Naruto: Unlocking Kaido Template

At that critical moment, a blond man wearing a peculiar mask suddenly appeared beside Zixu, like a flash of light.

Zixu didn't initially notice the man's appearance—the speed was far too fast.

"Who are you?" Zixu narrowed his eyes at the masked stranger, holding his spiked mace tightly and showing no sign of lowering it.

"There are too many puppets here. They might interfere with our next move. Let's get out first," the man said gently. His voice felt like winter sunshine, warm and calming, with a refreshing blend of lemon and sea breeze.

"Don't worry, I mean no harm. You can't handle this many puppets alone—just trust me and let's leave first."

He repeated the offer, and in the next moment, two more figures appeared beside him.

"Mushikui no Jutsu!" (Bug Eater Technique!)

"Hakke Kūshō!" (Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!)

The sudden appearance of the two men repelled the surrounding puppets. Clouds of black insects and chakra strikes, dense as a downpour, created a temporary safe zone.

The blond man then teleported Zixu and the others using a mysterious technique, instantly relocating them to a quiet, secluded structure.

He knelt and pulled out a kunai embedded in the ground. Zixu immediately recognized its unique design—it was identical to the kunai used in the sealing ritual earlier. That's when he remembered.

"...Namikaze Minato?" Zixu asked cautiously.

The blond man hesitated, then turned his head slightly toward Zixu. That small gesture gave him away.

With his identity no longer hidden, Namikaze Minato removed his mask, revealing a bright, determined face filled with youthful resolve.

"Before anything else... I want to know who you are," Minato asked, his tone gentle but filled with clear suspicion. He couldn't afford any unexpected variables during the mission.

"So... the current time I'm in isn't the same as before... Did I travel back in time?" Zixu muttered, lowering his head in thought. Time travel—he always believed it to be nonsense. Yet here he was.

"A time traveler, huh? Well, that's not the worst thing that could happen," he joked to himself, but still answered Minato seriously.

"I'm currently allied with Konoha. You don't need to worry. If you're Namikaze Minato, then that means the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is still in power..."

Minato nodded slightly after a pause and began sharing intel with Zixu.

Their objective was to apprehend a rogue shinobi known as Mukade, who was attempting to weaponize the Ryūmyaku (Dragon Vein) beneath Rōran, to conquer the ninja world with an army of puppets.

"This place is far too dangerous. You should leave," a ninja from the Aburame clan warned. Unlike the usual Aburame appearance, he wore blue-tinted glasses instead of the clan's iconic dark shades—giving him a modern vibe.

A Hyuga clan member echoed the sentiment, noting that the situation in Rōran wasn't suited for just anyone.

Zixu glanced at the Hyuga and felt a twinge of familiarity.

"I'll stay and take a look. I may not be strong, but I can still help," he said with a faint, innocent smile—one that could knock out a tailed beast if underestimated.

Suddenly, excited cheers erupted from the distance. Everyone's attention shifted.

The city seemed to be celebrating. Residents stood beneath a towering structure, arms raised in joy. Atop the tower stood a large ceremonial platform, signaling a grand event.

"Hm? That person..." Zixu moved closer. Sure enough, the girl atop the tower was someone he had met before.

"Her...?"

Before the surprise faded, the girl stumbled. The platform, evidently unstable, gave way beneath her, and she began to fall.

Zixu never thought of himself as a hero—but if he could save someone, he wouldn't stand by. Watching someone die would ruin his mood for the rest of the day.

Before Minato could even move, Zixu dashed forward like a thunderclap in the night.

"So fast," Minato noted quietly. "Looks like he's not just talk."

Time slowed as the girl plummeted through the air. Death approached like a cold shadow. She thought of her mother, her loyal retainers, her duty to the Ryūmyaku...

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Then—

Whoosh!

The world resumed its pace. A red-haired boy stretched out his arms and caught her mid-air. Then, in the blink of an eye, they vanished.

"It's him... the one I met before." She opened her eyes again, still in his arms.

But—

"You disgusting pervert!" she exploded, jumping out of his arms like a startled cat and throwing wild slaps at him.

Zixu dodged with ease and dropped her.

"Fine, I'll let you go."

"Ah!" She fell on her backside but luckily wasn't hurt.

Minato stepped in, stating bluntly: "Your minister is not who you think. He plans to weaponize the Ryūmyaku to threaten the balance of the ninja world."

"I am Sarah, queen of Rōran! Anrokuzan is not the kind of person you say he is! He's a good man! You're wrong!"

Her voice trembled with emotion. She refused to believe her loyal retainer was a war-crazed traitor.

Pffft—

Zixu, who wasn't even that invested, couldn't help but laugh.

"Anrokuzan? With a name like that, if he doesn't start a rebellion, it would be a disappointment."

"What's so funny?!" Sarah yelled, fuming with puffed cheeks, like an angry little puffer fish.

"I'm going back! You weirdos better leave Rōran!" she snapped, then stormed off.

Zixu stuffed his hands in his pockets and silently followed.

"I just want to see her face when she finds out the truth."

"Eh... Maybe I'm not a good person. Must be Uzumaki's influence," he muttered, referring to an old friend.

He suppressed his chakra and vanished into the shadows. Sarah didn't notice a thing.

"She won't die... probably," Zixu said with a wave, telling Minato and the others not to worry. Their job was to find the weapons factory and destroy the puppets.

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