Minato Namikaze had no time to react before Chiyu struck him in the abdomen with a single move, sending him crashing heavily into a tree trunk and coughing up blood.
Minato Namikaze truly had not expected Chiyu's words to come true—that the battle would end in an instant.
Chiyu strode over to Minato Namikaze and looked down at him. "You lost this spar."
Minato Namikaze wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Is this the new move you developed? It really is fast. Though it's still Thunderclap and Flash, it's faster than the normal Thunderclap and Flash, and its slashing power is greater too.
"I never thought the gap between us would be this large—so large that I couldn't even withstand a single move from you. Chiyu, I lost this spar."
Chiyu clicked his tongue as he looked at Minato Namikaze. "Why don't you look the least bit discouraged? You actually seem to be getting more excited. Logically speaking, since you see me as a rival, seeing the gap between us should at least make you a little dejected."
Minato Namikaze forced a faint smile. "No, I won't be. Chiyu, precisely because I see you as a rival, I won't be discouraged. I really am excited right now. I'll keep working hard, growing from being unable to take even one of your moves to taking one, then two, until I catch up to you..."
Chiyu curled his lip. "As long as you're happy. What a boring spar."
As Chiyu turned to leave, Minato Namikaze called after him, "Chiyu, you said before that this move of yours was incomplete. So did you complete it just now?"
Chiyu paused, tossed back a "No," and left without another word.
Minato Namikaze drew in a sharp breath.
Such a powerful move was