Yan Uchiha's straight punch came with incredible speed—his skill clearly beyond what a typical student should possess. Even Kushina could only instinctively step back, unable to react further.
After all, she had enrolled at the academy not long ago, and naturally couldn't compare with Yan, who had been trained since childhood by elite Uchiha warriors.
With a sudden thud!
However, just as Yan's straight punch was about to strike Kushina's small face, a pale hand—faster even than his own—gripped the punch tightly, bringing it to a complete stop.
A faint sound rang out through the silent classroom.
Minato's gaze instantly turned icy cold. He stood up, his usual gentle demeanor entirely gone. The look in his eyes caused Yan himself to feel a jolt of fear.
"Haha, it worked. You're really angry, aren't you?" Yan chuckled.
"This is between you and me. There's no reason to involve others!" Minato said coldly.
Yan, however, was completely unfazed. "Then come fight me like a real man instead of hiding behind a woman!"
Beside them, Mikoto's beautiful face flushed with rage. "Yan Uchiha, you're playing dirty!"
With her intelligence, how could she fail to see through Yan's ploy—to provoke Minato by exploiting his concern for Kushina?
That kind of trickery was beneath contempt!
Kushina had also regained her composure by now. Fury blazing in her eyes, she clenched her fists and lunged toward Yan, but Minato stopped her with his other arm.
His clear blue eyes remained fixed on Yan. "You shouldn't have used Kushina to provoke me..."
"As long as it gets you to fight me, anything goes!" Yan was eager to prove himself, indifferent to the methods he used to achieve victory.
"Fine, I'll play along. Anyone who tries to hurt her—I won't let any of them go." Minato spoke in a voice so cold it felt like a frozen lake.
A hint of joy flickered across Yan's dark eyes. He pulled back his fist and said, "Fine. Then let's take this to the training field. This place is too narrow to fight properly."
Saying that, he walked away under the stunned gazes of many.
Minato remained silent and followed closely. Kushina and Mikoto tried to stop him, but once he made a decision, he never changed it.
Within the entire classroom, only Yu Akasaka showed a slight mocking smile. He thought nobody would notice, yet the very next moment, he met Minato's indifferent gaze.
Though furious, Minato had not lost control. How did Yan know about his relationship with Kushina?
Clearly, someone must have told him—and the culprit wasn't hard to guess. Not long ago, Yu had issued threats toward Minato, although Yu well knew he was no match for Minato himself.
Thus, exploiting Yan's competitive nature, he had manipulated him into humiliating Minato, hoping Yan would teach him a lesson.
However, Minato didn't immediately confront him. He simply cast a glance toward him before walking out of the classroom, but that very gaze caused Yu Akasaka to instinctively lean back against the wall, his eyes somewhat dazed.
Mikoto, who had a keen eye for details, noticed all of this. She slightly furrowed her brows, yet without dwelling too deeply due to her concern for Minato. She left the gathering crowd and headed toward the teacher's office.
Although she intensely disliked the Yan Uchiha, she couldn't deny his strength. According to some elders within their clan, he already possessed Genin-level abilities—perhaps even stronger!
Though Minato was also strong, Mikoto still doubted whether he could defeat Yan Uchiha, someone trained by powerful figures within the Uchiha clan.
...
Within the training field at the Ninja Academy, Minato and Yan Uchiha stood face-to-face, separated by several meters. Around them clustered many students, including even some from higher grades.
After all, one of those about to duel was a prodigy from the famed Uchiha clan!
As for Namikaze Minato, nobody had ever heard that name before.
Kushina wore a worried expression on her delicate features. Witnessing the scene and secretly feeling a sense of satisfaction in her heart, she tried to persuade Minato. "Minato, maybe just let it go… don't make such a big deal out of things because of me..."
Upon hearing these words, Minato—who usually bore a cold gaze—suddenly softened. A warm smile appeared on his face as he reassured Kushina. "Don't worry, Kushina. I have the ability to handle this properly. I'm not doing it just to show off."
His words shocked not only Kushina but also many of the surrounding students.
How did Namikaze Minato muster such confidence facing the Yan Uchiha?
Or perhaps… he was merely trying to maintain appearances.
"Namikaze Minato! Today, I will show you just how impossible it is for ordinary people like you to close the gap between yourselves and true geniuses!"
Boasting arrogantly, Yan Uchiha charged forward. Minato's eyes sharpened; his nerves tensed completely.
"Stop! Both of you!"
Just then, a figure abruptly appeared between them, halting both combatants mid-motion. It was Moto Kouda.
"What exactly are you two doing here?!" Moto Kouda barked out furiously.
Yet Yan Uchiha seemed to have prepared for this. Calmly, he replied, "Teacher, we're just engaging in sparring practice—a tradition of the Ninja Academy."
Indeed, since its founding, the Ninja Academy had maintained this tradition of sparring sessions, as after all, ninjas valued actual fighting capability above everything else.
Caught speechless momentarily, Moto Kouda shifted his gaze toward Minato. If Minato simply denied this being official sparring, he could stop Yan Uchiha immediately.
After all, mutual agreement was necessary for such drills.
However, Minato remained silent, simply standing there motionless.
"Minato, weren't you the one who said you treated everyone in the village as family? Then why now…"
Moto Kouda knew Minato was a thoughtful person, so why would he act so recklessly now?
Minato nodded, smiling as he met Moto Kouda's gaze. "That's true, but even family members sometimes disagree, Teacher Kouda. Don't worry, I know my limits."
Moto Kouda's pupils slightly contracted as he looked into Minato's calm eyes, and then he actually stepped back himself.
This kid had already made up his mind. No use trying to talk him out of it.
Mikoto, who had just arrived, could only feel helpless looking at the scene before her.
Seeing Moto Kouda step back, Yan Uchiha sneered, "Nonsense! Thinking everyone is family—what an arrogant idea!"
As he spoke, his figure moved with monkey-like agility, springing several meters backward. By now, a few shuriken had appeared in his hand out of nowhere.
Under the midday sun, those pitch-black shuriken reflected a sharp gleam, causing the students to react with involuntary alarm.
Because these weren't the usual practice shuriken used in school—they were the real deal!
The Uchiha clan was renowned across the Ninja World for their [Sharingan] and [Fire Release] Ninjutsu. Besides that, their mastery of shuriken techniques was unmatched in the ninja world!
In fact, every member of the Uchiha was a shuriken expert—light-years ahead of regular ninja!
Zing! Zing!
Yan Uchiha flicked his arm with great skill. The shuriken instantly turned into black afterimages, flying toward Minato with extreme precision through several very difficult angles.
Even Moto Kouda couldn't help but feel a twinge of alarm at this throw.
Yan Uchiha, who was only seven years old, actually possessed such superb shuriken manipulation skills!
...
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