Return to Konoha, A-Rank Mission Complete!

Minato Namikaze's exact words were: "It felt like that child had been secretly watching him. Perhaps he had something he wanted to discuss with him, but he was probably rather introverted and shy..."

Minato Namikaze had gone on at great length, but when relaying it, Nara Shikano ruthlessly condensed and edited it down.

Is Minato's sensory ability really that sharp? I only looked at him a hundred million extra times...

Hearing the Old Clan Head's words, Nara Kaikei inexplicably felt a wave of embarrassment.

Right, Minato is a sensory-type ninja too...

After all sorts of reasons circled through his mind, Nara Kaikei ultimately chose to be honest.

"It's not that I have anything special to discuss with Jonin Namikaze. I just wanted to challenge him."

"Challenge Minato?"

Nara Shikano raised a brow, somewhat surprised.

"Why?

"To be honest, in my view, opponents better suited to you right now are Chunin your age, like Asuma Sarutobi.

"Minato is extremely strong. His Body Flicker Technique in particular is so fast that there are only a few ninja in all of Konoha who would dare guarantee they could defeat him."

The Old Clan Head truly did intend to cultivate Nara Kaikei.

The various rewards he had given earlier were partly because of the value of [Lacquer Eye], and partly to compensate for Nara Kaikei's "natural deficiency."

For a ninja, the best weapon was always Chakra.

Ordinary ninja generally had to extract Chakra amid high-speed, constantly moving combat.

In such battles, skillfully refining Chakra was already very difficult.

Precisely controlling and maintaining its output was even harder.

But now that Nara Kaikei possessed a [Chakra Crystal] that resonated with him, his Chakra amount was no longer a limitation.

In the Old Clan Head's view, Nara Kaikei's most important task now was to become proficient in using the abundant energy contained within the [Chakra Crystal].

Second was strengthening his body and building combat experience, especially experience in taijutsu battles.

The body was the foundation of all combat.

But challenging Minato Namikaze just to gain combat experience?

Nara Shikano imagined a battle between Minato and Kaikei—

Kaikei used the Shadow Secret Technique but failed to keep up with Minato's speed. Minato closed in, drew a kunai, and took his head in one slash...

What kind of combat experience would that build?

Experience getting his throat slit?!

Hearing the Old Clan Head's question, Nara Kaikei pressed his lips together.

That was also why he had hesitated over whether to challenge Minato.

Nara Kaikei certainly coveted Minato's challenge mission.

But he truly could not find a suitable, legitimate reason.

Even ninja from the same village rarely sparred with one another in the ninja world, in order to avoid exposing information about their abilities.

Unless they were teammates or dearly beloved friends and family.

But Nara Kaikei and Minato Namikaze were neither related nor acquainted. Today was their first formal meeting.

Bringing up a challenge so rashly would be far too tactless!

Damn it, but still...

"The reason I want to challenge Jonin Minato Namikaze..."

Nara Kaikei let out a breath and spoke bluntly.

"...is because he's Minato Namikaze!"

"That was rather nicely put."

The Old Clan Head shook his head, neither approving nor disapproving.

"But since when did Minato become so famous?"

Seeing the Old Clan Head shake his head, Nara Kaikei thought his challenge to Minato had fallen through.

But unexpectedly...

"Come with me. If we don't clear this up, I'm worried Minato won't be able to sleep tonight."

The Old Clan Head beckoned to Nara Kaikei.

"Still, don't get your hopes up about challenging Minato.

"Also, even if Minato truly agrees to your challenge... hmm, Kaikei, I hope you're mentally prepared."

Was this a case of finding another village beyond the dark willows?

No matter how pessimistic the Old Clan Head was, Nara Kaikei felt calm yet pleased.

Either way, getting the guaranteed reward counted as success!

Led by the Old Clan Head, Nara Kaikei had expected to meet Minato Namikaze soon.

But when they arrived, they found only Choza Akimichi, who had mostly recovered.

"Minato sensed something just now. He said another group was approaching, most likely Bounty Hunters."

Before Nara Shikano could speak, Choza Akimichi explained directly.

"He took Inoichi to investigate. They should be back soon."

"These Bounty Hunters really value money over their lives."

Nara Shikano's tone was cold as he continued.

"Choza, after we return to the village, remember to visit Konoha Hospital for a checkup.

"Although the Medical Ninjutsu Scroll healed your injuries, we're people who don't understand Medical Ninjutsu. We can't guarantee the treatment was absolutely perfect."

The Medical Ninjutsu Scroll Minato Namikaze had brought from the village was essentially a scroll infused through Sealing Jutsu with pre-refined Yang Release Chakra for Medical Ninjutsu.

When it was needed, one only had to open the scroll and direct the sealed Yang Release Chakra at the patient's wound, accelerating their healing and recovery.

Such Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls were not only difficult to make, but their materials were extremely expensive. Their healing effects also could not compare to those of professional medical ninja, and they had serious limitations in use.

Only injured people like Choza Akimichi, who were hurt during sudden encounters without a medical ninja nearby, needed the aid of a Medical Ninjutsu Scroll.

Because of his family background, Nara Kaikei knew quite a bit about Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls. In Nara Pharmacies, they were the kind of "expensive junk" left gathering dust in the deepest parts of the warehouse.

Those who could afford them did not want them, while those who wanted them could not afford them.

That was roughly what Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls were like.

By comparison, the other five elemental-release scrolls were also expensive, but they always had a certain market demand.

Choza Akimichi nodded and was about to respond.

A flash of golden light passed by, and Minato Namikaze and Inoichi Yamanaka appeared before the three of them.

So this is the Flying Thunder God Technique?

Nara Kaikei stared at Minato in amazement, completely ignoring Inoichi Yamanaka, who also had blond hair.

And it's the improved Flying Thunder God!

Minato Namikaze first reported what he had just discovered to Nara Shikano: a very ordinary group of Bounty Hunters was wandering throughout the Land of Fire in search of descendants of the Chinoike Clan.

"Still no information on Kakuzu?" Nara Shikano asked.

"No."

Inoichi Yamanaka shook his head.

"The Bounty Hunters tonight did not know Kakuzu existed at all, nor had they received any special information from the Bounty Exchange."

"It seems Kakuzu has truly given up pursuing us."

Nara Shikano nodded slightly.

"But don't let your guard down. We'll take turns keeping watch tonight. Minato and Inoichi will each handle a shift."

Minato Namikaze and Inoichi Yamanaka naturally nodded in agreement.

Only then did Minato Namikaze turn his gaze toward Nara Kaikei.

He first looked Nara Kaikei over, then shifted his Line of Sight to Nara Shikano, silently asking for an explanation.

Nara Shikano also glanced at Nara Kaikei. Then, taking the two with him, he bid farewell to Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi and went to an open clearing not far from the camp.

Under the moonlight.

The Old Clan Head got straight to the point. "Kaikei wants to challenge you!"

"Hm?"

Minato Namikaze's first reaction was that Nara Shikano was joking.

But he immediately realized that Mr. Shikano was not Jiraiya. Mature and composed, he rarely joked.

So...

Was this child sneaking glances at me all afternoon because he wanted to challenge me?

For some reason, Minato Namikaze felt a mixture of surprise and disappointment.

"If you want to challenge me, that's fine."

Minato Namikaze put aside his stray thoughts and offered a gentle smile.

"However, it's nighttime now. From what I know, the Nara Clan's Shadow Secret Technique is weakened to some degree at night.

"How about we wait until we return to the village, then find a time to have a spar? What do you think?"

What could Nara Kaikei say?

"Alright."

Nara Kaikei nodded somewhat awkwardly.

They had only just met, and asking to challenge him was already rude enough.

Yet Minato Namikaze was still so understanding.

He really was... worthy of being called Little Sun!

"Thank you very much! And I'm very sorry!"

Nara Kaikei bowed slightly.

"My request was too abrupt."

"Not at all."

Minato Namikaze smiled and waved his hand.

"Guiding the younger generation is the duty that seniors must not shirk.

"Where Konoha's leaves dance, The fire will always burn. The firelight will continue illuminating the village and make new leaves sprout.

"To me, Nara-kun, you are Konoha's new bud."

Although he felt that the Will of Fire was incomparably hollow and lacked practical guiding principles, this was the first time Nara Kaikei had heard such a pleasant, agreeable version of it!

After agreeing on the general time and place for their spar, the three returned to camp and rested for the night.

The next day arrived, and the Konoha ninja carried out the B-Rank Mission [Bounty Hunter] in an orderly manner.

By the time they saw Konoha's gates, it was already evening.

The Bounty Hunters near the official roads of the Land of Fire had mostly been cleared out.

After returning to the village, Minato Namikaze, Asuma Sarutobi, Nara Shikano, and the others went to the Hokage Building to submit the mission.

Nara Kaikei had wanted to follow the Old Clan Head, but a single sentence—"You are only the mission client"—sent him back.

When he returned to the apartment beside the Ninja Academy, a prompt suddenly appeared on his panel.

[Detected submission of an A-Rank ninja commission mission scroll!]

[[A-Rank Mission: "Tribute"] completed!]

[You have received one A-Rank [Ninja Scroll]!]

Minato was a Japanese homophone for "Fourth Generation," as well as a nickname for Minato Namikaze.

--

Regarding [Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls], the previous chapter had discussed them at length. Based on readers' suggestions, some supplementary corrections have been made this time.

Also attached is a summary of the chapter comments from the previous chapter:

1. [Ninjutsu Scrolls] did exist in the original work.

In manga chapter 334, during the battle against the Immortals Duo, Shikamaru wanted to use a [scroll] to block Kakuzu's Lightning Style: False Darkness, but the contents of the scroll could not be seen.

In anime episode 304, which adapted the content of manga chapter 334, Shikamaru used a [Shield Scroll] here, though its exact effect was unknown.

In anime episode 305, Shikamaru also used a [Water Scroll], which contained a Water Release Ninjutsu.

There was also Kisame Hoshigaki's Water Prison Technique: Triggered Trap Scroll in manga chapter 508.

2. Although [Ninjutsu Scrolls] existed in the original work, they appeared very rarely, and there were no appearances of [Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls]. (If I remembered wrong, kick me.)

3. [Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls] were merely a secondary setting created by the author based on the manga's contents.

Everything concerning [Medical Ninjutsu Scrolls], whether in the previous chapter or this one, was merely the author's secondary setting.