Naruto nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Dad, what should we do next?"
Minato hesitated, considering their options carefully. "Let's get closer to the princess of Rōran," he said finally. "She might not even know that her mother was murdered."
"Are we planning to rescue her?" Kushina asked, her brows knitting in concern. Like Minato, she had pieced together enough to suspect that Mukade was likely using the princess for his own ends, manipulating her family's power over the dragon veins to further his control.
The more she thought about it, the more sorrowful it felt. This poor princess… her mother was killed, and she's now being controlled like a puppet, Kushina thought with sympathy.
Minato nodded solemnly. "Whatever Mukade intends with the dragon vein, we can't allow it. We need to move quickly. If he realizes our plan, taking the princess right under his nose will be far harder."
Kushina and Naruto exchanged looks, both resolute. Naruto spoke up, "Then I'll lead the way."
Minato placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, his expression steady. "Don't stray too far from us, and be cautious when you meet the princess. Remember, from her perspective, we might appear as intruders."
He suspected Mukade, had gained the princess's trust by feeding her lies, perhaps portraying himself as her only protector against outside threats. In her eyes, he was the hero, and foreign shinobi like themselves would likely seem like the enemy.
Naruto absorbed his father's warning, nodding firmly. "Understood."
With a swift, silent movement, the three of them vanished from the floor, slipping into the shadows.
Inside the palace, a petite figure was crouched in the corner of a dimly lit hall, hugging her knees. Her small face was tense with fear, her eyes darting nervously. Outside, armored guards patrolled, their heavy footsteps echoing through the corridors. Yet, despite their presence, they offered little comfort to the young girl hidden in the dark.
Suddenly, the palace door creaked open, and she looked up, her heart racing. But there was no one outside.
"Princess Sara, what are you doing hiding here?"
A gentle voice spoke beside her, and Sara flinched, then turned to see a familiar figure standing nearby.
"I… heard the sounds of fighting outside. It scared me," she whispered, her unease softening at the sight of her visitor.
The earlier battle in Rōran had shaken the palace walls, and even here, Sara had felt the tremors, her heart pounding in terror.
"Don't be afraid, Princess," the black-robed man said soothingly. "I'll protect you with everything I have. The future of Rōran rests with you, the queen who will soon ascend the throne."
With a respectful bow, he extended a hand, helping her to her feet. His face held a kindly expression, the shadow of a smile softening his otherwise sharp features.
"Thank you, Uncle Anrokuzan," Sara murmured, a flicker of relief crossing her face. "I don't think I'd be able to manage Rōran without your help."
Sara trusted the man before her completely. In the past few months, Rōran's queen—her mother—and many of the ministers had been mysteriously assassinated. She had even witnessed ninjas from Sunagakure attempting to approach her with hostile intent. Without Anrokuzan's intervention, she might not have survived those terrifying encounters.
"Think nothing of it, Princess. I am, after all, a loyal servant of Rōran. Protecting you is my duty," Anrokuzan replied, his tone calm and steady. But as Sara looked away, a sinister smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
If it weren't for the fact that I need this girl to manipulate the dragon veins, I'd have sent her to join her mother long ago, he thought disdainfully. The late queen's foolish refusal to cooperate had been her downfall. In comparison, her young daughter is naïve, an easy puppet to manipulate.
After offering a few more comforting words, Anrokuzan departed.
A short time later, under Naruto's lead, Minato, Kushina, and Naruto reached the entrance of a large building.
"This is it," Naruto whispered, nodding to the others.
They exchanged a look, then slipped inside, moving swiftly and silently as they bypassed several guards. After a few minutes, they arrived in the dim corridor leading to the main hall where Princess Sara was hiding.
Just outside the hall's doors, a small group of armored guards patrolled, their footsteps echoing steadily back and forth.
Naruto turned to Minato. "Should we go now?"
Minato and Kushina observed the palace's perimeter, nodding at each other. Minato had already sensed the presence of a barrier around the palace. It was subtle, but he could tell that it was a perception-based barrier likely set up by Mukade. Given the strength of this barrier, it was clear that the princess played a central role in Mukade's plans.
What surprised Minato, however, was how Naruto had sensed the princess within the barrier.
"Hold on," Minato whispered, forming hand seals with practiced precision.
With a quick dash, Minato surged forward, reaching the palace gates before the guards had a chance to react. In an instant, he pressed his hand against the door, rewriting the seals on the barrier.
The guards turned, realizing something was amiss, but they were met by a series of Kushina's clones, which had materialized around them in an instant.
The guards' armor may have been formidable, but their strength was no match for Kushina's clones. Within moments, they were subdued.
Naruto watched in awe. His father and mother were using ninjutsu within Mukade's barrier, something that should have alerted him to their presence. But Naruto sensed that there was now some sort of obstruction blocking Mukade's perception.
"Don't worry," Kushina reassured him with a small, confident smile. "Minato has rewritten the barrier's seals. We're moving within his barrier now, so Mukade has no idea what's going on."
Naruto's eyes flickered with admiration as he looked at his parents. They weren't just capable ninjas—they were brilliant tacticians. In the face of such a powerful foe, they had managed to turn the enemy's own defenses into an advantage.
These are my parents, Naruto thought with pride swelling in his chest. They're amazing.
"Alright, let's go in," Kushina whispered, giving Naruto a nod.
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