Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression turned grim.
Jiraiya and Sakumo Hatake were also startled.
They understood why Hyuga Hizashi was so anxious.
Kushina was not an ordinary Ninja; she was a member of the Uzumaki Clan.
She was also the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
The Uzumaki Clan was most skilled in Sealing Ninjutsu.
When Mito passed away, she sealed the Nine-Tailed inside Kushina, making Kushina the second Jinchuriki.
This matter had spread throughout the Ninja World back then, and sure enough, it eventually led to trouble.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression was solemn: “The Land of Lightning has been dedicated to using Tailed Beasts for military purposes for years, constantly conducting Tailed Beast experiments but never fully controlling them.
The Ninjas from the Land of Lightning kidnapping Kushina are likely after the Nine-Tailed sealed within her!
They also want to pry into the Uzumaki Clan’s Tailed Beast sealing techniques in Konoha.”
“Sandaime-sama!
How about Natsuki and I go for the rescue?
Natsuki and I have excellent teamwork,” Jiraiya volunteered.
Natsuki didn’t say a word.
This part of the plot existed in the original storyline, and he didn’t want to change it at all.
If he and Jiraiya went to rescue Kushina, then Naruto might not even be born.
Sakumo Hatake also said, “Sandaime-sama, I can go too.”
But both were rejected by Hiruzen Sarutobi: “The mission to rescue Kushina must be completed as quickly as possible.
Efficiency is paramount, and one person is more suitable for this mission than all three of you combined.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression was grave as he made a decision in his heart.
He knew many Ninjutsu.
After forming hand seals, a sensory Ninjutsu was activated.
Minato Namikaze walked into the Hokage Office.
Seeing Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze smiled broadly: “Teacher, you’re back, long time no see.”
“Minato, is that you?”
Jiraiya looked over.
He put his arm around Minato Namikaze’s shoulder and said happily, “You rascal, you’ve really grown a lot taller, you have my handsome looks from back then!
We should get together sometime, master and student, and have a drink…”
“Jiraiya!
This is not the time for your nonsense!” Hiruzen Sarutobi reprimanded loudly.
Jiraiya quickly shut up.
After Minato Namikaze understood the specifics of Kushina’s rescue, his figure instantly vanished from the Hokage Office.
This scene made Jiraiya stare in a daze.
Jiraiya was a bit slow to process: “No, there were no traces of a clone’s Chakra disappearing, and when I put my arm around his shoulder just now, I clearly felt he was the main body.”
“Minato used an S-rank spatial Ninjutsu, the Flying Thunder God Technique,” Natsuki said.
“The Flying Thunder God Technique!” Jiraiya’s expression was one of shock.
After a second, he said, “It’s the Ninjutsu that the Second Hokage created back then, where as long as a mark is left, one can warp space-time, ignore distance, and instantly arrive at the marked location?
My disciple learned it?”
“Yes,” Sakumo Hatake nodded.
He already understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted Minato to undertake this mission.
In terms of efficiency for rescuing Kushina, let alone him, Jiraiya, or Natsuki, no one among all the Konoha Ninjas, including the Sandaime himself, was more suitable for this mission than Minato.
Natsuki continued, “Kushina and Minato often argued when they were still at the Ninja Academy six years ago, and they even sparred a few times privately.
Speaking of which, not long ago, Kushina and Minato seemed to have sparred once, so Kushina should have Minato’s Flying Thunder God Mark on her.”
Jiraiya finally reacted: “So, Minato is already by Kushina’s side, fighting the Land of Lightning Ninjas who kidnapped Kushina?”
“Just as you thought.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe: “With Minato’s current strength, even if he can’t kill the Ninjas who kidnapped Kushina, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to rescue Kushina.”
“So my disciple is already this strong!
Hahaha, he really brings honor to me as his master!” Jiraiya laughed heartily.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had official duties to attend to and dismissed the four.
When the four left, Hyuga Hizashi no longer had the urgency he had when reporting the intelligence earlier.
After walking out of the Hokage Office, he furrowed his brows and, with a very puzzled expression, muttered to Natsuki, Jiraiya, and Sakumo Hatake, “Did you guys smell a strange odor in the Sandaime’s office just now?”
It really helps the fic grow!