Different Yellow Flash VS AB Combo

If there was one last patch of green in the ninja world, it would have to be Konoha.

The pine and cypress trees remained evergreen, allowing the Death Forest to retain its vitality even in the cold winter. This was perhaps like Konoha itself, standing at the pinnacle of the ninja world despite enduring countless storms.

Kiba Inuzuka crouched down, touching the pine needles soaked in thick blood. He then brought his finger under the nose of his ninja dog and said to his teammates behind him, "The blood is still fresh. They shouldn't have left long ago. Tora Maru can help us track them."

Minato Namikaze's expression was grim. He had only arrived on the battlefield on the second day after the Cloud Ninja attacked the Land of Fire.

Unless absolutely necessary, the Flying Thunder God Technique couldn't be used for travel. Coupled with the need to move with his teammates Kiba Inuzuka and Choji Akimichi, their speed was naturally not very fast.

Honestly, this was fine.

Given the size of the Land of Fire, arriving at the border on the second day was already quite fast. But they couldn't account for the border's inexplicable collapse. By the time they arrived, the mission had shifted from reinforcement to search and rescue.

Their vanguard had to split up to search for scattered ninja. Now, Minato's team had found some traces, but Minato wasn't feeling relieved.

The appearance of bloodstains indicated that personnel were injured, possibly even being pursued. They were forced into a race against death.

"Let's hurry. The situation isn't optimistic."

His teammates nodded, and in the next second, the three of them vanished from their positions.

Calm down.

Breathe evenly.

Midway up a towering tree, a Konoha ninja leaned against the trunk, bandaging his thigh with one hand while tightly gripping a kunai in the other.

His nerves were taut, his face pale. Even though he kept telling himself to stay calm, his body couldn't help but tremble. He didn't know if it was from blood loss or if he was truly terrified.

Those two men were too terrifying.

In just one exchange, their captain had his head twisted off from both sides by two arms like muscular vines.

His head spun through the air. The closest one to him could even see the expression on his face.

It wasn't pain, nor fear, only confusion.

Their captain, a respected Jonin, hadn't even had a chance to react in the hands of those two!

Was this the Cloud Ninja?

Yamanaka Take, born into the Yamanaka clan and raised in Konoha his whole life, had always been indoctrinated with the belief that Konoha was the best. For the first time, he deeply questioned his previous understanding.

"Lord Ay, that person is gone."

A squad of Cloud Ninja suddenly appeared beneath the tree. A sensory ninja closed his eyes and after a moment, slowly spoke.

Yamanaka Take stiffened upon hearing the voices below, unable to move at all.

"Search thoroughly. That kid is from the Yamanaka clan; we can't let him get away. Killer B, are you alright?"

Ay, the leader, spoke with a blank expression, his gaze scanning their surroundings.

"I'm fine. That kid entered my spiritual world but was scared away by Gyuki."

Killer B opened his mouth, revealing his pearly white teeth. He was about to sing "Big Bowl Noodle" but remembered his brother's teachings about not fooling around on the battlefield. He suppressed his urge to sing.

Suddenly, Ay's lips curled upwards. He glanced with his peripheral vision and said to the team behind him, "The person is likely no longer here. Disperse and search."

With a gesture, the Cloud Ninja scattered.

Yamanaka Take didn't relax his guard, maintaining his posture for a few minutes before finally relaxing his tense muscles. He closed his eyes and let out a soft breath.

Just hearing that person's voice had put immense pressure on him.

"Kid, it's not time to sleep yet."

In the quiet forest, the voice boomed in his ears like a great bell.

Yamanaka Take's eyes, which had just closed, snapped open. His pupils contracted into needle-like slits, his hair stood on end, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

Less than five meters in front of him, Ay stood with his hands on his hips, looking down at him with a condescending gaze. He shook his head and said with a hint of disappointment, "I thought there would be some kind of trap. It seems people from the Yamanaka clan are nothing special."

As he spoke, he slowly raised his muscular arms.

Yamanaka Take frantically looked for an escape route around him, but all paths were blocked by the Cloud Ninja. Killer B behind him also raised his arm with an excited expression.

"No, no."

Yamanaka Take slumped onto the branch, muttering to himself.

He knew that with his skill level, he couldn't possibly dodge this attack.

"For the sake of your clan, you will have the honor of dying by the Absolute Bull Demon Lightning Plow Hot Blade."

His two arms, like executioner's blades, were raised to their highest point. The bell of death tolled!

Whoosh--!

His two arms crossed where Yamanaka Take had been. The airflow rustled the surrounding leaves, but Yamanaka Take had already vanished.

"It seems I'm not late."

Minato Namikaze set down the still-terrified Yamanaka Take. He turned around, flicked his hands, and dozens of kunai were embedded all over the battlefield.

"That Body Flicker Technique belongs to Minato Namikaze, known as the 'Yellow Flash'!"

A Cloud Ninja behind Ay clenched his jaw and took half a step back.

In the ninja world, desertion is a disgrace, punishable by severe penalties from the village. Only when facing the Yellow Flash is running away forgivable.

Of course, this is an unwritten rule, one that no ninja village would officially acknowledge.

But this rule wouldn't apply today.

Ay twisted his neck, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Flash? How does it compare to the thunder of Cloud Thunder Gorge?"

Lightning Release Armor instantly covered his body. The next second, a fist the size of a human head was already closing in on Minato Namikaze. The violent gale even made Minato's hair whip wildly.

But Minato's expression remained unchanged. His figure vanished again. Before leaving, he even had the presence of mind to toss Yamanaka Take to his teammate.

Ay, however, seemed prepared. He twisted his thick waist, rotating his body with his hips. The ground beneath his feet cracked as his lightning-clad fist suddenly accelerated, swinging heavily towards the spot behind and above him!

A kunai etched with the Sword of Ninja Love collided with the fist. It lasted less than a breath before shattering into seven or eight pieces. The punch, undiminished in force, landed directly on Minato's shoulder.

Bang--!

"Substitution Technique?"

Ay looked at the wooden dummy before him, frowning. He raised his head and then noticed that Minato's teammates, along with that Yamanaka Clan kid, had disappeared at some point.

After a while, the Cloud Ninja finally snapped back to reality. Their Lord had actually defeated the renowned Yellow Flash head-on!

"Lord, you, you actually..."

Ay frowned. "What? Do you think I'm not Minato Namikaze's match?"

"No, no!"

The subordinate quickly waved his hands.

"Big Brother, this Yellow Flash really is like Hoshino Maki said, always backstabbing."

Killer B was in a great mood. Due to his close relationship with Ay, he spoke without reservation.

The Cloud Ninja present looked bewildered, not understanding the connection between their Lord defeating the Yellow Flash and that damned Hoshino Maki.

Ay's expression turned displeased. "What? He just said a few casual words. It's like you think I couldn't win without him. Let me tell you, I've long forgotten anything he said."

Killer B pursed his lips. The pain he'd suffered on his backside as a child reminded him it was best to keep quiet at this moment.

"Where did they go?"

The Cloud Ninja had been focused on Ay and Minato's fight and hadn't paid attention to Minato's teammates.

"Chase!"

Thanks to @MS_06 for the 2 monthly tickets!