Arima's lone figure soared through the sky aboard a giant beast conjured by the Super Beast Imitating Drawing technique, heading in two separate directions: Roran and the aerial fortress.
Arima's real body had already used the Flying Thunder God Technique to reach the fortress ahead of time.
Meanwhile, a Wood Clone controlled the beast, carrying Minato, Yuna, and the others toward their destination.
On the journey, Rin asked uneasily, "Minato-sensei, are we… in the middle of that Four Kage War mentioned in the history books of Konoha?"
Seeing Rin clutching the corner of his cloak tightly, Minato smiled and asked, "Rin, are you nervous?"
Rin looked guilty and replied, "Sensei, I'm not afraid of danger. As a shinobi, I've always been prepared to face my enemies head-on!
But… my body keeps trembling on its own! Does that make me a coward, Minato-sensei?"
Another squad member, Obito, turned to look at her when he heard this.
Obito himself was feeling nervous, excited, even scared, but he was too proud to admit it. As a member of the Uchiha clan, he believed he should be fearless.
Minato reassured them gently.
"Your mission this time is to help evacuate the imprisoned civilians. Honestly, with Lord Third's strength, he could've just created a few more Wood Clones and handled it alone.
But instead, he insisted on bringing all of you. Have you thought about why?"
Rin and Obito shook their heads, clearly confused about why Lord Third would bring along what they considered "dead weight."
At that moment, Kakashi, who had been quietly meditating nearby, spoke up.
"My father used to be one of Lord Third's students, so he understood Lord Third's teaching style very well. Lord Third places great importance on nurturing talent.
He tailors training to match each shinobi's strengths.
When my father's team entered the Academy, within just a week, they were put through a test that completely changed the way they lived and fought."
Curious, Obito asked, "Minato-sensei, what do you think Lord Third is planning?"
Minato didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned to Rin and asked, "Rin, you're observant. Think about Lord Third's usual behavior in the village. Why do you think he made this decision?"
Rin thought for a moment and said, "Lord Third often helps struggling villagers, but he never gives them money directly. H
e provides them with work opportunities instead. I think he's trying to support and train us too, giving us a chance to grow.
By involving us in this 'Four Kage War,' he's creating an experience that could shape our lives for years to come."
Minato nodded with a warm smile. "Now, look at your forearms, see those Flying Thunder God markings? That alone should tell you that Lord Third would never let you be in real danger."
The three quickly rolled up their sleeves. Sure enough, each of them bore a distinct seal on their upper forearm. None of them had noticed when Lord Third had placed it there.
Seeing their astonishment, Minato chuckled.
"The Flying Thunder God mark is designed to be silent and unobtrusive. And with Lord Third's mastery over the technique, it's perfectly normal that you didn't notice it."
Riding another giant beast, Arima's Wood Clone traveled with Yuna. Hearing the conversation from Minato's side, Arima nodded inwardly, clearly impressed.
Then he called out, " Obito, if you make the most of this opportunity, you just might awaken your Sharingan.
Rin, if your performance satisfies me, when you return to the future, I'll teach you the B-rank medical ninjutsu: Precision Extraction Technique.
Kakashi, I've got a scroll with insights into advanced kenjutsu techniques. I think you'll find it useful."
At that, Yuna immediately perked up. "Father, if I do well… what will you teach me?"
Arima's Clone lowered his head, smiling. "When you return to the future, just tell me you want to learn Senjutsu. That'll jog my memory."
Yuna cheered with excitement. If she could master Senjutsu, her strength might even surpass her brother's, maybe even rival her mother's!
After hearing Arima's words, the four young shinobi's nerves melted away. They couldn't help but feel excited and determined to perform their best on this mission.
While they were chatting, Arima's real body had already arrived at the aerial fortress.
He scanned the area with his sensory abilities and noticed that Shinno's chakra had vanished, while Miyadera's chakra had suddenly nearly doubled in volume!
Arima frowned. 'Shinno is almost certainly dead. But how did Miyadera's chakra increase so dramatically? Did he already merge with the Zero-Tails?'
Sure enough, just as Arima suspected, Miyadera had already absorbed the demonic chakra of the Zero-Tails long before Arima's arrival. This fusion granted him control over the army of stone puppets.
Miyadera's power had surged rapidly, and when Arima detected him, he also instantly sensed Arima's presence in return.
With a sinister smile, Miyadera muttered, "Arima, the Third Hokage… You're too late. The Zero-Tails and Moryō are already under my control. I'm no longer someone you can trifle with."
With that, he smashed through walls and stone alike, flying straight toward Arima's position.
Seeing Miyadera charge at him instead of retreating, Arima thought to himself, 'Is he confident… or just arrogant? Could he have another trump card?'
Miyadera quickly closed the distance, stopping less than a hundred meters from Arima.
Hovering above, he sneered down. "Arima, Third Hokage of Konoha, you're still late. Shinno feared you like a plague.
Even on his deathbed, he cursed me, saying you'd bring me down. But now that I see you in person… You're not all that impressive. You're so late, you even missed the fresh pile of shit!"
His words were crude and vulgar. Arima had no interest in stooping to his level. He needed to take Miyadera down before the other Kage arrived, there was no time for complications.
But Miyadera grew agitated at Arima's calm, silent demeanor.
Enraged by that indifference, he opened the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates Released Formation, unleashing a surge of black chakra that radiated a fierce, oppressive aura.
Seeing Miyadera's stance, clearly a fight to the death, Arima remained unfazed.
However, sensing that they were too close to where the civilians were held, he knew that a battle here would risk collateral damage. He quickly withdrew into the distance.
Miyadera, mistaking Arima's retreat for fear, gave chase at full speed.
Once they had left the prison area, Arima's Wood Clone quietly emerged from a nearby tree and made his way toward the underground facility.
Arima came to a stop by a lakeshore. Miyadera soon caught up and stared at him warily, afraid Arima might try to flee again.
But now, they were far enough from the prisoners. As long as Arima carefully controlled his jutsu, they wouldn't be caught in the crossfire.
Besides, his Wood Clone had already reached Minato and the others. It wouldn't be long before they arrived, ready to launch a coordinated assault and take down the entire aerial fortress in one strike.
Arima formed a rapid series of hand signs and unleashed Water Style: Severing Wave, shooting a razor-sharp jet of high-pressure water from his mouth straight at Miyadera.
Thanks to the Sixth Gate, Miyadera's enhanced speed allowed him to dodge the attack effortlessly.
Arima mentally noted his reaction speed, then launched Water Style: Exploding Water Dragon, generating a massive swirling vortex that formed into a towering water dragon lunging toward Miyadera.
Miyadera scoffed. At his current speed, attacks like that couldn't even touch him. But in his arrogance, he failed to notice Arima's true killing move.
Arima had focused his Black Lightning into his right arm, and with his fully activated three-tomoe Sharingan, he predicted Miyadera's movement with precision.
As Miyadera dodged the water dragon, Arima seized the opening and unleashed Storm Release: Laser Circus, a beam-like blast of Black Lightning that struck Miyadera dead-on.
In just three moves, Arima had severely wounded him.
However, Miyadera had inherited Shinno's legacy. Using Body Regeneration Technique, powered by the Zero-Tails' chakra, he rapidly healed all of his injuries.
Seeing the dark chakra swirling around Miyadera's body, Arima frowned slightly. He hadn't expected the Zero-Tails' chakra to have such remarkable healing capabilities.
Previously, all he had sensed from it was chaos and disorder, certainly not vitality.
Arima narrowed his eyes. 'Could it be that one of Shinno's forbidden medical techniques is still in effect? Perhaps this regeneration comes at a steep price…'
Just as Arima was puzzling over Miyadera's miraculous recovery, Miyadera smugly blurted out the truth himself.
"You just don't understand the wonders of the Zero-Tails! It can draw on the life force of others to replenish my own.
As long as there are people in this world, I can feed off their lives endlessly! Isn't it beautiful?!"
Arima's expression darkened. Now he understood why Miyadera had sent the Sky Ninja to capture all those civilians.
He felt nothing but loathing for such twisted methods. As for the Zero-Tails, he had no interest in researching it anymore. Once Miyadera was subdued, he'd just sell it to the system and be done with it.
Arima spoke coldly, "Miyadera, this path you've chosen leads only to destruction. Your sins can no longer be cleansed by blood. It's time for you to atone in the Pure Land."
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