Defeat Minato Namikaze Again

An unusual scene appeared inside Konoha Orphanage.

Four people, one dog, and one cat were gathered around the dining table eating dinner.

"The food the boss makes is so delicious!"

Shirayuki let out an exclamation, saying, "Becoming the boss's summoning beast is definitely the most correct choice, meow!"

Black Flower remained completely silent, only focusing on inhaling the food storm-style.

The relationship between ninjas and summoning beasts is an equal one, so they can also sit at the table to eat.

Of course, Natsuki deliberately prepared separate meals for them to distinguish them from the humans.

Uzumaki Kushina took a sip of chicken soup and couldn't help letting out a breath.

She casually reached out and rubbed Shirayuki's head.

Girls are powerless against cute, fluffy things, and she was no exception.

By comparison, Yakushi Nonō ate very elegantly.

She unhurriedly picked up a piece of beef, tossed it into her mouth, and chewed it carefully, feeling the delicious flavor spread inside her mouth.

But she soon felt a sense of frustration.

During this period, she had also been learning culinary arts, but no matter how she studied, she couldn't catch up to Natsuki.

"This is I don't know how many times better than my sister's cooking!"

Nawaki said with genuine emotion.

Natsuki glanced at him.

There was a plot in the original work where Tsunade cooked, and the victim was Nawaki.

The reason the word victim was used was because the food Tsunade made was extremely unpalatable.

In that scene, Nawaki's face turned mostly black from eating it, just like he had been poisoned.

"What are you guys planning to do during the summer vacation?"

Natsuki asked casually.

"I'm going to continue following my teacher to learn Water Release."

Nawaki said in a spare moment.

"I don't have a summer vacation."

Yakushi Nonō shook her head and said.

"I plan to go back to the Uzumaki Clan with Lady Tsunade."

Uzumaki Kushina raised her head and said.

She is not the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki right now, and coupled with the fact that Tsunade is around, she is able to go out.

After all, she hasn't been home for a good half year.

Natsuki was slightly startled.

He suddenly thought of a question: when was the Uzumaki Clan wiped out?

In the original work, the specific time was never mentioned, though it should have happened before the Second Ninja World War.

It's just that this matter is rather complicated, and it would be very difficult for him to help out right now.

"Natsuki, what about you?"

Uzumaki Kushina asked in return.

"Teacher said he's taking me outside to do a mission."

Natsuki replied.

"Ah?"

Nawaki widened his eyes and asked, "How come Teacher didn't call me?"

"Will going outside to do missions be dangerous?"

Yakushi Nonō immediately asked with concern.

"With Teacher around, there won't be any danger."

Natsuki said with a smile.

"I'm going too!"

Nawaki snapped out of it and said, "I'm going to go find Teacher right now!"

"Then you'll have to convince your sister first."

Natsuki reminded him.

"She'll definitely agree!"

Nawaki said instinctively.

Only, he didn't have all that much certainty in his heart either.

"What a pity, if I weren't going back to the Uzumaki Clan, I'd definitely go with you guys too."

Uzumaki Kushina said with considerable regret.

"There will be chances."

Natsuki said indifferently.

"That's true."

Uzumaki Kushina nodded and said, "Next time, I'll go with you guys."

Time arrived at the next day, the Final Exam for Second Grade Class A.

As usual, the first day was the written exam, and the second day was the combat exam.

After Natsuki frantically grinded through test questions, his score on the written exam could consistently place in the top three.

As long as he secured first place in the combat exam, his overall ranking would generally be first place as well.

However, this Final Exam was somewhat different for Natsuki.

Because he needed to win first place this time to unlock ability three of the Tatsuya Shiba Template.

On the second morning, on the Ninja Academy playground.

"Minato."

Natsuki started, asking, "How have you prepared for the combat exam this time?"

"I've been preparing for a long time."

Namikaze Minato said with a smile, "I won't let you down."

"Hey, you guys better not overlook me!"

Uzumaki Kushina gave a soft snort and said, "Who knows, maybe the first place in this combat exam will be me!"

She wasn't being arrogant; she truly possessed the strength to compete with Natsuki and Namikaze Minato.

In the previous monthly exam, she had defeated Onodera and become the third-place winner of the Third Grade Class A combat exam.

After all, her teacher was Uzumaki Mito.

In present-day Konoha, Uzumaki Mito could be called the strongest person.

Powerful Sealing Jutsu coupled with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—even Hiruzen Sarutobi would find it hard to claim he could surpass her.

Not far away, Onodera watched the three of them and only felt that there was a pathetic, thick barrier separating them.

He used to think he was a genius, but after a year and more of fierce beatings, reality had made him see things clearly.

At nine in the morning, Ishida Yu arrived on time, and the combat exam officially began.

"Third round, fourth match: Natsuki versus Namikaze Minato."

As Ishida Yu's words rang out, Second Grade Class A instantly became extremely lively, with some supporting Natsuki and others supporting Namikaze Minato.

Yet compared to a year ago when support was overwhelmingly one-sided for Namikaze Minato, the majority of the students now tended to support Natsuki.

"Please."

Namikaze Minato took a deep breath, no longer affected by the outside world, and became extremely focused.

Natsuki nodded and drew a wooden sword.

He took the initiative to launch an attack.

One Sword Style: 36 Pound Cannon!

The high-speed wooden sword violently vibrated, producing a blade wave.

Seeing this, Namikaze Minato immediately formed hand seals.

Chakra gathered in his throat and then transformed into a gale of wind.

This was the C-rank Wind Release: Gale Palm.

Natsuki couldn't help feeling somewhat surprised.

Why not Fire Release?

After all, Fire Release was what Jiraiya was best at.

Of course, he knew Wind Release as well.

Although it was rarely used in the original work, Nagato had used Wind Release: Gale Palm.

And Nagato's ninjutsu were all taught by Jiraiya.

With a loud boom!

The blade wave tore the gale apart.

Namikaze Minato wasn't surprised either; he had been prepared and had already evaded the residual blade wave in advance.

After steadying his body, he immediately threw a shuriken.

The speed of the shuriken was extremely fast.

Natsuki instinctively sensed something was wrong and hurriedly used Reinforcement Magic.

He subconsciously raised the wooden sword in his hand.

The wooden sword vibrated and actually snapped in half from the middle.

Fortunately, having the wooden sword block it like that gave Natsuki enough time to dodge to the left and avoid this shuriken.

"Wind Release: Shuriken? No wonder."

Natsuki glanced at the shuriken stuck in the ground, seeing the sharp, cutting edge coating its surface.

That was precisely Wind Release chakra.

Wind Release: Shuriken involves coating a shuriken with Wind Release chakra to make its speed faster and its cutting power stronger.

Even a reinforced wooden sword couldn't block it.

The students of Second Grade Class A let out gasps of amazement upon seeing this scene.

To them, being able to witness two Wind Release jutsus at once in the Ninja Academy was simply incredible.

Especially since Namikaze Minato hadn't used any Wind Release jutsus before.

"This is what you call a genius!"

Ishida Yu was both shocked and excited.

Yet Namikaze Minato couldn't feel happy at all.

Because Wind Release: Shuriken was already his strongest Wind Release ninjutsu.

He had thought he would catch Natsuki off guard, snap his wooden sword, and thereby win, but the result far exceeded his expectations.

There must be something wrong with that wooden sword.

Still, he did not give up.

Clone Technique!

Namikaze Minato formed hand seals and split off a clone.

Summoning Technique!

Natsuki discarded the wooden sword and pressed his right hand against the ground.

It wasn't convenient for him to directly expose the Ten Shadows Technique right now.

Shirayuki abruptly appeared and immediately leaped up, pouncing toward the nearest Namikaze Minato.

"What?"

Namikaze Minato only felt a blur before his eyes, and Shirayuki was already right in front of him.

With no other choice, he could only raise his hands to block.

With a puff.

He turned into a puff of smoke and vanished on the spot.

It was a clone.

Seeing this, Natsuki unhesitatingly pulled out another wooden sword.

One Sword Style: Iai: Lion Song!

He transformed into a flash of blade light and closed in on Namikaze Minato.

Namikaze Minato instantly sensed a terrifying blade edge.

He instinctively reached for a shuriken, but it was already too late.

Pain struck once more.

His entire body flew backward.

Namikaze Minato dropped to a sitting position on the ground, unable to keep a sigh from forming in his heart.

His choice to learn Wind Release was precisely because Wind Release ninjutsu was fast enough.

Lightning Release was actually faster, but Jiraiya only possessed chakra affinities for Fire, Wind, Earth, and Water.

"To learn two Wind Release jutsus in such a short time—it seems if I don't put in more effort, I'm going to be caught up by you."

Natsuki put away his wooden sword, walked over to Namikaze Minato, and extended his hand.

He truly had felt a sense of crisis.

One can only say he truly lives up to being the future Fourth Hokage.

"Let's fight again next time."

Namikaze Minato paused for a moment, grasped his hand, and pulled himself up.

"I'll be waiting."

Natsuki said with a smile.

Namikaze Minato smiled as well.

"This is the Will of Fire."

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi in the Hokage Office spoke with great satisfaction.

Because Second Grade Class A had his two grand-disciples, he now secretly watched every Combat Exam.

[Congratulations, Host, for unlocking Tatsuya Shiba Template Ability Three: Non-System Magic: Phantom Strike.]

Natsuki nodded.

At this point, the Tatsuya Shiba Template had been fully unlocked.