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The ANBU operative cursed under his breath a sharp, repeated "F**k!" before vanishing from the scene, racing toward the Hokage Building.
Deep within the Forest of Death, Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God mark lay hidden. It made perfect sense. As the technique's master, he would naturally leave markers around strategic locations. With a flicker of golden light, Minato and Naruto materialized among the towering trees.
Gazing into the distance, Minato called out, "Kurama, I don't know why you're helping Naruto, but I'll need you to guide us."
This version of Minato wasn't the real one just a fragment of chakra imprinted with memories from the night of the Nine-Tails' attack. He had no soul, no awareness of his own spiritual half, nor the fate of his Yin chakra sealed within the Shinigami's belly.
Meanwhile, Naruto's breaking of the seal had loosened Kurama's restraints. The fox, now playing the role of an impatient navigator, grumbled as Minato surged forward with a Flying Thunder God kunai in hand.
But barely two seconds later, Minato's form flickered, his chakra waning.
Kurama scoffed from within Naruto's mind, "Even the Yellow Flash has his limits. Chakra's always been your weak point."
Minato chuckled, undeterred. "No time for criticism now. At least we caught up."
Perched on a thick tree branch, father and son watched as the Konoha-ninja-turned-kidnappers dragged Hinata further from the village. Minato's expression darkened.
"Naruto," he said, his voice low, "I don't have much chakra left. Track them carefullyâI'll alert the Third Hokage."
With that, he vanished.
When Minato first arrived, he'd noticed no new faces carved into the Hokage Monument. That meant Hiruzen was still in power.
As Minato disappeared, Naruto whispered, "ThanksâŠ"
Kurama, unable to hold back, griped, "Your old man's something else, sending a kid like you to tail a bunch of jĆnin."
Still, Minato's trust in his son wasn't misplaced.
Truthfully, Minato had sensed Naruto's chakra reserves far surpassing Kakashi's.
Naruto ignored the fox's jab. "Normally, I'd snap back at you for that mouth of yours."
His focus remained locked on the figures below, Kurama fell silent.
Three dark-skinned Cloud shinobi marched forward, Hinata bound in coarse ropes, her arms bruised and bleeding.
'Twice now.'
Hinata had been kidnapped twice.
Unacceptable.
Instead of waiting for Minato's return, Naruto acted.
Hands flashing through seals, three golden chains, Adamantine Sealing Chains materialized before him.
Kurama muttered, "Still can't figure out how yours work without being anchored to your body."
Normally, the Uzumaki clan's chains required physical contact to sustain their chakra flow. But Naruto's defied that logic.
Ignoring the fox, Naruto sent the chains lashing outward like striking serpents, their spear-tipped ends aimed at the Cloud shinobi.
The trio barely had time to react.
Thud! Thud!
Two collapsed instantly, chains piercing their chests. The third stronger, faster leapt back, eyes darting.
"Konoha rats," he spat. "Too cowardly to fight face-to-face?"
Naruto didn't rise to the taunt. Dropping beside Hinata, he scooped her up and retreated a safe distance.
"Naruto�"
Hinata's voice was faint, her consciousness wavering. But the warmth of his arms, the steadiness of his hold, cut through her haze.
Moonlight cast a gentle glow over Naruto's face calm, unwavering.
Tears welled in her white eyes.
Naruto smiled, slicing through her bonds.
Hinata fought exhaustion, whispering urgently, "Naruto-kun, that's a shadow clone. The real one's at three o'clock."
"Got it," he murmured back, adjusting his grip around her slender frame.
For once, embarrassment didn't flood her. Danger stripped away hesitation.
As Naruto faced the clone, his hands moved again, weaving signs with practiced ease.
Hidden in the shadows, the real Cloud shinobi smirked.
'A kid in pajamas and slippers?'
Still, he didn't underestimate him with a burst of speed, he lunged.
'Now.'
Naruto's head snapped toward him mid-seal.
The Cloud nin's blood ran cold. He twisted midair, scrambling back.
Too late.
"Myojin Gate!"
Whooshâ!
Six massive stone pillars plummeted from the sky, slamming into the earth around him with crushing force.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Cloud shinobi crumpled, his body pinned, chakra frozen under the sealing weight.
His eyes bulged in horror.
"Impossible! This level of sealing power...?!"
It was tailed-beast suppression tier.
Despair set in.
A sharp whistle cut the air.
"No! I can...!"
Thunk!
The Adamantine Chain speared through his heart.
Naruto turned to Hinata. "Clear?"
She'd been scanning the area with her Byakugan. Weakly, she shook her head. "N-none⊠WuwuâŠ"
Now that the adrenaline faded, the pain and fear hit full force. Tears spilled over as she buried her face in Naruto's chest, trembling.
She was just a child. This was too much.
Naruto held her tighter. "It's over. You're safe."
Hinata clung to him, her grip desperate.
Kurama groaned. "You two, father and son are something else."
Witnessing their mirrored heroics was downright absurd.
Meanwhile, Minato flashed into the Hokage's office via Flying Thunder God.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, buried in paperwork, jerked upright and nearly joined Tobirama in the Pure Land then and there.
.....