That Settles It for Today!

Miya wasn't surprised when his punch missed. On the contrary, he thought it was exactly what should have happened.

He knew full well what it meant when Minato Namikaze brought out that specially made kunai.

He was all too familiar with the Space-Time Ninjutsu developed by Second Hokage Tobirama Senju.

So how could Miya have failed to anticipate where Minato Namikaze would reappear after vanishing?

Besides, there was no way the A-rank Ninjutsu Rasengan could escape Miya's current perception.

Minato Namikaze was fast, but Miya was even faster now.

Under Minato Namikaze's horrified gaze, Miya spun around in an instant, the azure light on his fist growing even brighter.

Super One Punch.

The azure fist and the Rasengan collided in an instant.

Boom.

Minato Namikaze was sent flying backward before landing lightly, but his trembling right hand proved one thing.

Miya had defeated the Ninjutsu he had spent two or three years developing with nothing but his fist.

Just a moment ago, Minato Namikaze had almost thought he was seeing things. When the Rasengan in his hand collided with Miya's fist, it hadn't budged the fist at all. Instead, the punch had gone straight through it.

That was why Minato Namikaze's right arm was still trembling. If he had been a moment slower, his arm might very well have broken on the spot.

Broken? Was he kidding?!!

His entire right hand might have been gone. Particle Chakra didn't just glow for show.

But Miya hadn't sent Minato Namikaze flying without paying a price. He skidded nearly ten meters across the ground before finally stopping.

The Rasengan's power was considerable too.

Besides, Minato Namikaze had just used a Big Ball Rasengan.

Wounds like blade cuts covered Miya's arm. Blood stained his entire hand red and dripped onto the ground.

It's been a long time since I've felt what it's like to get hurt.

Miya looked at his right arm. After that thought crossed his mind, the Chakra burning like flames around him instantly vanished, and he exited Overload Mode.

"That settles it for today."

After looking at Minato Namikaze and saying those words, admitting his defeat, Miya could no longer hold on. His vision went black, and he fell stiffly backward.

Having seen Miya's fist punch through the Rasengan, as well as his speed using pure Taijutsu and his superior reflexes, Minato Namikaze was considering how to deal with Miya's next attack.

When he suddenly saw the Chakra around Miya vanish, Minato Namikaze froze. Then he heard Miya's words of surrender.

Whoosh!

Minato Namikaze caught the unconscious Miya, then frowned deeply.

Miya's injuries were too severe.

"I'm taking him to the hospital now."

The moment Minato Namikaze finished speaking to Masaki Kuhara, he vanished from the spot with Miya.

"Miya, he'll be all right, won't he?"

Rin Nohara and Kurenai Yuhi's faces were filled with worry, their little faces deathly pale.

No matter how hard they tried, neither of them could have imagined that Miya's most serious injuries hadn't been caused by Minato Namikaze, but by his own use of Overload Mode.

And they were internal injuries, too.

Overload Mode injured its user before the enemy. In just that short time, Miya's body had already suffered extensive internal damage.

If he had kept it up a little longer, Miya might have exploded on the spot.

Konoha Hospital.

Minato Namikaze waited anxiously outside the emergency room for more than two hours, deeply worried about Miya's condition.

On the way there, Minato Namikaze had examined Miya and learned just how badly he was hurt. But he had also noticed that Miya's injuries weren't getting any worse.

That was probably the only good news.

How did I turn a perfectly good test into this?

Blaming himself, Minato Namikaze ran a hand through his hair and stared fixedly at the emergency room doors, afraid the doctor would soon tell him Miya couldn't be saved.

Ding~~

The light above the emergency room door went out, and Minato Namikaze's heart leaped into his throat. Seeing the doctor emerge first, he hurried over and asked anxiously:

"Senior Hiromura, how is Miya?"

Hiromura, the lead surgeon treating Miya, removed his mask. Looking at the anxious Minato Namikaze, he said gently:

"He's all right now."

"But his injuries were too severe. He'll need to stay here for a while."

Hearing that Miya was all right, Minato Namikaze immediately beamed and hurriedly thanked him:

"Thank you, Senior Hiromura. Thanks for all your hard work."

Hiromura nodded, accepting Minato Namikaze's thanks, then asked curiously:

"Minato, can you tell me how that child was injured?"

"Normally, you wouldn't see muscle tears all over the body, along with damage to the internal organs."

Minato Namikaze touched his head and gave an awkward smile. He had a rough idea of the cause, but didn't know how to explain it.

With no other choice, Minato Namikaze could only smile at Hiromura, who was highly skilled in Medical Ninjutsu.

Miya lay asleep in the hospital bed, his whole body wrapped in bandages and his life no longer in danger. After looking at him and composing himself, Minato Namikaze left.

The Third Hokage was still waiting for his report!

Konohagakure, Hokage building.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Minato Namikaze's report on Miya's strength, his current stay in the hospital, and the suspected cause of his severe injuries, his brow furrowed deeply.

"Lord Third, that's everything."

Minato Namikaze respectfully reported everything that had happened today to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"You're saying Miya has mastered a Nintaijutsu we've never seen before, one with tremendous power and equally severe side effects?"

Although Minato Namikaze was the one who had said Miya had mastered a forbidden-type Nintaijutsu, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi no choice but to believe him, he still asked for confirmation.

Minato Namikaze nodded and replied:

"I can hardly believe it myself, but that's what happened."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared straight at Minato Namikaze. After a few seconds, he spoke:

"Since he's in the hospital now, I'll send someone to take good care of him. You can rest assured."

Minato Namikaze bowed his head, then said:

"Then I'll leave him to you, Lord Third. Once he wakes up, I hope you'll convey my apologies."

"I'll return as soon as I've completed my mission."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said:

"Mm."

"I'll pass that on for you once Miya wakes up."

As one of the village's Jonin, Minato Namikaze was usually quite busy. He also had a mission that required him to leave the village tomorrow.

He had only appeared at the Ninja Academy today because Hiruzen Sarutobi had entrusted him with a last-minute assignment. Otherwise, why would Minato Namikaze have been there, much less fought a battle with Miya?