Challenge Minato Namikaze

"Then, let's begin our training!"

Yuki Yuichi jumped into the clearing first.

The clearing was quite large, circular in shape.

It was roughly twenty meters in diameter.

Lush, verdant trees surrounded the clearing on all sides.

It looked just like a gladiator arena.

Watching Yuki Yuichi brandish his wooden sword at a patch of flowers as tall as a person, Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

He wondered if he had made a mistake by lending that guy his wooden sword.

Thinking this, Kakashi Hatake decided to ignore Yuki Yuichi, pulled out his own wooden sword, and began to strike at a large tree with methodical, rigid movements.

The kunai and shuriken they had brought were tossed aside on the ground.

"One day the blade is in my hand, I'll slash every waist-high flower in the land!"

Yuki Yuichi muttered as he swung his sword.

What man didn't have such a dream?

Whenever there was a stick in hand and rapeseed flowers in sight...

While Kakashi Hatake was training seriously and Yuki Yuichi was seriously slashing flowers, neither of them noticed a blond-haired figure crouching in the canopy above, watching them.

Especially when seeing the way Yuki Yuichi was swinging his blade, the man's mouth couldn't help but twitch.

"Kushina's clansman is just like her..."

Minato Namikaze crouched on the large tree, his eyes fixed on the red-haired Yuki Yuichi.

The image of a young Uzumaki Kushina gradually overlapped with Yuki Yuichi in his mind.

He had cleared this training ground himself back when he was still a student at the Ninja Academy.

He had put in quite a lot of effort to carve out this space.

However, as he became a ninja, he hadn't visited this training ground much.

This had allowed Kakashi Hatake to take advantage of the vacancy.

Having heard noises from outside earlier, Minato Namikaze had jumped into the trees to hide.

Perhaps this was just the way of a ninja.

Hatake Sakumo and Minato Namikaze were both prone to hiding and observing from the shadows.

However, seeing Yuki Yuichi's behavior, he couldn't hold back anymore.

Because the flowers this brat was hacking away at were the ones he and Uzumaki Kushina had planted together.

Just as Yuki Yuichi was mid-swing, Minato Namikaze appeared silently behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"Of course, I'm... hmm?"

Yuki Yuichi had only managed three words before he suddenly realized something was wrong. He whipped his head around and saw a blond, spiky-haired man standing behind him.

Seeing Minato Namikaze suddenly appear, Yuki Yuichi was startled.

"Mi... Minato... Big Brother?!"

"Why are you here?"

Hearing Yuki Yuichi call him Big Brother Minato, Minato Namikaze paused. Then, as if thinking of something, he pointed at his jonin flak jacket with a dark expression.

"When you see this vest, you should address me as Jonin."

Yuki Yuichi froze, then looked at Kakashi Hatake, who had walked over due to Minato Namikaze's sudden appearance, and replied cautiously, "Are we supposed to use titles when we're out and about?"

Hearing this, Minato Namikaze sighed, shook his head helplessly, glanced at the approaching Kakashi Hatake, and continued to Yuki Yuichi, "Why are you two here?"

"Of course, we're here to train," Yuki Yuichi said righteously.

He could be righteous, but Kakashi Hatake wasn't as reckless. He explained, "I saw this clearing earlier and thought it was perfect for training, so we started practicing here."

"Did you clear this place, Minato-senpai?"

As Kakashi Hatake spoke, he looked at Minato Namikaze and apologized, "I'm truly sorry. If we're intruding, we'll leave right away."

Kakashi Hatake's politeness formed a sharp contrast with Yuki Yuichi's brazen attitude.

Minato Namikaze looked at Kakashi Hatake helplessly. "It's not really an intrusion."

"But it is true that I cleared this place."

Minato Namikaze paused, then continued, "You can continue to train here in the future."

"Since I became a ninja, I haven't come here very often."

Kakashi Hatake nodded, and with a spirit of deep respect, he bowed ninety degrees. "Then thank you very much."

Watching the exchange between Kakashi Hatake and Minato Namikaze from the side, Yuki Yuichi rubbed his chin. "Say, Big Brother Minato, can I challenge you?"

"Hmm?" Minato Namikaze was stunned once more upon hearing this, pointing at himself, "Me?"

"Yes!" Yuki Yuichi nodded, his usual slacker demeanor vanishing.

"I want to see what level my strength has reached."

"If I don't even know where my own strength stands, then my training would be completely meaningless!"

Yuki Yuichi was very serious, and Kakashi Hatake, standing to the side, was quite moved as well.

What Hatake Sakumo usually gave him was instruction; he had never done something like challenging a powerhouse before.

Seeing Yuki Yuichi's expression, Minato Namikaze smiled, looking quite radiant.

"Since that's the case, how about the two of you come at me together?"

He naturally saw that Kakashi Hatake was tempted, and rather than favoring one over the other, he invited both to attack.

"Alright!" x2

Yuki Yuichi and Kakashi Hatake agreed simultaneously.

Minato Namikaze was already an elite Jonin.

Being able to challenge such a powerhouse meant that even if they lost, they would surely gain something.

The three stood their ground; Yuki Yuichi and Kakashi Hatake exchanged a glance and gave a slight nod.

"I'll take the lead, you provide support."

"Mm." Kakashi Hatake nodded.

He wanted to lead the attack too, but he couldn't compare to Yuki Yuichi.

After their sparring match at the academy yesterday, he had reviewed the fight; Yuki Yuichi's recovery ability, durability, strength, and speed were all superior to his own.

As for ninjutsu, he knew genjutsu and taijutsu, while he himself knew Fire Style and swordsmanship.

Moreover, even before making a move, he knew clearly that against a ninja like Minato Namikaze, his bit of swordsmanship and ninjutsu wouldn't be enough to even be considered a threat.

Although Yuki Yuichi was much the same, his taijutsu and physical constitution were more advantageous than his own.

The three simultaneously performed the Seal of Confrontation.

Minato Namikaze did not move, while Yuki Yuichi charged out first.

Kakashi Hatake followed closely behind him, holding a wooden sword.

Seeing this, a flash of admiration crossed Minato Namikaze's eyes.

Using yourself to draw my attention, then letting the other one attack, huh.

He had seen Yuki Yuichi's little maneuvers, including the conversation with Kakashi Hatake.

"Aren't you underestimating me a little?" Minato Namikaze said, dodging a punch from Yuki Yuichi, then grabbing his arm from the side, twisting it behind him, and kicking him in the abdomen.

Yuki Yuichi was sent flying backward instantly.

However, his physique was quite robust; despite being kicked away by Minato Namikaze, he adjusted his posture in mid-air, landing like a backflip and retreating a few steps.

A flicker of admiration crossed Minato Namikaze's eyes once again.

At Yuki Yuichi's age, he hadn't been as good as this kid.

Just then, Kakashi Hatake had already swung his blade; although it was a wooden sword, it still whistled through the air under Kakashi Hatake's swing.