MTLNOVEL Chapter 40: Stop talking.
Maybe I gave her a bit too much power...
Sara was smashing through puppets like they were nothing, I don't think there was even a need for me to be here.
I gave her basically a discount Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and I forgot that being faster than an opponent is one of the best ways to make sure you hit them, so in between releasing the citizens from their chains, the moment a puppet slightly moved she punched into smithereens.
This wouldn't be enough to stop Anrokuzan though, he could fix his puppets pretty easily if he had access to the Ryūmyaku, so I was just waiting until he showed up so I could stall him until Sara finished freeing everyone.
Then we would lock the Ryūmyaku again, which would stop his shenanigans.
I was interrupted by a certain squad landing next to me. Minato, Shibi, Chōza and Naruto all looking at me.
"What is going on here?" Minato asked immediately after arriving.
I shrugged. "The princess is saving her people."
"Anrokuzan?" He asked next, frowning slightly.
"He hasn't shown up yet, but I'm expecting him anytime now."
Minato observed the happenings below, observing Sara as she tore through chains and puppet alike.
"Nothing in our information indicates that the Princess should be trained in Ninjutsu." He said neutrally.
"It's not Ninjutsu, also temporary. Don't worry, this still adheres to the proper flow of things." I lied as easily as I breathed.
He glanced at me with a calculating expression but didn't comment.
"She has to lead her people away, regaining their trust and loyalty, if she doesn't, when Rōran is destroyed the people will too."
Minato frowned but nodded slightly.
And then it happened, Anrokuzan showed up, appearing on a ledge above us all and he didn't look happy.
Sara looked up at him with narrowed eyes, golden lightning still enveloping her body.
"Anrokuzan!" She yelled angrily. "Explain yourself!"
"What do you think you're doing?!" He demanded in turn, ignoring her words. "Why are you here! You should be dead by now!"
Sadness flashed through Sara's eyes before it turned into anger again. Guess a small part of her still hoped that maybe Anrokuzan wasn't involved in this...
"Why?" She asked loudly. "I trusted you! My mother trusted you! Why are you doing this to our people!?"
Anrokuzan stared at her for a second before scoffing.
"Oh, stop being so naive." He said harshly. "Your mother was a fool, content to sit on the power of the Ryūmyaku, and you're worse than her! Not a thought going through your head besides what I tell you!"
"There is only one reason I would waste my time with this backwater city, it's to gain access to the Ryūmyaku!" He ranted. "With it, I can surpass any limits I had previously, an invincible army, grea-"
He was interrupted by my fist slamming into his face, sending him crashing into a nearby pillar.
I need to teach Sara that talking is not a free action, always throw hands when the enemy opens their gob.
The puppets standing on the ledges immediately converged towards us, being intercepted by Minato and Co. Sara hesitated for a moment before turning back to her people, continuing to help them escape.
I gathered Chakra in my lungs again, this time just going for a basic Great Fireball Jutsu, waiting for the dust to clear.
"You- You bastard!" Anrokuzan yelled as he emerged from the cloud of dust. "Who are y-"
I quickly slammed my hands together into a seal sequence and took a deep breath.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive ball of fire flew out of my mouth, straight at him.
Don't worry, puppet guy, I will teach you why Villain Monologuing is a bad idea.
***
Minato was having a strange day today.
He was expecting a fair bit of trouble, considering that their mission was to uncover what was happening in Rōran.
But Time Travel was unexpected.
His son being here was even more unexpected.
He guessed that meant good things for his relationship with Kushina, if they had a son...
Still, that didn't take away from the strangeness of this whole situation, Naruto seemed to have inherited both of their more rash tendencies, combined together with the Uzumaki vitality it made for a boisterous young man.
This Osamu though... He had no idea what to think of him. His words were arrogant, as if he knew everything.
But they were also said with conviction, his tone showed nothing but belief in what he said.
He thought he would have to stop him from doing something drastic and changing the timeline, but his words a minute ago threw those assumptions out the window.
"Uhhh.. D-Dad?" Naruto's voice interrupted his thoughts. "What should we be doing?"
While he thought Osamu's words were arrogant, his chastisement made Minato realize that he should be acknowledging Naruto as his son, what memories they brought back to the future were irrelevant, if he did not do everything he could to be Naruto's father in the short time they had, Kushina was going to kill him.
Maybe he should write down some instructions for the Rasengan? It was one of his best creations.
He shoved down his thoughts and faced Naruto.
"Do you remember if what he said was true? Did the Princess really save its people after Rōran fell?"
Naruto scratched his head in thought before nodding. "Yeah, I think so! I think Sakura mentioned it at some point!"
That was not the clear answer he was hoping for, but he would take what he could get.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
A water dragon smashing into Mukabe interrupted his thoughts, wait, why was he a puppet spider now?
Minato blinked. He really needed to stay more focused.
For now, they would assist Osamu in subduing Mukade and make sure the people of Rōran survived.
Afterwards, once things have calmed down, he could have a longer talk about what actually happened, or will happen. For now, all of their priorities were set on freeing the people and stopping Mukade, regardless of whatever may come.
"Naruto, help the Princess with saving her people, you can help the most with the Shadow Clone Technique. Chōza, Shibi, you two are on interception duty, stop Mukade from targeting any of the civilians, I will assist Osamu."
They all nodded, Naruto quickly summoning dozens of clones that jumped down to help the citizens escape.
Chōza and Shibi spread out slightly, preparing themselves to intercept Mukade's attacks when needed.
Minato himself took out a bundle of his Hirashin Kunai, throwing at Mukade and the surrounding area. Once that was done, he leaped off the ledge, racing towards Mukabe. He summoned a Rasengan in one hand and charged.