Aoba had already anticipated that Kushina might make a breakthrough when he first suggested to Minato that he train in Sage Mode at Mount Myoboku.
The situation hasn't strayed far from what he had imagined.
The reason is quite simple: at that time, Kushina was a complete Kyubi Jinchuriki. The Kyubi inside her wasn't split into Yin and Yang chakras, unlike the Kyubi that Naruto would later host.
Moreover, Kushina was from the Uzumaki clan and possessed unique sealing abilities for Bijuu, derived from the Uzumaki clan's unique capabilities.
When the Kyubi was sealed within Uzumaki Mito, he was completely suppressed. It's more accurate to say that rather than being imprisoned, Uzumaki Mito was more like a refuge for him.
The outside world was too terrifying!
Kushina was bound to face the issue with the Kyubi when training in Sage Mode, and Aoba had guessed that she would resolve this issue.
"It's time to check on her."
Aoba's lips curled slightly as he looked at Sakumo, who appeared angry while staring at the Third Hokage, taking the Third Hokage's words as nothing more than a facade, showing great dissatisfaction towards the Third Hokage.
Indeed, the actions of the Third Hokage were most understandable and acceptable to Sakumo, unlike anyone else who had not experienced the incident with the Half-Sleeve Hokage Robe. Now, Sakumo likely saw a reflection of his past experiences in the situation with Minato.
Of course.
Sakumo didn't focus all his attention on the Third Hokage; he also kept an eye on Aoba nearby.
Because he couldn't exactly say why, he felt this person wasn't aligned with the Third Hokage, possibly representing a different force, but he couldn't pinpoint which.
This feeling was incredibly deep.
But without any basis.
Still, he chose to believe it!
Yet at this moment, Sakumo's pupils sharply contracted as he noticed something astonishing.
Just a moment ago, in the blink of an eye, the young man he had been watching vanished without any trace, disappearing into thin air without any warning, as if he had never been there, perhaps just an illusion or hallucination.
"Strange."
Sakumo frowned deeply, feeling that something was amiss. Yet, he was still in front of the Third Hokage, who was inquiring about Minato, making him wonder if the Third Hokage was deliberately diverting their attention to trap them here while allowing another to act.
Damn! Too infuriating!
Sakumo clenched his fists tightly, not having felt such a surge of blood pressure just moments ago. Still, now he certainly did, along with an intense sense of powerlessness filling his heart, making him feel as though he hadn't played any significant role in this event.
This thought just started to plague his entire being.
Reflecting on the moment he was appointed as the commander of the Konoha ninja, despite returning triumphantly from the Third Ninja World War, he realized that his role in each battle was extremely limited. Even now, standing in front of the Third Hokage, he still felt incredibly stifled, realizing he hadn't managed to change or influence anything.
This feeling was unbearably painful!
"What exactly happened?"
The Third Hokage stared intently at Sakumo, now the only person he could expect an answer from, especially after raising his question and noting Sakumo's abrupt change in demeanor, suggesting a potential depth to this issue that piqued his curiosity further.
"…"
Sakumo was even more speechless, coldly staring at the Third Hokage, feeling that this person was utterly devoid of sincerity.
It was not just Sakumo who felt this way; the expressions of the other returning Konoha ninjas grew even more peculiar, unsure of how to face the Third Hokage anymore. The once grand image of the Hokage had collapsed instantaneously.
…
Using the Body Flicker Technique, Aoba instantly moved to the center of the village, openly leaving in front of Sakumo, or perhaps under the guise of gathering intelligence, not minding if Sakumo noticed something amiss about him.
In fact, from the beginning, Aoba knew that Sakumo had sensed that he wasn't part of the original Konoha ninja army.
But Sakumo, always considering the bigger picture, hadn't spoken out about these issues, leading to Aoba's departure without them knowing who he really was.
Moreover, Aoba chose his timing very sharply; he seized the moment the Third Hokage inquired about Minato to leave, ensuring that everyone's attention would remain on the Third Hokage, even if they noticed his sudden disappearance, ultimately linking everything back to the Third Hokage.
At this moment.
Aoba stood on a tree branch, concealing his presence so well that he seemed to blend in with the tree. He contained his chakra so subtly that there was hardly any fluctuation, observing the unfolding situation from a prime vantage point like a special spectator in a VIP seat.
In the forest ahead, the entire scene unfolded within his view, with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen forming a semi-circle around Kushina, whose chakra erupted vigorously, overpowering the seven others with her chakra alone.
Further back in the scene, he could see Minato perched on a tree, also watching the situation unfold, albeit invisibly.
…
"Is that a Bijuu?!"
"You're a Jinchuriki?!"
"How is this possible?"
"You can wield the Bijuu's power?!"
…
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were stunned by the sight, their emotions as tumultuous as a roller coaster. They had initially thought Kushina was just an ordinary girl, but she turned out to be a Jinchuriki, a revelation that severely jolted their perception.
"It's time to end this."
Kushina's voice was cold; she had always been strong-willed, and even during her time at the Ninja School, not even the senior students who were already ninjas could bully her, let alone now when she faced this situation without a trace of fear.
Kushina was in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, ready to utilize the Kyubi's chakra at any moment, which was nearly inexhaustible. Although she could only use this chakra and had not yet reached a mode where she could fully cooperate with the Kyubi, it was sufficient for now against the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
The reason was simple.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen's goal wasn't to kill Kushina but something else, so they were hesitant during the battle and unable to commit fully, which often determines the outcome of fighting at this level. Besides, their will and their objectives needed to be truly aligned here.
Momentarily.
The men exchanged glances, each flashing a look of uncertainty and inquiry as if seeking consensus.
Juzo finally nodded.
"Let's go."
Juzo's voice, although reluctantly, admitted that the mission had failed. Now that Minato had left, there was no point in fighting a powerful Jinchuriki like Uzumaki Kushina for them.
Whether they won or lost this battle, it was meaningless both to them and to Kirigakure.
"Yes!"
The rest of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen understood the situation and shared the desire to leave, knowing they weren't there to die.
Facing such a powerful opponent, they might well suffer casualties, but nobody wanted to sacrifice themselves needlessly, especially for a meaningless cause.
If it were for the future of Kirigakure, they would willingly sacrifice their lives, even if the opponent standing before them was Minato. They would bravely fight. But the situation wasn't so.
With Minato no longer there, attacking Kushina could only earn them Minato's enmity, thus making them an enemy in the future.
Having realized that Minato could use space-time jutsu, they understood they couldn't possibly hold him down. They hadn't known this before; now that they did, they recognized the mission was truly impossible.
After all, no one can stop someone who has space-time jutsu if they decide to leave, proving their efforts to keep Minato were in vain. It was an unachievable mission.
Since the mission could not be achieved, was there any point in wasting more time here?
Juzo's answer was no.
Naturally, the other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen arrived at the same conclusion. They reached a consensus that since they couldn't successfully ambush Minato and prevent Konoha from achieving its potential future, they might as well leave now, trying to avoid offending Konoha.
They knew Konoha was destined to rise, an undeniable fact that no one could change.
"Let's go."
Juzo immediately commanded, and since the mission had failed, they wouldn't do anything to Kushina, who was considered a precious Konoha's Jinchuriki. Kirigakure couldn't afford to establish too many enemies at this time; it would have significant repercussions.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
As Juzo's voice fell, the other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen quickly dispersed, each disappearing in different directions, a common tactic to ensure that if one person were pursued, not all would be caught.
Knowing Kushina had no intention of fighting, they knew she wouldn't chase them relentlessly if they left quickly.
With the others gone, Juzo also turned to leave, not uttering another word since the mission had failed and there was no point in further discussion.
"Wait."
Just then, Kushina called out to Juzo. She could clearly sense the emotions of the departing men, understanding they were truly leaving, but she still found the situation incredibly peculiar since she had been ready to fight.
"What else is there?"
Juzo paused, deliberately slowing his departure as the last to leave, sensing there might be some matters needing resolution. He had become very cautious and meticulous in handling matters since meeting Satsuma Rentaro, and this situation called for careful management to avoid leaving anything that could be used against Kirigakure later.
"Why are you targeting Minato?" Kushina asked bluntly.
"It's our mission," Juzo answered ambiguously.
"A mission from Kirigakure?" Kushina pressed for the crucial point, sensing the approaching Konoga ninjas, which made the situation more complex and needed clarity.
"No," Juzo shook his head. He could say only this much because he didn't want to cause trouble for Kirigakure, but he knew this wouldn't satisfy her; he just wanted to try.
"Tell me who it is!"
Kushina's tone carried an undeniable authority as she spoke coldly, "Tell me the name, and I can pretend nothing happened."