The real Shinobi World...
On the Heavenly Screen, Minato Namikaze darted across the battlefield like golden lightning. Every move he made was precise and graceful, as though he were performing a deadly dance. People across the Shinobi World looked up at the scene, every one of them stunned. Ninja and civilians alike were captivated by the legendary "Yellow Flash," and voices rose one after another in discussion.
"Is that the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze? He really lives up to his reputation!" a young ninja said excitedly, his eyes full of admiration. "I heard he was the fastest ninja in the Shinobi World. Even the Raikage couldn't do anything to him!" another chimed in, his voice filled with awe.
"What a shame that a genius like him died so young..." an older ninja sighed, his voice full of regret.
In Kumogakure, Fourth Raikage A stood on high ground, his eyes fixed on the Heavenly Screen. His fists clenched slightly, and a complex emotion flashed through his eyes. Minato was as calm and composed as ever in the scene, as though everything were under his control. A couldn't help recalling what had happened back then: after a brief clash with him and Killer B on the battlefield, Minato had smiled and said, "The next time we meet, we might be fighting in the name of Kage."
Though A had been unwilling to accept it at the time, he had been thoroughly convinced of Minato's strength. He had looked forward to that day, to facing the powerful opponent again. But fate had played a cruel trick: Minato had died during the Nine-Tails' Attack, and their promised duel could never take place.
"What a shame..." A murmured, a rare trace of loneliness in his voice. He turned to Mabui, his secretary, and said gravely, "I thought I'd have a chance to fight him again. I never expected... fate to play such a trick."
Mabui nodded.
A fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, determination returning to his eyes. "As Kage, we bear not only our own wills, but the future of our entire village. Minato Namikaze did it, and I'll keep going too."
Meanwhile, on a hill in Konoha, Jiraiya looked up at the Heavenly Screen, tears glistening in his eyes. Minato was still so young and radiant in the scene, as though he had never left. Memories of the time Jiraiya had spent teaching him surfaced in his mind: the extraordinarily gifted yet humble and courteous young man, the disciple who always wore a warm smile, the man he had once believed to be the Child of Prophecy.
"Minato..." Jiraiya murmured, his voice full of pain. "I thought you would be the one to change the Shinobi World. I never expected... you to leave so early too."
He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. Jiraiya's heart was full of self-reproach and regret. If he had made it back to Konoha in time, perhaps Minato and Kushina would not have died, and Naruto would not have lost his parents so young.
"Perhaps... you weren't the Child of Prophecy. Perhaps it's Naruto," Jiraiya said quietly, a trace of determination entering his gaze. "Minato, let me pass your will and dreams on to Naruto."
In Konoha's guest reception room, Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, stood silently in the shadows, watching Minato on the Heavenly Screen with a cold gaze. The corners of his mouth rose in a faint, meaningful smile.
"Minato Namikaze... what a nostalgic name," Orochimaru said softly, a hint of mockery and sentiment in his voice. "Back then, you were at the height of your glory, hailed as one of the strongest ninja in the Shinobi World. Unfortunately, no matter how powerful a ninja is, they can't escape the fate of death."
A complex emotion flashed through Orochimaru's eyes. He had once been Minato's senior and one of Konoha's Sannin. But his obsession with life and pursuit of power had led him down a path entirely different from Minato's. Minato had sacrificed himself to protect the village, while Orochimaru had been willing to betray everything in pursuit of immortality and power.
"Perhaps death really is the end..." Orochimaru murmured, a rare trace of uncertainty in his voice. But his gaze soon turned cold and resolute again. "No, I won't be like you. I'll find a way to live forever and transcend the boundary between life and death."
On the Heavenly Screen...
The tension in the battle shown in the video reached its peak. A fierce fighting spirit burned in young A's eyes. Violent Lightning Release chakra enveloped his body, blue arcs dancing around him. He was like a beast poised to spring, ready to pounce on its prey at any moment. His fists were clenched and his muscles bulged, every inch of his skin brimming with explosive power. The roar of his Lightning Release chakra echoed the thunder and lightning in the sky, as though heaven and earth were trembling at his fighting spirit.
Killer B, standing beside him, looked completely at ease. A sly light shone in his eyes beneath his sunglasses, and a devil-may-care smile played on his lips. The seven swords on his back gleamed coldly in the lightning, their edges seemingly still bearing the marks of countless battles. Killer B leaned forward slightly, resting his hands casually on his sword hilts. He looked unconcerned, but was ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.
"Minato Namikaze, today we'll see just how fast your 'Yellow Flash' really is!" Young A's voice boomed like thunder, full of boundless fighting spirit and confidence. His words were provocative, but they also betrayed his respect for his opponent. He knew the man before him was no ordinary fighter, but a formidable enemy worthy of his full strength.
Minato Namikaze stood opposite them, his golden hair especially dazzling in the lightning. The same gentle smile remained on his face, while his blue eyes shone with calm determination. He showed no emotional reaction to A's provocation. He merely nodded slightly and said, his voice calm yet forceful, "Then let's see what you can do."
Before he had finished speaking, young A vanished from where he stood. He was astonishingly fast, bearing down on Minato Namikaze like a bolt of lightning tearing across the sky. Lightning Release chakra gathered around his fist, forming a dazzling beam of light imbued with destructive power. But Minato reacted even faster. His figure flashed and vanished in an instant, leaving only a kunai engraved with the Flying Thunder God Formula suspended in midair.
In the next moment, Minato Namikaze appeared behind young A, his kunai aimed straight at his back. But young A reacted just as quickly. He spun around and threw a punch, Lightning Release chakra bursting through the air and forcing Minato back. Both men moved at the absolute limit of speed, like two bolts of lightning crossing in the air, too fast for the eye to follow.
Meanwhile, Killer B joined the fight. The Eight-Tails' Chakra Cloak appeared around his body, its red chakra burning like flames. Seven swords danced in his hands as though in a magnificent performance. His attacks were swift and fierce, every slash carrying destructive power. Flashes of steel intertwined with lightning, forming an airtight net of attacks that sought to suppress Minato Namikaze completely.
Yet despite the two-on-one assault, Minato Namikaze did not fall behind in the slightest. His Flying Thunder God Technique allowed him to move in an instant, avoiding fatal attacks while counterattacking with his kunai and formulas. He flitted across the battlefield like a ghost, every appearance bringing a deadly threat. The fight moved at a breakneck pace, like a clash of lightning, too fast for anyone to take it all in.
The battle reached a fever pitch. Fourth Raikage A and Killer B worked together flawlessly, and the power of Lightning Release and tailed beast chakra plunged the entire battlefield into chaos. Lightning raged through the air, the Tailed Beast's chakra exploded across the ground, trees were uprooted from the forest, and deep gashes were torn into the earth. Yet Minato Namikaze remained calm throughout. His Flying Thunder God Technique let him evade fatal attacks at the last possible moment while he searched for a chance to counterattack.
At last, Minato Namikaze seized a fleeting opening. He flashed behind Killer B, his kunai aimed at a vital point. But just as he was about to land the blow, Fourth Raikage A rushed over and blocked it with his body.
"B, watch out!" Fourth Raikage A growled, a trace of urgency in his voice. The kunai had carved a deep wound into his body, and blood flowed from it, but he paid it no mind. He only stared fixedly at Minato Namikaze, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
Killer B retreated quickly, gratitude flashing in his eyes. He knew that if A had not arrived in time, he might already have been seriously injured. Seeing this, Minato Namikaze smiled slightly and withdrew his kunai. His gaze moved between the two of them, his voice still calm. "You work very well together, but it isn't enough to defeat me."
Young A gritted his teeth, a flash of unwillingness in his eyes, but he also knew that Minato Namikaze's strength far exceeded their expectations. This fight was not destined to end easily. Killer B, meanwhile, resumed his fighting stance, his eyes gleaming with excitement beneath his sunglasses. He knew the battle had only just begun, and the real showdown was still to come.
"It seems we won't settle this today," Minato Namikaze said mildly, a trace of regret in his voice, but more than that, respect for his opponents. He still stood tall, his golden hair stirring gently in the wind and a profound light shining in his blue eyes. Despite the fierce battle, his breathing remained steady, as though the life-and-death struggle had been nothing more than part of his daily training.
Young A snorted, but a trace of admiration flashed in his eyes. His fists were still clenched as the Lightning Release chakra around him slowly dissipated, like a beast sheathing its claws. Though he was fierce by nature and domineering in his actions, he never held back his respect for the truly strong. Minato Namikaze's strength, composure, and calm had earned his sincere admiration.
"Minato Namikaze, you really do live up to your reputation." A's voice was deep and forceful. His tone held a trace of unwillingness, but also recognition of his opponent. "Your speed, tactics, and use of Ninjutsu have opened my eyes. But the next time we meet, we'll settle who's stronger!"
Minato Namikaze smiled slightly and nodded. "I look forward to that day. When it comes, we may face each other again in the name of Kage."
Fighting spirit flashed in A's eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly. "Good! It's a deal. Next time, I'll show you the true pinnacle of Lightning Release!"
Killer B, standing nearby, also put away his seven swords, excitement gleaming in his eyes beneath his sunglasses. He stepped forward and patted A on the shoulder. "Big brother, don't be so serious! Minato Namikaze is an interesting opponent. Let's have some real fun with him next time!"
Minato Namikaze looked at Killer B, a gentle smile in his eyes. "Killer B, your swordsmanship and the power of your Tailed Beast impressed me too."
Killer B gave him a thumbs-up. "Next time, I won't let you get close so easily!"
The real Shinobi World...
The image on the Heavenly Screen slowly faded, as though a dream had quietly come to an end, but every detail of the battle was deeply etched in everyone's minds. Although this fight had lacked the spectacular, world-shattering Ninjutsu and breathtakingly grand scenes shown on the Heavenly Screen before, Minato Namikaze's supreme Space-Time Ninjutsu and his utterly calm performance in battle, along with young A's supreme speed, only slightly inferior to Minato's, had shown everyone a true pinnacle clash between ninja.
It was a contest of speed and wisdom, a perfect combination of Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique was ghostlike; every time he appeared, he was almost impossible to track, as though time and space had lost their meaning before him. His calm and composure were even more impressive. Even against formidable enemies like the Raikage brothers, he had handled them with ease and even found opportunities to counterattack during the fight.
Young A's performance had been equally astonishing. Though his speed was slightly inferior to Minato Namikaze's, his violent Lightning Release chakra and astonishing explosive power had made him a bolt of lightning no one could ignore. Every attack had carried destructive power, as though it could tear through any obstacle. His fighting spirit and determination had also given people a glimpse of the future Fourth Raikage.
Killer B's performance had been just as impressive. His intricate swordsmanship was as dazzling as a dance, the seven swords in his hands seemingly alive, every swing carrying a deadly threat. His perfect coordination with the Eight-Tails was even more astonishing. The Tailed Beast's chakra and his swordsmanship blended into a seamless system of attack and defense. His fighting style looked casual, but was in fact full of cunning and intelligence, making him difficult to read.
Though the battle had caused no earth-shattering destruction, it had shown people the purest kind of duel between ninja: a clash of speed, skill, wisdom, and will. Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique, A's Lightning Release speed, and Killer B's swordsmanship and Tailed Beast power had all been displayed to the fullest.
"Now that was a real duel between ninja..." an older ninja remarked quietly, his eyes full of emotion. "None of that flashy Ninjutsu, just a contest of pure speed and skill."
"Lord Minato Namikaze was so strong! His Flying Thunder God Technique is practically unbeatable!" a young Konoha ninja said excitedly, his eyes full of admiration.
"Lord Raikage and Lord Killer B were amazing too! Their speed and power were unbelievable!" a Kumogakure ninja chimed in proudly.
"Lord Killer B's swordsmanship was so cool! And the way he worked with the Eight-Tails was flawless!" another ninja said excitedly, as though still immersed in the scene of the battle.
Fourth Raikage A stood silently on high ground, still gazing at the image that had faded away. His fists clenched slightly, and a complex light flickered in his eyes. The battle seemed to replay in his mind: Minato Namikaze's figure, Killer B's swordsmanship, and his own Lightning Release speed all stirred an indescribable emotion in him.
"Minato Namikaze..." A murmured.