Flying Thunder God: Second Step

Inside the Mizukage Office, Ao stepped forward once again to report.

"Lord Mizukage, one piece of confirmed intelligence is that Kisame Hoshigaki, formerly of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, has confirmedly joined Akatsuki."

"He defected with Great Sword Samehada, which is a major blow to our village's reputation and strength, and he is also familiar with all of Kirigakure's tactics and secrets."

Chojuro could not help interjecting at this point, his voice trembling slightly. "Mr. Kisame, K-Kisame, a man like that, actually joined the Akatsuki Organization too? Just how terrifying is that Akatsuki organization?"

Mei Terumi: "Precisely because it is terrifying enough can it recruit these monsters, and our problem now is: just how should we respond?"

Genji: "The village has just emerged from turmoil and is at a critical period for rebuilding and recovering its vitality."

"We lack the strength, nor should we take the initiative to provoke an S-Rank Missing-Nin organization spread all across the world. That could bring a devastating disaster upon us, and our top priority remains consolidating national defense and restoring the economy and diplomacy."

Mei Terumi nodded, then shook her head. "Elder Genji is right, we cannot take the offensive."

"But we must absolutely not sit idly by. This is a threat to the entire Shinobi World, and one day it will affect everyone. Therefore, my opinion is:"

"Immediately dispatch an elite ANBU squad, but no longer with capture as the goal, but rather with infiltration and intelligence gathering as the core mission."

"Ascertain Akatsuki's members, bases, and true objectives as much as possible, with a focus on tracking down the clues of that Obito Uchiha and Kisame."

"Furthermore, we can attempt to make cautious intelligence probes toward other major powers, especially Konoha."

"See if they have also grasped similar information. After all, Obito Uchiha is a missing-nin of Konoha, so they will definitely not be completely unaware."

Ao: "Contact Konoha? Having experienced that period of isolation, shouldn't we be a bit more cautious? After all, once misunderstood by other villages, they will likely think we have ulterior motives."

Mei Terumi revealed a trace of a confident yet cold smile. "That is why I said 'probe'."

"We can never remain trapped within the Bloody Mist forever; reform means that we must also cautiously exchange information within the darkness."

"For the future of the village, we must learn to make our moves on a new chessboard, and Akatsuki is the enemy within this future mist that we most need to see through first."

She stood up, gazing at the endless mist outside the window. "This concludes the meeting. Everyone, remember today's topics and decision."

"The future of Kirigakure must absolutely never be manipulated by anyone's Genjutsu ever again."

Meanwhile, Iwagakure and Kumogakure held a very subtle attitude toward Akatsuki, as these two shinobi villages had frequently been in a hostile relationship with Konoha.

Yet today's Akatsuki organization was an enemy of Konoha, and upholding the principle that an enemy's enemy is a friend, these two villages were instead preparing to show goodwill toward the Akatsuki organization.

As for Sunagakure, it displayed complete indifference toward this Akatsuki organization, for after the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure's strength had plummeted drastically.

Next, regardless of which other shinobi village this Akatsuki organization targeted, Sunagakure would only clap and cheer.

The next day, the Canopy Screen imagery began broadcasting once again.

[Within the screen, Obito Uchiha took the initiative to launch an attack, the huge metal chain dropping from his sleeve moving at high speed along with his body in an attempt to bind Minato Namikaze.]

[Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze likewise picked up a specialized Flying Thunder God kunai and charged toward Obito Uchiha.]

[Yet the next moment, Obito Uchiha directly neither dodged nor parried, his body passing right through Minato Namikaze's body like an intangible phantom, except that the iron chain behind him firmly locked down Minato Namikaze.]

[Swish, Minato Namikaze once again utilized the Flying Thunder God Technique to move to a distant spot.]

[Minato Namikaze wore a solemn expression, instantly analyzing: Permeation ability? It should be related to Space-Time Ninjutsu. Then, the moment he attacks, he must materialize!]

[ However, for him, attacking also means risk, so next it comes down to whose attack speed is faster! ]

[Immediately afterward, the two charged at each other once again, a Flying Thunder God kunai slipping from Minato Namikaze's hand and shooting straight behind Obito Uchiha.]

[Obito Uchiha directly ignored this kunai, and waiting until it passed through his body, he abruptly transformed from intangible to tangible, his outstretched hand grabbing straight toward Minato Namikaze.]

[ "I win!" Obito Uchiha announced with a hint of excitement.]

[Yet Minato Namikaze's gaze instantly turned as sharp as a falcon's! Without seeing any hand seal weaving whatsoever, his figure vanished into thin air a hundredth of a second before Obito Uchiha could touch him!]

[Only a wisp of golden afterimage and slightly distorted air remained in place, and Obito Uchiha's attack missed! What gave him an even greater shock to his core, however, was that Minato Namikaze's chakra signature was not moving away, but rather... right above him!]

[A chilling sense of crisis like high-voltage current instantly surged from his spine up to his brain! Obito Uchiha did not even have time to ponder how Minato Namikaze had pulled it off!]

[Minato Namikaze's figure appeared like a phantom right above Obito—next to that specialized kunai thrown earliest!]

[And right above his right hand, a highly compressed, furiously spinning blue chakra sphere—the Rasengan—was already primed and ready!]

[ Crap, did he jump along with that kunai from just now? What a blunder! Obito Uchiha had just figured it out.]

[Yet the next moment, Minato Namikaze's Rasengan in midair slammed fiercely onto Obito Uchiha's back!]

[The immense impact erupted instantly! The high-speed spinning chakra frantically tore at Obito Uchiha's clothing, skin, muscle, and even bones!]

[At the same time, Minato Namikaze also left a Flying Thunder God mark on Obito Uchiha's back.]

[Boom, the violent explosion generated a massive amount of dust and smoke that obscured the entire screen!]

Meanwhile, all the Konoha citizens outside the Canopy Screen had been staring fixedly at it ever since the battle between Minato Namikaze and Obito Uchiha began.

Upon seeing this scene of Obito Uchiha being struck by the Rasengan, the silence was broken in an instant!

Like boiling water instantly blowing off the lid of a kettle, massive cheers and shouts erupted with a roar, nearly lifting Konoha's walls off their foundations!

"OOOOOHHHH!!!" "He hit him! He hit him!"

"Lord Fourth Hokage! You're simply too amazing!"

"We won!!"

The Genin watched with boiling blood, dreaming that they too could become this powerful one day.

The Jonin, on the other hand, were deeply shaken by Minato's terrifying combat intelligence and timing-grasping ability.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled with gratification upon seeing this scene.

After all, Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage candidate he had recommended against all opposition, and with such a brilliant battle, he too shared in the glory.