Naruto: I Survived Two Wars Without You, System!

"My bad, Minato-senpai~"

Inside a newly built tent.

Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were all kneeling on the ground, sincerely apologizing to Namikaze Minato.

"Ahh, if it was just a misunderstanding, then it's fine."

Minato, whose sleeve was slightly dirty, sighed inwardly.

No wonder that guy, Kei Yamanaka, ran off to discuss something with Danzo after summoning the clam.

So he was being used as a scapegoat again?

Damn it!

How did I get tricked once more?

"If you're going to apologize, showing your belly is basic etiquette, y'know!"

Kei Yamanaka peeked through the gap in the tent flap, teasing Yahiko and the others with his twisted sense of humor.

"It's him!"

Nagato's eyes slightly narrowed.

Yahiko and Konan also instantly turned their attention toward Kei Yamanaka.

Golden hair slightly shorter than Minato-senpai's, a more masculine face, same Jonin flak vest and black combat suit.

Yeah, no mistake!

This must be the one Master Jiraiya mentioned earlier—Kei Yamanaka.

The main culprit who left them stranded on that deserted island!

But they had just flipped a tent open—if they did it again now, it might go too far.

Cunning fellow!

Guess they'd just have to wait for another opportunity?

"Kei, where did you pick up such a weird custom?"

Minato gave him a resentful look, his irritation almost visible.

"Haha, just a little joke! And honestly, I didn't intentionally impersonate you to confuse them. They misidentified me themselves."

Kei slapped Minato's shoulder with a grin, cheerfully consoling his friend.

He always played things safe.

Before summoning Yahiko and the others back, he'd already sent the small clam to secretly monitor the three for a while.

Since the trio kept talking about their "Minato-senpai,"

Of course he wanted to give them a chance to meet their idol.

"Sigh…"

Minato waved his hand tiredly, not wanting to continue this topic any further.

From years of painful experience,

No matter how much he argued, the blame would never land on his dear friend.

In fact, if he wasn't careful, somehow it would end up being *his* fault!

"Um… Senior Kei Yamanaka, can you tell us why you disguised yourself as an Anbu from Mist and went to Amegakure?"

Yahiko's face twisted with mixed emotions—he already had a sinking feeling about this.

Actually, he'd thought about it before.

Why would 'Minato-senpai' disguise himself as an Anbu and go to Amegakure?

But since they were both students under Jiraiya, he had avoided thinking the worst.

Now, returning from the isolated island, and finding themselves near the border between Rain Country and Land of Fire,

With so many Konoha ninja gathered here, establishing a border outpost…

Could it really be... another war breaking out?

"Well, initially, it was because I heard news about the Rinnegan."

Kei glanced at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya flushed slightly, avoiding eye contact.

"Then what?"

Yahiko frowned, pushing for more details.

"If I were to explain everything from the beginning, this would take a while..."

Kei Yamanaka waved his hand, signaling Yahiko to calm down.

He then sat on a nearby stool and slowly began telling the story he had long prepared.

Right now, both Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu are dead.

With no lingering concerns, it's definitely better to put certain things on the table, saving a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Like how Madara originally awakened the Rinnegan, and why he transplanted it onto Nagato.

He could talk, couldn't he?

A few simple words would have cleared everything up.

Why maintain that haughty expression, waiting for others to guess and misunderstand?

After hearing the entire story,

Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze exchanged glances, their expressions grim.

The Otsutsuki Clan, Kaguya Otsutsuki, these extraterrestrial visitors, and possibly still-living Isshiki Otsutsuki...

These buried truths hidden in history sound absolutely chilling!

Nagato covered his eyes with a dazed look.

Yahiko and Konan wore equally grim expressions.

What Kei Yamanaka had just said had deeply shaken them.

So was their entire lives predetermined by someone?

Every tragedy, every joy, every—

"Don't get discouraged. Be honest with yourself—are you regretful about meeting Konan and Yahiko?"

Kei casually flicked a small pebble made of earth-element chakra at Nagato's forehead, interrupting his existential crisis.

"No regrets! If it weren't for them... I can't even imagine..."

Nagato mumbled, raising his head again with determination gradually returning to his eyes.

Others might control their lives,

but they could never manipulate their feelings. They truly cared for each other—they were comrades, a family bound together!

The Three Little Troublemakers exchanged glances, and slowly, relief began to show on their faces.

"They say everyone has their own destiny, predestined by heaven, but I don't believe in fate. The past cannot be changed, but the future lies beneath your own feet. Whether to walk, which path to take, or what kind of path—you decide."

Smiling, Kei stood up and walked out of the tent.

Lifting the curtain, he paused briefly before turning back to speak once more to the little trio.

"If you feel like sparring, feel free to come find me anytime—but if you lose, there will be a punishment."

"Gulp... W-what kind of punishment?!"

Yahiko swallowed hard, sensing something suspicious behind Kei's smile.

"A one-month stay in Ryuchi Cave."

Kei arched his brow, stepping cheerfully outside the tent.

"What's Ryuchi Cave like?"

Yahiko turned to Master Jiraiya beside him.

"Forest, caverns, and countless snakes—if you're surviving out there for a month... well, pack extra seasoning and antidotes, hahaha!"

Jiraiya laughed heartily while patting his thigh.

Although Kei often acted nothing like a normal decent guy,

Well, sorry, but he wasn't exactly a decent guy himself!

"Ryuchi Cave isn't that bad. Just imagine if you had to stay in Mount Myoboku or Shikkotsu Forest for a whole month..."

Minato Namikaze remembered the 'food' from Mount Myoboku, and his face subtly turned green.

Those wriggling, pickled insects were pure nightmares!

As for Shikkotsu Forest...

He'd heard from the frogs of Mount Myoboku that apart from Sage Katsuyu, there wasn't even tree bark to be found inside.

All those tiny slugs were just clones of Sage Katsuyu.

The only option would probably be relying on Sage Katsuyu's mercy—receiving a bit of mucus just to keep your stomach full.

As for eating the slugs themselves...

Ugh...

No, he had to stop thinking about it!

If he kept going, he might not be able to eat for days!

Hearing the faint sounds of dry-heaving from the tent behind him, Kei Yamanaka secretly looked down on Water Gate.

Gazing at the unresponsive System Interface in his mind,

He stroked his chin and made his way toward Danzo's tent.

He'd already wracked his brain, spoken as dramatically as possible, but the fates of those three little troublemakers still hadn't changed?

Why hadn't anything changed? What was the issue?

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