Chapter 60: The Power of the Flying Thunder God
Amid the tense standoff between the three sides, three more shinobi arrived. Two of them were Konoha ninja—Akimichi Doto and Inuzuka Ago—while the other was a Jōnin from Kumogakure.
Izumo glanced at them and spoke, "Doto-sensei, you're here too. Captain Inuzuka, it's been a while. It looks like your body has fully recovered."
Akimichi Doto and Inuzuka Ago had used the Body Flicker Technique to appear at Izumo's side, positioning themselves in front of him protectively.
"Kid, you look pretty miserable," Inuzuka Ago joked lightly.
"Are you alright, Izumo?" Akimichi Doto asked, his tone full of concern.
"Sorry for making you worry. Fortunately, they're only minor injuries," Izumo replied.
Seeing the three shinobi before them standing on high alert, Akimichi Doto's expression turned serious. "Minato, be careful. Our opponents aren't ordinary ninja."
The newly arrived Kumogakure Jōnin had already noticed the special kunai in Namikaze Minato's hand—the one engraved with the formula known as the "Sword of Shinobi Love."
His expression tightened as he warned his two companions, "That blond hair and that movement technique… there's no doubt, he's the Yellow Flash. We should retreat immediately, A."
A snorted coldly. "No need to be afraid. We already fought him earlier."
Killer B spoke with surprise in his voice, "He's the ninja who ruined the mission to kidnap the Nine-Tails? Fool! Bastard!"
Minato gripped his kunai and took a combat stance. His calm gaze swept across the Kumogakure team before settling on A. "You're the Third Raikage's son from Kumogakure—A, correct? Your speed truly is remarkable."
"Hmph. You two aren't slow either!" A snorted.
Minato cast a brief glance at Izumo, a hint of surprise in his eyes. It wasn't easy to earn acknowledgment from A.
"With me and brother here, victory is guaranteed!" Killer B gripped his ninja sword tightly and shouted loudly, "Fool! Bastard!"
Minato's gaze sharpened like that of a hawk, though a calm smile lingered at the corner of his lips. "Everyone, don't move. Leave this to me." He reached into his ninja tool pouch and tossed dozens of special kunai in all directions around them.
"Ha!" A's shout echoed through the forest. His entire body was enveloped in crackling blue lightning. With a powerful stomp that kicked up dust, he shot forward like an arrow toward Minato. Lightning traced a dazzling arc through the trees.
"So this is Lightning Release Chakra Mode…" Izumo observed closely from the side.
"Correct. He concentrates Lightning chakra throughout his body, enveloping himself in lightning and chakra. It activates his physical body, allowing him to use Lightning Release Body Flicker and drastically increasing his defense," Akimichi Doto explained.
Inuzuka Ago added, "Not only that. The lightning surging through his body also accelerates neural transmission. The more Lightning chakra he uses, the higher his defense and speed become. That's the Raikage's secret taijutsu ninjutsu—Lightning Armor."
"But our Minato is just as formidable," Inuzuka Ago said confidently.
On the battlefield against Iwagakure, he had witnessed firsthand the fastest speed in the shinobi world.
Seeing A's fist already on the verge of striking range, Minato remained calm. Casually, he tossed a kunai into the air, then teleported to another kunai embedded in a nearby tree. In the next instant, he shifted again—this time to the kunai he had just thrown upward.
"He dodged my speed?!" A thought in shock.
At that moment, Minato had already returned to the position of the airborne kunai. Gripping it, he aimed toward A's waist, ready to strike.
Suddenly, an octopus tentacle appeared before him, forcing Minato to slice it apart.
"This…"
A seized the moment to retreat back to Killer B's side. Cold sweat formed on his face. "Sorry, B. Are you alright?"
Killer B panted heavily. For a moment, he couldn't respond. Being forced to draw upon the Bijū's power again had pushed him close to his limit.
"Could it be…"
"This man… could he be the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki?"
Akimichi Doto and Inuzuka Ago looked stunned. Izumo gave a bitter smile. "Sorry, Lord Minato. He is indeed the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. I didn't have the chance to pass that information along earlier."
Hearing this, Akimichi Doto and Inuzuka Ago immediately turned to look at him.
"You… your strength… since when…"
"Incredible. No wonder you're sensei's most prized student!"
Minato gave a slight nod, indicating he fully understood the situation.
Just as the second round of battle was about to begin, a sharp whistle suddenly echoed through the forest.
Hearing the signal, Inuzuka Ago immediately said, "Fall back, Minato. We're retreating for now." He and Akimichi Doto then helped Izumo withdraw with them.
Upon hearing the whistle, Minato turned as well, preparing to leave. A quickly called out, "Wait!"
Minato glanced back and said to A, "A, you have a rare partner. So do I. Believe me—when we meet again, you and I will fight as representatives of our respective Kage."
"Hmph. You think you can escape with nonsense like that? That won't work."
A's body was once again enveloped in crackling blue lightning. His sharp gaze swept across the area, observing the scattered Flying Thunder God kunai. He had nearly memorized all their positions before dashing toward Minato at high speed.
"Jump. Let me see which kunai you'll choose."
"I won't fail!" Minato's voice sounded softly beside Killer B. The kunai in his hand was already aimed at the back of Killer B's head.
"This… at the base of the Eight-Tails' tail… there's a Flying Thunder God mark!" The Kumogakure Jōnin beside Killer B stared at Minato in utter shock.
"So it was then? When he cut the tentacle?" A clenched his teeth tightly.
He looked more carefully and realized that Killer B was holding his sword in reverse, its tip already pressed against Minato's abdomen.
"We're prepared for both sides to be injured. It's better if we face each other directly."
Minato did not thrust the kunai forward. His tone carried a trace of admiration. "Even as enemies, I respect you." His gaze flicked briefly to Killer B's sword. "Your movements truly are those of a shinobi killer."
Then Minato teleported back to a distant kunai. His voice remained calm.
"We'll continue this another time, A, B!"
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