Minato Namikaze narrowly avoided Chihiro's Rice Spirit slash.
The sheer speed of Chihiro's technique made even Minato — the prodigy of their generation — falter.
"He's... troublesome," Minato thought, his expression tightening.
Minato hadn't expected this much strength from Chihiro. Back in the Academy, Chihiro had been talented, sure — but nowhere near his level. And yet now, the tables felt... uncertain.
Chihiro, too, was surprised. Minato had already adapted to his Thunder Breathing style.
As expected of the future user of the Flying Thunder God Technique, he mused. His reaction speed really is something else...
But Chihiro only allowed himself a moment's admiration. Minato might be growing — but so was he.
If I were at my peak... my Thunder Breathing wouldn't lose to even the Flying Thunder God itself.
On the sidelines, Kushina Uzumaki clenched her fists. She hadn't meant for things to escalate like this. Her heart was racing with worry — not for herself, but for Chihiro.
She knew why he was doing this. And that hurt more than the bullying.
He was doing it for her.
"Chihiro, I'm okay!" she shouted, trying to cut through the tension in the air.
Chihiro tightened his grip on his katana, voice low. "I swore I'd protect your smile. And it's only been days... and I've already failed."
He turned to look at her, eyes burning.
"I'll never forgive those who hurt you. Never."
Kushina's eyes blurred with tears. "Chihiro…"
She stared at his back — tense, determined — as he faced Minato again.
Without another word, Chihiro sheathed his katana.
Minato tensed. That wasn't a sign of retreat — it was a stance.
"Thunder Breathing: Third Form — Gathering Mosquitoes Into Thunder!"
Chihiro exploded into motion, circling Minato with frightening speed. His path lit up with arcs of crackling blue lightning, each step leaving a searing wave in the air.
Minato realized retreat was impossible — the lightning was an electrified web, designed to trap him.
Chihiro's slashes came fast, heavy. Each blow pushed Minato further onto the defensive. Worse, the Lightning Release chakra infused in Chihiro's strikes was starting to affect him — his limbs felt sluggish, his reflexes dulled by the numbing voltage coursing through him.
Minato's breath quickened. One more strike — he wouldn't be able to dodge it.
He raised his right arm instinctively—
—and then a flash of white.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!"
A mass of thick, spiked white hair enveloped Minato just as Chihiro's blade fell. The slash struck the hardened hair with a metallic clang — and Chihiro's katana snapped in two.
Chihiro narrowed his eyes.
Jiraiya.
The Toad Sage of the Sannin, recently returned to the village, scratched his head as he released the technique. "Sheesh, I go out for some intel and come back to kids trying to kill each other."
Minato looked up in relief. "Jiraiya-sensei!"
Jiraiya gave him a quick once-over. "You alright?"
Minato hesitated. "We're classmates. We just had... a disagreement."
Jiraiya eyed the broken katana on the ground. "This kind of disagreement usually ends with detention, not hospitalization. That kid used the back of the blade at the end — smart — but if it'd landed clean, your arm would be toast."
But before they could say more, Chihiro moved again.
He flicked the broken half of his blade like a projectile — aimed not at Minato, but at the frightened genin who had instigated the attack on Kushina.
Before the blade could reach its target, the ground exploded.
A fist had landed, and the sheer force of it sent the broken metal flying off course.
A new figure stood between the genin and Chihiro.
Tsunade of the Sannin. Arms crossed. Scowl loaded.
"You've gone too far, kid."
Jiraiya's voice turned stern. "Why would you go this far against your own comrades?"
Chihiro's response was ice.
"Comrades? When that genin threw a real kunai at Kushina, was she his comrade?"
He turned to Minato. "And you, Minato Namikaze. You saw it happen — you saw him aim a real kunai at her. You didn't move to protect her. But you were quick to throw that same kunai at me. Did you think of me as your comrade then?"
Jiraiya looked to Minato, brow furrowed. "Is that true?"
Minato nodded reluctantly and explained. "Yes, it's true. Chihiro had already fractured one of their sternums. He said he was going to break their arms and legs. I panicked. I thought it was the only way to stop him."
Jiraiya sighed, the weight of the situation sinking in.
"You'd already punished them. But you still wanted to do more. That's not justice — that's vengeance."
At that, Kushina rushed between them, arms outstretched in front of Chihiro.
"They were the ones who went too far! Why is everyone only blaming Chihiro?!"
Chihiro gently pulled her behind him, stepping forward with a bitter smile. "Too far? What if that kunai had hit her? Would you still say I went too far?"
He looked Jiraiya dead in the eyes.
"No, of course not. She's an outsider from another village. And me? I'm the son of traitors. We're not worth protecting, are we? Only your precious Konoha-born 'comrades' matter."
Jiraiya flinched at the accusation, rubbing his nose awkwardly. "I didn't say that…"
Tsunade stepped forward, her gaze focused on Kushina. "What's your name?"
"Kushina Uzumaki," she replied confidently, despite everything.
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly. As expected...
As Mito Uzumaki's granddaughter, Tsunade had heard rumors — that a new Uzumaki had arrived from Uzushio.
She turned to Jiraiya. "Let Hiruzen handle this. The old man needs to see it for himself."
Jiraiya nodded, catching on. There was more at play here than hot-headed kids.
"Alright. Minato, take them to the hospital."
"Yes, Jiraiya-sensei."
Minato helped the injured genin to their feet and left with them.
Chihiro's eyes never left the pair of Sannin.
With them here, the fight was over.
For now.