After receiving the mission, Uchiha Sogetsu selected his Anbu subordinates and prepared to set off immediately.
Given the urgency of the mission and the limited time, he didn't delay and led his team of four on a mission titled: Recapture Minato Namikaze.
The five members of this mission were elite among the elite, the best within the Anbu ranks.
As the newly appointed Squad Captain of the Anbu, Uchiha Sogetsu donned the mask of "Owl," maintaining silence and a relentless pace in their high-intensity pursuit.
Time was of the essence, and the longer the delay, the greater the danger for Minato Namikaze.
Even though a day and a half had already passed and the chances of Minato Namikaze's survival were extremely slim. The Third Raikage, known for his immense combat abilities and resilience, was the most formidable opponent in the ninja world. Moreover, Minato Namikaze was not in good condition.
Still, there remained a glimmer of hope!
About ten hours later, Uchiha Sogetsu and his Anbu team arrived at the location described by Kakashi.
"Indeed, it's the aftermath of a Tailed Beast Ball explosion," Uchiha Sogetsu assessed, observing the destroyed terrain.
"Everyone, spread out and search for any traces left by Minato Namikaze," he commanded.
"Yes!" came the swift and firm replies as the four Anbu members vanished into the jungle, their forms blending into the shadows.
When the surroundings were clear, the ground beside him rose slowly, and White Zetsu emerged, his head popping out. "Lord Sogetsu, I knew you would come, so I waited here for you."
"What happened?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked with a slight frown.
"Well, there was a bit of an unexpected turn," White Zetsu replied, grinning and scratching his head. "Everything was proceeding as planned: Minato Namikaze was gravely injured, and the A-B Combo retreated. However, we didn't anticipate the sudden appearance of the Third Raikage."
"The 'Heavenly Transfer Techniquee' of Hidden Cloud Village?" Uchiha Sogetsu immediately guessed how the Third Raikage had arrived.
The only ninjutsu that can allow the Raikage, who is far away in the Hidden Cloud Village, to instantly appear at the border of Land of Fire, spanning hundreds of kilometers, is probably the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
"Heavenly Transfer Technique?" White Zetsu, clearly familiar with the technique, asked in surprise, "But isn't this technique supposed to produce intense friction with the atmosphere, making it only suitable for transporting objects?"
"Originally, it can only transport objects," Uchiha Sogetsu pinched his brows and shook his head. "But the Third Raikage's physique is strong enough to withstand it, making him the only ninja who can use the Heavenly Transfer Technique to instantly travel thousands of miles. He is an exception."
"Hiss, no wonder he can go toe-to-toe with the tailed beasts. What a monster!"
Even White Zetsu, who was a monster himself, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
Uchiha Sogetsu asked, "And then? What happened next?"
White Zetsu gestured animatedly, imitating the events as he detailed them: "Namikaze Minato and the Third Raikage dueled, but even after hitting him with a Rasengan, the Raikage's Chakra Mode didn't break. After a hand chop severely injured Minato, he dragged him and A-B Combo towards the direction of the Hidden Cloud Village."
"So, Namikaze Minato is still alive?"
Uchiha Sogetsu felt a bit relieved. He didn't want the future Asura to die before he even had a chance to be born.
"The Raikage didn't kill him. He probably wants to take him back and interrogate him for information," White Zetsu pondered for a moment and added, "But his injuries are pretty serious."
"Okay, I get it."
Uchiha Sogetsu nodded slightly and said, "Have a White Zetsu track them and report their situation to me at all times."
"Yes, Lord Sogetsu."
White Zetsu slowly submerged into the ground.
Soon, the Anbu dispersed to gather traces returned one by one.
"Sir, we found the location where Minato Namikaze and the Third Raikage are suspected to have fought," one of the Anbu reported truthfully. "Based on the remaining conditions at the scene, we inferred that Minato Namikaze was defeated and possibly captured by the Third Raikage, who then moved towards the Hidden Cloud Village."
"Okay, I understand."
Uchiha Sogetsu thought for a moment, then said, "Tatsuma, you go back and report the news to the Hokage. The rest of you will continue the pursuit with me!"
As expected of an elite ANBU, there were no questions or disobedience.
After receiving the order, Tatsuma immediately left the group and returned to Konoha.
Despite having travelled intensively for more than ten hours and being very tired, the rest of the team gritted their teeth and followed Uchiha Sogetsu along the trail, continuing to chase the Third Raikage and his men.
One day later, they officially entered the territory of the Land of Lightning.
However, the expected Cloud Ninjas who were supposed to stop them did not appear.
Instead, they saw many "strange" traces along the way, such as claw marks on the rocks, as if left by some enraged beast.
When they arrived at the first village, Uchiha Sogetsu waved his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
For a moment, everyone was still, like a frozen photograph.
"Crane, scout ahead and see what's going on."
Uchiha Sogetsu looked at the massive commotion that seemed to be a battle a few hundred meters away and called out to one of the team members.
"Yes!"
Crane stepped forward quietly, his pupils bulging with blue veins, and his eyes turned white: "Byakugan!"
His powerful vision allowed him to see scenes hundreds of meters away like a telescope, and black and white images appeared in his mind.
"Sir, there are more than a dozen Cloud Ninjas ahead, besieging one person." He reported the situation truthfully, but soon frowned and showed a look of horror on his face: "Wait. The person being besieged, no, how is this possible?"
"What happened, Crane?"
His teammates were alarmed by his shocked tone.
"Sir!"
Crane shouted anxiously: "The person being besieged by the Cloud Ninjas appears to be a Konoha ninja. It's... Uzumaki Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"
Uchiha Sogetsu's eyes twitched wildly and he almost couldn't control his expression.
"What?!"
Hearing this, the other two Anbu were horrified: "Crane, are you sure you didn't see it wrong? This is impossible. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki should be in Konoha, how could she be here?!"
Uchiha Sogetsu also wanted to ask this question.
How did Uzumaki Kushina escape from Konoha?
Are the people guarding the Jinchuriki all useless?!
They actually let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki leave the village, and this woman even got ahead of them and broke into the Land of Lightning.
No wonder we saw those strange claw marks along the way; they were all left by Kushina!
"I'm not seeing things, it's really Uzumaki Kushina!"
Crane exclaimed again: "From the situation at the scene, she has already transformed into a half-tailed beast. Ah. The fourth tail has appeared!"
The fourth tail indicates that the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki is on the verge of going berserk!
Moreover, Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, for some unknown reason, appeared in front of them and fought with the Cloud Ninjas. This was simply unbelievable!
"Sir, what should we do now?!"
The three Anbu members suddenly became anxious. They knew very well how important the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was to Konoha.
If something goes wrong, it will be disastrous!
"Protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki at all costs!"
Uchiha Sogetsu gave the order directly, his eyes cold: "Follow me and kill all those Cloud Ninjas!"
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