The Master Beats His Disciple

"Whoosh—"

With Minato's arrival, Hashirama and Tobirama's gazes were quickly drawn to him.

"That blond man is the Fourth Hokage? He's wearing a Hokage cloak, and he's so young. Is that really the Fourth Hokage?" Hashirama exclaimed. He'd judged Minato's approximate strength at a glance and was very pleased.

"Is that the Flying Thunder God Technique? That man actually learned the Forbidden Jutsu I created. Not bad at all!"

Tobirama was just as amazed. He'd invented the Flying Thunder God Technique more than a decade ago and hadn't kept it secret.

Yet hardly anyone in all of Konoha had managed to learn it. Had a shinobi from decades in the future picked it up instead? In that case, the Fourth Hokage could be considered his student, couldn't he?

Tobirama was secretly delighted, overcome by the thrill of being the old man who handed out cheat abilities.

"Sir, what's the Fourth Hokage's name? What's he like?"

"His name is Minato Namikaze."

"As for what he's like, you could call him the finest Hokage in history."

"Huh?"

Hashirama and Tobirama both stared blankly. Wasn't it a little impolite to call the Fourth Hokage the finest when the First and Second Hokage were standing right there?

He could at least have put it more tactfully and spared them a little face!

Natsu Yuu couldn't be bothered to argue. That was simply what he thought.

Minato wasn't the strongest Hokage, but there was no doubt he was the finest.

Born a commoner, he'd single-handedly swept through the Third Shinobi World War. He was loyal to the village, loved his wife deeply, and was decisive in battle, with an impressive record of service. He'd even forced the most hardline village, Kumogakure, to hold its breath, and prompted the Third Hokage to hand over the position of his own accord.

Aside from his short life, he had almost no flaws.

As the saying went, just give him a few decades.

The second half of Naruto wouldn't even need to happen.

And Konoha's future... wouldn't have been plagued by so many humiliations and betrayals of the village. Take Kumogakure's kidnapping of Hinata, for instance. Had the Yellow Flash's balls gone soft? Or were they just nostalgic for that flash of gold?

Hearing this, Hashirama and Tobirama became extremely curious about this future Fourth Hokage.

They wondered what kind of outstanding successor could earn the Sage's praise as the finest Hokage.

"Of course, he was an excellent Hokage. But as for his other roles, he gets a failing grade..."

"Huh?"

The sudden reversal left Hashirama and Tobirama confused again.

But just then,

Obito arrived, once more drawing their attention.

"Is that a Sharingan? Another wicked Uchiha?"

"Tobirama!"

"Fine, fine, I won't call him wicked. But he's probably the one controlling the Nine-Tails, right? That way of moving—is it Space-Time Ninjutsu too?"

"Wait, is he the one who attacked the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki while she was giving birth? Elder Brother, this guy's a wicked beast!"

Tobirama was getting worked up. He immediately branded Obito a wicked Uchiha.

Hashirama didn't know what to say. Attacking a pregnant woman in labor was certainly disgraceful.

This Uchiha really was a bit rotten...

"Wait, there's a familiar presence about him. Does he have some of my cells?"

"Indeed. Half his body is made of Elder Brother's cells. How did that happen?"

Tobirama looked puzzled too. Since when had the Uchiha managed to get their hands on Elder Brother's cells?

"You'll understand later."

"Come on. Let's make a little wager first. Which of them do you think will win?"

Natsu Yuu was intrigued and decided to add a bet for fun.

But Hashirama and Tobirama both agreed without hesitation that Minato would win.

Hashirama judged by instinct and experience. To him, Obito seemed mysterious, but his aura was far too inexperienced. He couldn't compare to the battle-hardened Minato.

Tobirama's reasoning was simpler: he had absolute faith in his own Flying Thunder God Technique. Space-Time Ninjutsu like that was simply too powerful.

"Tch... All right, then. How long do you think this fight will last?"

Hashirama: "An hour?"

Tobirama: "I say ten minutes!"

Both men had caught Natsu Yuu's meaning and realized Minato would win. But they disagreed about how long the battle would last.

Hashirama, who'd fought Madara for three days and three nights, and Tobirama, the fastest man in the Ninja World, naturally had different ideas about time.

Meanwhile, Minato and Obito's battle began in an instant.

There was no need to explain the result.

In just two exchanges, Minato had analyzed Obito's attack style and Kamui's weakness.

Then, in the split second they clashed, he landed a Rasengan and Flying Thunder God Technique: Second Step, badly wounding Obito!

The whole fight lasted only two rounds—less than half a minute.

"Was that Flying Thunder God Technique: Second Step? Tobirama, he learned that move of yours too?"

Hashirama was amazed. He remembered well the technique that had killed Izuna.

"No, it's different!"

"He improved the Flying Thunder God Technique. My Flying Thunder God Technique: Second Step can only teleport me to a moving object, and I can't use a jutsu at the same time."

"This Fourth Hokage can use the Flying Thunder God Technique while performing a jutsu."

"Use two jutsu at the same time? That's impressive!"

"No wonder that wicked Uchiha miscalculated..."

"This man's Flying Thunder God and Body Flicker are both better than mine!"

"The Hokage two generations after me is this talented? Excellent!"

Senju Tobirama didn't hold back his praise. For someone as proud as him to praise Minato aloud showed just how exceptional he was.

Even Tobirama himself hadn't overcome the seemingly insurmountable barrier that kept shinobi from performing two jutsu at once, yet the Fourth Hokage had managed it!

The Rasengan didn't require hand seals, but it was still astonishing.

"He can use two jutsu at once, has such sharp battle instincts, and he's still so young. Maybe this Fourth Hokage will surpass even me someday!" Hashirama praised cheerfully.

Of course, he was exaggerating a little, but it was also the fond hope one had for a talented young shinobi.

Besides, when he and Madara had been Minato's age, they hadn't been this strong.

With such an outstanding Fourth Hokage leading the village, he could already picture Konoha's bright future.

Still, if the Fourth Hokage was so capable, how had the Fourth Ninja World War ever broken out?

As Hashirama wondered,

the battle between Minato and Obito was nearing its end.

When the Rasengan struck Obito in the back, it had also left a Flying Thunder God Mark on him.

Minato teleported directly in front of Obito and followed up with a Contract Seal, severing Obito's connection to the Nine-Tails and freeing the beast from Genjutsu control.

It took fewer than three rounds.

Obito was utterly defeated by Minato. He'd lost the Nine-Tails, half his body was badly damaged, and his left arm had melted away completely. He no longer had the strength to fight.

"As expected of the Fourth Hokage. You managed to sever my arm and strip away the Nine-Tails."

"But the Nine-Tails will be mine sooner or later!"

"I'm the one who will unite the world. I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve..."

Obito made a bold threat, but his body told the truth: he immediately activated Kamui and fled. If he stayed any longer, he'd probably lose his life.

Minato didn't pursue him. He immediately headed toward the village.

Compared to the mysterious masked man who'd escaped, the Nine-Tails needed urgent attention.