Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 342 Dazzling Water Gate

Chi chi chi——

More intense sounds followed.

The raging crimson Nine-Tails chakra was frantically absorbed and devoured by the writhing barbs and mouth on Samehada's body.

Samehada's already enormous body expanded even further at a visible speed, the dark blue luster on the blade became even deeper, and even faintly revealed a strange dark red, emitting a satisfied gurgling sound like a burp.

Sasuke Umino crossed his arms and even "thoughtfully" used his Spirit Transformation Technique to communicate with Samehada: "Suck slowly, let it leak out as much as possible. This is a rare material, when do you usually get the chance?"

Within the sealed space.

The Nine-Tailed Fox, which had been frantically attacking the seal, suddenly sensed something was wrong. The chakra it unleashed with all its might not only failed to break the seal, but also vanished without a trace, like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

That despicable human outside not only failed to reinforce the seal, but instead allowed Isobu's lackeys to steal its power?!
"Roar! You despicable human! I'll see how much you can absorb!" The Nine-Tails' furious roar shook the sealed space. It increased its force, and even more chakra surged forth.

However, no matter how much it leaks, Samehada absorbs just as much of that "bottomless pit" outside!

Ten minutes later, the Nine-Tails finally realized that it was doing useless work and wasting its precious chakra. For the first time, a sense of frustration appeared in its hateful beast eyes.

"Roar! Cunning creature! Damn it!" The Nine-Tailed Fox roared a few times in resentment, finally stopping its futile struggle. Its massive body sullenly lay back down deep within the seal, its scarlet beast eyes staring intently at the outside of the seal, filled with resentment, but it no longer wasted its energy.

It discovered that the little follower of Isobu outside was far more troublesome than it had imagined. Its strength had increased so dramatically, and despite absorbing so much chakra, it hadn't even burst its belly. Moreover, this little follower of Isobu seemed quite familiar with its chakra, absorbing it without any hindrance. If it hadn't been trapped in the sealed space and hadn't become senile, it might have mistaken Samehada for the little follower parasitizing it, rather than the Three-Tails Isobu!
As Kurama abandoned its attack, the crimson chakra emanating from Kushina Uzumaki's body quickly disappeared, and her eerie features faded, returning her to normal.

She collapsed to the ground, exhausted, panting heavily, but her eyes had regained their clarity, though they were filled with lingering fear.

Samehada released Kushina Uzumaki with lingering satisfaction, its blade expanding even further, appearing even more ferocious and terrifying. It rubbed against Sasuke Umino's leg contentedly, then a spatial ripple flashed and it disappeared.

Sasuke Umino nodded in satisfaction. This time, he had reaped a considerable harvest from "fleecing" the crowd. He glanced at the still-shaken young couple and his younger brother Tobirama, who was still oblivious to the situation. Sensing the cessation of the distant battle's roar, he announced loudly:
"Alright, the trouble is over. Kushina is safe. Minato's injuries and Tobirama's internal injuries also need to be treated. Let's go back to the village first! As for the rest of the tail, Shinku and the others can handle it."

Sasuke Umino used a sealing scroll to collect the body, then led Minato, Kushina, and Tobirama back. On the way back, they saw Kaoru Umino sitting under a big tree.

Although the little girl was a bit tired, her clothes were stained with dust and had some scorch marks, but she was in good spirits and had a relaxed look on her face after the victory.

Not far from her lay two unconscious Cloud Village Chunin, their hands and feet firmly bound by tough black ropes, clearly incapacitated.

"Little sister!" Upon seeing Umino Koko, Umino immediately ran over and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Haiye Xiaoxin shook her head and smiled: "It's nothing, Third Brother. They were just two Cloud Ninjas. I took them down easily."

She spoke calmly, as if she had only done a trivial thing.

Umino Sasuke stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield. He nodded approvingly: "Little sister! To take on two opponents single-handedly and capture two experienced Kumogakure Chunin unscathed, that's quite an achievement."

He emphasized "unharmed" and "captured," which, rather than simply killing, better demonstrate a ninja's comprehensive qualities.

Haiye Xiaoxin lowered her head somewhat shyly: "It's all thanks to my second brother's good teaching, and also the help of the sticky candy armor and the black rope secret technique."

She did not take credit for her achievements, attributing them to her family's upbringing.

“No, it’s your own hard work and talent.” Umino Sasuke gently patted her shoulder. “Let’s go back to the village first.”

The five of them had not gone far when they heard a rapid whooshing sound coming from the woods ahead.

Several dark figures appeared like ghosts, instantly blocking their path. The leader, with snow-white hair and sharp eyes, was none other than Hatake Sakunosuke. Behind him were several elite ANBU ninjas.

"Class President Umino?!" Hatake Saion immediately spotted Uzumaki Kushina being protected by Namikaze Minato. His tense expression instantly relaxed, and his eyes burst with immense joy. "Kushina! Thank goodness! It's good that you're alright!"

The Anbu members behind him also breathed a sigh of relief; the safety of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was crucial to the stability of the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

Hatake Sagumo strode forward, his gaze quickly sweeping over the group before finally settling on Umino Sasuke. He bowed respectfully and said, "Class Leader Umino, thank you so much! If it weren't for your timely intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

He naturally assumed that the one who could save the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki from the hands of the Cloud Village Jonin must be Umino Sasuke himself.

However, Umino Sasuke waved his hand, a smile on his face, and pointed to the three slightly disheveled but bright-eyed boys and girls beside him: "Senior Sagumo, you're thanking the wrong person. When I arrived, the battle was already over. Saving Kushina and defeating the enemy was all thanks to the three of them."

His tone was filled with undisguised admiration.

"What?!" Hatake Sakumo and the Anbu members behind him were all stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

With the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki kidnapped, the escort team must be the elite of the Cloud Village, at least led by a Jonin. Even if the enemy split up their forces to distract the pursuers, the team escorting Kushina would still be formidable.

These three teenagers in front of you?!

How could three genin who had just graduated possibly do that?!
Hatake Sagumo's sharp gaze immediately scrutinized the three. Namikaze Minato had charred lightning strike marks on his shoulder and his clothes were torn, but his eyes were still bright and sharp. Umino Tobirama had bloodstains on the corner of his mouth and his face was slightly pale, obviously suffering from internal injuries. Umino Koko was relatively unharmed, but she was slightly tired due to excessive chakra consumption.

The three of them clearly looked like they had just gone through a fierce battle.

“Class Leader Umino, this…” Hatake Sagumo felt that Umino Sasuke might be being modest, or he might want to give credit to these three children. After all, this achievement against an enemy at the level of a Jonin from Kumogakure was too astonishing.

"It's true! Lord Anbu!" Seeing that they didn't believe him, Tobirama Umino panicked. Ignoring his pain, he jumped up and began to tell the story in a loud voice.

"We chased them to the border and ran into four Cloud Ninja! One was a big guy carrying Kushina, and the other three were covering our retreat! Xiao Xin held off the two Chunin all by herself! Minato and I rushed over to deal with the guy carrying her!"

He gestured wildly, speaking rapidly: "That Cloud Ninja leader is amazing! His Lightning Release is so fast and powerful! Even my Water Candy Secret Technique couldn't trap him. He punched me, and it hurt like hell!"

Then, he rubbed his chest, still shaken. "He even tried to kill Minato! But Minato was too strong. He stabbed Minato in the arm with a kunai, and then used a Wind Release: Vacuum Ball to pierce through his chest. That guy just lay there motionless. Minato even caught Kushina when she fell. By the time my second brother arrived, we had already finished fighting!"

Although Tobirama Unno's description is somewhat chaotic and exaggerated, such as describing how thrilling and exciting the punch he took was, the core process is clear. In particular, it highlights Minato Namikaze's accurate judgment and fatal blow at the critical moment, without any intention of taking credit for himself.

As Tobirama Unno recounted the story, the gazes of Hatake Sagumo and the Anbu members gradually shifted from initial surprise and doubt to solemnity, and finally to profound shock.

While it's surprising that Umino Koko managed to defeat two Cloud Village Chunin single-handedly, considering her Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, Mucin Armor, and monstrous strength displayed at the clan founding ceremony, as well as the Umino clan's secret techniques, it's still somewhat understandable.

But Minato Namikaze, a genin who had only recently been promoted, actually killed a seasoned jonin from Kumogakure who was skilled in lightning release ninjutsu?!

"untie!"

Umino Sasuke released the sealing scroll and blasted the corpse of the Cloud Village Jonin over.

Hatake Sagumo flashed and instantly appeared beside the corpse. He squatted down and examined it carefully. The chest was caved in, the ribs were broken, and the internal organs were ruptured. It was indeed a fatal wound from a frontal blow by a Wind Release ninjutsu.

There was a precise kunai puncture wound on the inside of the elbow joint, in a tricky location that disrupted the chakra flow node. Combined with Tobirama Umino's description of "piercing the arm with a kunai" and "piercing the chest with a Wind Release: Vacuum Ball", the whole process was crystal clear.

"Precise prediction, perfect evasion, seizing the opening to counterattack, and a fatal blow!"

Sakumo Hatake stood up, his gaze toward Minato Namikaze filled with unprecedented admiration and solemnity.

As the White Fang of Konoha, he understands best what this kind of combat intelligence, reaction speed, and decisiveness means!

This is not just a matter of ability, but a manifestation of talent!
This talent even overshadowed him and Sasuke Umino at that age.

"Jiraiya actually took in such a monster disciple?" Hatake Saikumo was shocked.

From this moment on, the name Minato Namikaze, with his undeniable strength, truly entered the vision of all the high-ranking officials and powerful figures in Konoha. He was no longer just "Jiraiya's disciple"; his own brilliance began to shine brightly.

Sasuke Umino took in everyone's reactions. After this battle, Minato Namikaze's reputation as a "genius" was completely confirmed.

With the escort of two Kage-level powerhouses, the journey was naturally uneventful, and Kushina Uzumaki was easily and safely escorted back to Konoha.

Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi, who had gone in the wrong direction, was leading three Konoha Jonin, rapidly traversing the moonlit forest in pursuit of Gabino.

"Captain Crimson, the trail is starting to become clearer here, but the other party is moving extremely fast and seems to be fleeing at full speed."

The Jonin lowered his voice to report. He was skilled at tracking, and his sharp eyes swept over the deliberately trampled marks on the ground and the broken bushes.

Kurenai Yuhi nodded slightly, his signature red eyes seeming to see into people's hearts in the night.

"I've received information from Squad Leader Umino. The other party is bait, their purpose is to lure us in. However, since they dared to kidnap a Jinchuriki in Konoha, they must be prepared to pay the price. Iwashi, Akane, prepare for a strong attack. Hayate, watch the flanks."

"Understood!" the three Jonin replied in low voices, instantly adjusting their formation.

A rock stood before them, its heavy earth-style chakra subtly flowing; a blazing flame stood to their side, its hands already forming hand seals; and Gale, like a ghost, patrolled the perimeter of the group, keeping watch.

They quickly caught up with their target.

At the edge of a relatively open forest clearing, Gabino stopped with three imposing, clearly elite, special Jonin from Kumogakure.

They had clearly spotted the pursuers and were now on high alert.

Gabino turned around, a sneer of triumph on his rugged face: "The Konoha pursuers are a little slower than expected. You think you can stop me with just a few of you?"

His lightning chakra began to surge violently, emitting a deep hum, and the air seemed to be electrified, making people's skin tingle.

The three Cloud Ninja behind him immediately formed hand seals, lightning flashing in their palms.

“Kabino, the Jonin of Kumogakure,” Kurenai Yuhi’s voice was calm and even, yet it carried a power that pierced the heart, “surrender and Konoha may spare your life.”

"Hahaha! What a joke! Are Konoha ninjas all they know how to do but talk big?" Gabino laughed wildly, his laughter filled with disdain.

He swung his hand sharply: "Do it! Tear them apart!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Strike!"

"Thunder Release: Thunder Ball!"

Three special Jonin from Kumogakure launched their attacks simultaneously. Three violent Lightning Release ninjutsu, like ferocious beasts unleashed from their cages, rushed straight towards the four Konoha members with blinding light and a destructive aura.

Their objective was clear: to disrupt the Konoha ninja's rhythm, create chaos, and give Gabino an opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

However, Shinku Yuhi's movements were faster and more unpredictable than they had imagined!
Just as the lightning was about to strike, Shirou Yuhi's red eyes suddenly shone with an eerie light! She formed hand seals and uttered a low murmur:
"Magic·Tree Binding Killing!"

hum-

An invisible genjutsu chakra instantly spread out.

Instead of directly attacking Gabino, the attack precisely targeted the three Cloud Village Special Jonin who launched the attack.

The Cloud Ninja at the forefront hadn't even had time to unleash the fierce light in his eyes before his pupils suddenly dilated.

He felt the scene before him instantly twist and change, the solid ground beneath his feet turned into a bottomless swamp, and countless tough and thick vines burst out of the soil like living snakes, instantly wrapping around his legs, waist, and arms. The sharp thorns on the vines dug deep into his flesh, bringing real pain and a feeling of being bound.

He struggled in terror, only to find that his chakra flow was sluggish and he couldn't even condense lightning release smoothly.

The other two Cloud Ninja were also affected. They roared in shock and anger, their bodies twisting and convulsing wildly in an attempt to break free from the illusion that had seeped into their bones. They had completely lost the ability to react to real attacks from the outside world.

This is what makes Kurenai Yuhi so terrifying!
His illusions are not merely visual deceptions, but combine powerful mental interference and chakra erosion, directly affecting the target's nervous system to create a complete illusionary world, trapping the target in it and making them unable to extricate themselves.

In an era before the Mangekyou Sharingan was available, he truly stood at the pinnacle of genjutsu in the ninja world!

The opportunity created by Shinku Yuhi is fleeting!
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!" The Crimson Flame Jonin, who had been preparing for this moment, seized the perfect opportunity and spewed out a huge, ferocious, roaring fire dragon.

The fire dragon didn't rush straight at the three trapped people, but cleverly bypassed them and slammed into the space between them and Gabino, forming a blazing fire barrier that instantly blocked Gabino's rescue route!

at this time.

"Turong Tulong Spear!"

The rock-stone ninja slammed his palms down on the ground.

puff!puff!puff……

Dozens of sharp, thick rock spears suddenly shot out from the ground beneath the three Cloud Ninja without warning, their target being the vital points of the Cloud Ninja's bodies, which were caught off guard due to the illusion.

Pfft——!
The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh suddenly rang out.

Three Cloud Village Special Jonin, trapped in a terrifying illusion and completely defenseless, were instantly pierced through vital organs by the Earth Dragon Spear under the double blow of reality and illusion. They died before they could even scream.

The body was nailed to a rock spear, and blood gushed out.

The entire process, from the activation of the illusion to the killing of the three people, happened in the blink of an eye!

The combination of illusion and ninjutsu was remarkably harmonious.

"Bastard!" Gabino's eyes widened in fury.

He never expected that his three capable subordinates would be instantly killed by the enemy's illusion technique combined with ninjutsu in a single exchange. The fire barrier blocked his path and ignited the fury in his heart.

"Konoha scum! I'll make you pay with your lives!" Gabino was completely enraged.

He held nothing back, and his entire body's Lightning Release chakra erupted like a volcano!

"Thunder Escape Chakra Mode!"

Stab it--!
A blinding blue lightning bolt instantly covered his entire body like a solid suit of armor. His hair stood on end, his muscles bulged, and his speed, strength, and defense instantly reached their peak.

The ground beneath his feet could not withstand the violent chakra and cracked inch by inch. He was like a human-shaped thunderbolt, carrying the power to destroy everything, and smashed the fire barrier in front of him.

Boom!

Flames scattered and flew everywhere.

Gabino has only one goal—Crimson Yuhi.

He knew that as long as he dealt with this core illusionist ninja, the remaining three would be no threat.

"Lightning Strike: Thousand Generations Dance!" Gabino's figure transformed into a blue lightning bolt that tore through the night sky, carrying countless sharp lightning strikes, rushing straight towards Kurenai Yuhi at a speed beyond the limits of vision.

"Captain, watch out!" Jonin Iwashi roared, instantly blocking in front of Kurenai Yuhi, his hands rapidly forming hand seals: "Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

A massive earthen wall rose instantly. However, before Gabino's berserk Lightning Release Chakra Mode, this rock wall was as fragile as paper!
boom!
The wall was instantly shattered by the violent lightning fist, and the Rock Ninja was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting blood as he flew backward.

The Crimson Flame Jonin's Fire Release ninjutsu followed immediately: "Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Red!"

Countless shuriken wreathed in flames rained down on Gabino in an attempt to disrupt him.

"Get out of my way!" Gabino didn't even bother to dodge. His body, covered in lightning armor, took the flaming shuriken head-on. The shuriken made a clanging sound and sparks flew, but they couldn't penetrate his defenses.

He didn't slow down, his Thunder Fist aimed straight for Kurenai Yuhi's head!
The Jonin tried to cut in from the side, but Gabino was too fast. Even with his Wind Release speed, he couldn't keep up!
Just as the fist crackling with destructive lightning was about to strike Kurenai Yuhi!
Despite the lack of panic on Yuhi Makoto's face, his deep red eyes seemed to have seen through everything.

Just as Gabino's fist was less than a foot from his face, he uttered softly, "Magic Illusion: Mirror of Heaven and Earth Revolves!"

There was no massive chakra fluctuation, no dazzling light and shadow effects; Kurenai Yuhi's eyes merely flickered slightly.

However, Gabino, in the midst of his charge, experienced a very slight, almost imperceptible, sluggishness in his movements.

The ferocious killing intent in his eyes was instantly replaced by a trace of bewilderment and confusion. In his perception at this moment, the figure of the target in front of him, Kurenai Yuhi, rippled out like water, instantly splitting into dozens of identical phantoms.

At the same time, she gave him a strange smile!
This illusion technique created by Shirou Yuhi immediately produced a large number of indistinguishable illusory clones that could synchronize with the caster's movements, disrupting the opponent's vision and judgment, making it impossible for them to lock onto the real person!

This is an excellent counter to taijutsu-type ninjas.

"A mere trick! Break it!" Gabino was, after all, an elite Jonin who had been through countless battles, and his combat experience was extremely rich.

Despite his shock, he remained calm and bit his tongue hard. The intense pain stimulated his nerves, and at the same time, he frantically activated the Lightning Release chakra within his body!
"Lightning Release: Lightning Explosion Bomb!" He stopped trying to pinpoint which one was the real body and instead unleashed his raging lightning chakra like a bomb, centered on himself.

The blinding lightning instantly engulfed the space within a radius of several meters, an indiscriminate area attack!
Boom——!
A violent thunderstorm swept everything away.

The dozens of phantom clones created by Kurenai Yuhi were instantly torn apart and annihilated like bubbles, and Akane and Hayate were also forced to retreat repeatedly by this terrifying shockwave!

As the lightning dissipated, Gabino stood there, panting heavily, his eyes fiercely scanning his surroundings.

The phantom disappeared, but so did the true form of Kurenai Yuhi.

"Where?!" Gabino's heart skipped a beat, and his powerful senses swept over the area frantically.

Suddenly, he felt a faint chakra fluctuation coming from above his head, almost completely obscured by the aftershocks of the thunderstorm.

He looked up sharply.

All he could see was the figure of the crimson sunset, who had silently appeared on the giant tree above his head.

He formed hand seals, his red eyes staring at Gabino like an abyss, his voice icy: "Magic Illusion: Darkness Technique!"

A chilling energy, centered on Kurenai Yuhi, instantly spread out, completely engulfing Gabino.

"What?!" Gabino felt a sudden darkness before his eyes.

It is not ordinary darkness, but a void that strips away all light!

"Ah—!" Gabino roared in terror and anger.

He wildly swung his fists, his lightning chakra bursting wildly in the darkness, but it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, unable to hit any target. Instead, it rapidly depleted his chakra and stamina.

His speed and power, which he was so proud of, were completely useless in the face of this visual and sensory deprivation.

This is what makes illusion ninjas so terrifying.

Once caught in the genjutsu, no matter how amazing your taijutsu or how vast your chakra, if you cannot break free, you will only become a lamb to the slaughter!
Kurenai Yuhi's face paled slightly as she unleashed several high-level illusions in succession, especially the final Dark Walk Technique, which greatly depleted her mental strength and chakra.

The Red Flame Jonin and the Wind Jonin, who had been preparing for some time, immediately stepped forward and used a specially made chakra sealing cloth to firmly bind Gabino, who was trapped in the dark illusion and was like a headless fly.

Kurenai quickly checked Iwate's injuries. Fortunately, Iwate had strong defenses, and although he was seriously injured, his life was not in danger.

"Captain, it's done." Akane dragged the helpless Gabino in front of Kurenai Yuhi.

Kurenai Yuhi nodded, finally dispelling the Dark Travel Technique.

The darkness before Gabino's eyes vanished instantly, and his senses returned, but his body was bound and his chakra was sealed.

He looked at the calm, crimson sunset before him, his eyes filled with unbelievable humiliation and horror.

His prized Lightning Release ninjutsu was completely defeated by this unpredictable illusion technique without even touching the hem of his opponent's clothes!
"Take him away." Kurenai Yuhi's voice remained calm, as if she had only done something insignificant.

Kurenai Yuhi, escorting Gabino who was bound like a dumpling with his chakra sealed, along with three Jonin—Iwashi, Akame, and Hayate—was the first to return to Konoha.

When they arrived at the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and the Jonin squad members were already waiting in the conference room, the atmosphere heavy.

"Lord Hokage, the leader of the Cloud Village delegation, Gabino, has been captured, and his three subordinates were killed on the spot."

Kurenai Yuhi reported in a deep voice and pushed Gabino to the center.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Gabino, his eyes flashing with cold light. Just as he was about to question him sharply, the conference room door was pushed open again.

Sakumo Hatake and Sasuke Umino entered, accompanied by Minato Namikaze, Koko Umino, Tobirama Umino, and Kushina Uzumaki, who was being protected in the middle.

Seeing that Kushina Uzumaki was safe and sound, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and the others finally relaxed and breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Kushina, it's good that you're alright!" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the red-haired girl with concern.

"Grandpa Hokage..." Kushina Uzumaki was still a little scared, but with Minato Namikaze and Sasuke Mizuno by her side, her emotions were relatively stable.

"Squad Leader Umino! Captain Hatake! You've worked so hard! Thanks to your timely intervention, you rescued Kushina and restored Konoha's honor!" Advisor Koharu Utatane exclaimed sincerely, looking at Umino Sasuke with admiration.

The fact that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was kidnapped and then rescued, right under the noses of the Cloud Village delegation, was enough to solidify Sasuke Umino's position in the Jonin class and greatly increase his prestige.

The ninjas in the Jonin class all echoed this sentiment, and their praise was endless.

Sasuke Unno remained calm, shook his head slightly, and stepped aside to make room for Minato Namikaze, Koko Unno, and Tobirama Unno: "You flatter me. It was the three of them who truly saved Kushina and defeated the enemy. By the time I arrived, the battle was already over."

"what?!"

The conference room fell into silence in an instant.

All eyes, including those of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane, were fixed on the three boys and girls with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Minato Namikaze bore the marks of battle, his shoulder charred black; Tobirama Umino had bloodstains at the corner of his mouth and his face was slightly pale; Kaoru Umino was relatively unharmed, but her breathing was somewhat rapid.

Three genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy were able to rescue a Jinchuriki from the hands of the Cloud Village's elite? That's simply unbelievable!

During the daytime clan opening ceremony, the secret martial arts demonstration by the Umino siblings was truly amazing, showcasing strength far exceeding that of their peers, making them veritable geniuses of the ninja clan.

But to say that they could defeat an experienced Cloud Village Jonin head-on and rescue a Jinchuriki who was under close guard, the gap between them and the word "genius" is not something that can be easily overcome!
The Jonin of Kumogakure are not like those of Iwagakure, who are more of a bunch of charlatans. They are all seasoned veterans with fierce Lightning Release and taijutsu skills.

An ANBU member who was involved in the follow-up work stepped forward at the right time and whispered a few words to Hiruzen Sarutobi, emphasizing that Minato Namikaze was the main force that killed the Cloud Village Jonin, as well as the results of the on-site investigation.

A glint flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes as he looked at Minato Namikaze: "Minato, was it you who defeated that Cloud Village Jonin?"

Minato Namikaze showed no arrogance, but instead bowed very humbly and said, "Lord Hokage, it was Tobirama-kun who restricted his movements with the Water Candy Secret Technique and attracted a lot of attention, which gave me the opportunity to find a weakness and succeed by chance. Without the assistance of Tobirama-kun and Miss Kaoru, I would never have been able to succeed."

He shared the credit with his colleagues.

Upon hearing this, the meeting room erupted in suppressed gasps and murmurs.

"It turned out to be true!"

"Minato Namikaze? Jiraiya's disciple!"

"This child's talent is truly terrifying!"

"The two children of the Umino family are quite something; they actually managed to cooperate with Minato to accomplish such a feat!"

"Lord Jiraiya has truly taken on a fine disciple!"

Envy, admiration, and disbelief filled Minato Namikaze's gaze, which also extended to the Unno siblings.

Seeing his grand-disciple's dazzling performance, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt both gratified and complicated. The Umino clan was gaining momentum, and now Minato's brilliance had overshadowed that of the Umino siblings, which made him feel somewhat balanced.

A warm smile spread across his face as he said loudly, "Good! Very good! Minato, Kaoru, and Tobirama, the three of you have shown courage and wisdom in the face of danger, successfully thwarting the Cloud Village's plot and protecting our important comrades in the village. You have made a great contribution!"

He paused, looked around at everyone, and announced, "In view of the great merit of this mission, I have decided to award Minato Namikaze, Koko Umino, and Tobirama Umino each an S-rank mission merit! Among them, as the main force in this battle, Minato Namikaze can use this merit to choose one S-rank ninjutsu from the Scroll of Sealing to learn! Koko Umino and Tobirama Umino can each choose one A-rank ninjutsu to learn!"

Upon hearing this, the atmosphere in the conference room paused slightly.

Many Jonin advisors immediately understood that the Hokage was openly favoring his grand-disciple. The value of S-rank and A-rank ninjutsu is vastly different, especially the ninjutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals, which are forbidden techniques.

It is true that Minato Namikaze killed a Jonin, but the cooperation between the Umino siblings was absolutely indispensable. Giving them only an A-rank ninjutsu is indeed unfair.

However, given Hiruzen Sarutobi's prestige and the current context, no one would be so tactless as to question him on the spot. Everyone understood the situation tacitly and outwardly showed smiles of agreement and congratulations.

"Hokage-sama is wise!"

Congratulations to the three little ones!

"Deserved!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction and immediately changed the subject: "Alright, it's getting late, and Kushina has been frightened. Minato, Kaoru, and Tobirama all need to rest. Sasuke and Sasuke, you two take them back first. I will personally interrogate them about Gabino's matter."

Everyone left.

On the way back to the Haiye tribe.

Tobirama Umino was so excited that he danced around, completely forgetting the pain he was in.

"Hahaha! Second brother, did you hear that? It's an A-rank ninjutsu from the Book of Seals! I can learn one now, that's awesome! Today I'm..." He went on and on describing how he used the water candy to restrain the enemy and how he cooperated with Minato, as if he were the protagonist who turned the tide.

Sasuke Unno's eyes twitched as he heard this, and suddenly he stretched out his finger and flicked Tobirama Unno's forehead with a light touch.

"Ouch!" Tobirama Umino covered his forehead, looking at his older brother with a wronged expression.

"Look at your pathetic self!" Umino Sasuke scolded irritably. "You're this happy about just an A-rank ninjutsu from the Book of Sealing? Which of our Umino clan's secret techniques is weaker than A-rank? Which one hasn't been refined through countless trials and is best suited to our bloodline? Trying to do too much at once will only slow you down. Practicing those ninjutsu from the Book of Sealing that may not be a perfect fit will actually slow down your progress in mastering the clan's secret techniques!"

Umino Koko nodded obediently beside her: "Second brother is right. I also thought that A-rank ninjutsu was dispensable. Helping Kushina and the village is the most important thing. Practicing the ninjutsu of the Sealing Book will indeed be distracting."

Tobirama Unno was a little deflated after being scolded, muttering under his breath, "That's the Book of Seals, it sounds really powerful..."

Seeing his expression, Sasuke Umino softened his tone: "Of course, there are good things in the Book of Sealing, the key is how to choose them. It's best to choose those ninjutsu that can complement our clan's secret techniques or make up for their weaknesses."

He looked at the two of them and suggested, "Tobirama, your Mizunahara and Nectar Armor are more than enough for defense, but you lack a powerful means of instant counterattack."

I suggest you exchange for 'Ninja Technique: Needle Jizo'.

This technique can transform chakra into countless hard, iron-like needles, combining offense and defense. It is especially effective against taijutsu and close-range attackers. When combined with your sticky armor and black rope bindings, it can form a deadly trap.

Xiao Xin, your Ice Release and Super Strength are your main attack methods, but Ice Release consumes a lot of resources and requires the right timing. Although your Black Rope Manipulation is flexible, it is slightly insufficient in defense against wide-range attacks or powerful impacts.

The "Lion's Mane Technique" is a good choice.

It can instantly manipulate hair to grow longer and harder, forming a barrier that integrates offense and defense, or to deliver mid-range binding strikes. This perfectly complements your Black Rope Secret Technique system, achieving true integration of offense and defense.

Tobirama Umino and Kaoru Umino's eyes lit up. Their older brother's advice was always so insightful and to the point. The Jizo and the Lion's Mane Technique sounded perfect for them and could be seamlessly integrated into their existing combat system.

"Understood, Second Brother!" the two replied in unison, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Inside the Hokage's office building.

In the dim light, only Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Gabino, who was tightly bound, remained.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was ashen as he stared at Gabino and demanded, "Gabino! Does the Hidden Cloud Village intend to completely break the alliance, join this ninja war, and become an enemy of Konoha?!"

Although Gabino was captured, he didn't seem too flustered. Instead, he wore a sneer of arrogance: "Heh, Hiruzen Sarutobi, why are you so angry? If you have the guts, then kill me. But if you kill me, is Konoha ready to face the siege of the four great ninja villages?"

"The Four Great Ninja Villages?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane were both shocked, their expressions changing drastically.

"Hmph!" Gabino felt even more confident after seeing the other party's expression. "I came to Konoha this time with the Raikage's sincerity, intending to sign an alliance with Konoha to jointly fight against Iwagakure and end this protracted ninja war!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart skipped a beat. Suppressing his surging emotions, he calmly asked, "Oh? Join forces against Iwagakure? What conditions does Kumogakure want?"

Instead of answering directly, Gabino took the initiative and said slowly, "Conditions? Heh, Hiruzen Sarutobi, do you think it's worth keeping Konoha mired in war, and even facing the risk of fighting on multiple fronts, for the sake of the soon-to-be-destroyed Land of Whirlpools?"

"The Land of Whirlpools?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted slightly. "What do you mean?"

“The meaning is simple.” Gabino grinned, revealing a cold smile. “The daimyo of the Land of Lightning has reached an agreement with the daimyo of the Land of Water and the Land of Fire! As long as Konoha remains inactive and does not send a single soldier to support the Land of Whirlpools, and watches as Kumogakure and Kirigakure join forces to completely annihilate the Uzumaki clan that usurped the daimyo position, then the three lands of Lightning, Water, and Fire will sign a peace treaty, and Kumogakure and Kirigakure will immediately cease hostilities with Konoha, and may even assist Konoha in dealing with Iwagakure! The war will be over soon!”

He stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, word by word, "Otherwise, Konoha should prepare to face an attack from Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure, who have caught their breath! How long do you think Konoha can hold out?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was struck dumb, instantly understanding all the key points.

The Land of Whirlpools, the Whirlpool Clan!
The maternal clan of Mito Uzumaki, wife of the First Hokage, and a staunch ally of Konoha!
The problem lies in the Uzumaki clan's identity as a "ninja clan that stole the country."

During the era when Hashirama Senju dominated the ninja world and established a system of one village per country, the Uzumaki clan, relying on their deep relationship with the Senju and their powerful sealing techniques, established a unique "ninja clan daimyo" rule in the Land of Whirlpools.

At that time, with the great god Hashirama Senju around, even if the daimyo of various countries felt uncomfortable, they could only endure it.

However, with the passing of Hashirama Senju and the Senju clan merging into Konoha and completely disappearing from the world, the ambitions of the various daimyo naturally began to stir.

A country directly ruled by a ninja clan is undoubtedly a huge challenge and threat to the traditional aristocratic daimyo system, touching the fundamental interests and foundation of all daimyo's rule!
(End of this chapter)