"Truly worthy of being called the Yellow Flash. That reaction speed is astonishing."
Yuzuru looked at Minato, standing a hundred meters away, and couldn't help but offer a word of praise.
Had Minato reacted even a moment slower, Yuzuru would have dragged him into the Kamui space.
Seeing Yuzuru approaching at a calm, unhurried pace, Minato felt an overwhelming pressure unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
Fight or flee?
The question gnawed at him.
Logically, he should teleport to safety immediately using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
But emotionally, Minato wanted to defeat Yuzuru Uchiha.
If he could win against him, his prestige would soar—and with it, his chances of becoming Hokage.
As the thought flashed through his mind, Minato made up his mind.
He would gamble one more time.
From what he'd learned so far, Yuzuru possessed the ability to make his body intangible.
When he did so, all attacks became useless.
But to attack, he had to materialize.
In other words, if Minato could strike at the exact moment Yuzuru became solid, victory might be within reach.
With that thought, Minato's eyes hardened with resolve.
It would be nearly impossible to catch such a fleeting moment—but his speed and reflexes were second to none.
If he ran now without trying, he'd carry that regret forever.
The plan formed in his mind in an instant. He gripped a kunai and charged toward Yuzuru.
Seeing this, Yuzuru smiled. "Even now, you still dare to attack me head-on, huh?"
"Minato, you're not bad—for an opponent."
With that, Yuzuru also accelerated his pace.
The hundred-meter gap vanished in a blink. Minato threw a marked kunai straight at Yuzuru.
As expected, it passed harmlessly through his body.
Yuzuru placed his right hand on Minato's shoulder. "It's over. I win."
Just as his hand was about to touch him, Minato's figure vanished.
A second later, Minato reappeared above Yuzuru, having teleported via the Flying Thunder God mark.
"Yuzuru—this move is called the Flying Thunder God, Second Step!"
As he spoke, Minato drove his kunai downward.
But in the next instant, his pupils contracted sharply.
The blade passed straight through Yuzuru's body without resistance.
At the same moment, a Rasengan had already formed in Yuzuru's hand. "Minato, this move is called Rasengan Flash Super Wheel Dance—Kamui, Type II!"
Bang!
The Rasengan fiercely slammed into Minato's back. A crisp crack of breaking bones echoed through the air.
Minato's body flew like a severed kite, rolling across the ground for dozens of meters before coming to a stop.
"Kh—!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of his organs.
But before Yuzuru could finish him off, Minato's form flickered and disappeared.
"This chakra…"
"It's the Nine-Tails."
Yuzuru's eyes widened slightly.
From start to finish, Minato hadn't used the Nine-Tails' chakra at all.
Based on his understanding, the Nine-Tails and Minato had not yet reconciled. Minato must have been relying solely on his own chakra and sealing techniques to suppress the beast completely.
For someone like Minato, that wasn't too surprising.
What did surprise Yuzuru was that, at the last moment, the Nine-Tails had chosen to save him.
"So, you trust him more than you trust me?"
"Fair enough… After all, these eyes must bring back some unpleasant memories for you."
Yuzuru smiled faintly and shook his head.
Back then, Madara Uchiha, with his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, had called the Nine-Tails a mere beast—and controlled it like a pet.
Compared to Minato, it was only natural that the Nine-Tails would distrust him more.
Having understood that, Yuzuru didn't dwell on it.
He had a system—his growth was limitless.
Even if Minato used the Nine-Tails' power, at best he'd reach a level slightly above a Kage.
No threat at all.
As always, those who lost to him would only fall further behind as time passed.
Because when it came to growing stronger, no one could match him.
Land of Fire — Frontline Camp
Shimura Danzō sat in the main tent, silently reviewing the documents on his desk.
Since the start of the Great Ninja War, Hiruzen Sarutobi had assigned him as a temporary commander at the frontlines.
Though it was partly to exploit his Root network, Danzō had been given enormous authority—he now decided nearly every matter on the battlefield.
And that taste of absolute power was far too intoxicating to refuse.
Suddenly, a masked Root operative entered briskly.
"Lord Danzō, three shinobi from the Hidden Rain Village request an audience."
Danzō frowned. "Are they Hanzo's men?"
"No, sir. They claim to be members of the Akatsuki," the agent replied gravely. "They say they wish to discuss ending the war."
"Akatsuki?"
Danzō snorted. "Never heard of such a ridiculous name. Send them away."
"One more thing," the operative added. "They say they're disciples of Lord Jiraiya."
That made Danzō pause.
After the Second Great Ninja War, Jiraiya had spent three years in the Hidden Rain Village.
Danzō had investigated that at the time—Jiraiya was said to have trained three children there.
"I'll meet them," Danzō said, changing his mind.
Jiraiya might be a fool in many ways, but he wasn't the type to waste three years on worthless children.
Those three must have some hidden value.
Led by the Root operative, Danzō entered the camp's meeting room.
Inside, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan sat upright, waiting.
Because of Jiraiya's connection, though they weren't from Konoha, they felt a strange sense of familiarity—almost like visiting family.
For three orphans who'd grown up without parents, that warmth brought both nervousness and hope.
As the door opened, Danzō stepped in slowly.
"So, you're the Akatsuki?"
Yahiko rose with a smile. "That's right! We're Akatsuki—dedicated to bringing light to the Hidden Rain Village!"