The three moved with lightning speed, carrying Kushina away like a whirlwind in the blink of an eye.Their steps were light and steady, as if they already knew this land like the back of their hand.
Despite their excitement, they remained vigilant, taking each step with extreme caution, as if the air around them was thick with danger.
Kushina, like an obedient child, silently followed them.Although her pace was slightly hurried, she always maintained a certain distance from the three, arousing no suspicion.However, beneath this seemingly calm surface, Kushina was secretly carrying out an important task—leaving clues.
While the three weren't paying attention, she quickly plucked a few strands of red hair from her own hair and gently tossed them on the ground.
The red hair shimmered faintly in the moonlight, as if it were a distress signal she had left behind.Kushina hoped that this red hair would be discovered by someone with good intentions, thus leading to her whereabouts.
However, deep down, Kushina didn't have high hopes for this plan.
She knew she was an outsider with little connection to the people of this country.Even if someone did discover her red hair, probably no one would risk their life to save a complete stranger.
......
The perspective shifts back to Hatake Kaede and Minato, who are closely following Black Tiger, running at breakneck speed.Hatake Kaede's senses are exceptionally sharp; he can clearly see the scene several hundred meters ahead.
In his perception, four different chakras appeared ahead.Three of them were very similar, all radiating intense lightning power, like three sharp lightning blades, full of endless sharpness.The other chakra, while also quite powerful, appeared somewhat immature in comparison.
With sharp eyes, Hatake Kaede immediately said to Minato beside him, "Found it!Our target is just ahead!" However, before he could finish speaking, an unexpected event occurred.
Suddenly, as if sensing some danger, Hatake Kaede reached out and grabbed Minato without hesitation, while hugging Kuroh tightly, and his figure flashed to the side like lightning.
The instant they dodged, a short sword imbued with the power of lightning hurtled towards them like lightning, embedding itself directly in the spot where they had just stood.The sword pierced through the tree trunk and embedded itself deeply in the ground.
"This is troublesome!" Hatake Kaede muttered to himself.
Immediately following behind, a burly, dark-skinned man charged toward the water gate with his arms bent.Lightning crackled around him, and his killing intent surged, as if he were determined to kill the enemies before him.
Hatake Kaede was very familiar with the burly man's appearance.He stepped over the water gate and met the man's attack head-on.
With his back to Minato, Hatake Kaede said, "Minato, you go first, I'll take care of things here!Kushina is Tsunade's sister, and although I don't have a master-disciple relationship with Tsunade, I'll still do my best for her sake.So, I'll leave it to you to bring her back."
Minato hesitated, wanting to stay and fight alongside Hatake Kaede.At that moment, Black Tiger said, "Kid, everyone has their own responsibilities.Trust Kaede!"
Minato nodded, turned around, and shouted to Hatake Kaede, "Senior, you must survive!" After saying that, he turned around and continued to chase after them with Black Tiger.
Night had fallen, and dark clouds obscured the moon, making the forest path exceptionally dark.Even experienced ninjas had to proceed with extreme caution.
With the help of the black tiger, Minato quickly found the red-haired girl that Kushina had left behind.Following the trail, Minato soon caught up with the squad ahead.
After waiting a while, taking advantage of the darkness, Minato left a blur, and after the blur, a Cloud Village ninja collapsed to the ground.
"What happened?"
Hearing the noise behind them, the other two quickly turned around to check.Besides their fallen companion, there was nothing else.
The next moment, another person fell to the ground.
In the end, the taciturn Jonin leading the team realized that someone was launching a sneak attack from the shadows.
They were too careless; although they were vigilant, they were still somewhat relaxed.It wasn't until just now that they realized someone was attacking them from the shadows.
Immediately, the Jonin leading the team tensed up and quickly leaped to hide in a nearby tree.Then he carefully observed his surroundings.
Suddenly, a figure flashed behind him.Minato's attack was clean and swift, striking the back of the head of the last Jonin leading the team.
The Jonin leading the team was struck hard and immediately lost consciousness, falling to the ground from the bushes.
All the enemies were dealt with, and Minato jumped down from the treetop.
Just then, the dark clouds in the sky dispersed, revealing the bright moon.Moonlight, like a curtain of water, spilled onto the path through the woods.
Minato stood with his back to the moonlight in front of Kushina.
"Are you alright?We've come to rescue you!"
Hearing the boy's words, the exhausted and desperate Kushina looked up.Seeing the boy ahead, and then the fallen ninja from another village, Kushina smiled with delight.She knew she was saved.
The mental relaxation led to physical exhaustion, and Kushina could no longer hold on, collapsing forward.First kidnapped, then forced to walk such a long distance, Kushina's mind and body were utterly exhausted.
Minato rushed forward to support Kushina and said gently, "Don't worry!It's alright now.I'll take you back to the village." With that, he picked Kushina up in a princess carry.
"Wait.wait a minute!" Before Kushina could say anything, Minato took her and leaped up to the treetop.
Under the moonlight, Kushina observed carefully.Looking at the boy before her, at that moment, the gears of fate began to turn, and a love intertwined with "red" and "yellow" began to blossom.
Kushina's red hair became the red thread of fate that led her to her soulmate and bound the two of them together.
Just as the two were gazing tenderly into each other's eyes, the sound of running footsteps echoed from the surrounding woods.The next moment, Hatake Kaede, Nawaki, and numerous Konoha ninja appeared in their vicinity.
Despite being covered in injuries, Hatake Kaede still managed to banter, "Hahaha~ As expected of you, Minato, you even know how to flirt with girls under the moonlight!"
Everyone except Nawaki burst into laughter.Nawaki looked at the scene with a sullen expression, feeling increasingly awkward.He leaped to their side and forcefully took Kushina from Minato's arms.
Then he turned to Kushina and said, "Little sister, girls must be careful.Don't let yourself be led astray by some blond guy outside just because of a few words."
Standing to the side, Minato awkwardly gripped the ground with his toes, while Kushina blushed with embarrassment.
To ease the tension, Minato turned to Hatake Kaede and asked, "Senpai, where is the enemy from earlier?"
Hatake Kaede touched his injuries and grimaced as he said, "They got away.You hadn't been gone long when Nawaki arrived with reinforcements.Seeing that things were going badly, that guy quickly retreated."
Holding Kushina in his arms, Nawaki addressed the surrounding clansmen, "Immediately subdue the ninjas below and hand them over to the Third Hokage's ANBU.The rest, we'll return to the village immediately!"
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