Two elite jōnin, four jōnin, four special jōnin, and ten chūnin. Check latest chapters at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩•𝗳𝗂𝗋𝖾•𝕟𝕖𝕥
The force deployed by the Hidden Mist was nothing short of formidable. If the ambush was executed well, even a weaker Kage-level ninja could fall to it.
The force sent to ambush Minato's squad was impressively strong—an occurrence rare outside of the Great Ninja Wars.
In a few more years, sending this kind of force against Minato Namikaze would be a joke. But in this era, where the "Yellow Flash" had yet to make his name, it felt almost absurd.
To the unknowing, it might even look like the Hidden Mist were targeting one of the Legendary Sannin.
So, why were they targeting Minato's squad?
The answer was already clear.
"Lord Minato Namikaze, we mean you no harm. We merely wish to invite you to visit the Hidden Mist."
Yes, they were after Minato. And the reason was...
"If I'd known being a game spokesperson would come with this kind of trouble, I never would've agreed to Kei's request."
Of course, it was just a complaint. Even if he had to choose again, he'd still agree to Uchiha Kei's request—because it came from a dear friend.
Still, it was unexpected that the Hidden Mist would set up an ambush just because Minato was the spokesperson for the genjutsu game.
Then again, perhaps not entirely.
After all, other villages knew very little about the game. And Minato, as its public face, had his image plastered across posters in every arcade.
Given that, it made perfect sense for enemy nations to believe Minato held secrets about the game—otherwise, why would he be its face?
Such was the power of the genjutsu game.
Minato looked apologetically at his students. "I'm sorry. This time, your teacher dragged you into this. But don't worry—I'll protect you all."
His three students immediately reassured him they didn't blame him. Though nervous, they felt secure.
After all, Minato was one of the rare space-time ninjutsu users. Without a barrier to disrupt his technique, even if he couldn't win, escaping with them would be no issue.
Among them, Uchiha Obito—the number one fanboy of Rin Nohara—even said that when it was time to run, Minato-sensei should take Rin first. He and Kakashi would stay behind to cover them.
"..." Kakashi looked at Obito wordlessly.
But he didn't object either.
Minato just smiled, ruffling Obito's spiky hair. "I already said—I'll protect you all. That's my promise. And besides..."
He looked toward the enemy's direction.
"Rather than running, I think taking all of them down sounds better. That way, each of us can log an S-rank mission in our records."
"Getting an S-rank on your record right after graduating the Academy isn't something that happens every day."
The three students were stunned. He was planning to defeat all those powerful enemies—and bring them along for the ride?
There were twenty opponents, most of them jōnin. Could they really handle that?
Even with space-time ninjutsu, wasn't the best Minato could do just to escape?
The Second Hokage, inventor of the Flying Thunder God Technique, had died in a sneak attack by enemies—fewer than they were facing now.
Sensing their doubt, Minato gave a warm, confident smile.
"If this were a month ago, I'd definitely have chosen to run to protect you all."
"But now, after all this time playing 'Fruit Ninja,' I've gained more than just combat experience."
The three exchanged glances. Finally, Obito asked, "Sensei, will we win?"
Minato replied, "We will."
Then, he bit his thumb and summoned a sealing scroll.
When it opened, dozens of trident kunai—custom-made for Flying Thunder God Technique—spilled out.
Minato instructed the three to throw them toward the enemy's direction with all their strength. Hitting wasn't necessary—just getting them near would suffice.
The students didn't know what he was planning, but obeyed. After Minato launched a Wind Style: Great Breakthrough to cover them, they threw the kunai with everything they had.
Kakashi even used Shadow Clone Technique to create an extra body to throw more.
A hail of kunai flew toward the Hidden Mist shinobi.
Startled by Minato's wind release, they were then met with a wave of seemingly feeble kunai—prompting scornful laughter.
Such weak throws? Even ten times that would pose no threat.
One Mist jōnin even rushed forward with a ninja blade, casually swatting one kunai aside before preparing to taunt.
But the words never came.
Because in the next instant, a sharp pain hit his throat. Blood sprayed. Life ebbed.
He never even realized how he died.
But from afar—Minato's students saw it clearly.
Just as the Mist jōnin arrogantly struck the kunai, Minato teleported in using the Flying Thunder God Technique and slit his throat.
That was only the beginning.
Minato launched into high-speed movement, becoming a golden blur. Before the enemy could even register fear, he began mowing them down.
By the time the three students snapped out of it, nearly all the Mist shinobi were dead.
Only two elite jōnin remained—and not because they resisted. Minato found them valuable, so he knocked them out with sealing jutsu.
Space-time ninjutsu combined with sealing—this was Minato Namikaze's unmatched strength.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was now complete.
In fact... he had surpassed its creator, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
The three students were speechless.
Obito and Rin's mouths hung open, shocked. Kakashi's face was hidden by a mask, but his wide, dead-fish eyes betrayed his awe.
Minato had completely blown them away.
To annihilate a squad of elite Mist shinobi in moments—not even the Hokage could do that.
It wasn't that the Hokage couldn't win—but even the Third couldn't take out that many so swiftly.
Experienced ninja were hard to kill. Given even a moment to react, they wouldn't fall so easily.
But Minato gave them no time.
He merged speed and space into an art of assassination.
After a long silence, Obito finally burst out, "A-Amazing! Minato-sensei is amazing! So many enemies—defeated in an instant! Too strong!"
"Rin, did you see that?! Sensei became a golden flash! Yes—the Yellow Flash! That's it! Lord Kei was right all along—Minato-sensei is the Yellow Flash!"
He rambled excitedly, nearly incoherent, lost in extreme admiration.
Though the name "Yellow Flash" had surfaced during the game's launch event, it hadn't spread far.
At the time, Minato had only shown off his Flying Thunder God in-game. It looked cool—but not overwhelming.
Now, things were different. His mastery of the technique had changed everything.
Since that day, he had been grinding the game "Fruit Ninja" at max difficulty every day—even during missions, he squeezed in sessions at night.
He always left a Shadow Clone to stand guard, ensuring no disruption to his duties.
His newly displayed power was the direct result of that training.
Clearly, real combat was the best way for someone like Minato to grow.
Previously, lack of battle opportunities and the chakra cost of the technique held him back. Flying between multiple locations consumed a massive amount of chakra, limiting his daily training benefits.
Worse, the Flying Thunder God wasn't exactly safe. One wrong move could mean teleporting into stone or a tree, risking severe injury—or death.
So he had to train carefully, and progress was slow.
But "Fruit Ninja" changed that.
No chakra drain. No risk of teleporting wrong. Just pure practice.
In the game, he could unleash everything.
So when he started grinding the game at the hardest level—his growth skyrocketed.
Today's result was the outcome.
Even Minato, who had always believed in himself, was surprised by how strong he had become.
"So this is what Kei meant—once I've fully mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, fighting anyone below Kage-level would be like cutting grass. Then... I guess now, I've become one of those Kage-level shinobi Kei mentioned?"
He muttered to himself, then smiled radiantly.
Amid the battlefield strewn with corpses, that sunny smile felt both oddly harmonious and chilling—radiating a true warrior's presence.
The three students gazed at him with reverence.
At that moment, Uchiha Kei suddenly received two new points of golden spirit—and the source was none other than Minato Namikaze.