Blood-Hardened Trial

A weapon an inch longer was an inch stronger; a weapon an inch shorter was an inch more dangerous.

Obviously, this head-on clash had strength but no danger.

The two kids wielded their Han Swords skillfully, with solid fundamentals, forcing the three Rain Ninja back.

They were completely uninjured, and Nawaki even sliced the lead Rain Ninja's mask in half, exposing a young face.

The Rain Ninja tore off his mask and threw it aside, fury immediately appearing on his face.

Three of them had failed to take down two children and had even lost a mask. It was simply unacceptable.

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave."

"Ninja Art: Rain of Senbon."

"Ninja Art: Five Sharks."

The three Rain Ninja each unleashed a ninjutsu at the two kids.

Nawaki's expression turned grave as he formed hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."

The last time Kawafune had seen Nawaki use this move was last time. Now, the Water Dragon was clearly much larger. No wonder Orochimaru had said Nawaki possessed Chunin-level strength.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Divide."

Nawaki's Water Dragon Bullet canceled out the Wild Water Wave and Five Sharks. His Chakra reserves were superior.

He then used Earth Style to block the Senbon falling from above.

Minato had already vanished from behind the earth wall and attacked the three Rain Ninja from the flank.

He had noticed that the three were quite mediocre in close combat.

Kawafune saw it clearly and could not help sighing. No wonder Minato had stood out in the Third Shinobi War.

He possessed such battle intelligence at just ten years old. As long as he did not die, he was bound to rise to prominence.

Seeing their ninjutsu broken and Minato attacking from the side, the three Rain Ninja could only meet him head-on.

Nawaki also launched an attack from the front.

The five began an intense hand-to-hand battle.

With the advantage of their Han Swords' length, the two kids quickly suppressed the three Rain Ninja, leaving several wounds on each of them.

Seeing they were outmatched, the Rain Ninja each took another wound to withdraw from the two kids' attack range.

They used ninjutsu again, spreading out so the two kids would have no opportunity to drag them into a chaotic melee.

Nawaki and Minato, separated by the ninjutsu, had already reached a certain limit in their stamina.

The Rain Ninja had been waiting in comfort, while the two of them had been traveling for a long time.

Panting heavily, Minato used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to attack the lead Rain Ninja.

Seeing this, Nawaki also charged in. The two planned to focus their firepower on taking out one opponent first.

The remaining two Rain Ninja would not just stand by and watch.

Two more Water Release attacks flew toward them.

In the rush, Nawaki barely blocked part of them with Earth Style and endured the rest head-on.

Blood spilled from his mouth. He staggered, then steadied himself and thrust his sword forward, piercing the chest of the Rain Ninja still resisting the Great Breakthrough before him.

With first blood secured, Nawaki had no time to process the discomfort of killing someone for the first time. He pulled out his sword, turned around, and faced the remaining Rain Ninja.

Now it was two against two. Their odds had improved.

Kawafune had originally planned to save Nawaki, but stopped when he saw him begin forming hand seals.

Nawaki had rendered great service in this exchange.

To conserve Chakra, the two kids chose close combat.

Minato took a wound but finished off his opponent.

Nawaki's injury prevented him from securing a victory for a long time. Only when Minato came to support him did they knock down the last Rain Ninja.

The Rain Ninja fell to the ground and watched Minato approach step by step before opening her mouth to beg for mercy.

"Can you spare my life? I only came because I was following orders."

"As long as you let me go, I promise I'll never appear before you again."

She was a girl. Her mask had been knocked away, revealing delicate features. She looked around thirteen or fourteen.

Under the shadow of death, tears were already streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry. This is war."

Minato's expression hardened. He drove his sword down, and the girl died with resentment in her heart.

Only then did Nawaki collapse onto the ground. Overexertion combined with his injuries left him unable to stand.

"Nawaki."

Minato pulled out his sword and hurried over to support Nawaki.

He took a Military Ration Pill from his ninja pouch and stuffed it into Nawaki's mouth.

They were specially made by Tsunade. Their effects were incredibly good.

"I'm fine. I just used up too much."

"Why isn't Big Brother back yet?"

After swallowing the military ration pill, Nawaki finally showed his vulnerable side, tears slipping from the corners of his eyes.

"Teacher will be fine."

Minato had faith in Kawafune's strength.

Though it was also Minato's first time killing someone, his mental fortitude was stronger than Nawaki's.

Still, Nawaki's reaction was what one would expect from someone on the battlefield for the first time. After all, geniuses were always few.

"Cough, cough. Well done."

Only then did Kawafune emerge from hiding and walk over to the two kids.

"Just minor injuries. I'll take you back."

Kawafune checked Nawaki's wounds and carried him on his back.

"Minato, you have Chunin-level strength now. I'm very pleased."

Kawafune praised Minato without reservation. He deserved it.

"It's because Teacher taught me well."

"Haha, I like honest kids like you."

Kawafune laughed heartily, thoroughly pleased by Minato's praise.

"Nawaki, you did very well too."

"You found the enemy's weakness and traded injury for a life."

"Although I don't entirely approve, it was a very good choice when there was no other option."

"From today onward, you're a qualified ninja."

Kawafune leaped from tree trunk to tree trunk as he encouraged his brother-in-law as well.

Only then did Minato realize that this had been Teacher's test for him and Nawaki.

He had been nearby all along, protecting them.

"Big Brother, I was so scared."

"I was afraid you'd be disappointed in me. Afraid I'd never see you again, never see my sister again."

Nawaki cried harder and harder on Kawafune's back.

"This is war. I hope that one day, we'll have the ability to ensure war never happens again."

Kawafune sighed. It was the wish of many people, though each person used different means to achieve it.

Yet war was the central theme running through the entire world of the Hokage.

At that moment, he did not think Nawaki was unbearably weak. During his own first mission, he had performed even worse than Nawaki.

If not for his elder brother Sakumo, it might have taken him a long time to recover.

The education he had received beneath the Five-Star Red Flag had made killing far too unfamiliar to him, but this was a world where people devoured one another.

Now, he had grown accustomed to it. He had grown numb.

The three returned along the same path.

Nawaki fell asleep on Kawafune's back.

After eating a Military Ration Pill, Minato's stamina and Chakra began to recover.

With Kawafune deliberately slowing down, he was able to keep up.

"Teacher, what about that Jonin?"

Minato could not help asking. If Teacher had returned when Nawaki made his move—

wouldn't that Rain Ninja have escaped?

"Dead."

Kawafune's answer was simple and clear.

"This..."

Minato did not know how to describe his shock. His understanding of Kawafune's strength became even clearer.

"I know a very fast Forbidden Jutsu. I'll teach it to you when you grow up."

Kawafune reached out and even rubbed Minato's head.

Without the Flying Thunder God, how could Minato be called the Yellow Flash?

"Yes, Teacher."

"When the time comes, I'll study it properly."

Minato's doubts were finally resolved, and he could not help feeling anticipation.

Just how fast was "very fast"?

He could barely wait to grow up.