EBE Chapter 529 The Yellow Flash of Konoha!
Chapter 529 The Yellow Flash of Konoha!
Another Cloud Ninja roared, his hands rapidly forming hand seals, attempting to unleash a ninjutsu. But he only managed to complete half of the seal before Minato appeared beside him. This time, Minato didn't attack directly, but instead hurled a kunai imbued with a jutsu seal precisely at his wrist. The kunai was so fast that he had no time to dodge. A sharp crack echoed through the silent valley, the sound of breaking bones particularly jarring. The Cloud Ninja screamed in agony, his hand seals broken, and the chakra in his hand dissipated. Minato followed up with a swift chop to the back of his neck, cleanly knocking him unconscious.
The last Cloud Ninja finally showed fear in his eyes. He wasn't unfamiliar with strong opponents, but he had never seen anyone like Minato, who could overwhelmingly eliminate two of his comrades in just a few seconds. He decisively gave up resisting, turned to run, and shouted, "Damn it! It's Konoha's Yellow Flash!"
However, his escape route was already blocked. The instant he turned, a dark figure silently emerged from the shadows behind him. Zhang Hai appeared behind him like a ghost, a short knife flashing coldly in his hand. The cloud ninja only had time to feel a chill on his neck before his vision was plunged into endless darkness, his body collapsing limply to the ground.
The entire process took less than ten seconds. Of the three Cloud Ninja Jonin, two were unconscious and one collapsed, rendering them incapacitated. Minato displayed elite strength that surpassed that of ordinary Jonin; every move was precise and deadly, without the slightest hesitation, perfectly embodying the title of "Yellow Flash."
Minato ignored the fallen enemy and went straight to the bound Kushina. She was tightly bound with ropes, but when she saw Minato, her previously terrified eyes were instantly filled with light and grievance.
"Minato!" Kushina cried out in a trembling voice, her eyes instantly reddening.
Minato skillfully untied the ropes binding her, his movements gentle and swift. As soon as the ropes loosened, Kushina threw herself into Minato's arms. Minato smoothly lifted her up in a perfect princess carry, softly comforting her, "It's alright, Kushina, I'm here. You've suffered." His tone was as gentle as a spring breeze, a stark contrast to the coldness he displayed on the battlefield. Kushina buried her head in his chest, feeling his warmth and breath, all her fear and unease vanishing.
Zhang Hai emerged from the shadows, a complex expression flashing in his eyes as he looked at the image of Minato embracing Kushina. A slight smile played on his lips as he remarked with a hint of amusement, "Tsk tsk, 'Yellow Flash' truly lives up to his name. That speed, that strength, he's practically... 'Always Carrying a Girl'!"
The phrase "Yongdai Mei" is a combination of homophones, which is both an affirmation of Minato's strength and a playful prediction of the future relationship between the two.
Minato smiled awkwardly, didn't reply, and just gently patted Kushina's back.
Zhang Hai ignored their sentimentality and walked to the three unconscious Cloud Ninja Jonin. Although these guys were temporarily incapacitated, they were still Jonin, and they would be a problem once they woke up. Moreover, keeping them alive might bring more unnecessary trouble. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, and without hesitation, he precisely and swiftly slit their throats with his short sword. The blood seeped into the ground, but was quickly absorbed by the soil, leaving no trace.
"To nip the weeds in the bud, you must pull them out at the root," Zhang Hai said calmly, his tone completely unwavering, as if he had only done something insignificant. He didn't want to leave any potential threats to Konoha.
After completing all this, Zhang Hai looked at Minato again, his doubts resurfacing. He frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Minato, I have a question. As a Jinchūriki, Kushina was an extremely important figure in the village. Her safety should have been under constant close surveillance. Wasn't the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's crystal ball supposed to be able to monitor everything happening in the village? Why didn't the village receive any warning before Kushina was captured? Why did they only discover the anomaly after it happened?"
Minato, holding Kushina, also turned serious. "I've been thinking about that too." He shook his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "Normally, if such a significant event occurs within the village, the crystal ball should react. Unless…"
Zhang Hai picked up where he left off, his tone carrying a subtle excitement, as if he were talking to himself: "Unless the Third Hokage himself wasn't even in the village at the time, or the crystal ball wasn't even used by him to monitor Kushina's safety!"
Some bold speculations instantly flashed through his mind. What would it mean if the Third Hokage wasn't in the village? The Hokage's position was the symbol and core of Konoha. A village without a Hokage, even for a short time, could mean a power vacuum, weakened defenses, and even... a perfect opportunity for some to take advantage of the situation.
Zhang Hai's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Kushina in his arms, then at Minato, his gaze unfathomable. This war might not just be a contest between villages; for some with ulterior motives, it was also an unprecedented "opportunity."
Zhang Hai believed that the animation had already foreshadowed the fate of the three, so he was more concerned about his own safety and was glad that he could stay behind with Bai Ya.
In the early stages of the war, a large number of casualties were sent back, making rear supply crucial, which kept Zhang Hai extremely busy and stressed.
Ninjas from other countries were spying on the battle, threatening the supply lines. White Fang intervened and deterred some of the ninjas.
Zhang Hai asked Bai Ya for permission to go into hiding to eliminate the hidden threat. Bai Ya agreed and informed the frontline commander that someone had been sent to handle the situation.
White Fang arranged for Minato Namikaze to act alongside Zhang Hai, but Zhang Hai said he wouldn't care if Minato held him back.
Bai Ya believed that the people sent from the front lines were quite capable, which reassured Zhang Hai.
Minato, holding Kushina, exchanged a glance with Zhang Hai, both their eyes flashing with complex emotions. Kushina's red hair remained striking in the moonlight, a reminder of the perilous pursuit they had just endured. Zhang Hai's earlier questioning of the Third Hokage's crystal ball was not unfounded. He had previously analyzed that the Cloud Ninja's retreat wasn't a direct route to Kumogakure, but rather a detour around the rear of Konoha's front lines, taking a circuitous and secluded route. This indicated that they possessed a considerable understanding of Konoha's internal defenses and even the movements of the village's key figures.
“You’re right, Zhang Hai.” Minato gently set Kushina down, letting her lean against him, his eyes filled with a hint of seriousness. “As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina’s status in the village is extraordinary. If the Third Hokage were in the village, the crystal ball wouldn’t have remained unresponsive. Unless…”