Swapping back bodies, Ryuji continued looking outside. Countless knight puppets chased the mechanical bird.
With the Dragon Vein continuously supplying Chakra, their mobility had improved significantly.
'Dealing with Mukade empowered by the Dragon Vein isn't impossible, but that would easily allow Naruto and Namikaze Minato to take advantage.'
'The Dragon Vein is here; it won't run away. I should wait for the Observation Device to analyze the seal's principles and deduce how to use it before dealing with him. For now, focus on handling Naruto's situation.' After brief consideration, Ryuji recalled the mechanical bird and, using building cover, went underground.
Having prepared intelligence beforehand, Ryuji wasn't completely familiar with Roran's environment but had a clear concept.
He found an unguarded, uninhabited place, released Scarab puppets to scout for information on Naruto and Minato's group.
Actually, Ryuji always felt using Scarab puppets for reconnaissance was inefficient.
It relied entirely on numbers.
But exploring terrain was fine. Finding people, especially experts, easily led to detection and destruction.
Destruction wasn't a big issue; repairs were possible.
The key was alerting the target, causing them to relocate.
Hence, he had been researching Chakra Radar.
But he hadn't found materials that reacted to Chakra over long distances, so progress stalled.
Although he considered developing something similar based on Sensor-type Shinobi principles, due to Sensor-types being rare and precious, he hadn't gotten research opportunities.
However,
The Allied Forces of the four villages invading Sunagakure must have had Sensor-types. Ryuji had instructed the autopsy department to keep an eye out.
As long as he could obtain a Sensor-type Shinobi's corpse for analysis, even if he couldn't develop Chakra Radar from the principles, he could make a Sensor-type puppet.
The Scarab puppets acted swiftly. Soon, messages began returning through the Sea of Consciousness.
First, Naruto's information.
After being hit by the mechanical bird's supersonic crash, he appeared completely unharmed, walking boldly on the streets.
He watched Roran's citizens singing and dancing, with a heartfelt smile on his face.
'It seems he hasn't realized he time-traveled.'
Watching the live feed from the Scarab puppets, Ryuji pondered. 'If he knew he traveled over twenty years back, he'd be urgently seeking a way back, not this leisurely expression.'
'Recalling carefully, he probably just arrived, saw me using puppet strings to control Sara, thought I was a villain, and attacked.'
'And Namikaze Minato's group... they likely also don't know my goals, just saw Naruto at a disadvantage and intervened.'
'So, there's still a chance to change the villain identity.'
'But...'
Ryuji looked up at the Konoha's Shinobi approaching from three directions, a smile curling his lips. "Completely unnecessary."
Straight ahead was a youth in light armor, spiky blond hair, wearing a bird mask.
Left: a man with sunglasses, high-collar coat, insect bag on his back.
Right: a burly man with wild red hair, wearing gray armor with the character 'food' printed on it.
'An Aburame and an Akimichi.'
'If the corrected timeline matched the Movie, then these two were Aburame Shibi and Akimichi Choza.'
'The blond youth ahead, though masked, his unconsciously confident and composed gait suggested his identity.'
'—Namikaze Minato.'
Besides these three, Ryuji sensed a hidden presence above the roof beams.
Though trying hard to conceal, his skills weren't proficient enough, detected by Ryuji.
'Probably Kakashi!'
Ryuji thought inwardly but maintained a faint smile, looking at Minato. "Never expected to encounter Konoha's Shinobi here."
"I anticipated encountering Sunagakure's Shinobi, being near the Land of Wind." Minato stopped five meters before Ryuji, removed his mask, and smiled. "May I ask your mission objective?"
"Hey, you're all Jonin, yet ask this question." Ryuji's lips curved slightly, sketching a mocking smile.
Shinobi's missions are confidential. Unless involved, even village comrades aren't told, let alone foreign Shinobi.
This is common knowledge even for academy students, not to mention Jonin.
Minato knowingly asking an unanswerable question invited mockery.
Though Ryuji understood he needed to avoid unnecessary conflict, this strong showing mercy to the weak irked him.
"Captain, asking like this won't get answers. Better capture him first, then interrogate." Shibi suggested.
He usually addressed Minato by name.
But as the 'Yellow Flash' fame grew, to avoid exposing intel, they used 'Captain' before enemies.
After all, Yellow Flash's speed was fast… almost common knowledge in the Shinobi World.
Enemies unprepared could easily suffer instant death.
Otherwise, they'd lose this advantage.
His suggestion stemmed from confidence in their team.
Though five against one earlier, they let him escape.
This was due to not using full strength and not wanting prolonged combat.
They recognized Naruto came from the future, so worried about identity exposure causing temporal chaos, they deliberately concealed themselves.
But now Naruto wasn't here; they had no such concerns.
"This is a Shinobi's proper judgment!"
Before Minato decided, Ryuji grinned in agreement. "Actually, I also really want to fight you. Not for intel or anything, just purely want to go all out against you."
Hearing this, the three Konoha's Shinobi looked at him.
Minato remained silent for a moment. "Since you wish to fight, then..."
Halfway through, he vanished, leaving only dust stirred by wind.
Almost simultaneously, a strange kunai emerged from behind, resting against Ryuji's neck.
"I'll grant your wish."
Minato leaned in from behind, finishing his sentence. His calm, composed tone was the source of enemy unease.
But Ryuji felt no unease; instead, he laughed.
"Indeed fast. But why not kill me directly, instead of close-quarters restraint?"
"I don't want to..."
Before finishing, Minato's expression changed, leaping backward.
Shibi and Choza were startled, poised to act.
But not knowing the reason for Minato's sudden move, they dared not act rashly.