Running into Minato Namikaze Around the Corner

The plan was set.

Kakashi stayed in the village to enjoy the air conditioning, while Yamato took Naruto and Sakura to the desert to track Centipede.

Kakashi declared, "Alright, it's pleasantly decided. Yamato, you guys get ready and head out."

It's just another day for the likes of Naruto and the others.

Yamato and Sakura even had to take time off.

Yamato lamented, "Ah, there goes my salary."

Muzake shifted his gaze.

Loulan, ah.

Twenty years ago, Loulan was a city of towering structures located in the middle of the desert.

The city of Loulan had advanced clay puppet technology.

The Dragon Veins served as a massive source of energy.

The technology for splitting and combining clay puppets,

Chakra pipeline technology,

And the Dragon Veins.

These were all things Muzake desired.

As for something like traveling to the future.

Muzake scoffed at the idea.

Going back to the past was of no help to him.

He had already established a vast enterprise in the present.

Why go back and start all over?

What would be the point?

However, this was something he had to do alone for now.

Muzake removed his helmet.

The metal arms flickered with various images inside the spherical brainwave enhancement room.

"Saber Princess Altair."

"You absorb this information first."

The figure of Altair within the light orb showed no expression.

Muzake left the room.

The lights in the room went out.

Only Altair and the images on the wall continued to shimmer with light.

Yamato and Sakura's leave was swiftly approved.

Yamato, with Naruto and Sakura, started in an off-road vehicle.

They drove towards the location indicated by the scroll to the sealed site of the Dragon Veins.

Above them, Muzake and Kurotsuchi flew invisibly, following them.

As soon as Yamato and the others departed, Muzake followed invisibly.

Just then, Kurotsuchi came looking for him.

With no time to explain, Muzake simply took her along.

Kurotsuchi curiously watched the trio driving.

"Lord, what exactly is this Dragon Vein they're looking for?"

Muzake explained, "It's a powerful natural energy."

Kurotsuchi wondered, "So, Lord, will you stop them?"

"No, why would I stop them? I'm going along with them."

Muzake cautioned Kurotsuchi, "If you see anything strange, don't make a sound."

Kurotsuchi nodded.

Yamato, Naruto, and Sakura reached the sealing site amidst a ruin in the desert.

In a cave within the ruins, they encountered Centipede.

Centipede deployed an army of puppets to battle them.

At that moment, Centipede swallowed the seal of the "Dragon Veins" power, unleashing tremendous energy.

The power formed a vortex.

Naruto and Yamato charged forward to stop it and were caught in the swirl.

Sakura was left stunned on the outside.

Muzake, along with Kurotsuchi, flew into the vortex before it dissipated.

The force of the Dragon Vein eruption, capable of traversing time and space, took them back twenty years to Loulan.

"Hey, wake up."

Muzake shook Kurotsuchi, who was cradled in his arms.

The power of time travel had knocked her unconscious.

Seeing Kurotsuchi still unresponsive, Muzake reluctantly raised his hand.

Electricity danced at his fingertips.

Might as well give her a shock.

Where should he shock her?

As he was assessing where to apply the shock,

Kurotsuchi opened her eyes.

"Lord..."

Kurotsuchi looked around, puzzled.

Towers were everywhere here, each topped with a dome.

No sunlight penetrated this place; all the light came from the towers.

The people of Loulan had built a city atop the Dragon Veins, constructing tower cities under domes to perfectly harness the energy, making it seem a bit gloomy.

"Lord, where are we?"

Muzake smiled and said, "Welcome to twenty years ago."

Kurotsuchi was baffled.

"This is... Loulan from twenty years ago?"

Muzake nodded.

"Correct."

Kurotsuchi was excited.

"Wow, then I'm going to the Rock Village, I need to give Yellow Earth a good beating."

"He always kept the good food from me."

Muzake sternly said, "We've got serious business now."

Kurotsuchi stood up.

"What's the business?"

"To find the location where the Loulan people stored their technological data and retrieve it."

Muzake looked around and randomly chose a direction.

"Follow me."

Kurotsuchi followed him.

They walked invisibly between the high towers.

Muzake seized an opportunity to knock out two puppet guards and take their clothes and masks.

He headed towards the center of the city.

That should be the palace.

Where the technology data was most likely stored.

The two reached the palace gates.

The puppet soldiers there began to move.

Muzake instantly appeared behind them.

His palm struck their backs.

Chakra-laden electricity flowed into their bodies.

In an instant,

Their internal chakra was disrupted.

They froze in place.

"Let's go."

Muzake led Kurotsuchi into the palace.

Kurotsuchi asked, "Lord, aren't we going to look for Naruto and the others?"

Muzake nodded, "No need, they have their own tasks."

As they spoke,

They rounded a corner.

And there he saw a man with blond hair and two other men,

All wearing the style of masks typical of the Leaf Village Anbu.

They were

Minato Namikaze.

Jiraiya.

Choza Akimichi.

Minato was discussing something with them.

He suddenly turned his head.

And locked eyes with Muzake.