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Minato pulled out a kunai and swiftly cut away the deformed White Zetsu clones attached to Yagura.
It was Zetsu's Spore Technique, a jutsu that could absorb chakra and rapidly grow to restrain its target.
Since the spores were microscopic before activation, they were extremely hard to detect.
Judging from the situation, Zetsu must have secretly planted spores on everyone when he first intercepted Yagura's group under the pretence of giving them information.
These spores were likely set to trigger after a certain delay.
As a result, every Kirigakure shinobi now had two or three grotesque, conjoined Zetsus hanging off them.
Ninja techniques were getting more and more ridiculous delayed triggers, remote activations… they were basically playing with time bombs.
After understanding the mechanism of Mercenary Squad's explosive parasites, Yagura had wisely instructed Isobu to send out a distress call.
He had confidence in his own strength, but the safety of his subordinates was his priority. Requesting backup was the safer option.
And now, that precaution had turned into their saving grace.
If Minato hadn't appeared, Yagura had no doubt that his men would have risked triggering the explosions just to try and free him.
Meanwhile, Zabuza and the others sighed in relief. If they could avoid dying, then of course, staying alive was the better option.
With Minato's help, Yagura tore away the parasitic Zetsus and tossed them aside.
At that moment, Naruto's squad arrived on the scene.
The six-man Hokage Guard Platoon, Team 7, plus an overly excited Fuu, who had just experienced Flying Thunder God for the first time, and a Naruto Shadow Clone serving as transport.
But the most amusing part?
Shiranui Genma, Raido Namiashi, and Iwashi Tatami of the Genma Squad.
They had planned to use the Flying Thunder Formation to bring Shisui, Hayate, and Yugao with them.
However, Naruto, impatient with their slow casting speed, had his clones "help" them.
As a result just as the Genma Squad successfully activated their jutsu, Naruto's clones yanked them into teleportation.
So instead of arriving normally, the three of them blinked into existence on one side of Minato…
Then immediately teleported again to the other side.
The sight left everyone speechless.
Especially the Kirigakure shinobi, who stared blankly.
What the hell was that? Were they showing off? Some kind of synchronized teleportation stunt?
But since they owed their lives to Minato, no one dared to comment.
"Hahahaha…" Naruto burst out laughing. "Man, you guys are slow!"
"Cough!" The Hokage Guards coughed in embarrassment except for one, who was actually coughing for real.
"Alright, Naruto, enough playing around. Help remove the restraints. Sakura, check on Mizukage-sama's condition."
"Yes!" Seven voices echoed in response.
The Hokage Guards drew their blades, slicing off the parasitic Zetsus from the Kirigakure shinobi.
Sakura immediately began examining Yagura.
Meanwhile, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Naruto kept their eyes on the Mercenary Squad, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Naruto's clones had already scattered to block escape routes and set up Flying Thunder God marks just in case these mercenaries had some weird escape plan.
Mercenary Squad was in bad shape.
With their injuries piling up and facing an overwhelming force of elite Konoha shinobi, the red-clad leader made a quick decision.
"Lord Hokage, Lord Mizukage… If we help remove the explosive parasites, could you… spare our lives?"
At first glance, Yagura's guards seemed fine.
But Yagura himself had a noticeable bulge in his chest.
Even though the explosive parasite had died inside him due to Tailed Beast chakra, no one knew if it could still detonate post-mortem.
Red-clad figured this was his only leverage.
Minato remained calm. "You tried to assassinate the Mizukage. You think you can just walk away? What do you think, Mizukage-sama?"
Yagura, despite undergoing Sakura's examination, still maintained his commanding presence.
"Agreed. And since you may have connections to Akatsuki, we certainly can't let you go."
"You better think carefully!" Red-clad bluffed. "These explosive parasites are our unique secret technique! Without us, there's no way to remove them!"
He wasn't completely sure, but… didn't Konoha have Tsunade, a legendary medical ninja?
"That depends on the examination results." Minato glanced at Sakura. He had full confidence in her medical skills.
Sakura, not one to disappoint, confidently declared, "It can be removed. We just need to make some preparations."
The Kirigakure shinobi visibly relaxed except for Zabuza, who wore a mask.
Red-clad's face fell instantly, Without hesitation, he turned and bolted.
Purple and Green followed suit.
Blue vanished into thin air.
Yellow dove into the shadows.
However, Shisui's Sharingan wasn't just for decoration.
"Earth Release: Stealth Jutsu" was useless against his eyes.
In a single instantaneous movement, Shisui teleported, drove his blade into the ground and Blue-clad coughed up blood, pinned down and exposed.
Sasuke, his Sharingan spinning, quickly scanned his surroundings.
Seconds later—
He located Yellow-clad, still hiding in the shadows.
Lightning surged over Sasuke's body "Chidori Blade!"
He mimicked Shisui's earlier move, plunging his lightning-charged sword straight down.
Yellow-clad had sharp reflexes and managed to block with a kunai.
But Sasuke smirked. "That's Chidori Blade."
The moment the lightning discharge hit him, Yellow-clad convulsed violently.
Then, with no chance to react, Sasuke's second blade stabbed him clean through.
Yagura, watching the scene, had a complicated expression.
Then… he sighed and looked up at the sky.
Those swords… are ours… Should I just pretend I didn't see it?
Zabuza and Mei felt the same inner turmoil.
Should they say something?
But Minato and his team had just saved them.
So… like Yagura, they simply looked up at the sky in silence.
Naruto Stops the Last Three
Red, Green, and Purple kept running.
But after only a few steps…
A smiling blonde blocked their path.
The three mercenaries exchanged glances.
Red-clad steeled himself.
"He's alone! We have to break through!"
Naruto grinned.
His left hand rose to chest level.
His right hand extended forward.
A golden aura shimmered around him.
Then, he chanted softly—
"Raigo: Senjusatsu!"
From behind him, golden fists materialized, raining down like a storm.
The three mercenaries were launched skyward.
From his position, Red-clad recognized the technique.
"T-That's… Fire Temple's secret technique…?!"
He coughed up blood and then passed out midair.
Naruto lowered his hands, preparing to call it a day.
Suddenly Purple turned into a puddle of water.
"Eh?"
Naruto blinked.
Then sensed something.
His face twitched.
This guy…
Sighing, he assumed his stance again.
"Fine. Ora ora ora ora!"
Ten seconds later, the puddle reformed into a Purple-clad.
Now… completely unconscious.
This guy had tried to play dead by pretending to be a water clone.
Naruto had seen through the same trick in the Land of Waves.
Gotta give him points for creativity, though.
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