Raikage, enough! You're already in the little black book!

Sizzle...

Just as Tōka's Kunai about to pierce Darui's back, a Lightning Man of lightning descended from the sky!

"Raikiri!"

A terrifying amount of Lightning Release chakra concentrated in his right leg, which he raised high and kicked down hard towards Tōka.

Boom!!

The earth cracked, and dark fissures spread out in a spiderweb pattern.

The terrifying force shook the entire Forest, and a cloud of dust rose into the sky like a small Mushroom Cloud.

Tōka, who faced the Raikage's full-force attack, seems to have vanished without a trace...

With a whoosh, a golden shadow flashed by. Minato Namikaze frowned, staring intently at the Raikage who had acted without permission.

"Raikage, you should know the price of taking action, right?" Minato opened his usually squinted eyes, his cold gaze locking onto Yugito.

Between masters, a single glance is enough to know each other's intentions.

If the Raikage cannot offer Minato a price that satisfies him, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki of Kumogakure will definitely be lost!

Not only is the Two-Tails Jinchūriki question, but even the Raikage's ability to leave Konoha is in doubt!

"Hmph, Darui Squad forfeits this exam!" Raikage said fearlessly in a booming voice.

"BOSS!" Darui was about to interrupt in a panic, but was silenced by a sharp glare from the Raikage.

"Furthermore, I will be compensated by you." Raikage squinted at the ruins that had been reduced to rubble.

He thought to himself, "That Bone Release kid should be reduced to nothing but bones by now. No amount of profit can compare to the value of a genius ninja!"

Upon hearing this, Minato frowned, pondering whether he should grant the Raikage's request.

They watched the battle inside from outside using Crystal Ball. When Tōka used Genjutsu, everyone guessed the outcome.

That's why the Raikage rushed over regardless of the consequences, his purpose being to save the Jinchūriki team!

Minato's speed surpasses that of the Raikage, but why he arrived a step later than the Raikage is a question only Minato himself knows...

"Tōka is the best ninja in our Konoha. Your compensation..." Minato did not directly refuse, nor did he immediately take action.

When he left, the Jutsu Formula on the Crystal Ball had already been broken.

In other words, only he and the Raikage knew what was happening here; even the nearest Anbu were kept a hundred paces away by Minato.

Minato's meaning was also quite explicit: he agreed to the Raikage's conditions, on the condition that they be enough to shut everyone up.

"Heh... you're a born Hokage." The Raikage sneered, a smirk playing on his lips. Protecting Yugito and killing that troublesome brat—any price was worth it!

However, the Raikage thought that Minato Namikaze would at least fight him before sitting down to discuss terms.

It seems that it was a tragedy that the boy with the Bone Release was born in Konoha. If he had been in Kumogakure, he certainly wouldn't have been treated like this!

The two bigwigs reached an agreement with just a glance.

Darui helped Yugito Raikage simply hoisted Hii onto his shoulder with one hand, leaped onto a treetop, and disappeared into the forest in the blink of an eye.

Minato Namikaze, however, did not rush to leave; he seemed to be waiting for something.

Really!

A short while later, when the Raikage's aura had completely disappeared...

On the ruins in the Forest, a phantom figure gradually solidified, revealing itself to be Tōka, who had been instantly killed by Raikage!

The Six Harmonies Divine Technique is dispelled!

Tōka's figure appeared, and Shi Shisui, who had been in shock, finally recovered from her inexplicable sadness.

Upon seeing Tōka appear, he rushed over quickly.

Although they haven't known each other for long, Shisui has already come to regard Tōka and Kakashi as teammates and comrades.

"Tōka..." Shisui reached out, intending to help Tōka, but was pushed away by the other party.

Rustling...

Tōka walked by unhurriedly, her feet stepping on the fallen leaves scattered on the ground, the leaves crumbling into powder with a rhythmic sound.

He walked slowly until he stopped five steps away from the Minato.

"Tōka, are you alright?" Minato squinted his eyes, putting on his usual sunny smile.

"It's nothing..." Tōka replied with a smile, though he himself couldn't tell how fake it was.

"It seems you're blaming me, and you are. I should have arrived earlier," Minato sighed, looking apologetic.

"Not at all. Anyway, Raikage's attack didn't hit, so it's my honor to be able to bring greater benefits to the village as a result," Tōka said with a righteous air.

Minato frowned slightly. What he said sounded agreeable and there was nothing wrong with it, but something still felt off.

"You have made a great contribution to the village this time, and as a reward..." Minato paused for a moment, thinking about what Tōka still lacked.

"From the Scroll of Seals, you can choose one technique to learn."

"The Scroll of Seals..." Tōka nodded calmly, acknowledging the agreement. However, this typical "punishment followed by a reward" approach...

Hehe...

"Speaking of which, there's a technique I'm actually quite interested in!" Tōka's eyes flickered slightly.

"Oh? What technique?" Minato asked instinctively.

Three days later, the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams ended.

Only seven teams successfully collected all five Scroll, and a total of twenty-one people passed the test.

Konoha: Team Kakashi, Kakashi, Tōka, Shisui.

Konoha: Asuma's team, Asuma, Guy, and Kurenai.

Kirigakure: Zabuza Squad, Zabuza, Kisame, Mei Terumī.

Sunagakure: Baki's team, consisting of Baki, Yashamaru, and Pakura.

Iwagakure: Bee Squad, consisting of Black Bee, Yellow Bee, and Suzumebachi.

Takigakure: The Wind-Fire Squad, Konishi Hidesu, Komori Takuto, Kohima Masashi (Fire).

Yugakure: Thunder-Water Squad, Kamimura Kazuto, Kamimura Hane, Kamimizu Ryū (Water).

After the Raikage's intervention led to the elimination of the most elite Jinchūriki team in Kumogakure, other villages were eager to take advantage of their weakened state.

In just three days, they wiped out all the other teams from Kumogakure.

The team that eliminated the most Cloud Ninja was the one consisting of Kakashi, Tōka, Shisui.

Seemingly harboring thoughts of revenge, Tōka chooses to ignore teams from other villages, but when he encounters a team from Kumogakure, he doesn't say a word and immediately starts fighting!

The only thing that disappointed them was that the Bee Squad from Iwagakure escaped and even advanced successfully.

Outside the Forest of Death, Kakashi, Tōka, Shisui stood in the shade of a Tree Shadow.

"Now you can have a good rest for half a month." Kakashi didn't know what to say; he could clearly feel the oppressive atmosphere.

Being ambushed twice by the Raikage would be unpleasant for anyone. Or rather, most people would have been numb to it by now.

Not everyone can survive the Raikage's full-force attack.

Tōka's abilities seem to be getting increasingly bizarre. Kakashi secretly observed Tōka, and the moment the other raised his head, he immediately withdrew his burning gaze.

"Do you know what the upcoming exam will be about?" Tōka asked, raising an eyebrow. He was aware of Kakashi and Shisui's other motives, but he hadn't pointed it out.

One represents the Anbu, surveillance from the Hokage; the other represents Root, surveillance from Danzo.

"Yes, it's Arena Tournament." Kakashi nodded slightly and said directly, "The top four from the four tournaments will advance to the semifinals."

"It was all conducted under the watchful eyes of Daimyō from the Great Nations, as well as merchants and high-ranking officials."

In other words, the Ninjutsu exam, to be precise, is a duel where Ninjutsu performances are conducted while ensuring victory!

"Oh." Tōka responded expressionlessly, a cold smile creeping across his face. So, this is the end of our time as teammates.

Tōka turned around and walked towards the village without looking back. Gradually, his figure disappeared from their sight.

Kakashi and Shisui exchanged a glance, then parted ways at the outskirts of the Forest of Death...

After leaving the Forest of Death, Tōka headed straight for the Hokage Building. He was going to find Minato to fulfill his promise—to obtain a Ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals!

Knock knock knock...

A brief knock sounded on the door.

"Come in." The Third Hokage's voice rang out from inside the Hokage's Office.

Minato will officially take office at the Arena Tournament in half a month, and the Third Hokage is currently helping him with some trivial matters.

Tōka pushed open the door and entered, his movements unhurried and his attitude neither humble nor arrogant. He nodded slightly to the Third Hokage and greeted him, "Lord Hokage."

"Oh ho ho ho... It's Tōka!" The Third Hokage called out, smoking his pipe and smiling at Tōka, seemingly waiting for him to explain his purpose.

"The Fourth Hokage Minato promised that I can learn a Ninjutsu," Tōka said, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Finally, he added, "Ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals."

"About this matter!" The Third Hokage nodded slightly to indicate that he understood, then stood up without any hesitation.

There seemed to be a sense of indebtedness towards Tōka, but also a sense that the price Raikage paid made the old man very satisfied.

Perhaps it was because of the look of utter dismay on Raikage's face when he learned that Tōka was still alive after giving up his share of the benefits.

The Third Hokage was in a very good mood. He turned around and secretly made a hand gesture. The two Anbu immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to disappear.

"Come with me." The Third Hokage opened a hidden door and gestured for Tōka to follow.

The two entered a hidden room in the Hokage Building through a secret door. The sealing technique was placed on a high platform inside the room.

The lamps, now shelved, flickered in the air as the hidden door opened.

The shadows of two people, one large and one small, were cast on the wall inside the room, swaying with the flickering Kakkō.

"Tōka, which Ninjutsu do you want to learn?" The Third Hokage took down the Scroll of Seals, but did not rush to break the seals on it.

Tōka's gaze fell on the sealing technique in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand.

He knew most of the Ninjutsu, except for the Impure World Reincarnation and Flying Thunder God. The only one that Tōka could think of was this wide-range defensive Ninjutsu.

The Impure World Reincarnation is only based on the most basic principle and is not yet fully developed. Moreover, the Third Hokage would not teach this technique to Tōka.

Therefore, Tōka directly ruled out the Impure World Reincarnation.

The Flying Thunder God Technique is just the most basic principle; to truly learn it, one must follow Minato.

Tōka then focused his attention on the Five-Seal Barrier technique.

Whether facing Yugito's Tailed Beast Bomb or Mei Terumī's Lava Release, Tōka lacks a Ninjutsu that can defend against it head-on.

The All-Killing Ash Bones Dragon Bone Barrier is effective at defending against some physical attacks, but it's not very useful against wide-range attacks with corrosive, Poison Techniques, or burning abilities.

Therefore, the Five-Seal Barrier is exactly what Tōka needs right now!

It's not the Ninjutsu that's weak, but the ninja. The Ninjutsu you learn doesn't necessarily have to be the strongest, but rather the one that's most needed and most suitable.

"Summoning Technique - Five-Seal Barrier!" Tōka said with certainty.

"The Five-Seal Barrier?" A hint of surprise flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes, but he didn't say anything more.

Then his hand seals changed, and the seal on the Scroll of Seals was broken. He quickly turned the Scroll to the page with the Five-Seal Barrier.

"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me." The Third Hokage placed the Scroll of Seals on the table and stood aside.

"Okay." Tōka stepped forward and stood on the table, without even touching the Scroll of Seals.

He wouldn't care about the Third Hokage standing by watching him; Tōka only intended to learn this Ninjutsu, so he watched it seriously.

For a moment, the dimly lit room was silent, highlighting Tōka's earnest little face.

Time passed quietly, Third Hokage took a puff, only to find that the tobacco in the pipe had burned out sometime earlier.

He wasn't in a hurry and stood quietly to the side.

The Third Hokage Tōka wanted to see how long it would take Dongge to learn this Ninjutsu.

As the Third Hokage reloaded the tobacco and prepared to light it, Tōka memorized the principles of the Five-Seal Barrier, as well as the Hand Seals and a series of effects.

"Lord Hokage, I've finished watching." Tōka looked up, glanced at the Third Hokage was fiddling with his pipe, and reminded him.

"Oh? You finished reading it so quickly?" The Third Hokage put his pipe back in his mouth and glanced at the Scroll of Seals on the table. "Won't you take a closer look?"

Tōka was exasperated. She wasn't even a beauty; just remembering her was enough. Why did she have to look at her so much?

He was thinking of finding an open space to try it out! Can you please stop with all the nonsense?

"No need, I've already remembered." Despite her complaints, Tōka would never say what was really on her mind.

"Alright." The Third Hokage flipped his hand, rolled up the Scroll of Seals, and added Sealing Technique.

Tōka waited for the Third Hokage to finish everything before returning to the Hokage's Office together.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

The Third Hokage suddenly called out to Tōka, "Did you understand everything? If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me."

The Third Hokage thought that Tōka was too embarrassed to ask him for advice, so this time he asked very seriously.

The implication was that Tōka could genuinely ask if she didn't understand the underlying principles; it wasn't just a polite remark.

Tōka tilted his head and recalled the principle of the Five-Seal Barrier. The Five-Seal Barrier belongs to the Tool Summoning of Summoning Technique, which require the contractor to form a blood Hand Seals.

Hai -- Xu -- You -- Shen -- Wei

Once Rashōmon cannot be moved and will disappear after a defensive action is performed.

"I really understand." Tōka said calmly at the end.

"Alright..." The Third Hokage sighed, looking utterly defeated. What a prodigy!

Forbidden Jutsu that can be sealed in the Scroll of Seals are quite difficult to learn, and he could tell that Tōka had truly understood them.