Someone was secretly following the two of them from the trees.
One let out a silent, dry laugh.
The other's cheek muscles twitched, his expression so twisted that the blond ninja trying not to laugh nearly burst out.
An Extreme Training competition...
His "junior" really had come up with that.
If it really turned into a competition like that, Konoha would be quite a sight in the future!
Below, Kyohiko heard a faint laugh and immediately grew alert.
Someone there?
He hadn't sensed anyone, but he could pinpoint their location by listening.
That was another ability he'd gained from improving his Body Flicker Technique.
The Mist Village ninja delegation had quickly finished negotiations and left Konoha after that day. Whoever was following them had to be a Konoha ninja, so there was no need to worry too much.
After training, the three members of the original team gathered.
"Kyohiko, Kurenai, Teacher hasn't come back yet. Have you decided who you'll go to the Land of Hot Water with?"
"Don't worry. Teacher will definitely make arrangements. We just need to keep training and getting stronger."
Kyohiko said.
Jiraiya might be unreliable, but he wouldn't forget something like this.
Kyohiko looked up at the tree.
Still not moving?
Or had the person already left?
He hadn't heard anything, so they probably hadn't left.
"Senior in the tree, won't you come down and catch up with us?"
In the tree?
Kakashi and Kurenai Yuhi looked around.
They hadn't sensed anyone at all!
After a brief wait, a red-haired woman jumped down from one of the trees. "How did you find me? I thought I'd hidden myself well. There shouldn't have been any tells."
"I heard you laugh."
Kyohiko replied.
He looked up—
Hmm, her hair was long, almost down to her waist.
Kushina Uzumaki's eyes widened slightly in disbelief. Then she couldn't help chuckling, before finally bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha, Minato, you've given yourself away. Aren't you coming down?"
"..."
Minato Namikaze jumped down from the tree, looking a little embarrassed.
He was the one who'd laughed just now.
Having a junior discover his hiding place wasn't exactly something to brag about.
But still.
He hadn't managed to hold it in, but his laugh had been extremely faint. Kyohiko had been talking to the others at the time, yet he'd still heard it?
Minato Namikaze was plainly astonished.
"Were you born with such sharp hearing?"
"No, I trained it."
Kyohiko explained the purpose, process, and insights behind his blindfolded training. He'd fleshed out the story quite thoroughly, even extending the period he'd spent training his voice recognition and hearing by more than a year, so nobody would doubt him.
As for Kakashi—
Don't ask.
He was simply gifted.
Minato Namikaze was deeply impressed.
He'd never imagined...
That this sort of method could be used to improve one's abilities and compensate for the difficulty of keeping up visually at high speeds.
Minato Namikaze looked astonished.
"Kyohiko, did you come up with all this in the past year or two? It's truly... truly amazing!"
He was a civilian ninja too.
Minato Namikaze knew very well that a civilian ninja without many ninjutsu techniques or access to a large collection of books could only study the Three Basic Techniques and the more common Body Flicker Technique.
For someone to have studied the Body Flicker Technique to this degree at such a young age...
He was nowhere near as good!
"You two can share your insights on the road later. They're exhausted today, so let them go back and rest early."
"On the road?"
"Teacher is still in the Land of Hot Water. Tomorrow, Minato will take you to Yugakure."
The next day, the four of them gathered at the entrance to Konoha.
After waiting a little while, Kakashi arrived with a series of Body Flickers. "Whew, good thing you hadn't left."
Minato Namikaze's gaze swept over him. Noticing that he was carrying one sword and holding another, he seemed to understand.
"I'll go register. Say whatever you need to say quickly."
Minato headed to the entrance.
Kakashi held out the sword in his hand. "Kyohiko, this blade is like a practice sword, but it's sharpened and more durable. It should be useful to you."
"Thanks."
Kyohiko didn't refuse. After accepting it, he gave it a try.
He didn't know much about swords, but this one felt very comfortable in his hands. It suited him well.
Clearly,
Kakashi had put a lot of thought into finding it.
"It's nothing. Keeping a sword maintained takes effort anyway. I might as well give it to someone who needs it."
Kakashi smiled.
Guy was nearby, doing handstands to train, while Kurenai Yuhi read a book.
Everyone was busy.
"Let's go."
After registering, Minato Namikaze led them out of the village.
Just as they were about to leave,
a group ran past the village gate. At the front were Genma Shiranui and Ebisu, followed by several even younger children.
They shouted out their lap counts, then dashed past the gate.
Kakashi's gaze flickered. Finally, under everyone's surprised looks, he swallowed his embarrassment and joined the running group.
[Under your leadership, the physical training and spirit of "Extreme Training" have gained recognition and spread on a small scale.] [Reward: Eight Inner Gates (Beginner)]
"Genma really did lead a bunch of people in training!"
Kyohiko chuckled.
"Hahaha, that's the spirit of youth!"
Might Guy was beyond excited.
He felt as if his own spirit was spreading throughout the village.
Immediately, Guy ran a long way ahead, then returned doing a handstand, brimming with energy.
Minato Namikaze's smile stiffened.
"Is he always like that?"
"More or less."
Kyohiko nodded, while secretly studying the system.
Eight Inner Gates.
That was indeed a fitting reward for "Extreme Training."
And—
Did this mean Guy had already begun training in the Eight Inner Gates?
Kyohiko looked at Guy up ahead, carefully absorbing the memories that had appeared in his mind.
The Eight Inner Gates.
At the beginner level, it only included the principles of the Eight Inner Gates and the methods and techniques for opening the Gates of Opening and Healing. But the body still needed to meet the requirements before they could be opened, and there was a price to pay.
Just like the beginner-level Strength Enhancement Technique.
Kyohiko still remembered...
The first time he used Strength Enhancement, his hand had split open and bled.
Still, with his abilities, opening the Gates of Opening and Healing shouldn't be a problem. They could serve as trump cards.
The four of them continued onward.
Along the way, Minato Namikaze kept observing them.
He noticed...
Guy, Kyohiko, and even Kurenai Yuhi trained like mad. Whenever they had time, they were training or studying. They never took the initiative to rest.
More often than not, he was the one telling the three of them to take a break and stop immersing themselves in training.
"We'll reach the Land of Hot Water soon."
Minato Namikaze smiled.
The scenery ahead changed dramatically. The forests and wilderness gave way to mist and winding mountain springs.
This was the Land of Hot Water.
A country full of hot springs, birdsong, and flowers.
Kyohiko looked around and couldn't help marveling—
No wonder such a beautiful country had become a "peaceful" one.
What a pity.
This so-called Land of Peace...
As he was reflecting, a sharp sound suddenly rang out from the shadows.
Kyohiko had become extremely sensitive to sounds. He immediately recognized it as a projectile and shouted, "Watch out! It's an ambush!"
The next instant—
Whoosh!
Minato Namikaze had already vanished with a Body Flicker.
The enemy's identity was unknown, so Kyohiko didn't attack right away. Instead, he swiftly threw two kunai, knocking away two kunai attached to Explosive Tags.
Then...
Water Style: Water Wall!
Boom!
Explosions roared, and water splashed everywhere.
Kyohiko instantly drew out a large amount of chakra. The surrounding water swirled, dispersing the force and protecting the people inside.
Only then did Guy and Kurenai Yuhi react and realize what had happened—
They were under attack!
Outside, screams rang out.
Minato Namikaze had made his move!
Kyohiko had blocked the first wave, but now a faint sound came from beneath the ground.
"Watch out underground!"
Crack!
The ground caved in.
A hand reached out from beneath Kyohiko's feet and grabbed him.
But—
The next moment, his original form disappeared.
It was a Shadow Clone!
Then—
Boom!
A punch struck the ground, splitting it apart as blood gushed out like a spring.
"Be careful!"
Kyohiko quickly popped a Military Ration Pill into his mouth.
Earth Style.
Were they Iwa Ninja?
Before you continue