No More Than Ten Minutes!

The Third Hokage thought things through quite well. He believed that if Danzo could resolve the problem, then all he needed to do was deal with Danzo himself.

For him, the problem wasn't easy to solve, but Danzo was indeed easier to handle.

This could be a case of one thing overcoming another!

However...

The Third Hokage didn't realize that this Danzo was no longer the Danzo he knew!

"Yes!"

Shikaku nodded in agreement, aware that the Third Hokage already had his plans, and it was not his place to say much more. In the current situation, he ultimately couldn't influence the battle's outcome as someone in his position.

Of course...

Shikaku would never have guessed that the situation today was precisely due to Aoba, whom he had misunderstood!

"Is there anything else?"

The Third Hokage looked up at Shikaku, his mind still very troubled. Normally, he would collaborate with Danzo to solve such issues. But Danzo was not on his side, and they only maintained a facade of mutual benefit while actually pursuing their interests.

In fact, he hoped that Shikaku in front of him could share his concerns, but he also knew that now was not the time. Shikaku didn't know much about his affairs and only had a superficial understanding of Konoha. He hadn't fully engaged with deeper issues and thus couldn't communicate too clearly.

"Sigh…"

The Third Hokage sighed silently in his heart. He knew the Nara clan was generally very intelligent, and Shikaku was an exceptionally outstanding member. If Shikaku could help analyze and find solutions, it could be more efficient and even more effective than Danzo.

But everything happened too suddenly...

Hiruzen needed more time to build sufficient trust with Shikaku.

This wasn't to say Hiruzen didn't trust Shikaku; they just hadn't reached a level where he could entrust him with his secrets. His character was somewhat hypocritical, presenting a righteous facade publicly while only showing his darker side to those closest to him. Right now, the only person who could accept his darker side was Danzo.

The reason was simple: Danzo was darker than he was, so he wouldn't see any issue with it or judge him for it. At least, as far as the current situation was concerned, Danzo even thought Hiruzen was rather old-fashioned, posing no significant threat to him.

But with Shikaku...

Their relationship hadn't yet reached a point where Hiruzen could confide his innermost secrets.

It was like knowing a colleague, or perhaps a subordinate, whom you admire for their talent and recognize as very organized, but you're facing a very private issue. It involves allowing this person to operate your computer, but you need more time to delete files from your hard drive or clear your browsing history...

Although the issue is critical, it's certainly not worth exposing such private matters unless that person has fought alongside you, even helping you download files to your hard drive. In that case, there would be nothing to worry about.

For Hiruzen, Danzo knew even the color of his underwear; they could virtually share any secret, even sleeping together.

"No more."

Shikaku shook his head. He came here to inform the Third Hokage of Root's unusual activity, and since the Third Hokage was already aware and had not reacted, it wasn't appropriate for him to say much more. After all, he wasn't supposed to meddle in such a turbulent situation.

"Hmm…"

Hiruzen didn't say anything more, but his intentions were clear.

Shikaku wasn't someone who couldn't read between the lines; he quickly understood the Third Hokage's intent and promptly bid farewell, leaving the Hokage office.

...

In a forest far away from Konoha.

Kushina sat on the ground, her concentration relatively high. The ninja army of Konoha was resting here. Although the number of people was not as exaggerated as the name, there were still quite a few people. Everyone looked very tired and was using this not-so-long rest time to recover their state.

After all, they needed to return to Konoha in a very spirited state!

"I'm a little tired sitting now," Kushina thought, shaking her head and loosening her arms. Her gaze fell on Minato Namikaze's still weary face, and a pang of heartache flashed through her eyes.

At this moment, she finally understood how difficult it was to vie for the position of Hokage. Recalling her declarations at the Ninja School that she wanted to become Hokage and the first female Hokage of Konoha, it seemed somewhat laughable now.

After all, she had no backing!

Officially, the Uzumaki clan was an ally of Konoha, with the Uzumaki emblem on the uniforms of Konoha's ninjas.

But that was merely a symbolic gesture, offering no real support for her, an Uzumaki. This wasn't just her perception but a reality reflected in her many years of experience.

From being bullied at the Ninja School, where no one stood up for her, to being kidnapped by ninjas from Kumogakure, it wasn't until she met Minato and rescued her.

This neglect taught her the importance of self-reliance.

Of course, Kushina was grateful for these experiences, as it had forged an unbreakable bond with Minato.

She was the first to support Minato becoming Hokage!

In fact, Kushina had kept something to herself all this time, not telling anyone, including Minato. After arriving in Konoha, she had her mission—she wanted to become Hokage to uncover the true circumstances behind the Uzumaki clan's destruction.

When she received the Kyuubi...

Uzumaki Mito, on her deathbed, had spoken to her with profound implications, suggesting that Konoha was not particularly safe and revealed that the true reason behind the Uzumaki clan's destruction was not as straightforward as publicly stated. More complex issues were involved, but she lacked the evidence to prove it.

This revelation struck Kushina like a bolt of lightning. She had always thought the Uzumaki clan's destruction resulted from a coalition of forces...

But on deeper reflection, how these forces had agreed to act together, how they knew when the Uzumaki clan was vulnerable, and how they had executed the swift annihilation were all questions she couldn't answer quickly.

To unravel this mystery...

To uncover the true reason behind the Uzumaki clan's destruction!

She needed to be in a sufficiently high position!

So, back then, Kushinai set a personal goal: she wanted to become the Hokage of Konoha!

Of course.

Looking at it now.

That goal was no longer attainable.

So, she set a new goal for herself.

She wanted to be the woman behind the Hokage of Konoha!

Kushina hadn't yet discussed the Uzumaki clan matters with Minato; she felt it was still too early. Once Minato officially took over and handled Konoha's affairs as Hokage, it wouldn't be too late to discuss it then. The immediate priority was to ensure Minato could become Hokage.

"Hmm?!"

Suddenly, Kushina's expression froze, and a sense of unease emerged in her heart—a peculiar premonition that had developed naturally after her training in Mt. Myoboku.

Someone?

Was someone coming?

It didn't seem like Konoha's people!

Immediately, Kushina thought this. She hadn't activated her sensory abilities to investigate, but she had a strong feeling that several strong chakra signatures were moving toward them from the opposite direction of Konoha.

Something wasn't right!

This needed to be checked!

If someone was heading directly in their direction at this time, it meant they were specifically targeting them!

Buzz!

Without a second thought, Kushina controlled her chakra, drawing in the natural energy around her, clapped her hands together with a loud snap, and in that moment, her aura surged, reaching another level.

Sage Mode!

She instantly entered Sage Mode!

Kushina immediately activated her Sage Mode, using her senjutsu chakra to extend her senses in the direction she felt was unusual.

What she saw made her scalp tingle!

"Enemy attack!"

Kushina shouted abruptly, her voice sudden and filled with indescribable fear and urgency. In her sensory perception, she detected eight figures rapidly approaching their location.

Instantly...

All the ninjas at the scene snapped to attention.

Almost everyone's eyes flashed with confusion and puzzlement.

Enemy attack?

What enemy attack?

What's going on?

Hadn't the war already ended?

They had just entered a resting state, their tightly wound nerves finally beginning to relax, and their bodies enveloped in fatigue. They had thought that everything was over and hadn't expected such a situation to arise now.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Despite their fatigue, the well-trained ninjas of Konoha quickly got up from the ground, reached into their ninja pouch, and immediately adopted defensive postures.

"What's happening?"

Minato frowned; he had just closed his eyes to rest, not having entered sleep, and still feeling very tired. But given the current situation, it clearly wasn't time for rest. If someone else had spoken, he might have thought it a prank or a misjudgment. But when his gaze fell on Kushina, who had entered Sage Mode, he immediately understood that this was no joke; something real was happening.

Minato quickly inquired of Kushina, whom he trusted completely and knew to have formidable sensory abilities.

As Minato spoke, everyone at the scene turned their gaze towards Kushina, their confusion and puzzlement peaking at this moment.

"Someone's coming!"

Kushina said gravely, her expression stern. She then added, "There were a total of eight figures, seven of whom possessed very strong chakra…"

"How strong?"

Sakumo immediately asked. As one of the top combatants in the ninja army, following Minato in combat ability, he will be the number one fighting force to face the enemy later.

Everyone tensed as they focused on Kushina.

Each person's eyes fully conveyed their confusion and puzzlement.

After all, the previous encounters with ninjas from Sunagakure and Kumogakure hadn't caused Kushina to be so visibly disturbed.

"Based on their chakra..."

Kushina's eyes focused on Sakumo's face. As a sensory ninja, she could only sense the magnitude of the chakra fluctuations, not the specific combat skills, which are not solely determined by the size of the chakra. However, the amount of chakra does indicate a ninja's foundational strength to some extent.

"These seven are no weaker than you!"

Kushina stated plainly, shocking everyone present. Almost everyone gasped in surprise, unable to imagine such a scenario.

After all, the strongest ninjas from Kumogakure they had previously encountered were only on par with Sakumo in terms of chakra capacity.

And now there were seven such beings!

"How long until they arrive?" Minato asked gravely, knowing that the level of opponents was beyond what the ninjas present could handle; it was up to him now.

"Given their current speed..."

Kushina silently calculated in her mind while the entire scene fell silent, everyone holding their breath, waiting for the final estimate.

They all realized that before they could return to Konoha, a battle still needed to be fought.

"No more than ten minutes!"

Kushina stated gravely. She noticed a very strange phenomenon—the opponents were moving in a straight line towards them like they had radar, fast and close.