"Let's go. If we wait too long, they might destroy all the research data."
Kei Yamanaka snorted in disdain, utterly unimpressed by Mist's obsession with secrecy.
Mist was still one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Yet their way of doing things always felt oddly petty.
Take this Summoning Island as an example.
Technically, it belonged to the Sea Country.
But due to its location—on the far northeastern edge, where nothing but open ocean lay beyond the east—and filled with ferocious beasts, making it impossible for ordinary people to survive, the Sea Country had long abandoned it.
By all rights, this island should have been swarming with powerful beasts ideal for summoning contracts.
And Mist had gone through the trouble of establishing a research facility.
So clearly, it held enough value to warrant attention from Mist's leadership.
Faced with such a strategically important island, even if Mist wanted to avoid directly seizing it out of consideration for the Water Daimyo's familial ties with the Sea Country's ruler,
at the very least, they could've established a symbolic joint effort to monitor and protect the island, right?
But what did Mist do?
They relied on the island's remote location—so far off regular shipping routes that unless someone deliberately searched for it, or like Naruto once did when heading to Turtle Island to evade pursuers, you wouldn't just stumble upon it.
They secretly spread rumors—
lies like "Anyone who sets foot on the island will forget everything," combined with crude genjutsu tricks, to scare nearby islanders into staying away.
They strictly forbade any Mist ninja who knew about the island from approaching—unless absolutely necessary—reducing the risk of exposure.
They hid the research facility deep in the forest and inside the island's central volcano.
And they stationed a Jonin squad there on standby, ready at any moment to destroy all evidence and flee.
This…
It was secrecy for secrecy's sake!
Hmm...
Could it be that Madara Uchiha was secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes, deliberately holding Mist back—which is why they were handling things so sloppily?
A thought struck Kei Yamanaka, and the more he considered it, the more plausible it seemed.
Otherwise, he truly couldn't understand—
how could Mist's leadership be so pathetically stupid, making such utterly idiotic decisions?
"Ready yourself. The first time using the long-distance Flying Thunder God Technique can feel a bit unsettling."
Minato Namikaze frowned slightly upon hearing the enemy was destroying research data.
Konoha had never conducted specialized research on summoned beasts before, but the academic value was far from negligible.
If they could obtain complete records, it would bring significant benefits to Konoha as well.
He placed a hand on Kei's shoulder,
closed his eyes, locked onto the Flying Thunder God Kunai embedded in the research facility, and activated the technique based on its spatial coordinates.
Whoosh~
BOOM!!
The sensation of warped space and being yanked through it vanished in an instant.
Before Minato and Kei had even properly steadied themselves at the entrance of the facility—
a powerful explosion shook the entire volcano.
A piercing, otherworldly roar tore through the air.
Along with the scream, an unknown force surged outward, rapidly engulfing the entire island.
The volcanic island was already filled with ferocious roars, a cacophony of madness and fear. Driven by an unknown force, the creatures had been driven completely mad.
Some fled in panic, while others charged straight toward the volcano.
The entire island trembled as these beasts rampaged across it.
"Sh*t! Hurry up, or you'll lose your wife!"
Kei Yamanaka had barely activated his wide-range Sensor Ninjutsu when he grabbed Minato and immediately began using the Body Flicker Technique to move quickly.
Inside the research facility,
several researchers stared avidly at the Ultimate Summoned Beast slowly awakening from its growth tank. With nothing more than a stretch, it shattered the walls of the lab.
The squad of Mist shinobi originally assigned to destroy all research materials stopped their task as well, now standing in place with eager expressions, calmly observing the monstrous being before them.
At the center of an elaborate sealing formation marked with complex jutsu symbols, Uzumaki Honoka sat crouching with both hands forming hand seals, ready to bind the Ultimate Summoned Beast with her Sealing Technique at any moment.
"Lose my wife? Are you seriously trying to set me up with a wife?"
Minato's body swayed helplessly through the air as Kei yanked him by the back of his collar, dashing forward with repeated uses of the Body Flicker Technique.
Minato, who thought his dear friend was just joking, suddenly felt deeply unsettled.
Wait...
Didn't we come here to destroy the Hidden Mist's summoning beast research base?
This... this... are you really trying to find me a wife?!
Red flowing shoulder wrap, facial features carved like a masterpiece, sexy and hot figure, gentle and soft personality...
Seriously, a Leaf ninja wouldn't lie to another Leaf ninja, would they?
"Innnnaaaa~! Innaaa!"
A much clearer and eerier bestial roar sliced through the air like a piercing high-frequency wave, vibrating against Kei Yamanaka and Minato Namikaze's eardrums.
Following closely behind came screams, shrieks, and cries for help from humans!
Still gripping Minato with one hand,
Kei continued moving while narrowing his sensor range from ten kilometers to encompass only the volcano itself.
His perception concentrated to maximum intensity.
Everything within his narrowed range—except for colors—became several times sharper and more vividly detailed.
Maintaining this high-precision short-range Sensor Ninjutsu, he formed a single-handed seal again.
[Mind Body Transmission Technique]!
A secret Yin Release technique of the Yamanaka Clan that instantly transmitted everything he sensed directly into Minato's mind.
He saw a grotesque monster ensnaring two researchers with its tentacles, stuffing them into its mouth; other terrified staff members cowered helplessly on the ground, already soaked their pants; four shinobi desperately used combined techniques to attack the deformed creature; and a teenage girl gritting her teeth while desperately maintaining the [Adamantine Sealing Chains].
Adamantine Sealing Chains?
A girl?!
Under this highly focused and precise perception ability,
Minato could almost "see" every minute detail: the girl's flawless, delicate skin; her slender, charming figure; long hair fluttering in the wind; and her beautiful face showing a subtle trace of fear.
Wait... Is this real?
Was Kei actually not messing around for once?!
Though he knew Kei intentionally narrowed the sensory range so he could "see" more clearly,
But still...
Could this guy actually be serious for once?!
Of course not...
With such a despicable nature, how could he *not* trick someone?
"Uwaa!"
Another strange cry rang out.
In Kei Yamanaka's sensor abilities,
That so-called Ultimate Summoned Beast had already devoured nearly half of the researchers.
The attacks from the four ninjas were completely absorbed—and even used them to grow new, deformed organs, which then began counterattacking with matching elemental techniques!
Except for the team leader jonin, who transformed into a puddle of water to avoid damage after being hit,
The remaining three unprepared regular ninjas died instantly in one move against this Ultimate Summoned Beast!
"Please save me~someone save me~"
A weak, tearful female voice echoed in both Kei Yamanaka and Minato Namikaze's minds.
The intense emotions of despair, fear, helplessness, and terror pierced straight into their hearts.
Almost the moment this voice faded,
Minato Namikaze, who had previously been held by Kei Yamanaka, suddenly twisted free from his grip.
Then, moving at a [Shunshin] speed that far surpassed Kei's, he blurred down the corridor in an instant.
"You bastard! You've been faking being slower this whole time!"
Kei angrily flipped off Minato Namikaze's disappearing figure!
Although during their several sparring matches aboard the ship, Kei Yamanaka already knew that even without the [Flying Thunder God Technique], Minato Namikaze's [Shunshin] was somewhat faster than his own.
But just now... Was that really "somewhat" faster?!
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