Far away in Konoha, Uzumaki Kushina was dreaming.
Uzumaki Kushina, deep in slumber, dreamed of a terrifying, gigantic, dark figure with nine tails.
"Oh, new vessel, I sense your fear... and your struggle... Do you know? What binds you is not me, but yourself..."
"Let me set you free. Come..."
Uzumaki Kushina jolted awake, sitting up in bed, panting uncontrollably, her body drenched in sweat.
...
Land of Grass.
Jiraiya looked at the distant explosion, his heart filled with an overwhelming shock: "That was truly a close call."
Shindai, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara stared blankly at the explosion.
The power of a Tailed Beast was truly too immense.
If they had been in the explosion zone, they would have been blown to smithereens!
After letting out a sigh, Jiraiya said, "Let's officially retreat. The two Jinchuriki from Iwagakure have arrived here. We can't stop them, so there's no need to continue the mission. Let's head back to the base."
Minato Namikaze said gravely, "Yes, it's unclear if the enemy merely sent the Jinchuriki to deal with us, or if they intend for the Jinchuriki to directly participate in the war."
"Oh no, I think I'm injured!"
Shindai suddenly collapsed to the ground, trembling all over, his face contorted, looking extremely pained.
Rin Nohara immediately began examining Shindai's body.
"Huh? Why can't I find any injuries?"
Shindai looked very pained, and Rin Nohara couldn't find any injuries on him, making her break out in a anxious sweat.
Shindai said weakly, "It, it must be because your Medical Ninjutsu isn't up to par yet, Rin, so you can't find my injuries. Let Lord Jiraiya and Lord Minato take me back to the base so those experienced Medical Ninja can examine me~"
As soon as Shindai uttered those words, everyone around him looked at him with deadpan eyes.
Rin Nohara stood up and unceremoniously kicked Shindai: "You're the one whose skills aren't up to par!"
Kakashi said sinisterly, "Shindai, we need to leave quickly now. It's not safe here. You hit that Five-Tails Jinchuriki with Sand Iron earlier, and he's been relentlessly pursuing you. Now you just made him explode. Who knows what will happen if he catches up to us later."
Shindai immediately got up: "I can still bear it for a bit, let's go quickly!"
Shindai still felt a lingering fear. The main reason was that Han had been chasing him like a mad dog. All he did was hit him with a Sand Iron cuboid; was it really necessary to pursue him so relentlessly?
Just now, he had even made Han's Steam Armor explode. If Han really did catch up, who knew what he would do to him.
Jiraiya's eye twitched as he grumbled, "Kid, you really are... a realistic actor."
Because they still had to deliver supplies, Minato Namikaze decided to escort Shindai and the others, letting Jiraiya return to the base first to report on the mission and the Jinchuriki situation.
...
"Oh? Obito has already activated his Sharingan, and that Iwagakure Ninja who was decapitated, you three cooperated to kill him? After not seeing you for a few months, you've grown a lot."
Hearing Shindai and the others recount the events of the past few months, Minato Namikaze smiled with satisfaction.
Upon hearing Minato Namikaze's praise, Shindai and Obito puffed out their chests, looking proud.
Rin Nohara also covered her mouth, smiling.
Kakashi, who loved to act cool, wore a mask, so his current expression was unclear.
Shindai directly pulled off Kakashi's mask, and Kakashi's lips were also slightly curved, looking equally happy.
However, after Shindai pulled off his mask, the smile disappeared.
Kakashi put his mask back on, then immediately used the Instantaneous Body Technique to appear behind Shindai, tripping him with a hooked leg, sending him to the ground, and finally landing a punch on Shindai's left eye.
Kakashi's series of movements flowed like water, leaving not only Obito and Rin Nohara, but even Minato Namikaze, stunned.
Shindai, clutching his left eye, indignantly said, "Ow! Kakashi, what are you doing? I was worried your mask wasn't breathable and would make it hard for you to breathe, so I was helping you get some air. How could you repay kindness with enmity?!"
Kakashi said in a sarcastic tone, "I also saw that your left eye seemed to be itching, so I helped you stop the itch. I've repaid your kindness."
Just as Shindai was about to begin his mental assault on Kakashi, Minato Namikaze asked, "By the way, Shindai, have you made a decision?"
Upon hearing Minato Namikaze's question, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara all looked at Shindai simultaneously.
They naturally knew that Minato Namikaze's question, 'Have you made a decision?' referred to joining Konoha.
Shindai asked Minato Namikaze in return, "If I join Konoha... will I have to go back to Konoha?"
Minato Namikaze nodded: "Of course, after all, you need to register your identity."
Shindai didn't hesitate at all and immediately agreed: "I agree!"
Minato Namikaze pursed his lips, feeling that Shindai agreed because he could return to Konoha.
Minato Namikaze reminded him, "Shindai, this is very important. You need to think it over carefully. After joining Konoha, you will have to live according to Konoha's way."
Shindai said helplessly, "Lord Minato, I've been working for Konoha for half a year. If I didn't want to join Konoha, I would have run away long ago. Do I have some major illness that I would want to remain an unregistered resident?"
"Uh..."
Minato Namikaze was speechless for a moment; what Shindai said actually made sense.
Minato Namikaze smiled and said, "Then I welcome you to Konoha in advance."
Obito clenched his fists, excitedly saying, "Shindai is finally a Konoha Ninja like us, that's great!"
Obito seemed even more excited and happy than Shindai.
Kakashi and Rin Nohara were also very happy, just not as excited as Obito.
After all, in their opinion, Shindai, who had been betrayed by Sunagakure, would definitely join Konoha.
Minato Namikaze said to Shindai and the others, "After these supplies are delivered, you will return directly to the base with me. I will inform Shikaku and have other Ninja take over your supply transportation duties.
Then, you will wait at the base for a few days. If Iwagakure doesn't intend to have their Jinchuriki join the war, then we will return to Konoha to finalize Shindai's identification. You've all worked hard these past few months, so this will be a good time to rest.
If Iwagakure intends to have their Jinchuriki join the war, then Shindai, your identification might have to wait a bit longer."
Shindai agreed, "I understand, Lord Minato, but... there's one thing I'd like to ask about."
"Speak."
"I've transported supplies so many times, there should be a reward, right?"
Shindai had a money-grubbing look, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together a few times.
One couldn't blame Shindai for being greedy. When he was in Konoha, Minato Namikaze's treat seemed quite expensive, and he planned to open a shop in Konoha later. Even if Jiraiya invested in the shop, he still needed some money in hand.
Minato Namikaze chuckled, "Of course there is. You can rest assured about that. Konoha won't make you work for free."
Shindai immediately smiled brightly. That settled it!
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