C17 Return to Konoha

Kakashi had always considered himself a prodigy, graduating as a Chunin at five and advancing to Jonin by twelve. But now, what was he witnessing? This child, if his memory served him right, was only six years old. How could he possibly take down a Jonin single-handedly?

And how on earth did he come up with his own unique ninjutsu?

These questions swirled in Kakashi's mind, leading him to a poignant thought: "If I had been this powerful, could I have prevented my father's death?"

A flicker of melancholy passed through Kakashi's eyes at the thought.

Rin, standing beside him, was struck by a different aspect of Russell's presence. His formidable strength was certainly astonishing, but it was his adorable features that truly caught her attention.

"Oh, what an adorable little face. I wish I could give it a squeeze!"

Without realizing it, Nohara Rin had voiced her inner thoughts aloud, much to Kakashi's chagrin.

Russell, having just integrated with the card, eagerly examined it.

"System, bring up the system panel!" he commanded.

Host: Russell

Strength: 118

Speed: 123

Physique: 122

Spirit: 131

Chakra: 2158

Innate Skill: Space Talent Level 3

Taijutsu: Basic Shuriken Level 10 (Max), Basic Taijutsu Level 10 (Max), Severe Leaf Hurricane Level 4, Personal Space Level 1.

Ninjutsu: Great Fireball Technique Level 6, Earth-Style Wall Level 5, Earth Dragon Bullet Level 5, Body Replacement Technique Level 10 (Max), Lightning Slash Level 1, Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave Level 7, Water Formation Wall Level 5, Water Dragon Bullet Level 4, Body Flicker Technique Level 6, Tailed Beast Bomb Level 1.

In the blink of an eye, Russell's attribute panel had undergone a complete overhaul. His combat prowess was now undeniably at Jonin level, and even among Jonin, he was a force to be reckoned with.

His mastery of the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave had skyrocketed to level seven due to collecting an abundance of the technique, a feat nothing short of fearsome.

When Russell executed a ninjutsu, it packed at least double the punch compared to others.

Moreover, the Body Flicker Technique he desperately needed had also emerged, reaching level six, which was more than sufficient for his use.

Russell had no shortcomings, except for his lack of skill in genjutsu. Had he not chosen to conceal the sealing technique list, his panel would've been cluttered with at least three thousand words, an overwhelming amount to digest.

The small surprises were nothing compared to the thrill of acquiring the Bijyudama. That was a Bijyudama! Its potency may have waned in the later stages, but it remained an incredibly powerful asset early on.

The only downside was the disappointingly low level of the Lightning Slash, which limited Russell to using only the Thousand Bird technique.

"Why didn't I manage to unlock Minato's Flying Thunder God?" Russell lamented after his initial excitement. Anyone overhearing his discontent might have been filled with envy.

Just one battle had brought him to the brink of Elite Jonin strength, and yet, he was not content.

Having assessed his capabilities, Russell turned off the system panel and refocused on Minato and the others.

Yagura was a formidable Shadow Level adversary, but he was no match for the likes of Minato and Kushina, two exceptional fighters. Even one-on-one, he was outclassed, let alone against both.

Thus, Yagura was on the receiving end of a beating. Had Minato not been merciful, Yagura would have met his end multiple times over.

"Fine, fine, fine! You'll see!" Yagura exclaimed after another kick to the face from Kushina. Snapping back to reality, he seized the opportunity to retreat from the battlefield and made a break for it.

He realized that while Minato might spare his life, that didn't mean he wouldn't be left incapacitated!

Despite his escape, Yagura was far from unscathed. Kushina's kick, powered by her formidable strength, had left half of his face numb.

Once the fight concluded, Russell used the Body Flicker Technique to appear on the battlefield, strolling around nonchalantly, at least in the eyes of Minato and Kushina.

The card collection was sparse, lacking ninjutsu cards, but Russell's Chakra and mental fortitude had seen significant growth. Notably, a purple Chakra card from the Nine-Tails boosted Russell's Chakra to an impressive 3,000 in an instant.

In the battle he orchestrated, Russell made a killing and took the opportunity to showcase his strength, putting Minato and Kushina's minds at ease about his ability to handle himself.

The hitch now was his inability to demonstrate the full range of ninjutsu he knew, lacking a formal way to learn them. He could claim the Chidori as a technique he mastered after a single viewing, but what about the rest? It's one thing to mimic Kakashi's Lightning Slash, weakening it in the process of learning. But to instantly master Water Release techniques with more power than the Jonin of Kirigakure? That would stretch credibility too far.

"Let's head out. We'll discuss everything once we're back!" Minato said, cutting off any further conversation and taking the lead.

Russell and the others followed without protest. The Land of Fire was fraught with danger, and with Zetsu and Madara lurking in the shadows, a swift return home was clearly the best course of action.

Unbeknownst to them, not all the Explosive Talismans Russell had set up detonated. One remained buried, its surface covered with a dense array of characters penned by Russell himself. The reason it didn't explode was a secret known only to Russell.

Perhaps Uchiha Madara, recognizing their combat prowess, had abandoned any further attempts to harass them. Yagura, too, acknowledged their strength and refrained from pursuit.

With their adversaries no longer dogging their heels, Russell and his companions made swift progress. In just two days, they crossed into the Land of Fire.

"Alright, we're now in the Land of Fire. Time for a well-deserved break," Minato announced, bringing the group to a halt. They had been on the move for two days straight with scant rest. Now, safely within their own borders, they could finally relax.

Minato gestured towards Russell's right hand, prompting him to bring out dish after dish of sizzling roasted meat. The aroma filled the forest, an irresistible comfort to the weary travelers.

After ensuring Kakashi and Rin were taken care of with food, Kushina eagerly dove into a feast of her own.

For a brief time, the only sounds in the forest were those of their meal.

"Ahh! I feel alive again!"

Having devoured three heaping plates of roasted meat, Kushina finally leaned back, contented.

Once everyone had finished eating, their attention turned to Russell.

The events of the day had left them with a multitude of questions, and that was true for Kakashi and Nohara Rin as well.

And then there were Minato and Kushina, who had arrived simply to rescue them, unaware of the full situation.

Russell had been concerned about Uchiha Madara pursuing them, which had prompted him to rush the group. Now, it seemed like the right time to discuss it.

Russell himself was somewhat taken aback, having brought Kushina along specifically to counter Uchiha Madara, only to find that Madara hadn't followed them at all.

"It looks like he can't keep up much longer. As long as we protect Nohara Rin for a short while, we'll be okay. I don't need to spell it out; Minato will handle it."

Reflecting on his actions, Russell acknowledged the imperfections in his plan but deemed it a relative success.

Yagura had seen the prowess of Konoha's elite Jonin and the legendary Sarutobi Hiruzen. With such formidable allies, the Kirigakure wouldn't dare to wage war. There was no need for concern.

Yet, at that moment, he knew he had to bide his time. After the dust settled and those who needed to leave had left or met their fate, he wouldn't dare to be so reckless.

But these concerns paled in comparison to the immediate issue at hand: how would he explain all this to Minato and Kushina?