This man was none other than Danzo. He had not forgotten the two near-disasters from two years ago, when Konoha forces almost faced complete destruction due to an intelligence leak from the village's upper echelon.
If any member of Konoha's High Council could have committed such acts, it would most likely be Danzo himself.
Minato merely glanced at him before directing his gaze toward the Third Hokage beside him, along with the two high-ranking elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, bowing deeply toward them.
The Third nodded with a smile and shifted his gaze. Sakumo, who had been sitting among the spectators, flickered forward in a series of swift movements, appearing before Kushina and Minato.
"You go up first," Minato said with a slight smile. Kushina gave a gentle nod in reply.
"Good luck!" she encouraged him before leaping swiftly toward the spectator stands of the dueling arena.
Inside the combat arena, only Minato and Sakumo remained.
"This boy has always been so calm, yet this time he acted impulsively for the sake of this young jinchuriki girl," Hiashi Hyuga remarked from beside where Sakumo had previously sat. Around him were seated various clan leaders from Konoha's major families.
Tsunade and Orochimaru were also present among them. Though they no longer led clans themselves, their current positions within the village and standing in the ninja world made them worthy of this place.
Only those like them held the authority to witness such matters firsthand.
"He really did act too recklessly this time," Fumiro Aburame sighed deeply.
As high-ranking officials, they all understood that the consequences of this match went far beyond simple victory or defeat.
"I think the boy is finally coming into his own," Tsunade smirked, casting a glance at the two beside her.
Beside her, Orochimaru kept his eyes lowered, fixed on the battlefield below, seemingly lost in thought.
On the high wall surrounding the arena stood a figure clad in tight black clothing—Uchiha Han. His eyes, too, were locked onto the scene unfolding below.
...
"I won't hold back!" Sakumo declared, locking eyes with Minato, whose gaze now blazed with determination.
In today's Ninja World, very few ninja could make the [Legend of the White Fang] take them so seriously!
Whoosh!
Minato nodded and suddenly burst forward toward Sakumo at full speed.
His body shot straight like a beam of light, leaving behind a faint afterimage in the air.
Kushina, seated among the audience, and Uchiha Han atop the high wall were unable to even trace his movement.
Even Tsunade and others were greatly shocked by Minato's speed.
At this moment, Minato's speed was nearly on par with theirs—only slightly inferior to Hiashi Hyuga, who specialized in Taijutsu!
What a kid!
Seeing this, Sakumo narrowed his eyes and drew his tanto, holding it defensively before him.
Crack!
The kunai clashed against the short blade, sending sparks flying.
On the elevated platform, the Third wore a smile while Koharu and Homura both showed astonishment.
They had once fought alongside the Third as comrades-in-arms. Before ascending to leadership roles, they had all been elite Konoha ninja themselves.
So the two of them were certainly capable of keeping up with Minato's level, but... they also couldn't bring themselves to claim they were stronger than him.
The one fighting in the dueling arena was merely a boy under thirteen years old!
Danzo looked gloomy. He had been paying attention to Minato for quite some time, yet he had been unable to suppress his growth.
Several years ago, Minato had only been a student at the ninja academy, but now... he was gradually becoming formidable.
Separated by their weapons, Minato and Sakumo locked eyes and smiled at each other.
"Zzzt!"
Suddenly, arcs of electricity flashed along the chakra tanto, accompanied by roaring thunder.
Wind blades extended from the specially crafted kunai, colliding violently with the lightning energy. Both forces eroded each other rapidly.
Minato's gaze darkened. When it came to pure chakra control, even he—who had developed the [Zero Form of the Whirling Tempest Strike]—was superior to Sakumo.
However, while he had rapidly improved in other areas over the past year and a half, Sakumo certainly hadn't stood still either.
Lightning gathered on the blade of the chakra tanto, nearly solidifying into a tangible edge. The wind blades on Minato's kunai started to shatter.
Sakumo's sword was forged from a special material that could conduct chakra. Although Minato's specially crafted kunai had an unusual design, it lacked the ability to transmit chakra itself.
Therefore, compared to Sakumo, Minato's chakra transmission efficiency was clearly inferior.
"Boom!"
The collision of the two chakra natures caused an explosion. The wind blades atop the specially crafted kunai abruptly shattered, and surging lightning spread outward, shattering the weapon in Minato's hand.
"Minato!" Kushina shouted from the spectator stands the moment his weapon shattered.
She knew how powerful Sakumo was. So during this fight, she worried endlessly whenever Minato showed even the slightest disadvantage.
As his weapon broke apart, Minato remained calm. Sidestepping slightly, he thrust forward his left hand, swirling chakra forming in his palm, condensing into a brilliant blue sphere of chakra light.
[Rasengan]!
Holding the Rasengan, Minato immediately met Sakumo's descending chakra tanto in collision.
No matter how powerful Sakumo's blade strike was, the Rasengan was also an A-rank Ultimate Art Ninjutsu, capable of blocking it directly.
Seeing this, Kushina finally exhaled in relief. Yet throughout the whole clash, Minato hadn't even spared a glance toward her.
"Don't distract him. Even the smallest lapse in focus during this battle will lead to defeat," Tsunade suddenly appeared beside Kushina, patting her shoulder.
Only then did Kushina realize her mistake, her beautiful eyes widening slightly.
"Boom!"
The high-speed rotating chakra shattered the lightning, though the lightning itself continuously depleted the Rasengan's energy.
"Ting ting!"
The vibrating blade emitted sharp ringing noises. Sakumo's face carried a faint smile.
If it were a year and a half ago, Minato wouldn't have even been able to execute the Rasengan to block under his speed.
This was the improvement in foundational abilities. Using the same technique, the stronger one's personal strength grew, the more elevated the ninjutsu became.
"Boom!"
In the next instant, Sakumo's gaze sharpened. The originally horizontal blade rotated ninety degrees mid-collision with the Rasengan.
At the same time, Lightning Release Chakra seemed to extend another layer of blade from the sword's edge, slicing cleanly into the Rasengan.
When Minato saw this, his pupils constricted sharply.
This was the first time he had ever seen a Rasengan pierced like that.
He shoved outward with his palm, and the Rasengan detonated in full force, transforming into a whirling blast that pushed Sakumo back several steps.
At the same time, Minato himself shot backward rapidly.
Sakumo tightened his grip on the hilt; lightning surged intensely along the blade as he suddenly exerted force.
"Boom!"
The swirling blast held for a few seconds before Sakumo cut through it with a single slash.
At the same time, he lifted his gaze, watching Minato retreat.
Seeing this, his face flickered with shock.
Because right now, wrapped around Minato's wrists, were two small scrolls.
[Ninja Scrolls!?] Orochimaru exclaimed in surprise, immediately recognizing the type of scroll around Minato's wrist.
Yan Uchiha, standing atop the high wall, also showed a flicker of shock in his eyes. Seeing this scene instantly reminded him of his battle against Minato at the final stage of the Chakra Aptitude Test.
On the battlefield, Sakumo hesitated briefly, then his eyes lit up and he dashed toward Minato.
"Boom!"
Minato crossed his arms, pressing them onto the scroll. Eight specially crafted kunai marked with markings were tightly gripped in each of his hands — four in each.
With a sudden swing of his arms, those eight kunai shot out like arrows loosed from a bow, flying straight at Sakumo!
...
...
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