While Minato and the others were happily chatting and joking.
As the employer of this caravan, he was cautiously huddled together with his two guards.
"The plan is successful. The target has been lured out of Konoha. We can ask the Raikage to send people now."
The caravan employer whispered to the two guards beside him.
It turned out they were commoners from Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning.
They were spies trained by Kumogakure, who disguised themselves as merchants long ago, earning money to support the Cloud Village.
Once there was a mission, they would be assigned to it.
Just like this time, the Cloud spy within Konoha sensed that Kushina's chakra was extremely powerful, so he immediately sent the news back to notify the Third Raikage.
Their luck was very good; this mission brought the target figure right into this commission.
They had originally prepared to fight a long war of attrition.
"I'll go notify them. Based on their speed, I estimate that by the time Lord Third Raikage sends people, we will have almost reached the border of the Land of Fire."
One of the guards finished speaking and left the team, pretending to relieve himself. He waited until no one was around before releasing a carrier pigeon.
Watching the pigeon fly far away, the guard returned and winked at the employer, signaling that the message had been sent.
What the three didn't know was that on one of their bodies, a tiny insect was clinging to them.
Their conversation had been completely heard by this insect.
After the three scattered, others thought they had just been discussing business.
As the conversation ended, the insect fluttered its wings and flew high, landing on Shibi's body a moment later.
"Buzz buzz buzz."
A burst of insect language that others couldn't understand was transmitted.
"Ah, I understand. So that's how it is."
After hearing the intelligence, Shibi went to Minato's side and told him the news.
"Interesting. Kumogakure spies, and the target is Kushina."
Minato rested his chin on his hand and began to ponder.
In the original story, it seemed that people from Kumogakure also coveted Kushina's chakra and sent people to kidnap her directly.
If Minato hadn't been paying attention to Kushina and looking for clues from her red hair, the Cloud Village might have actually succeeded.
Although Minato's influence and the butterfly effect had changed many things now, Kumogakure had still targeted Kushina in the end.
"Well, soldiers will block the enemy, and earth will cover the water. I want to see who Kumogakure sends this time. I hope they can bring me some fun."
Minato didn't say much more. With his strength, unless the Third Raikage came personally, he really wasn't afraid of anyone else from Kumogakure.
Seeing that Minato wasn't worried, everyone else stopped saying anything.
Especially Nawaki; it was his first mission and it was so stimulating. He was determined to perform well this time and make everyone look at him with new eyes. The Young Master of the Senju Clan didn't have an undeserved reputation.
In the following days, there were some small bandits, but they were casually dealt with by Nawaki.
Of course, seeing blood and killing for the first time made the faces of the 6 newly promoted Genin pale. It took half a day for them to fully recover.
However, it was good to see blood before meeting the people from Kumogakure. At least when the time came, they wouldn't be scared immobile by a little killing intent.
One day, after several days of travel, Minato arrived at the border of the Land of Fire.
"Be careful. I sense the enemy's presence. There are quite a few people."
Minato, activating his Sensing Technique, detected the arrival of the Kumogakure ninja. Judging from the sensed chakra, there were quite a few Chūnin and Jōnin.
"Yosh! This great master can finally go all out and let others witness the strength of the Young Master of the Senju Clan."
Hearing that people had arrived, Nawaki began to crack his knuckles.
"Witness the strength of puking your guts out?"
Minato teased from the side.
"Baka! That was just this young master's first time killing someone, I just wasn't used to it. I definitely won't puke this time."
Having his old wound exposed, Nawaki jumped up in anger and roared.
"Haha."
The atmosphere, which had been tense due to the enemy, suddenly relaxed. With a live wire like Nawaki around, it was always amusing.
"I wonder what kind of collision would happen if this guy met Naruto."
Minato looked at Nawaki and muttered to himself.
No, that's not right. With me around, if Naruto acts that silly and stupid, I'll beat the life out of him.
Perhaps imagining an unpleasant scene, Minato's mouth twitched.
If the Sexy Technique were used on my son... I definitely couldn't accept that.
While the Konoha group was laughing, the Kumogakure spies over there gathered together again.
"It's the people sent by Lord Third Raikage. We are ready to retreat at any time."
"Look at those Konoha people, laughing so heartlessly. Maybe they don't know they are about to go to hell."
"Haha, isn't it nice to let them enjoy the last moments of their lives?"
"But the catch this time is really big. There's the Young Master of the Senju Clan, and an Uchiha who has awakened the Sharingan. The God of Luck is simply favoring our Kumogakure."
"Yeah, yeah. After this operation succeeds, the Third Raikage should reward us with quite a few things."
The three stood aside, whispering and full of longing for the future.
They had no idea what kind of existence was in this team.
Nor did they know the terrible ending awaiting them.
While the Konoha group laughed loudly and the Kumogakure spies dreamed of the future...
"Swish swish swish swish swish!"
A series of figures suddenly appeared, surrounding them.
Judging by the looks of it, the number exceeded 10 people.
"Idlers, scram! We are only looking for trouble with the Konoha people. If you don't want to die, get lost quickly."
An Elite Jōnin from Kumogakure walked out and spoke.
He was the commander-in-chief of this operation.
This time, he led 3 Jōnin, 3 Tokubetsu Jōnin, 3 Elite Chūnin, and 5 Chūnin to ensure the completion of this mission.
The people in this team were truly too important; they couldn't afford any carelessness.
Not only that, but if Konoha pursued them after the mission was completed, Kumogakure was ready to provide support at any time.
It was clear that Kumogakure was determined to get Kushina, Nawaki, and Mikoto.
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