Making a Ruckus

"You're saying the Minato isn't here?"

Orochimaru was stunned by what he heard.

Minato was a model ninja, never late or absent, yet able to complete all his work during working hours and handle interpersonal relationships well. Almost no one disliked this warm and gentle guy, who was like the rising sun.

However, this seemingly perfect man skipped work without even submitting a report.

"What happened?"

"It's Lord Tianzai, the Anbu Chief. He went to Root early this morning to challenge Lord Minato. It seems the two of them went somewhere to spar."

The Anbu knelt before the table, head bowed, and answered respectfully.

"... Is it that Katsuki guy again?" Orochimaru rubbed his temples in frustration. "That guy hasn't stopped causing trouble since he came back to the village... Why is he arguing with Minato again? If I remember correctly, aren't they all good friends? Minato and Kushina are said to have already proposed to each other... Um, could this be the reason?"

"This subordinate is unaware."

The Anbu lowered their heads; even they would have difficulty finding out such a thing.

Neither Minato, nor Katsuki, nor Kushina were beings they could monitor.

"Alright, you can go now. Keep a close eye on Root. If Minato shows up, bring him over."

Orochimaru, too lazy to make things difficult for his subordinates any further, waved for them to leave.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

After the Anbu left, Orochimaru let out a heavy sigh.

Having too many talented subordinates is also a challenge! Each one is more capable than the last, and they are all as strong as monsters, making his position as Hokage both a blessing and a torment.

"They've started fighting! I wonder if Minato can Katsuki that monster, Mizuki..."

In the tea room, Nawaki is entertaining guests.

Upon hearing the news from his clansmen, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Chief Nawaki, what has made you laugh?"

With pure white eyes and a flowing kimono, Hyuga Hiashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan Hyuga Hiashi, is visiting the Senju Clan today.

"I apologize for making a scene, Hiashi. I just heard some rather interesting news and couldn't control my emotions for a moment." Nawaki waved away the clansman who had brought the news.

"Oh? What news is it? Chief Nawaki, could you please tell me? Of course, please forgive me if it causes any inconvenience."

Hyuga Hiashi laughed.

"Well! It's not a secret. Hiashi should receive the news when he goes back." Nawaki coughed lightly and put down his teacup. "This morning, Katsuki went to Root to challenge Minato to a duel. The two of them went somewhere to fight, and there's still no news from them."

"To... Chief Katsuki and Minato?"

Hiashi stared wide-eyed, his face filled with astonishment.

Strictly speaking, he and Katsuki are not much different in age, and they are roughly from the same generation. Katsuki and Minato are the two leaders of their generation, and their strength and achievements are always among the best.

Neither Nawaki nor the geniuses of the Uchiha Clan can compare to Katsuki and Minato.

"How could those two have gotten into a fight? This... this... this is simply too shocking!"

"Not surprising at all, not surprising at all. It would be strange if they didn't fight!" Nawaki shook his head and said repeatedly, "Anyway, it's nothing serious. Those two are both shrewd guys. A spar is just a spar... But it's a real pity we can't see Minato and that monster fight..."

Nawaki felt an unbearable itch in its heart.

I couldn't help but imagine the magnificent spectacle that would unfold if those two clashed.

"Earth Release, Earth Flow Rampart."

He stomped his right foot hard on the ground, Chakra instantly poured into the earth. The soil began to grow exponentially, and with Katsuki's will, the soil deformed, and a new hill was about to rise.

"Don't even think about it!"

A sharp shout rang out, and Minato's presence instantly drew near, shifting left and right, up and down, forward and backward, elusive and unpredictable.

"Rasengan."

The blue Chakra dumpling slammed into Katsuki's chest, aiming for his Katsuki abdomen.

Like a mini typhoon erupting, it shattered the outer layer of Lightning Cloak and clung intimately to Katsuki's skin.

The immense centrifugal force pulled and tugged at Katsuki's body, disrupting his balance. He spun uncontrollably like a windmill, losing control of the half-released Ninjutsu. He flew more than ten meters away, crashing into and breaking more than a dozen rock spears.

Then, it fell straight into the crack in the ground.

"······"

"Wow! I actually fell down." Minato stood on the only intact piece of ground, which was also where Katsuki stood before. He scratched his head and muttered to himself, somewhat embarrassed.

"Could it be that we've gone too far?"

"Hey, are you worried about me?" A rectangular golden barrier, not quite forming a stepped structure, extended from the crack in the ground. Katsuki calmly stepped out. "Don't get me wrong! Do you think I'm made of paper? This level of attack is no different from a tickle."

The golden barrier shattered completely with a snap.

Katsuki kicked off two rock spears at her feet and stood firm.

After being hit by a Rasengan, the white T-shirt was torn into a pile of shreds by the powerful centrifugal force, hanging on the rock spear and fluttering in the sea breeze, looking like a funeral banner.

There were faint red marks on his lower abdomen, as if he had been burned. It was said that they were burned by the friction generated when high-density Chakra was circulating at high speed.

Minato's signature Rasengan, an A-rank Ninjutsu, only left such a trivial scar on Katsuki's body.

"... Katsuki, you're getting tougher and tougher. Even the Rasengan can't hurt you..."

Minato shook his head and smiled bitterly.

"It hurts quite a bit!"

Katsuki reached out and touched the scar on her stomach. It stung slightly, like the pain of sweat seeping into a scraped wound.

There's still a gap!

Just think of the Third Raikage's body that Wind Style: Rasenshuriken; that kind of invulnerability is the goal he strives for.

"Shall we continue fighting, Katsuki?"

Minato, with his hands behind his back, looked over with a smile.

"What's the point of fighting?! This area within a dozen kilometers is probably already covered with your coordinates. If we keep fighting, it'll just be a war of attrition. I have no interest in messing around here with you. If this drags on, my sister will beat me to death." Katsuki shrugged, rolled her eyes, and her fierce fighting spirit vanished.

Minato raised an eyebrow slightly, a wry smile appearing on his lips, but he did not refute.

Even though this fight was started by Katsuki, in the end he had no interest in 'making trouble'.

However, their fight was indeed boisterous, lacking any sense of life-or-death tension; it was merely a friendly exchange of blows, nothing more. (To be continued)