Just like the name Hidden Mist Village implies, it is perpetually shrouded in dense mist, even the bright noon sun struggles to penetrate it, much like right now.
From within the dense fog, a human silhouette gradually became clearer. Minato, who had spent the entire night and morning standing guard against a tree, quickly straightened up.
"Mr. Anri, have you... finished?"
"Yes, it's over. He was indeed a formidable opponent."
Shinji's tone carried a mix of seriousness and reflection, making Minato feel like a sarcastic comment was stuck in his throat—neither easy to spit out nor swallow.
Thinking about it, the soundproof barrier was effective, but couldn't you have let me guard outside of it? A whole night plus the entire morning without a moment of rest! From the gentle and melodic to the hoarse and desperate, then to an all-or-nothing desperate struggle, and finally defeat, capture, and wailing. It all played out like a tragic war song, complete with vivid imagery.
Minato couldn't help but wonder if the enemy general's vocal cords were still intact. Also, was it really necessary to make me endure all this? I really didn't want to hear it! And what was with that foreign language in the middle? And those slap marks on your face—I've never seen you into anything like SM before!
"Uh, Mr. Anri, about your face..."
"Don't worry, it's just the result of a woman hopelessly in love proposing to me and me rejecting her. She got carried away. No need to worry, though. I've already... put her to sleep... I mean, convinced her."
Shinji waved his hand dismissively, clearly indifferent.
What a joke—a transaction is a transaction, but then she brought up marriage? Who conducts business like that?
Doesn't she know there's no place for emotions in business? It really dampened my enthusiasm. Originally, I intended for the battle to continue until evening.
Because of that, I had to abandon my playful approach, rally myself, force my way through, and make it a complete extermination!
"Stop... stay where... you are...! Bastard!"
Her voice was hoarse, her breathing erratic, her stance unsteady, and she was on the verge of collapse. That was Minato's first impression of Mei Terumi, disheveled and barely standing against a tree.
This showed just how fierce the battle had been and how tenacious the enemy commander was.
"Mr. Anri, didn't you say you had completely convinced her?"
Perhaps it was because of what Shinji had just said, that he was now somewhat embarrassed seeing Mei's current state. His face darkened slightly, and he said nothing, remaining silent.
"Uh, Mr. Anri?" Minato called out cautiously.
"You bastard! You... you can't just..."
Mei, her trembling finger pointed at Shinji, her teeth gritted in rage. Shinji seemed to make up his mind then, and under Minato's watchful gaze, he turned and walked straight toward Mei!
"Mr. Anri? You..."
Before Minato could finish his words, he saw Shinji grasp Mei's wrist tightly and, without hesitation, pinned her against the tree.
Knowing what might come next, Minato turned away without a second thought and disappeared in a flash.
"You bastard...!"
Mei cursed through gritted teeth as Shinji turned her head toward him, her cheeks slowly flushing for some reason, and the look in her eyes wasn't entirely one of anger.
"Woman, I've changed my mind. The discount is off the table!"
...
"Hey, Minato, let's go."
The sky had darkened, and Minato turned his head, showing an expression that clearly read 'unbelievable.' Shinji ignored it.
Watching Shinji walking away, Minato silently hoisted up his old companion—a wooden gate—and slowly followed.
After much consideration, he finally spoke.
"Mr. Anri, is it alright to leave that woman behind? What if that masked man with the Sharingan tries again?"
"Not my problem. Also, did you really think there's such a thing as a lifetime warranty in this world?"
Minato: ...
"Besides, I already sent her home."
"Huh? When?" Minato was stunned.
"When you were covering your ears and reciting the calming mantra over and over again."
"I see, ha ha..."
"Her bed is actually quite soft, and it's definitely better than this damp forest."
Minato: ...
So you had a second round at her house?
...
At Mei's place.
In the small room, Mei—utterly drained but with too much magic replenished—was silently cursing Shinji.
Of course, she also hadn't expected the handsome young man who had snuck into the Hidden Mist Village claiming to be a weapons dealer would be so powerful, in every sense.
After about half an hour, Mei finally regained some strength and slowly propped herself up on the soft bed.
Despite everything, Mei was still clear-headed about some matters. She needed to meet with Ao to report. All those despicable things could wait until later.
First, the masked man with the Sharingan—without a doubt, he was the one behind the control of the Fourth Mizukage! This information had to get out!
...
"Mr. Anri, are we not going back?"
In the forest, Minato, carrying a gate on his back, asked, but then noticed something off about Shinji's expression. It was as if he had entered some kind of post-clarity mode.
"Minato, do you think that, among all the planets in the universe, there could be one with life just like Earth? If they do exist, what would they look like? Would they resemble us Earthlings? Would they use the same language as we do?"
Hearing this, Minato thought, Mr. Anri, you don't need to say any more—this is something better pondered alone!
Boom—
Even though the sound was far away, almost inaudible, Minato keenly sensed an enormous chakra presence. He immediately put down his old companion and became alert.
"Mr. Anri, thirty kilometers ahead there's a massive chakra surge. It feels like... a tailed beast!"
"Is that so? Let's go check it out!"
Seeing Shinji snap out of his previous state and reveal a face full of enthusiasm, Minato was both speechless and impressed. After all, his own 'sage time' lasted an entire night after sparring with Kushina!
...
In an open field in the forest, there were bodies of Mist's assassination squad scattered everywhere. Juzo Biwa's situation was even worse than in the original anime—his body had been cut in two, barely holding on to some consciousness, but he wouldn't last much longer.
The only ones still standing were the Fourth Mizukage Yagura, covered in the tailed beast's cloak, and Moryo, who was panting heavily, black dragon-headed tentacles extending from his body.
Perhaps because there wasn't much spectacle to be had in a tentacle monster fighting a tailed beast, Shinji lost interest after a brief glance and turned away.
"Let's go, Minato."
"But, they..."
Minato hesitated as he glanced at the scene below. Although he felt it would be okay not to intervene, it also didn't seem right to just leave them be. It was conflicting.
At that moment, Moryo, who was clashing with the Fourth Mizukage, noticed Shinji and Minato standing on a tree. He was overjoyed.
"Big bro! You're finally here!"
"Who's your big bro? And what's with the 'finally'? I just happened to pass by."
Shinji was speechless. This Moryo had become increasingly shameless after being beaten by him, and now he even resorted to faking a relationship.
"Uh... how about 'dad'?"
"Get lost. I don't have a tentacle monster son like you."
"Looks like he has accomplices. None of you will leave here alive!"
Yagura looked up at Shinji and Minato, immediately charging up a Tailed Beast Bomb.
"Hey, calm down. I'm not with him."
Shinji's words had no effect. Yagura's Tailed Beast Bomb grew larger and was about to be fully formed.
"Watch out, Dad! Juzo was cut in half by that attack!"
"Call me dad again, and I'll kill you."
With that, Shinji glanced at Minato, who hadn't moved because he was concerned about him, and began thinking quickly.
Yagura was still under Tobi's control, meaning Tobi would be aware of Shinji's actions here. If he just left now, would Tobi think he was scared?
"Mr. Anri, that's a Tailed Beast Bomb—it concentrates and compresses a massive amount of tailed beast chakra, and its destructive power is immense..."
Before Minato could finish, he suddenly saw Shinji take a step forward, and the next moment, Yagura's head was severed.
The incomplete Tailed Beast Bomb dissipated as its owner died.
After sheathing his sword, Shinji glanced at Yagura, whose body stiffened, twitched a few times, then fell to the ground with a thud. He frowned slightly, showing some displeasure.
"Damn, I wasn't planning to spill blood today."
Minato was at a loss for words to describe his inner shock. Perfect Jinchuriki? Fourth Mizukage?
What nonsense—he couldn't even take a single hit?
Even if someone defied the heavens, there should be a limit, right? That was a tailed beast—one of the world's most powerful entities! And it ended with a single blow?
Also, if the Mizukage is dead, wouldn't the Hidden Mist Village fall into chaos? And if the Mizukage was so weak, what about the Hokage, the Leaf Village, and the Nine Tails?
Minato didn't dare think further. Once he started, he couldn't help imagining Shinji casually decapitating the Nine Tails.
"Big bro! That was incredible!"
Having just snapped out of his shock, Moryo quickly ran over, praising him. In such situations, flattery never hurt!
"The perfect Jinchuriki... defeated in just one blow..."
Barely alive, Juzo murmured, let out a bitter laugh, and then slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness fading.
Realizing there was nothing more he could do, Minato jumped down, landing in front of them. He asked, "I remember your mission was to assassinate a noble's son here in the Land of Water, wasn't it?"
"Yes, but then he found us and attacked without a word. Absolutely infuriating!" Moryo complained.