokage's son, without the Hokage's support, he definitely wouldn't fare well against someone as influential and powerful as Danzō!
"Don't worry, Big Brother Minato, I'm not stupid!"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled.
His current bluster was likely not taken seriously by anyone except those who truly knew him.
Kill Danzō?
What a joke!
"Alright, Sister Kushina, let's continue!"
Sarutobi Asuma didn't want to waste any more time on that old guy Danzō.
"Okay, let's continue!"
Uzumaki Kushina smiled and nodded.
And so, the two continued their battle.
Wind Style Ninjutsu, Fire Style Ninjutsu.
Asuma had only mastered one Fire Style Ninjutsu, but he knew quite a few Wind Style Ninjutsu.
Besides the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, Sarutobi Asuma unleashed them all, treating Uzumaki Kushina as a target for leveling up and gaining experience.
After all, it was truly difficult to find a sparring partner as "tough and resilient" as Uzumaki Kushina.
Meanwhile, Namikaze Minato watched Sarutobi Asuma, growing increasingly astonished.
It was one thing that his Three Basic Ninjutsu and Shadow Clones were almost imperceptible during hand seals – Minato could also do that.
But with Wind Style and Fire Style, he could barely see any hand seals.
The reason for saying "barely" was that Sarutobi Asuma would either clap his hands together or hold one hand upright.
Were those considered hand seals?
They looked incredibly perfunctory.
The speed of his jutsu was truly astonishing!
...
Root.
Danzō's expression immediately turned grim as he listened to his subordinate's report.
Asuma, that brat, had actually insulted him...
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Danzō said, "Cease intelligence gathering on that brat!"
"Yes!"
Three Root ninjas received the order and left.
Danzō stood in place, his gaze flickering.
He didn't take Asuma seriously, nor did he care about those threatening words.
However, he couldn't ignore Hiruzen Sarutobi's warning.
He was well aware of his companion's personality and methods.
When the time came, Hiruzen wouldn't hesitate.
And the reason he'd targeted Sarutobi Asuma before was because this brat was connected to too many people.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, Hatake Sakumo, and now he was even fighting fiercely with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Such a genius brat, and the Hokage's son, if he were to inherit the Fifth Hokage position in the future...
Thinking this, Danzō's expression grew even more somber.
On the training grounds.
After a thoroughly exhilarating battle, Sarutobi Asuma and Kushina paused to rest, engaging in a Q&A session about Fūinjutsu knowledge.
This served to assess Sarutobi Asuma's foundational theory in Fūinjutsu and also to clarify the doubts he'd accumulated during his recent studies.
Seeing that they had rested enough, Namikaze Minato suggested, "Since your spar is over, it'll be more convenient to study at home!"
"Okay, let's go home!"
Uzumaki Kushina stood up, smiling at Sarutobi Asuma, "Asuma, I've prepared some Fūinjutsu for you!"
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