Four massive giants, radiating an intense, frigid energy, surrounded Minato, making him appear almost insignificant—a mouse cornered, one misstep away from being crushed beneath their massive feet. Despite the daunting situation, Minato's expression remained unflinching. His gaze shifted sideways, focusing briefly on Sara, who stood protected by Kushina and Naruto.
Sara's initial shock at the giants' sudden appearance had been evident, yet the expression had only lasted a moment before it was replaced with a steely calm. This change caught Minato's attention. Interesting, he thought, slightly raising an eyebrow. He had purposefully drawn the enemy's attention, hoping to observe something specific, some confirmation. He knew Sara wouldn't easily share information, but her reaction was telling enough.
From Sara's expression alone, Minato discerned that she was not entirely in the dark about Mukade's manipulation of the dragon vein's power to create these monstrous figures. Clearly, she held knowledge of Mukade's true intentions.
Minato could surmise that Mukade had fed her a narrative, one where he cast Minato as an outsider, a potential threat to her safety and that of Rōran. Mukade had likely established the idea of an "enemy" ninja, manipulating Sara's loyalty to lead her actions according to his plan. After all, she was just a young girl of twelve or thirteen, sheltered in Rōran and easily influenced by Mukade's guidance and words.
Sara glanced coldly at Minato, addressing Kushina and Naruto without emotion. "Isn't that man your ally? Are you not afraid he could be in real danger?"
As she spoke, her gaze drifted subtly toward the two, scrutinizing their expressions. To her surprise, neither showed the slightest hint of panic. Instead, Naruto met her stare, his deep blue eyes calm yet filled with a determination she recognized—a reverence she knew all too well. She, too, held such respect for her mother, the late Queen of Rōran.
"With those four lumbering oafs," Naruto remarked confidently, "there's nothing that could stop Dad!"
Sara looked puzzled, frowning slightly. "Dad? What do you mean?"
The familial bond between Minato, Naruto, and Kushina was lost on her. But her contemplation was cut short by a sudden gust of wind, fierce and foreboding, whipping through the surroundings and rattling the air with force.
"Bang!"
All four giants took a synchronized step back from Minato, their towering forms retreating in unison, the ground trembling beneath them. The sheer power of their movements stirred whirlwinds of dust that scattered in every direction.
"Smart," Minato murmured, his voice barely audible, acknowledging the tactic with a slight smirk. This Mukade from the future knew him well, it seemed. The giants kept their distance; grouping too closely would only allow Minato to exploit his speed, causing potential confusion and even risk of accidental friendly fire. Given their immense size, coordinating a close-range attack would be futile against the "Yellow Flash." Not even the Raikage, known for his blinding speed, could ever touch Minato.
By spreading out, the four giants forced Minato into a confined area, blocking off all nearby exits, effectively caging him within the narrow Rōran roads. The walls seemed to close in on him, forcing him to confront them head-on.
"Bang!"
With a synchronized motion, the giants raised their fists and slammed them down. The ground split open under the weight of their colossal blows, cracks radiating outward like jagged spider webs, converging toward Minato's position.
Time to move.
Without hesitation, Minato darted toward one of the trenches carved by the giants' strikes, but before he could reach it, they launched another coordinated assault. Massive fists descended from every direction, shattering the ground into fragments that cascaded in all directions.
Mukade's intention was clear: shatter the terrain, making it near impossible for Minato to maneuver freely. The ground beneath Minato's feet began to crumble, sending debris tumbling into the air.
"Whoosh!"
In a swift motion, Minato hurled one of his signature three-pronged kunai into the air. Just as the collapsing earth threatened to engulf him, his form vanished, reappearing in a blur high above.
"Now, what's your next move?" he wondered aloud, eyes scanning the giants below with a calm intensity. Minato was curious to see Mukade's plan unfold; the giants' sluggish movements posed little threat to him even with limited mobility in the air.
Just as Minato began to anticipate his next step, a dark purple glow illuminated the rooftop nearby, growing in intensity before splitting into dozens of beams. Each beam of ominous, violet light, roughly half a meter thick, cascaded down and connected to the giants like puppet strings.
"What on earth…?"
Hovering in the air, Minato's gaze narrowed as he observed the sudden transformation. The beams attached to the giants' limbs, resembling chakra threads used by puppeteers. In a synchronized pull, the purple threads forced the giants to lift off the ground, launching them like colossal projectiles toward Minato.
Meanwhile, the fourth giant pivoted, setting its gaze on Kushina, Naruto, and Sara. Sensing the shift, Naruto stepped protectively in front of Kushina and Sara, hands moving to form seals in preparation for defense.
A cold, sinister chuckle echoed through the air, Mukade's voice laced with mocking confidence. "Minato Namikaze, let's see how well you handle this. Abandon your family and flee if you must—you've marked your escape route, after all."
"You're betting on that?" Minato muttered, watching the descending giants with steely resolve.
Mukade's challenge was unmistakable. Minato could indeed escape with ease, leaving his opponents and their attacks far behind. But doing so would mean abandoning Kushina and Naruto, leaving them vulnerable. It was a calculated risk Mukade banked on, knowing Minato's unwavering loyalty.
But rather than show distress, Minato chuckled. Perfect, he thought, steeling himself. Mukade's plan played right into his own intentions.
With swift precision, Minato tightened his grip on two kunai, a flash of blue chakra sparking along their edges. He flung one kunai into the air, higher and further than before. Just as the three giants hurtled toward him, he disappeared, reappearing near the newly-thrown kunai, and then quickly tossed another kunai, repeating the process.
Swish!
Appearing even higher in the sky, he watched as the momentum of the giants' assault began to falter, their colossal forms gradually slowing, gravity taking its toll. The trajectory of their attack dulled as they lost momentum, leaving Minato with a perfect vantage.
Falling from his aerial position, Minato bit down on his thumb, smearing blood onto his palm. His hands blurred into a series of seals, his fingers moving with practiced precision before he pressed them together.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
In a flash, three immense clouds of smoke burst into existence. Out of the haze, Minato's voice called out, "Thank you all for answering my call."
Three massive figures materialized through the smoke, their shapes solidifying with each passing moment. Emerging from the swirling mist were none other than the three legendary toads of Mt. Myoboku—Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro.
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