If you asked where the last patch of green in the Shinobi World could be found, the answer was undoubtedly Konoha.
The pines and cypresses stayed evergreen, allowing the Forest of Death to remain full of life even through the cold of winter. Perhaps it was much like Konoha itself, standing firm at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World despite countless storms and hardships.
Kiba Inuzuka crouched and touched the pine needles soaking in thick blood. He then held his fingers beneath the Ninja Dog's nose and said to his teammates behind him, "The blood is still fresh. They can't have gone far. Tora Maru can lead us."
Minato Namikaze's expression was grave. He had only reached the battlefield on the second day after the Cloud Ninja invaded the Land of Fire.
Flying Thunder God couldn't be used for travel unless absolutely necessary. And since he also had to move with his teammates Kiba Inuzuka and Choji Akimichi, they naturally couldn't go very fast.
Honestly, that wasn't a problem.
Given the size of the Land of Fire, reaching the border by the second day was already quite fast. But the border had collapsed so inexplicably and completely that by the time they arrived, their mission had changed from providing support to conducting a search and rescue.
Their vanguard troops had no choice but to split up and search for the missing ninja. Now Team Minato had found some tracks, but Minato wasn't reassured.
Blood meant someone had been wounded, and they might even be hunted. They were forced to race against the Shinigami.
"Move quickly. Things don't look good."
His teammates nodded, and the next second, all three vanished.
Stay calm.
Keep your breathing steady.
Halfway up a towering tree, a Leaf Ninja crouched behind the trunk. He used one hand to bandage his thigh and gripped a Kunai tightly in the other.
His nerves were taut and his face pale. Though he kept telling himself to stay calm, his body still trembled. He didn't know if it was because he'd lost too much blood, or because he was genuinely afraid.
Those two men were terrifying.
In a single exchange, his captain had been strangled by two arms like bands of muscle, one from either side.
His head had spun through the air. Standing closest to him, the Leaf Ninja had even been able to see the expression on his face.
It hadn't been pain or fear. Only confusion.
His captain, a respected Jonin, hadn't even had a chance to react against those two!
Was this what a Cloud Ninja was like?
Yamanaka Take had grown up in Konoha as a member of the Yamanaka Clan. He'd been taught since childhood that Konoha was the greatest. For the first time, he deeply questioned everything he'd believed.
"Lord A, the man's gone."
A squad of Cloud Ninja suddenly appeared beneath the tree. A sensor ninja closed his eyes and, after a while, spoke slowly.
Hearing the voice below, Yamanaka Take went rigid. He didn't dare move a muscle.
"Search carefully. That brat's from the Yamanaka Clan. We can't let him get away. Killer B, are you all right?"
A, at the head of the squad, kept his expression blank as he surveyed the area.
"I'm fine. The brat entered my mental world and ran off as soon as he saw Gyuki."
Killer B opened his mouth, showing his gleaming white teeth. He was about to rap a verse about wide noodles, but then he remembered his big brother's advice: no fooling around on the battlefield. He forced himself to hold back.
Suddenly, the corners of A's mouth lifted. He glanced sideways and said to the men behind him, "He's probably not here anymore. Spread out and search."
He gave a signal, and the Cloud Ninja scattered.
Yamanaka Take remained on guard. He held his position for several minutes before relaxing his taut muscles and closing his eyes to breathe out softly.
Just hearing that man's voice made him feel the pressure mounting.
"Kid, it's not time to sleep yet."
In the quiet woods, the voice rang in his ears like a great bell.
Yamanaka Take's eyes flew open. His pupils shrank to pinpricks, the hairs on his body stood on end, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
A was standing less than five meters in front of him, hands on his hips and head held high as he looked down on him with contempt. He shook his head and said, sounding somewhat disappointed, "I thought there might be some kind of trap. Looks like the Yamanaka Clan isn't much after all."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his muscular arm.
Yamanaka Take frantically searched for an escape route, but the Cloud Ninja had sealed them all off. Behind A, Killer B was also raising his arm with an excited look on his face.
"No, no..."
Yamanaka Take slumped onto the branch, muttering to himself.
He knew there was no way he could dodge a blow like that.
"For your family's sake, you'll have the honor of dying to the Absolute Bull Demon Lightning Plow Hot Blade."
Their arms were like executioners' swords. As they reached their highest point, the bell of death rang!
Whoosh—!
Their arms crossed where Yamanaka Take had been standing. The rush of air stirred the leaves around them, but Yamanaka Take had vanished.
"Looks like I'm not too late."
Minato Namikaze set the still-terrified Yamanaka Take down, then turned around and flicked both hands. A dozen Kunai flew out, embedding themselves across the battlefield.
"That Body Flicker Technique is Minato Namikaze, the one known as the Yellow Flash!"
One of the Cloud Ninja behind A couldn't help taking half a step back.
In the Shinobi World, desertion was a disgrace punishable by severe penalties from one's village. But fleeing when faced with the Yellow Flash was the one exception.
Of course, that was an unspoken rule. No village would ever acknowledge it openly.
But that rule didn't apply today.
A cracked his neck and smiled cruelly. "The Flash? How does he compare to the thunder at Cloud Thunder Gorge?"
Lightning Release Armor instantly enveloped his body. In the next moment, a fist as big as a man's head was already bearing down on Minato Namikaze. The violent gust even sent Minato's hair whipping wildly.
But Minato's expression didn't change. He vanished again, even finding time to toss Yamanaka Take to his teammates as he disappeared.
A, however, seemed to have been ready for this. He twisted his thick waist, turning his body with the motion. The earth beneath his feet cracked, and his Lightning Release-wreathed fist suddenly accelerated again, smashing toward the spot behind and above him!
The Kunai engraved with the Sword of Ninja Love collided with his fist. It lasted less than a breath before breaking into seven or eight pieces. The punch didn't lose momentum and slammed directly into Minato's shoulder.
Bang—!
"Substitution Technique?"
A frowned at the piece of wood in front of him and looked up. Only then did he realize that Minato's teammates had disappeared with the little Yamanaka boy.
After a moment, the Cloud Ninja finally came to their senses. Their lord had actually beaten the famous Yellow Flash head-on!
"Lord A, you—you actually..."
A frowned. "What? Did you think I couldn't beat Minato Namikaze?"
"No, no!"
His subordinates hurriedly waved their hands.
"Big brother, that Yellow Flash really is just like Hoshino Maki said. All he does is Backstab."
Killer B was in high spirits. Because he and A were so close, he didn't hold back when he spoke.
The Cloud Ninja looked baffled. They didn't know what their lord beating the Yellow Flash had to do with that damn Hoshino Maki.
A looked displeased. "What? That guy was just making a few casual remarks. You'd think I couldn't win without him. Let me tell you, I've already forgotten everything he said."
Killer B pursed his lips. The memory of what his butt had gone through as a child reminded him that it was best to keep quiet right now.
"Where are they?"
The Cloud Ninja had all been focused on the fight between A and Minato. No one had paid attention to Minato's teammates.
"After them!"
Thanks to @MS_06 for the two Monthly Tickets!
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