Since this is a parallel space, Kaguya didn't need to worry about suddenly disappearing at any moment, which finally allowed her to relax. However, another problem arose—how could she return?
As far as she remembered, there was no jutsu that could traverse time. The only time-travel jutsu she knew was Minato Namikaze's, which had brought them here.
But the problem was that the jutsu required the Dragon Veins to activate. Now that the Dragon Veins had disappeared, they were missing a crucial component. Kaguya was troubled.
"Mother, don't worry, there will be a way," the little loli, Black Zetsu, smiled gently, speaking with the demeanor of a small adult, comforting Kaguya.
Kaguya found Black Zetsu's serious look amusing, given how different it was from her previous appearance. However, Kaguya felt less anxious after hearing her reassurance.
"Um," Minato Namikaze, who had been standing not far away, walked over, scratching his head, "Sorry, I accidentally overheard your conversation. If you don't mind, you can come to Konoha for now and think of a solution. Besides, you're also a member of Konoha."
Kaguya pinched her fair chin, pondering for a moment. It seemed like there were no other options.
Suddenly, she noticed something, rolling up her sleeve to check. She found that the purple marks from absorbing the Dragon Veins' chakra had disappeared.
What was going on? She didn't know what this strange purple energy was, but it was definitely not good, as Black Zetsu had referred to it as corruption.
"Is there a problem?" Minato thought Kaguya was worried, so he said, "Don't worry, we'll say you came from another village, so no one will bother you."
"Oh," Kaguya snapped out of her thoughts, smiled, and nodded, "Thank you very much."
Shibi Aburame and Choza Akimichi had to leave early to report the mission, so only Kaguya, Black Zetsu, and Minato Namikaze were left together.
Originally, Kaguya wanted Minato to leave with Shibi and Choza. Having an unrelated person around made her feel uneasy. However, Minato insisted on escorting them to Konoha, saying he could protect them on the way. Additionally, he pointed out that the roads had likely changed significantly over twenty years. If they went alone, they might get lost.
Kaguya thought the protection was unnecessary, but the other reason was reasonable. They might indeed get lost or take detours. So, she agreed.
Looking at Minato walking ahead, Kaguya's lips curved slightly. It seemed Minato was suspicious of her. Even if he wasn't, he probably wanted to keep her under control.
After all, the Dragon Veins incident was strange, and Minato couldn't rule out the possibility of these two sudden appearances having some other plot.
However, Kaguya was not worried. First, she had no conflict of interest with Konoha. Second, she truly had no hidden agenda. And even if there was a conflict, she was confident she could leave unscathed.
The three of them set off. Along the way, Kaguya learned from Minato that it was now the 43rd year of Konoha, and the Third Ninja World War had not yet erupted, meaning it was still a relatively peaceful period.
However, it was only relatively peaceful. For example, a group of people soon blocked their path. They were dressed in combat gear, wielding weapons, and glaring at Kaguya and her companions. Judging by their headbands, they were Mist ninjas.
"I'll leave this to you," Kaguya waved her hand, smiling at Minato, and walked to the side with the little loli. For small fry like these, she didn't need to do anything herself.
Minato was taken aback but then smiled and nodded.
At this moment, the Mist ninjas had already launched their attack. They moved quickly, with black shadows darting towards them, and kunai and shuriken shooting out like a rain of petals, overwhelming them.
Minato Namikaze's figure flashed, arriving in front of Kaguya. His kunai moved swiftly, creating afterimages. With a series of "clang, clang, clang," he deflected all the incoming kunai and shuriken.
"Thanks," Kaguya said with a slight smile.
Minato was momentarily stunned by Kaguya's sweet smile, almost getting hit by an incoming kunai.
"Hey, be careful," Kaguya raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you the Fourth Hokage?"
Minato blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. He coughed lightly and, with a tap of his foot, shot forward like an arrow, charging into the crowd.
Once in the crowd, Minato seemed to transform from a friendly young man into a cold-blooded killer. His kunai moved non-stop, harvesting the lives of the attackers. Blood splattered everywhere, and he cut through his enemies like a tiger descending the mountain, leaving no one standing.
Meanwhile, Kaguya and Black Zetsu found a rock to sit on, resting their faces in their hands, watching the slaughter as if they were watching a play. If they had a bag of sunflower seeds or a drink, it would have been even better.
The one-sided slaughter made the Mist ninjas realize that the person they were dealing with was not someone to be trifled with. At this moment, they still didn't know that the blond man in front of them would later be renowned as the Yellow Flash. If they had the ability to foresee this, they would have turned and fled without a second thought. But now, they just thought he was a tough Konoha ninja, believing that with their numbers, they could wear him down to death.
Moreover, judging by his skills, he wasn't an unknown figure. If they could kill or even capture him alive, it would be highly valuable.
At this moment, two ninjas stepped out from the crowd, rapidly forming hand seals and simultaneously exhaling a mist.
"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu"
The air was instantly filled with mist, making the surroundings foggy. The area became shrouded in white mist, obscuring vision, with only vague shapes of tall trees and indistinct shadows visible.
Seeing that the situation was slipping out of control, the Mist ninjas abandoned their direct frontal assault strategy and opted for tactics. First, they used the Hidden Mist Jutsu to obscure vision, which not only concealed their movements but also allowed them to sense the opponent's positions.
However, they underestimated the Yellow Flash. The reason he earned that title was due to his exceptional Flying Thunder God Technique. At the start of the battle, Minato had already thrown his special kunai all around, positioning them in various spots. The real show was just beginning.
"Ah, ah, ah!"
Screams of pain echoed through the mist, not just in one place but from distant corners. This frightened the Mist ninjas. They had never seen such a jutsu before. They only saw a flash of yellow light, and their comrades were taken down. The golden flash jumped around in the mist, and one by one, the Mist ninjas fell.
Witnessing Minato's overwhelming strength, the Mist ninjas changed their strategy, gradually gathering together to avoid being picked off one by one. Meanwhile, their eyes turned towards the two beautiful girls sitting on the rock.