Konoha: Who's the good guy?

"Gah~ Gah~ Gah~"

On the sea surface more than ten nautical miles away from the island of spirit communication in the Sea Kingdom.

Two psychic crows, bound by a mountain landscape contract, stood on the gunwale, flapping their wings and cawing incessantly.

Even if they don't understand bird language.

There is no secret technique among the mountain tribes that allows them to connect minds, transmit and perceive emotions.

Minato Namikaze could also tell that the two kids were swearing filthyly.

"Alright, alright, I know those guys scared you. I'll beat them up for you later, okay?"

Yamanaka Kei fumbled in the small pocket of his Jonin vest for a moment.

He took out a small handful of specially made pet jerky and offered it to the two little guys.

The two little guys had been scolding each other for a long time.

After hearing that Yamanaka Kage would avenge him, he hesitated for a long time before reluctantly nodding.

It hopped over and started eating the dried meat.

They conducted reconnaissance missions on the Island of Spirits several times in a row.

The island was filled with ferocious animals, one more ferocious than the next, which truly terrified them.

If it weren't for the owner's superb skills, showing off his maneuvers wildly in the dense forest, making all sorts of extreme turns...

They're probably already soaking in the stomach broth of some unknown bird of prey.

"How are the preparations going on the third generation's side?"

After calming the two little ones down, Yamanaka Kei turned to ask Namikaze Minato about it.

He and Minato came to the island of spirits.

No one expected that on this small island, which the locals call the Island of Oblivion, the average strength of the animals would be so exaggerated.

There were over a hundred creatures that could rival Chunin.

Several clan leaders even possess speed or strength at the level of a Jonin!

Such creatures, with a little training, can become qualified summoning beasts, greatly enhancing the ninja's combat power.

Yamanaka Kei inquired about Jiraiya's whereabouts.

Upon learning that they were still in Konoha, they immediately decided to use the stomach of the giant toad from Mount Myōboku to pack them up and send them back to Konoha for a summoning auction.

Konoha takes 30% of the profits, he takes 30%, Minato takes 20%, and Jiraiya takes 20%.

"The Hokage has already sent people to clean up Training Ground Zero as their temporary residence, and Jiraiya-sensei has also made preparations."

Minato Namikaze scratched his cheek, feeling a little embarrassed about it.

This was the first time he had ever discussed profit distribution with the village.

Having been taught the Will of Fire since childhood, he always felt that this kind of thing was not quite right.

"Let's begin then."

After finishing his story, Shan Zhongjing leaped off the boat and stood on the sea.

He could see that Minato was conflicted, but he didn't say anything more.

Minato is ultimately too honest.

Giving Konoha 30% of the profits is, frankly speaking, just a transaction.

It's not about something as trivial as Konoha providing the auction venue.

Instead, they exchanged these benefits for a great deal of prestige, which served as a ladder for their advancement, greatly accelerating their steps into the upper echelons of Konoha.

In order to gain more autonomy or leadership in a potential war!

Otherwise, given Yamanaka's past practices, who the hell would want to share money with the village?

Given the current turbulent situation in the ninja world, where a major war could break out at any moment.

It would be more likely that the higher-ups would give him money instead!

Minato couldn't see through these tricks, but the Third Hokage and the elders were absolutely certain of them; otherwise, they wouldn't have cooperated in clearing out Training Ground Zero.

"good!"

Minato Namikaze followed closely in Yamanaka Kei's footsteps and leaped into the sea.

Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~

The two had only run less than a kilometer.

The sea, not far away, began to churn with undercurrents.

A shadow, noticeably darker than the seawater, was rapidly approaching the two of them!

Without stopping, Yamanaka Kei took out a sealing scroll from the scroll bag on the chest of his Jonin vest.

With one hand, he quickly unrolled the scroll, and with the other, he formed a hand seal and pressed it onto the storage seal that bore the character "fish".

untie!

Ninja Art: Mind Transfer Puppet Curse Seal Technique!

A fish-shaped puppet, made of special materials and no bigger than the palm of a hand, appeared.

Under the control of the Mind-Turning Puppet Curse Seal Technique, it swung its tail and plunged into the sea where the undercurrents were even more turbulent.

It only took a few breaths.

Both Yamanaka Kei and Namikaze Minato stopped in their tracks.

Beneath their feet, a giant swordfish over ten meters long slowly rose to the surface under the control of the Mind-Turning Puppet Spell.

Carrying the two, they continued their journey towards the Island of Spirits!

Under the control of the mountain scenery, the swordfish quickly flicked its tail, and in just a few breaths, its speed exceeded 200 kilometers per hour.

And it's still accelerating!

"You're really going to ride the waves! I'm almost reluctant to sell you!"

Shan Zhongjing glanced at the swordfish at his feet.

Suddenly, I feel that having such a means of sea transportation might not be so bad?

The thought of turning this giant swordfish into a true spirit beast requires more than just taming and nurturing it; it also involves enhancing its intelligence and obedience.

He abandoned the idea because he would need to feed and care for the animals for a long time and find a suitable place to keep them.

It's not that we can't afford to raise them, it's just that the cost-effectiveness is too low!

Even Mount Myōboku, which he always complains about, doesn't require contractors to find insects and raise toads themselves.

Whoosh~ Whoosh~ Whoosh~

They circled the sizable island of spirits.

Two powerful sea beasts, hidden beneath the surface of the sea, relentlessly pursued the swordfish despite repeated provocations from the mountain dweller.

"Minato, prepare."

The storage scroll that Yamanaka Kei hadn't put away was pulled open again.

Two special puppet fish, controlled by the Mind-Turning Puppet Seal Technique, slammed into the heads of the two sea beasts like arrows.

Without exception, both were controlled by the Mind-Shifting Puppet Curse.

It obediently leaned against the shore, coming close to the giant swordfish that was slowly slowing down.

"The Toad's Mouth Binding Technique!"

Minato Namikaze took out a drop of blood and used it to perform a summoning jutsu.

The giant toad of the Rocky Abode swallowed the three sea monsters that were gathered together inside its stomach.

Then, he took the three-headed sea monster and returned to Mount Myōboku.

"Hooray~"

"Sizzle~"

"Moo~"

No sooner had the giant toad's stomach disappeared than a series of beastly roars echoed from the dense forest.

Not just the side of the coast near the mountain view and the Namikaze Minato.

Rather, it was the entire island, all its creatures, that seemed to sense the presence of their natural enemy at that moment.

Chaos, unease, fear, hatred...

The once quiet island was suddenly engulfed in chaos.

"Have we been discovered?"

Yamazaki placed one hand on his forehead to shield his eyes from the dazzling sunlight as he gazed at the volcano in the center of the island.

His current maximum range of perception is ten kilometers in diameter.

In other words, the radius around him is only five kilometers.

They are currently located eight kilometers away from the research institute in the center of the island.

It was already more than halfway beyond his perception range.

"We've ridden swordfish around the sea for ages; if we still can't find it, that would be a huge dereliction of duty."

Minato Namikaze was also gazing into the distance.

Last night, after they arrived at this sea area, Yamanaka Kei summoned a crow and quietly delivered his Flying Thunder God Kunai to the gate of the research institute in the center of the island.

They can be there immediately if needed.

So he's not in a hurry at all right now.