Minato's eyes blazed with fury as he faced the situation. Every muscle in his body tensed, and he made no effort to hold back. The Wind Release jutsu he unleashed consumed nearly all his chakra, yet the result was devastatingly precise. The two Grass ninjas in front of him were sent flying, their bodies battered and broken, clearly incapable of moving.
Mukai Tomoki and Ayame, observing Minato's display, were not surprised. In fact, had he not been able to achieve such destructive results, they might have been the ones questioning their comrade's abilities.
"That's it! That's the Heaven Scroll we needed," Ayame exclaimed, her voice a mixture of excitement and relief. She could hardly contain her joy as she looked at Minato and Mukai Tomoki.
Yet, amid the triumph, not all feelings were aligned. A young girl, standing several paces away, watched the aftermath with wide, fearful eyes. Yumiko, trembling and pale, had seen the two Grass ninjas beaten to the point of unconsciousness—or perhaps death—and her own fear nearly overwhelmed her.
"N-no… please don't kill me!" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes.
Minato, sensing her fear, felt a pang of discomfort. He tilted his head, letting out a quiet sigh. Was I really that frightening? he wondered. This was not a battlefield of war; there was no need to hunt down and eliminate every enemy they encountered. Killing might have been permitted in the context of the exam, but Minato had no desire to terrify a frightened girl in front of him.
"Calm down first," he said gently, his voice carrying the usual warmth that had earned him his reputation. "I won't kill you."
Yumiko's trembling eased slightly, though caution still clouded her eyes. She observed Minato carefully, searching for any sign of deceit or malice. When she saw none, a small measure of trust began to take root, though she remained wary.
"We are Leaf Village ninja," Minato continued, smiling softly. "In Konoha, you will be safe. There's no need to fear."
He held out a hand, a simple gesture of reassurance. "I am Namikaze Minato. You can just call me Minato."
Gradually, the tension in Yumiko's body loosened. She lowered her gaze, still cautious but willing to engage. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft yet steady.
"I am Yumiko," she said, offering her name as a sign of tentative trust.
---
Minato learned more about her story, piecing together her tragic past. Yumiko was indeed a member of the Uzumaki clan, though she had lived her life in hiding since the clan's destruction. Unlike Uzumaki Kushina, who had been brought to Konoha, Yumiko had been forced to wander, concealing her identity at all costs.
Even though her bright red hair could have revealed her lineage, the chaotic dispersal of the clan meant that not every redhead was automatically identified as an Uzumaki. However, her abilities did not go unnoticed. The leader of the Grass ninja squad, recognizing her potential, had forcibly taken her back to Kusagakure and subjected her to a cruel fate—as a living "blood pack."
Just as Kushina had been born with chakra capable of suppressing Tailed Beasts, Yumiko possessed a rare Uzumaki ability of her own: physical healing. Merely being bitten could rapidly restore injuries or replenish chakra—her own or that of others. This ability was rare and incredibly powerful. Even Karin, from the original story, could heal grievous injuries such as Tsunade's body being sliced in half, demonstrating the sheer potency of this skill.
"This… this is monstrous," Mukai Tomoki muttered under his breath, anger and disbelief written across his face. "The Grass Ninjas are truly inhumane! They don't deserve to live!"
Without hesitation, he moved forward, ensuring the two incapacitated Grass Ninjas would not survive. Because the second stage of the exam permitted lethal force, their actions were allowed. Minato and Ayame, focused on Yumiko, did not intervene—they understood and even tacitly supported the decision.
---
Minato knelt beside Yumiko, speaking softly. "Since you are of the Uzumaki clan, do you know Kushina?"
Yumiko shook her head, confusion and sorrow in her eyes. Despite being part of a clan with a wide reach, she had no recollection of Kushina. The Uzumaki clan had been large, and many members were dispersed or perished in the clan's destruction. Moreover, both Yumiko and Kushina had been very young when their clan was wiped out, making any personal connection unlikely.
"Kushina is also an Uzumaki, like you," Minato continued, his tone gentle yet reassuring. "Why don't you stay in Konoha? You won't be forced to endure what you went through in Kusagakure."
Minato's words struck a chord. Konoha and the Uzumaki clan had a long history of alliance. The symbol of the Uzumaki clan even adorned the flak jackets of Konoha ninja, signifying a shared bond and mutual respect. In theory, Konoha would gladly accept Yumiko, but a condition remained: her special abilities had to remain secret from certain individuals, such as Shimura Danzo, to prevent unwanted attention or exploitation.
"Can I really?" Yumiko's voice trembled with hope. She dared to imagine a life free from fear, where she could finally belong.
The warmth and sincerity in Minato's demeanor reassured her further. She glanced at Ayame and Mukai Tomoki, sensing their kindness and protection as well. For the first time in many years, she felt safe—almost at home.
"Of course," Minato said firmly. "Kushina is participating in this Chunin Exam and is currently in the Forest of Death. I'll take you to meet her soon."
Ayame smiled gently. "Yes, Yumiko, relax. If you ever have trouble or anyone bothers you, just tell me. My name is Sasaki Ayame."
Mukai Tomoki, ever confident, chimed in. "I'm Mukai Tomoki. If anyone bullies you in the future, I'll chase them away. Don't worry—I'm going to be the next Hokage, after all!"
Hearing this, Yumiko felt a deep surge of gratitude. Tears ran down her cheeks, not from fear this time, but from relief and happiness. She had finally found companions who cared about her, who would protect her and allow her to live freely.
"Thank you, Minato… thank you, everyone," she whispered, voice quivering.
It was a heartfelt expression. Ever since the Uzumaki clan's destruction, no one had truly cared for her well-being. She had wandered, rootless and alone, surviving by hiding her very identity. Those who had never experienced such loss could never understand the weight of her gratitude.
---
With Yumiko calmed and reassured, the group continued their journey toward the Central Tower, each step taking them closer to safety and the next stage of the exam.
Meanwhile, in the Kumo (Cloud) Village rest area, Troy received the shocking news. Seisui, the Konoha medical ninja, had single-handedly defeated Baki and Killer B—a feat he could hardly believe.
"Impossible!" Troy exclaimed, flabbergasted. Killer B had long been considered the most talented genin of Kumogakure. Even many chunin could not match his strength. Furthermore, Killer B had been paired with Maki as an elite team; losing to an unknown Konoha genin was unthinkable.
Yet the evidence was undeniable. Intelligence reports confirmed Seisui's victory. The facts were clear, and Troy's disbelief slowly gave way to grim acceptance.
"Captain Troy," a subordinate said nervously, "we must file a protest with Konoha. Allowing a jōnin to participate in the Chunin Exam while disguised as a genin—this is cheating!"
Troy's eyes narrowed. The wheels of political and strategic maneuvering had already begun to turn in his mind. If Konoha could conceal such power, what other surprises might await? And more importantly, how could Sunagakure and Kumogakure exploit these developments to their advantage?
Even as he considered his next steps, he could not shake the growing realization that the Chunin Exams were no longer just a test of skill—they were a battlefield of strategy, ambition, and survival.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)