The battle ended, and Aoyama Ryuyun finally released Minato Namikaze.
"Minato!"
No one expected that the Yellow Flash—who had seemed so confident moments ago—would be defeated so abruptly.
It had happened too fast; even the onlookers' eyes couldn't keep up.
"Ah!"
A red figure dashed toward the field. It was Uzumaki Kushina.
Seeing the weakened Minato lying on the ground, Kushina's expression hardened, her gaze locking onto Aoyama Ryuyun.
"You bastard!"
To beat Minato like that—unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!
Her anger spiked; crimson chakra began to erupt from her body, laced with a violent, feral energy.
That chakra—undeniably—belonged to the Nine-Tails.
"Kushina!"
Minato's sudden loss was already shocking enough, but no one expected Kushina to start losing control.
Still, it wasn't hard to understand. At that time, Kushina was already deeply in love with Minato, and the Nine-Tails' influence could easily distort strong emotions.
The possibility of a partial Tailed Beast rampage in the heart of Konoha was no small matter.
Jiraiya and Tsunade immediately rushed to intervene.
Aoyama Ryuyun, however, simply stood still, observing the furious girl before him. In his vision, he could almost see the silhouette of a colossal beast—nine tails swaying behind her, its eyes glowing with murderous intent.
It was dangerous. Terrifying. Yet Ryuyun merely frowned.
"Quiet."
A single word. Calm, but carrying absolute authority.
In the next instant, an overwhelming force—Haoshoku Haki—erupted from Aoyama Ryuyun, flooding the entire training ground like a storm.
The world seemed to tremble.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and even Orochimaru froze mid-step.
"This… what is this?" Jiraiya muttered, unable to move forward.
It was the first time he'd ever felt such suffocating pressure—something beyond chakra, beyond killing intent.
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes, on the other hand, gleamed with fascination.
So this is the aura of a king…
The one who bore the brunt of it was Kushina herself.
Her furious eyes lost focus; the crimson chakra wavered, then dissipated entirely.
Even the Nine-Tails sealed within her seemed momentarily stunned—its malevolent will suppressed, its presence fading into silence.
Whether it was fear or instinct didn't matter—the result was clear.
The Nine-Tails had retreated.
Kushina blinked, dazed. She hadn't expected her emotions to give the beast even a moment of control. If not for Aoyama Ryuyun, she might have truly lost herself.
Her body trembled slightly—not from fear of him, but from the realization of what almost happened.
"You…"
Her voice wavered. She wanted to speak, but the words refused to form.
With nothing but his presence, he had subdued the Nine-Tails. Was she dreaming?
Aoyama Ryuyun said nothing. His Haoshoku Haki faded quietly, the oppressive atmosphere vanishing like mist.
Minato groaned softly, regaining consciousness.
"Kushina…"
Still weak from the impact of Ryuyun's strike, he sat up, looking at her in confusion.
"Kushina? What's wrong?"
At his voice, Kushina finally came back to her senses. She turned toward him in panic.
"Minato! Are you okay?"
"No, it's fine… Lord Ryuyun held back."
Minato gave a faint smile. He wasn't foolish—he knew that if Aoyama Ryuyun had been serious, he would've been dead.
"That's… good," Kushina exhaled, her worry easing.
When she turned back toward Aoyama Ryuyun, though, she felt awkward. Gratitude and intimidation mixed within her chest.
She didn't know what to say.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office—
A sharp crack echoed as Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hands against the desk, veins bulging on his forehead.
The crystal ball he had been using to observe the fight had gone dark.
"To defeat Minato's Flying Thunder God… and to suppress the Nine-Tails with sheer aura…"
Hiruzen's voice trembled slightly, a mix of disbelief and frustration.
Defeating Minato could still be explained—perhaps Ryuyun simply read his movements, or Minato's mastery over the technique was incomplete.
But subduing the Nine-Tails with nothing but presence?
That was beyond human. Only mythical shinobi—people like Hashirama Senju—had ever displayed such dominance over a Tailed Beast.
"Damn it!"
Hiruzen hurled a stack of documents to the floor, his composure fracturing in the solitude of his office.
He had truly seen it now—Aoyama Ryuyun's overwhelming strength.
And that realization left him shaken.
If this was Ryuyun without a sword… what would happen when he wielded one?
Hiruzen sank into his chair, rubbing his temples.
"If only Danzo were still here…" he muttered.
He missed the old days—when he ruled from the light and Danzo schemed from the shadows.
Danzo's plans were often ruthless, but at least they were plans.
Now, all he had was uncertainty.
"Forget it…"
After a long silence, the Hokage finally sighed.
"Let Minato grow first. One day, he'll surpass him."
No matter what, the Flying Thunder God Technique was the most advanced space-time ninjutsu in existence.
Perhaps in the future, the Yellow Flash could challenge the man who seemed untouchable.
For now, Hiruzen could only endure.
He had done it before—endured hardship, endured loss—until he became Hokage.
He would endure again.
---
Back at the training ground, Minato—now treated by Tsunade—stood once more.
Though he smiled, the weight of the encounter lingered in his heart.
Aoyama Ryuyun's strength was beyond comparison.
And for the first time in a long while, the future Hokage felt what it meant to be truly powerless.
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