Seeing Nawaki still hesitating, Hatake Kaede was frantic.He knew time was of the essence; every second of delay could result in Kushina being captured by the bad guys.So, without hesitation, he shouted, "Nawaki, don't hesitate!Kushina is my comrade, your family, Minato's classmate.If you hesitate any longer, she will fall into the hands of the bad guys!"
The angry shout was like a thunderclap, exploding in Nawaki's ears and instantly snapping him out of his hesitation.He looked intently at Hatake Kaede, only to see that the other's eyes were filled with anxiety and worry—concern for Kushina's safety.
Nawaki was touched by this warm feeling.Although he was often teased by this outsider sister, he did not hesitate to take on the responsibility of being an older brother at this crucial moment.
He took a deep breath, then nodded heavily, and solemnly pleaded with Hatake Kaede and Minato, "Then I'll leave it to you!You must hold on, I'll bring reinforcements as soon as possible!"
Hatake Kaede and Minato exchanged a glance, both seeing determination and resolve in each other's eyes.They nodded heavily in response to Nawaki.
Then, Hatake Kaede and Minato turned around together and left the Senju ancestral home without hesitation.Their backs appeared particularly resolute in the sunlight, as if they were carrying something poignant.
The remaining Nawaki demonstrates his outstanding demeanor as the heir of a powerful family.
He was calm and composed, and every decision he made appeared thoughtful and methodical.
He quickly communicated with those around him, clarifying everyone's responsibilities and tasks to ensure that subsequent matters could proceed smoothly without any panic or chaos.
Amidst this bustling scene, a quiet and elegant courtyard stands out.
In the courtyard, a kind and wise old lady lay quietly in a rocking chair, her eyes slightly closed, enjoying the gentle breeze.A faint smile graced her face, a smile that reflected contentment with life and a profound understanding of the world.
The old lady's eyes revealed a variety of emotions.
Among the praises were those for Minato and Kaede, and an affirmation of their ability to cherish their fellow villagers.
She was satisfied with her grandson, Shengshu, and pleased with the temperament and ability he displayed as an heir to a wealthy family.
There is also the pride of being the wife of the First Hokage, and the pride that the "Will of Fire" founded by her husband has successors.
After leaving the Senju family home, Hatake Kaede did not go directly to find Kushina as Minato had expected.Instead, he hurriedly led Minato back to the Hatake family home.
Throughout the journey, Minato was filled with doubts, but seeing Hatake Kaede's serious expression, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and simply followed silently behind.
Seeing the doubt in Minato's heart, Hatake Kaede simply said, "My mother is a member of the Inuzuka clan."
Upon hearing Hatake Kaede's explanation, Minato suddenly understood.
Soon the two arrived at the Hatake family home.Upon entering, Hatake Kaede pulled Mizuki straight to the living room.They passed through the living room and arrived at the small courtyard where his parents lived.
Hatake Kaede called out to the courtyard, "Mother, I'm back!"
Before the words were finished, a figure flashed out of the room.It was none other than Hatake Kaede's mother, Hatake Karin.She was dressed in a plain-colored kimono, with a beautiful face and an elegant demeanor.
When Hatake Hanako saw her son return, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, but when she saw Minato, the smile on her face immediately disappeared.
"Mother, this is my friend, Namikaze Minato," Hatake Kaede quickly introduced.
Hatake Hanako nodded slightly in greeting.Then, she looked at Hatake Kaede and asked seriously, "Kaede, why are you back so urgently?Did something happen?"
Hatake Kaede didn't dare delay and quickly told his mother about Kushina's abduction.Hatake Hanako's expression turned serious upon hearing this.
"How dare ninjas from other villages kidnap people near Konoha!They're so arrogant!" Hatake Hanakosaid angrily.
As she spoke, her hands rapidly formed hand seals.With each movement, a powerful surge of chakra gathered in her hands.
"Summoning Jutsu!" Kareem Hatake shouted softly.
With a loud "Bang!", thick smoke suddenly billowed from the living room.When the smoke cleared, a black ninja dog appeared before everyone.
This ninja dog was entirely black, as if it had been dyed with ink.Its eyes gleamed with a ferocious light, and its body was covered in scars, clearly indicating that it had been through countless battles.
"Uncle Black Tiger!" Hatake Kaede greeted the ninja dog respectfully.
"Oh~ it's Kaede!" Black Tiger's voice was deep and resonant, sounding somewhat intimidating.But when his gaze swept over Hatake Kaede, his eyes held a hint of kindness and relief.
Its gaze swept over Hatake Kaede and Minato before settling on the backpack in Hatake Kaede's hand.
"Is there a problem with bringing me here?" Black Tiger asked.
Hatake Kaede quickly handed Kushina's backpack to Black Tiger and said, "That's right, Uncle Black Tiger, one of my companions has been kidnapped by ninjas from another village.I need your help to find her."
"No problem, leave it to me!" Black Tiger replied confidently, then quickly lowered his head, brought his nose close to the backpack in front of him, and sniffed it carefully.
Black Tiger was incredibly focused, as if the entire world consisted only of itself and the backpack.Its nose twitched incessantly, not missing a single scent.
Not long after, Black Tiger suddenly raised its head, its eyes gleaming with excitement.It called out to Hatake Kaede and Minato, "Kaede, and that blond brat, hurry up and follow me!"
Before the words were even finished, the black tiger shot out like a bolt of black lightning.Its speed was incredible; in the blink of an eye, it vanished from Hatake Kaede and Minato's sight.
Seeing this, Hatake Kaede quickly turned to face his mother, Hatake.Hanako said, "Mother, I'm going now!"
Hatake Hanako looked at her son, her heart filled with worry, but she forced herself to remain calm and said to Hatake Kaede with a resolute expression, "Go!Make sure you bring our comrades back from the village safely!"
Hatake Kaede felt his mother's encouragement and trust.He nodded vigorously and then, without hesitation, took Minato and chased after Black Tiger.
......
On the other side, three people dressed in the uniforms of Cloud Village Jonin sped along like the wind, their figures appearing and disappearing in the dense forest.
One of them, a broad smile of excitement on his face, whispered, "This is fantastic!I didn't expect everything to go so smoothly!" The other chimed in, "That's right, we were very discreet to begin with.By the time Konoha discovered us, we'd already been vanished." A hint of smugness lingered in his voice, clearly indicating his confidence in his plan.
The last person didn't speak, but his expression showed that he was equally happy.He silently followed the group, secretly rejoicing that he had successfully completed the task assigned by the village.
However, unlike the other two, he did not let his guard down.
He knew that only by taking the opportunity to kill that "traitorous spy" could the mission be truly completed.Otherwise, if the other party escaped, it would not only bring huge trouble to the Hidden Cloud Village, but could also lead them into an abyss of no return.
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