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Chapter 23: Rescuing Kushina, Rewards Secured!
Oborotsuki activated Flying Thunder God and snatched little Naruto just before Obito could reach him.
The moment his feet touched the marked coordinate, he immediately triggered another Flying Thunder God jump—reversing course.
He arrived just in time to witness Obito releasing the Nine-Tails.
"Still one step too slow…"
"That guy acts fast!"
He had hoped to grab Kushina before the Nine-Tails extraction, sparing her life.
Unfortunately, he was too late.
"No choice—save her first."
In a flash, Oborotsuki scooped up the weakened Kushina as well, brushing past Obito and vanishing once more.
At the same time, the system chime rang in his mind.
"Ding! Congratulations! You have obtained First Offspring Grand Gift Package ×1!"
"Please check your inventory!"
Oborotsuki had no time to look at the rewards right now.
He had deliberately created chaos around Konoha and throughout the village, drawing Minato Namikaze and a large number of ANBU toward this location.
Since Obito intended to use him as bait to draw fire, Oborotsuki decided to return the favor—
Using your own tactics against you!
Now was the time to slip away.
Let Obito deal with the incoming enemies himself!
…
Obito had just extracted the Nine-Tails from Kushina and summoned it into Konoha.
Watching the enormous orange monster—like a small mountain—rampage in the distance, he felt a surge of smug satisfaction.
"Destroy everything!"
"Unleash your immense power and obliterate all you see!"
Using his Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu, he commanded the Nine-Tails to wreak havoc.
But the next instant, Obito watched helplessly as Kushina vanished right before his eyes. His expression darkened again.
Then his gaze stilled. Slowly turning, he looked behind him.
"Flying Thunder God…"
Minato Namikaze had appeared like a ghost—ten meters away.
Dozens of Konoha ANBU materialized around them, completely encircling Obito.
"That kid deliberately led them here?"
Obito narrowed his eyes, instantly realizing the truth.
If not for Oborotsuki's intentional misdirection, they never would have come this way.
The Hokage Rock was in the opposite direction!
"But no matter."
He hadn't managed to steal Minato's newborn son, but Kushina's Nine-Tails had already been released.
After tonight, even if Konoha didn't fall, it would be left in ruins…
Watching the Nine-Tails begin its destruction, Obito calmly produced a black chain from his sleeve.
"Who are you?!"
Minato stared at the empty cradle. Kushina and his newborn son were gone.
Only Biwako's corpse remained on the ground.
His eyes instantly turned cold.
Obito said nothing. He turned to face Minato.
Sensing the killing intent, Minato struck first—decisively.
In a blink, he closed the distance.
His Flying Thunder God kunai sliced straight through Obito's body—and kept going.
"Illusion? No!"
Minato landed, immediately going on high alert.
At that moment, Obito swung the chain and lunged toward him.
…
Oborotsuki fled at full speed with Kushina and little Naruto, using Flying Thunder God repeatedly until they reached the border of the Land of Fire.
After confirming no pursuers, he casually opened his system inventory.
"Ding! Use First Offspring Grand Gift Package immediately?"
"Use successful! Congratulations! You have obtained: Weapon Enhancement Card ×1, Sharingan Evolution Card ×1!"
Oborotsuki had only opened it out of curiosity, never expecting such generous rewards.
Looked like claiming Kushina as the mother of his child was worth it.
No turning back from the wife-stealing path now.
…
He glanced at Kushina beside him—barely clinging to life after the Nine-Tails extraction, fallen into a deep, critical coma.
Without hesitation, Oborotsuki used the Healing Potion he had obtained earlier.
The potion was precious, but Kushina's "wool" was even more valuable…
He decisively poured the potion into her mouth, helping her swallow.
Soon, the dangerously weak aura around Kushina stabilized. Color slowly returned to her pale face.
A little while later, she woke up.
"You… who are you? Why am I here?"
The moment Kushina opened her eyes, she noticed Oborotsuki. She immediately retreated a few steps warily.
Then her gaze fell on little Naruto in his arms.
"That's… my child! What do you want?!"
"Don't panic. I'm the one who saved you."
Oborotsuki calmly held Naruto with one arm, raising the other in a peaceful gesture.
"You… saved me?"
Kushina looked doubtful, but memories quickly flooded back.
Biwako had been killed by a powerful figure in a black ANBU cloak and a strange mask.
Her newborn son had been taken.
And finally, that man had undone her seal, releasing the Nine-Tails…
"Right!"
"The Nine-Tails was extracted from my body… I should be dead… How am I…"
Realizing this, Kushina became even more incredulous, staring warily at the young, handsome man before her.
It really seemed he had saved her—otherwise she would already be gone. But how had he done it?
Kushina's eyes remained full of caution. Until she understood his identity, she would never trust him easily.
Her gaze instinctively drifted back to the baby in Oborotsuki's arms.
Little Naruto was innocently sucking on one of Oborotsuki's fingers, completely unaware of the situation.
"The situation was urgent—I had to get you both out first. Now I'm returning him to you. Don't get excited."
"I'm coming closer now."
Oborotsuki slowly approached Kushina, still holding Naruto.
"Don't try anything funny."
Kushina tensed immediately, ready to attack at any moment.
But after suffering near-fatal injuries, even with the Healing Potion saving her life, her chakra was almost depleted.
Oborotsuki could tell—she was only putting on a brave front.
Finally, when Oborotsuki truly handed Naruto back and she confirmed the baby was unharmed, Kushina let out a relieved breath.
"Who exactly are you?"
Holding her son tightly, Kushina's tension eased slightly. She studied Oborotsuki carefully once more.
"I'm Oborotsuki."
"I make a living completing black-market bounties."
"The powerful enemy who attacked you—he was one of my targets I'd been tracking for days."
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