Minato's reaction speed was astounding. He could easily have avoided Hiruzen Sarutobi's fist, but he did not dodge. He took the punch head-on.
Sarutobi did not hold back in the slightest. He poured every ounce of his strength into that blow.
Under the crushing impact, an alarming lump instantly swelled on the side of Minato's handsome face!
He flew backward and slammed into the tree behind him. With a thunderous crash, his body snapped the trunk clean through, scattering broken branches and leaves across the ground.
Yet despite taking such a brutal beating, Minato was the one who kept apologizing to Monkey and the children:
"I'm sorry... I, I... I'm sorry..."
Minato's eyes were dull, his expression full of guilt and self-reproach.
Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's accusations, he found that he could not squeeze out even a single excuse.
Of course Minato did not want to drag the children into this cruel battlefield, but Konoha's current circumstances left him no room to be softhearted.
All he could do now was give everything he had to protect the children of Team 7 as best he could.
But ultimately, that was nothing more than an excuse to absolve himself.
Thinking back on all the dangers the three children had just faced, Minato knew that even he, the famed Yellow Flash, could not keep them safe.
The battlefield was too cruel!
"Don't you hit Minato-sensei!"
Obito was so angry that tears spilled from his eyes. He rushed forward and grabbed Sarutobi's hand. Kakashi drew his blade as well, standing guard beside Minato and watching Sarutobi warily.
Rin even spread her arms like a little mother hen, shielding Obito and Minato behind her, a stubborn light shining in her eyes:
"We all volunteered to fight and protect the village! That's the pride and responsibility