Chapter 52: Why Are You Pretending to Be a Loyal Minister?

The rain that had persisted since the evening finally ceased as midnight approached. The moon broke free from the clouds, casting its silvery light over the desolate battlefield below.

Inside the shelter, the campfire had long been extinguished, and everyone was fast asleep. Only Uzumaki Raiden remained awake, sitting near Namikaze Minato, his vigilant eyes scanning the outside.

Despite the barriers he had erected, Raiden knew that ninjutsu wasn't foolproof. A skilled ninja could potentially bypass even the most secure defenses.

Suddenly, a voice broke the silence.

"Duy! Yagyu Sensei!"

Minato, waking from his unconscious state, leapt to his feet in panic. His hands instinctively reached for a kunai from his ninja pouch. Mistaking Raiden for an enemy, he lunged, aiming directly for Raiden's chest.

Raiden reacted swiftly, grabbing Minato's wrist mid-strike. A sealing curse spread from Raiden's hand, halting Minato's chakra flow. Weak and disoriented, Minato collapsed, only to be caught by Raiden.

"Raiden? Why is it you?" Minato asked, his vision adjusting to the dim light. His frantic breathing began to calm as he recognized Raiden's face.

The commotion roused the others. Startled awake, they grabbed their weapons, scanning the area for threats. Uchiha Shinki, Sharingan activated, assessed the situation.

"What happened?" Shinki asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Raiden loosened his grip on Minato and replied, "It's nothing. He just woke up disoriented." As he spoke, he reignited the campfire with a few branches, casting a warm glow across the shelter.

"Post-traumatic stress," Raiden muttered. "The battle earlier must have shaken him."

The firelight brought some comfort, and Minato visibly relaxed. Seeing his comrade awake, Might Duy rushed to his side.

"Minato, you're awake! Eat something," Duy said, handing him a ration pill with a bright smile.

The rest of the group, including Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku, welcomed Minato's return. Even Shinki, known for his stoic demeanor, seemed relieved.

Minato, still shaken, looked around.

"Thank you," he said, his voice steadying. His gaze turned to Raiden, Hiashi, and Fugaku. "Why are you all here? And… who is this?" He gestured toward Shinki, whom he didn't recognize.

Shinki introduced himself. "I'm Uchiha Shinki, the leader of this team. We were sent to support the frontline in the Land of Rain. We found you and Duy under attack and intervened."

Shinki's words brought clarity to Minato's confusion. Bowing deeply, Minato expressed his gratitude. "Thank you all for saving us. I'm sorry my teacher couldn't make it…" His voice trailed off, grief evident in his expression.

Raiden placed a comforting hand on Minato's shoulder. "It's not your fault. You fought hard."

The group gathered around the fire, and Shinki began questioning Minato about the events leading to the ambush. While Duy had provided some details earlier, his recounting had been vague and unhelpful.

Minato explained, "We were part of a larger force sent by Lord Hokage. Three thousand genin and chunin, accompanied by dozens of jonin, were divided into smaller teams. My team, led by Teacher Yagyu, was tasked with securing our flank. During the mission, we were ambushed by Iwa ninjas."

He paused, his expression darkening. "Teacher Yagyu suspected there was intelligence leaked to the enemy. They knew our exact position."

Shinki's eyes narrowed. "I see. The Iwa squad we fought was clearly targeting the reinforcements."

Raiden stirred the fire with a stick, his expression contemplative. "If the enemy's goal is to cripple the reinforcements, we need to get this information to our leaders in Sanfang City. Every moment counts."

Shinki nodded. "Agreed. We move immediately. Minato, you and Duy will join us. It's safer that way."

The group quickly packed their belongings and set out into the night. With Shinki leading and Raiden ensuring their tracks were covered, they advanced toward Sanfang City.

Meanwhile, at the border of the Land of Rain, the aftermath of a brutal ambush unfolded. Bodies of Konoha ninjas, many of them young and inexperienced, lay scattered across the battlefield. Among the carnage, the blond Iwa ninja, Houto, stood, admiring his work.

"This is art," he murmured, his face alight with a sick satisfaction.

An Iwa soldier approached and knelt. "Lord Houto, the Konoha forces have been eliminated. We've sustained only minor losses."

Houto smirked. "Good. Gather the men. We move at dawn."

Back at Sanfang City, Mitokado Homura received the grim report. He slammed his fists on the table in frustration. "A brigade of 500 wiped out in a single night! How could this happen?"

Orochimaru, standing beside him, spoke in his usual calm tone. "We underestimated the enemy. Their leader, Houto, is a disciple of the Third Tsuchikage. His tactics are… unconventional."

Jiraiya, overhearing the conversation, burst into the room. "Five hundred people? Including jonin? This isn't just a loss—it's a disaster! What are we doing about it?"

Mitokado Homura straightened, his expression stern. "Jiraiya, take Tsunade, Orochimaru, and a squad of jonin. Intercept the remaining reinforcements and ensure their safe passage here."

As the legendary Sannin prepared to depart, a wounded man was brought into the command center. His body bore the marks of battle—burns, fractures, and bloodied clothes. He knelt before Homura, his voice trembling.

"Lord Homura, I am Yagyu Tokio, captain of the Anbu squad under the Third Hokage. My team was ambushed by traitors within our ranks. Namikaze Minato and Might Duy betrayed us to Iwa."

The room fell silent. Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Minato? Impossible!" he roared. "You're lying! Minato would never betray Konoha!"

Yagyu Tokio remained resolute. "I swear on my life, Lord Homura. Namikaze Minato and Might Duy are traitors. They attacked us during the march, ensuring our defeat."

Mitokado Homura considered the report carefully. "If what you say is true, we cannot let this go unpunished. Issue an order: Namikaze Minato and Might Duy are to be captured alive. We must confirm this betrayal."

Despite Jiraiya's protests, the orders were dispatched.

As night fell, Minato, Duy, and their rescuers approached Sanfang City, unaware of the accusations awaiting them.

"Sir, Namikaze Minato and Might Duy have been spotted approaching the city," a scout reported to Homura. His face darkened.

"So, they dare return," Homura muttered coldly. "They think they can deceive us? They'll learn otherwise soon enough."

(End of this chapter)

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