Chapter 7: The Bridge of Betrayal and the Water of Weakness part-2
"Good morning, Minato-san! Kushina-san!" Hiroto chirped, holding out three canteens of water. "I refilled our water supplies at the spring upstream. It is important to stay hydrated for the hike!"
He handed a blue canteen to Kushina, a black one to Minato, and kept a green one for himself.
(Don't drink it,) Ethan warned. (That black canteen is spiked. Scan confirms it contains a high concentration of chakra-blocking neurotoxins. It is tasteless and odorless.)
Minato took the canteen, nodding his thanks. "Thoughtful of you, Hiroto."
"Just doing my part for the team!" Hiroto beamed.
The group set off. The terrain grew steeper as they approached the border of the Land of Fire. The trees thinned out, revealing the jagged cliffs of the ravine ahead.
They stopped for a short break about a mile from the bridge. The sun was high, beating down on them.
"Phew, it is hot," Hiroto said, wiping sweat from his brow. He unscrewed the cap of his green canteen. "Let us take a drink break."
Minato watched him. Hiroto was watching Minato like a hawk, waiting for him to drink from the black canteen.
(Now, Minato. Use the Body Flicker technique. Switch them.)
"Hey, look at that hawk!" Minato pointed toward the sky, diverting everyone's attention for a fraction of a second.
In that micro-second, Minato moved. He did not just move; he blurred. It was not a teleportation jutsu, just pure, unadulterated speed. He swapped the black canteen in his hand with the green canteen in Hiroto's hand. He moved so fast that the water inside the canteens barely rippled.
When Hiroto looked back down, he was holding the black canteen, and Minato was holding the green one. To the naked eye, nothing had changed. They looked identical apart from the subtle color difference which Hiroto was too distracted to notice in his own hand, as he was focused on Minato's hand.
Wait, actually, the canteens were different colors. Minato realized this would be tricky.
(Wait, you idiot, the colors are different! You cannot just swap them! He will notice he is holding the black one!) Ethan shouted.
Minato paused. (Ah. Right. Plan B. Distraction.)
"Kushina," Minato said suddenly. "You have a caterpillar on your shoulder."
"Eek!" Kushina jumped, brushing her shoulder frantically.
Hiroto turned to look at her, feigning concern. "Where? Let me get it—"
In that moment of chaos, Minato moved. He poured the contents of the black canteen onto the ground—the dry earth absorbing it instantly—and then used a Water Style manipulation to silently refill it with fresh water from the moisture in the air.
(Show off,) Ethan muttered. (But effective. Now the poison is gone. But Hiroto thinks you are still drinking it.)
Minato raised the now-harmless black canteen to his lips and took a long, refreshing gulp. "Ah. That hits the spot."
Hiroto's eyes lit up with malicious glee. (He drank it! He actually drank it! In ten minutes, his chakra control will be gone. The Yellow Flash is about to become the Yellow Splash!)
"Let us get moving," Hiroto said, barely suppressing a giggle. "The bridge is just ahead."
............…
Location: The Great Whispering Ravine.
The bridge was a nightmare of engineering. It was a rickety suspension bridge made of old ropes and wooden planks, spanning a gap of at least five hundred feet. Below, a raging river crashed against jagged rocks. The wind howled through the canyon, making the bridge sway ominously.
"We have to cross one by one to minimize stress on the ropes," Minato instructed, taking charge. "Merchant Goro first. Then Kushina. Then me. Hiroto, you bring up the rear."
"Actually," Hiroto interjected, "Why don't you go first, Minato-san? To secure the other side? I will stay back and guard the rear with Kushina."
(He wants you on the bridge so he can trigger the trap,) Ethan noted. (Oblige him.)
"Very well," Minato agreed. He stepped onto the swaying planks.
The wind whipped at his cloak. He walked steadily, reaching the midpoint of the bridge.
Suddenly, Hiroto raised his hand. He wasn't signaling a friendly wave. He formed a hand seal.
Explosive Tag: Detonate.
On the far side of the bridge—the side Minato was walking toward—hidden explosive tags flared to life.
BOOM!
The ropes on the far end snapped. The bridge did not collapse completely, but it swung violently downward, becoming a ladder dangling from the side where Hiroto and Kushina stood.
Minato, seemingly caught off guard, lost his footing. He plummeted toward the river below.
"Minato!" Kushina screamed, lunging forward to grab the ropes.
"I have got this!" Hiroto shouted, stepping in front of her. "Don't worry, Kushina! I will save him!"
Hiroto channeled his chakra. He intended to walk down the vertical bridge planks using chakra adhesion, grab Minato (who should be unable to teleport due to the poison), and haul him up, looking like a hero while Minato looked like a helpless victim.
Hiroto stepped onto the vertical ropes. "Hold on, Minato! I am coming!"
He focused his chakra to his feet.
(Wait for it...) Ethan whispered.
Hiroto took a step. Then another. He looked down at Minato, who was clinging to a fraying rope with one hand, dangling over the abyss.
"Grab my hand!" Hiroto yelled, reaching down, posing dramatically. "I will pull you up!"
Minato looked up. His expression was not one of fear. It was one of boredom.
"Hiroto," Minato called out over the roar of the wind. "Did you verify the structural integrity of your own chakra?"
"What?" Hiroto blinked.
Suddenly, a strange sensation hit Hiroto's stomach. A rumble. A churn.
(I took the liberty,) Ethan explained to Minato. (While you were doing the water swap trick, I spent 50 System Points to purchase a 'Laxative of Immediate Regret' and teleported it directly into his stomach. It interacts poorly with active chakra usage.)
Hiroto's face turned a shade of green that matched his vest. A loud, wet gurgling sound echoed through the canyon, audible even over the wind.
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