"Ugh!"
Honestly, Minato Namikaze was confused. Wasn't this supposed to be a party? How had a friendly gathering suddenly turned into a duel?
Even so, confusion or not, Minato wasn't the type to back down.
However—
"Um, Ryuyun-sama, you don't seem to have your swords with you. Perhaps we should wait—"
Most people in Konoha knew that Aoyama Ryuyun's talent in swordsmanship was unmatched. His dual-wielding style had even surpassed that of the former Konoha White Fang.
But on an occasion like this, Ryuyun hadn't brought his weapons.
Before Minato could finish, Ryuyun waved a hand dismissively, cutting him off.
"It doesn't matter. This is just a casual spar — no weapon is needed."
"…"
Minato fell silent.
Naïve he might be, but he wasn't without pride. As the genius who had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, he still possessed a measure of arrogance.
A swordmaster challenging me without a sword? Isn't that a bit insulting?
"Since Ryuyun-sama is willing to offer guidance," Minato said, his tone sharpening, "then this junior will naturally comply."
---
"So… what exactly is going on here?!"
In a training field north of Konoha, Jiraiya scratched his head, utterly bewildered.
He was sure that moments ago, he'd been drinking at a party — so how had he ended up here, watching his disciple about to duel Aoyama Ryuyun?
Orochimaru, standing beside him, chuckled softly.
"I'm quite curious," he murmured, "to see what Ryuyun-kun's strength looks like without his weapons."
Jiraiya waved a hand lazily. "Come on, without his swords, Minato's got this in the bag!"
After all, Minato was his disciple — and a teacher had to show faith in his student.
Tsunade, however, scoffed. "You people have no idea how strong Ryuyun really is."
"…"
There wasn't much anyone could say to that — especially with the man himself standing right there.
Only Kushina spoke up, full of confidence. "No way! Minato is the strongest!"
"Tch." Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Little girls shouldn't talk so big."
---
Inside the training field, Minato faced Ryuyun, who stood calmly with his hands behind his back.
"Ryuyun-senpai," Minato said hesitantly, "why don't you at least take your weapon?"
Ryuyun's tone was dry. "Do you always talk this much before training?"
"…Alright."
A bit embarrassed, Minato exhaled and focused. His gaze sharpened, and in the next instant—
Whoosh!
His figure vanished.
It wasn't the Flying Thunder God Technique, just a high-level Body Flicker — yet even that was faster than most elite jōnin could manage.
"Rasengan!"
When Minato reappeared, he was already behind Ryuyun. A blue, swirling orb of chakra formed in his right hand.
'The Rasengan, already developed?' Ryuyun noted calmly, his eyes narrowing with interest rather than surprise.
Tsunade and Orochimaru, however, were caught off guard.
"Seal-less ninjutsu?" Orochimaru muttered.
With their keen perception, both could tell that Minato hadn't used any hand seals.
Jiraiya grinned proudly. "That's right! The Rasengan — an A-rank seal-less ninjutsu Minato created himself!"
Even Kushina's eyes shone with pride. See? The man I chose really is the best!
"Self-created ninjutsu…" Orochimaru's expression turned thoughtful. Such talent was exceedingly rare.
Ryuyun, however, remained indifferent.
"Ryuyun-sama! Be careful!" Minato called out, thrusting the Rasengan forward.
"Heh."
Careful? Of you?
Ryuyun raised his arm — and it darkened, wrapped in the jet-black sheen of Armament Haki.
He met the Rasengan head-on with one hand.
Bang!
The Rasengan collapsed and dispersed instantly, the chakra orb snuffed out like a candle flame.
"Nani—?!"
Before Minato could recover from shock, Ryuyun's hand shot out, seizing him by the collar.
In the next breath, Ryuyun swung him downward, intent on slamming him into the ground.
Whoosh!
Minato vanished mid-slam, his form dissolving into light.
When he reappeared, he was already standing back in his original position. A Flying Thunder God kunai glinted at his feet.
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly. "There's no mistake… that's Granduncle Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique."
She remembered seeing the Second Hokage use it in her childhood — though Minato's movements were rougher, there was no doubt he'd mastered it.
Jiraiya puffed his chest with pride. "Hahaha! With the Flying Thunder God Technique, Ryuyun doesn't stand a chance without his swords!"
"Tch."
Tsunade gave him a look of open disdain. You really have no idea how terrifying that monster is.
The others remained silent, their gazes fixed on the battlefield.
---
Minato's mind raced.
That move just now — the Rasengan had been completely nullified, erased by pure physical force.
It wasn't chakra absorption, nor any sealing method. It was impact resistance.
He glanced at Ryuyun's arm — still cloaked in that strange black aura, gleaming faintly under the moonlight.
"This…"
Ryuyun lifted his right arm casually. "Curious?"
Under the moonlight, the sheen of Armament Haki shimmered like polished steel.
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