"All matters, please move to the Hokage's office for a detailed discussion."
Minato's voice was gentle but undeniable, instantly cutting off Kumoiy's stammering explanation.
When he turned to Kushina, the sharpness in his eyes softened like spring water: "Take the children home first."
"Mhm, remember to come back early for dinner."
The chakra afterglow in Kushina's red hair finally completely dissipated. She took a child by each hand, not forgetting to glare at the Cloud Shinobi before leaving.
As soon as his wife and children's figures disappeared around the corner, Minato's figure vanished like a golden flash.
Kumoiy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and, under the watchful eyes of Kakashi and the others, disheveledly directed his subordinates to dig the unconscious Toroi out of the rubble.
He was filled with regret at this momentfor not stopping Toroi's recklessness.
This young Fourth Hokage was much more assertive than the Third, and this negotiation would likely cost the Cloud Shinobi dearly.
"Everyone, you can go now."
Kakashi glanced at the children still standing there, a hint of relief flashing in his single eye beneath his silver hair. "It's getting late."
After the smoke from the Body Flicker Technique dissipated, only a few small figures remained on the street.
Sasuke stared blankly at the Rasengan crater, nearly five meters in diameter, his young heart experiencing an unprecedented shock.
Menma, who always quietly read books and was even a few months younger than him, possessed such terrifying power... "Hmph, my brother is strong too!"
Sasuke suddenly clenched his fists, the image of Itachi practicing shuriken flashing before his eyes. He decided to pester his brother tonight to teach him new jutsu, determined to surpass that idiot Naruto!
On the other side, Hinata followed Neji step by step. She occasionally looked back, as if that dazzling golden-haired figure still stood in the twilight... The dim lamplight flickered inside Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence.
His withered fingers gently stroked the smooth surface of the crystal ball, which reflected the lingering images of the battlethat astonishingly wide Rasengan crater.
"To teach this level of ninjutsu to a three-year-old child..."
The blue smoke rising from his pipe blurred the old man's complex expression. The crystal ball continuously replayed the golden-haired child's swift figure: a perfect Rasengan form, skilled manipulation of three elements (wind, fire, lightning), plus the Uzumaki clan's innate sealing talent... "It's almost like..."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed deeply. "A replica of Minato... No! His achievements will far surpass Minato's..."
The fire in the pipe flickered on and off.
Such a genius should have been a great fortune for Konoha, but those overly calm eyes always reminded him of Orochimaru's gaze as a childthat was not a look a child should possess.
"Danzo..."
Hiruzen suddenly whispered into the air, his voice hoarse like sandpaper rubbing, "Some bottom lines, I hope you still remember."
The shadows in the corner of the room twisted for a moment, and the figure of an Anbu ninja kneeling on one knee quietly appeared.
"How are the negotiations between the Fourth Hokage and the Cloud Shinobi progressing?"
"Reporting, Third Hokage," the Anbu's voice carried a hint of admiration. "Lord Fourth is unyielding; the Cloud Shinobi have already agreed to make concessions on the number of armed personnel..."
"Heh..."
Hiruzen suddenly chuckled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out. He looked out at the brightly lit Hokage Tower, where a young golden-haired Hokage was fighting for Konoha's interests.
In a trance, he seemed to see his own spirited self from his youth.
"Young people... indeed have more courage."
The last spark in the pipe extinguished, and in the bluish-gray ashes, the old man's cloudy eyes showed a hint of relief... Inside the temporary Cloud Shinobi envoy's quarters, Kumoiy stared grimly at the scroll on the table.
The dim candlelight cast deep shadows on his tightly furrowed brow, and the intelligence scroll in his hand was already crumpled.
"Lord Kumoiy, Lord Raikage's mission..."
The Special Jōnin beside him hesitated, his voice extremely low.
"Give up."
Kumoiy suddenly slammed the scroll onto the table, making the candlelight flicker violently. "Minato Namikaze's attitude is ten times stronger than expected."
His gaze swept over Toroi, who lay unconscious in the inner room, and his Adam's apple bobbed with difficulty.
The image of that three-year-old child severely injuring a Jōnin with a single blow still haunted his mind.
"The Yellow Flash, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Shisui the Teleporter, and Hiruzen Sarutobi..."
Each time Kumoiy spoke a name, his finger unconsciously tapped the table. "Even more terrifying is that three-year-old child who can instantly kill a Jōnin..."
The quarters fell silent, with only the crackling of the burning candlewick.
Kumoiy suddenly stood up, the airflow from his cloak nearly extinguishing the candle.
"Immediately send an urgent message back to the village!"
He lowered his voice and ordered his confidant, "Make sure to personally inform Lord RaikageKonoha is no longer the Konoha of old; request the termination of this mission!"
"Understood!"
The moment the shadow flashed out of the room, Kumoiy slumped back into his chair.
He looked at his slightly trembling hands and finally understood why the Fourth Raikage was so wary of this new generation Hokage.
Konoha's fangs were far sharper than described in the intelligence.
Late at night, Menma was being pestered by Naruto for a playful fight when a crisp system notification suddenly rang in his mind: "Ding! Successfully thwarted an enemy sect's conspiracy, rewarding Body Flicker Technique (Mastered)!"
His heart trembled, and he gently pushed Naruto away.
"Naruto, stop messing around."
"Big brother?"
Naruto blinked his clear blue eyes, tilting his head in confusion. Usually at this time, the brothers would always play around a bit before going to sleep.
Menma ruffled his brother's messy golden hair: "Special training starts tomorrow."
"Eh"
Naruto's face instantly fell. He flipped over and burrowed into his futon, deliberately letting out an exaggerated snore: "Hmph hmphGood night, big brother!"
"Don't you want to defeat Sasuke anymore?"
Menma asked, suppressing a smile.
"I do!"
Naruto sprang up like a spring, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. The recent memories of Sasuke's taunts were vivid, and he wished he could rush to the Uchiha compound right now for a showdown.
"Then go to sleep obediently and wake up early tomorrow to train."
"Dattebayo!"
Naruto excitedly waved his small fists. The moment his head touched the pillow, he drifted off to sleep, a hopeful smile still on his lips.
Menma walked to the window.
The moonlight was like water, flowing over the kunai in his palm.
"What should I use as a Flying Raijin mark? Dad's 'Ninja Love' sword is too flashy..."
He condensed chakra into his fingertips and carved a sharp "Dry" (gàn, meaning 'do' or 'dry') onto the kunai's hiltsimple and powerful, just like his personality.
The Uzumaki clan's powerful sensory ability confirmed that the hidden protectors and observers had all withdrawn. He flicked his wrist, and the kunai cut through the night, flying towards the courtyard. Just as the metal was about to hit the ground
Swish!
The golden-haired boy's figure appeared out of thin air at the end of the kunai's trajectory.
His slender fingers precisely hooked the falling kunai, and he backhanded it into the tree trunk, his movements fluid as if he had practiced thousands of times.
"Is this... the Flying Raijin?"
Menma gazed at the kunai trembling slightly in the moonlight, finally understanding the origin of his father's title, "Yellow Flash." This was not only a lethal move to take an enemy's head but also a miraculous technique to travel a thousand li in an instant.
"Tobirama Senju..."
He softly spoke the Second Hokage's name, admiration flashing in his eyes. This wisdom of perfectly combining space-time ninjutsu with a marking system was simply astonishing.
Suddenly, his delicate brows furrowed slightly.
In the moonlight, the child's fair fingertips gently traced the mark on the kunai: "If the enemy uses the mark as bait and sets a trap... wouldn't that be walking straight into it?"
Even the most powerful jutsu had its limitations.
"However... it's enough for now."
Menma flicked his wrist, and the kunai cut through the night, flying back into the window. Almost at the same instant, his figure appeared like a ghost in the center of the room.
The moment his toes touched the floor, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood up
Someone was there!
-------------------------------------------
The plans are now available.
Chûnin-Rank Plan: Read 20 chapters in advance + free waifu.
Jônin-Rank Plan: Read 30 chapters in advance + 10 waifu
Hokage-Rank Plan: Read 40 Chapters in advence
Patreon.com/The_Regicide