Northwest border of the Land of Fire, mountains overlapped, forests dense.
Inside a hidden outpost, the atmosphere was somewhat tense.
Minato's special squad, including the burly Akimichi Doto, skilled in Taijutsu and the Multi-Size Technique, and the keen-nosed Inuzuka Gaku, who worked seamlessly with his Ninken, had just arrived and were receiving a briefing from the border patrol squad stationed here.
The captain of the stationed squad, a Chunin with marks of wind and frost on his face, pointed to a map spread on a crude wooden table, reporting seriously. "Minato-sama, in the past week, Kumogakure's Ninjas have been abnormally active north of here, in the area where the Land of Iron and the Land of Rivers meet. Our people have already had three direct clashes with them. The enemy is strong, with at least one Jonin leading. Their combat style is extremely fierce."
Minato's azure blue eyes moved intently over the map. His finger traced over the positions of the Land of Iron and the Land of Rivers, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Land of Iron and Land of Rivers... too far from the Land of Lightning's mainland, closer to the Land of Earth's border," He pondered, analyzing rapidly in his mind.
"The Kumogakure's people are willing to go this deep... what's their target? Could it be they want to create friction, provoke conflict between us Konoha and Iwagakure, so they can reap the benefits?"
This speculation made everyone present tense.
If that was the case, then Kumogakure's ambitions were not small, and the border situation might be far more complex and dangerous than imagined.
Minato made a decisive decision. "We must personally confirm the enemy's intentions and scale. Doto, Gaku, and you..." He looked at a ninja from the stationed squad skilled in tracking and concealment.
"We four will form a reconnaissance team and depart immediately to patrol the area where previous clashes occurred. Remember, our primary mission is to gather intelligence, confirm enemy movements. Avoid direct engagement unless absolutely necessary."
"Yes, sir!" Doto's voice boomed like a bell. He casually shouldered a heavy iron rod leaning against the wall.
Gaku gently patted the head of his restless brown ninja dog and said softly, "Omaru, I'm counting on you again this time."
The four-person team, like shadows merging with the forest, quietly left the outpost, heading swiftly towards the northern border.
Their movements were swift and concealed, making full use of terrain and vegetation for cover, displaying high tactical skill.
After some time, they reached a dense forest area in a valley zone.
According to intelligence, this was precisely the location of the encounter with Kumogakure's Ninjas a few days ago.
Just as the team cautiously advanced deeper into the woodland, Omaru, who had been following quietly, suddenly stopped. He emitted low growls from his throat, his hackles raised, baring his teeth, appearing extremely agitated.
"Enemy ahead!" Gaku was the first to sound the alarm, his right hand instantly on the hilt of the short sword at his waist.
Almost simultaneously, Minato, Doto, and the other outpost Ninja immediately formed a defensive back-to-back formation. Weapons were drawn as they scanned the silent surrounding woods with sharp eyes.
Doto held his heavy iron rod horizontally before him, his large body as stable as a rock.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three figures leaped down abruptly from the dense foliage of several large trees ahead, landing steadily in a clearing among the trees, blocking the path of Minato's team.
They wore Kumogakure's dark Ninja uniforms uniformly. The leader was an extremely tall and burly man with short golden hair, bronzed skin, bulging muscles. Merely standing there, he emitted a beast-like oppressive aura.
It was the young son of the Third Raikage, the future Fourth Raikage, A.
To his left stood a youth with dark skin wearing sunglasses, a seemingly perpetually playful smile at the corner of his mouth, holding a chakra short sword in each hand, reversed. It was Killer B.
To his right was an ordinary-looking Kumogakure's Ninja.
A's gaze swept over Gaku and Omaru, growling beside him, showing his teeth. With a click of his tongue, he said impatiently, "Since we're discovered, can't be helped! B, the planned ambush is cancelled. Change to a full assault! Finish it quickly!"
The ordinary Kumogakure's Jonin beside him, his gaze fixed tightly on Minato. When he clearly saw that dazzling blond hair and sky-blue eyes, his face changed drastically. His voice carried a barely perceptible tremor as he urgently warned A. "A-sama! Be careful! That blond-haired kid is Konoha's [Yellow Flash], Namikaze Minato! It was him who foiled our mission to kidnap the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki years ago."
"Oh?" A's rugged brows rose. A gaze filled with intense fighting spirit focused on Minato, recalling the village records of that failed mission.
He grinned, showing white teeth, his smile full of challenge. "So it's you? The Konoha's Ninja who messed up our business back then! Seems luck's good today, can personally measure the weight of the so-called [Yellow Flash]!"
Minato tightly gripped his special kunai, his body leaning slightly forward, maintaining the optimal defensive posture, his tone still calm. "A... the Third Raikage's successor. I've long heard of your name. I also heard you possess top-tier blitz speed in the Ninja World."
B swayed beside him, using his unique rhythmic tone to rap. "Yo~! Big Bro takes action, the world is mine! Konoha's flash, extinguished today! Idiot~ Fool~!"
Gaku lowered his voice, quickly saying to Minato, "Minato, the situation's bad! The other is the Third Raikage's son. He has special status, and is extremely strong. We must find a way to send this important intel back to the village!"
Minato nodded slightly, his sharp eyes sweeping over the three opponents, especially the most dangerous-feeling A and the seemingly casual B.
He took a deep breath and said quietly to his companions behind him, "Everyone, be careful, watch for possible ambushes around. Leave them to me!"
As the words fell, Minato's arm swung fiercely!
Swish, swish, swish—!
Over a dozen special three-pronged kunai were thrown in a seemingly random manner towards the surrounding trees, ground, and rocks in the battlefield.
Almost the instant Minato acted, A also moved!
"Lightning Release Chakra Mode!"
Crackle, crackle—!
An ear-splitting thunderclap rang!
Violent blue lightning Chakra instantly covered A's entire body like solid armor. His hair stood on end from static, arcs of electricity jumping around him. His speed, strength, and defense were raised to their peak in an instant!
He transformed into a bolt of blue lightning, moving at a speed difficult for the naked eye to follow. With an unstoppable momentum, he charged straight at Minato!
His left hand formed a knife-hand, wrapped in highly concentrated Lightning Attribute Chakra, thrusting directly at Minato's chest.
It was his signature technique, [Lightning Release: Lariat].
Facing this thunderous assault, Minato's eyes sharpened. He did not choose to meet it head-on.
He threw the last kunai in his hand towards the side front. Simultaneously, his figure instantly vanished from his spot!
Flying Thunder God Technique!
A's certain strike hit empty air… the fierce lightning only pierced through Minato's afterimage.
His heart jolted in shock: 'What?! Faster than my Lightning Release Chakra Mode?!'
And just at the moment his old force faded and new force hadn't gathered, his body leaning slightly forward from the high-speed charge, that kunai Minato threw earlier had already flown in an arc behind him!
The next second, Minato's figure appeared out of thin air beside the kunai that had flown behind A!
He accurately grabbed the kunai's hilt, his arm extending forward with the momentum. The gleaming blade tip stabbed straight at A's unprotected back!
This series of actions flowed seamlessly, faster than the normal reaction limit!
"Big Bro, watch out!" B, who had been keeping an eye on the battle with his peripheral vision, exclaimed in alarm!
At this critical moment, a thick, suction cup-covered dark red octopus tentacle burst out from B's sleeve! Like a whip with a whooshing sound, it lashed fiercely at Minato's arm!
Minato reacted extremely fast. His wrist turned, the kunai changing from a stab to a slash.
A flash of cold light appeared!
Swish!
The attacking tentacle segment was severed, falling to the ground, still writhing a few times.
But Minato's fatal strike was also interrupted by this sudden interference.
Seizing this opportunity, A's feet flashed with lightning. His body twisted violently backward in an almost impossible angle, retreating frantically, narrowly avoiding the danger of being impaled by the kunai. He rejoined B and the other Kumogakure's Ninja.
He glanced at the severed tentacle on the ground with lingering fear and said to B gravely, "Thanks, B! You okay?"
The severed tentacle behind B rapidly retracted. The wound area seemed to heal quickly.
"No problem, Big Bro! Yo~!"
On Konoha's side, Doto and Gaku, seeing that signature octopus tentacle, had their expressions change drastically!
"That's... an octopus tail?!"
"Could it be... that sunglasses guy is... the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki?!"
Gaku immediately shouted anxiously at Minato, "Minato! Situation's changed! The enemy has even mobilized the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki! This is beyond our reconnaissance mission's scope! We must retreat immediately and send the intel back!"
The Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki… that was a strategic-level weapon's existence!
If the other party fully transformed into a Tailed Beast or went berserk, with just the four of them, they couldn't possibly resist and might even be wiped out!
Right now, sending back the crucial intelligence that 'Kumogakure's future Raikage candidate and the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki are simultaneously appearing at the Land of Fire's border' to the village was far more important than fighting a highly risky, uncertain battle here!
B, hearing the other side's exclamation, wriggled proudly, starting his clumsy rap again. "That's right~ Eight-Tails is this great Killer B! Tremble, Konoha underlings~ Idiot~ Foo..."
His rap had just started when, under Minato's signal, the Konoha's group began slowly retreating, looking for a chance to disengage.
However, just at this tense moment, a clear, slightly lazy youth's voice suddenly came from the sky above everyone, completely without warning:
"Yo, it seems very lively here. Did I come at just the right time?"
This sudden voice was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake!
Both sides, the seven Ninjas from Konoha and Kumogakure, felt their hearts jolt simultaneously!
'A third party was on the battlefield?!'
'We hadn't detected it at all?!'
Everyone, including A who is about to launch an attack and Minato who is fully on guard preparing to retreat, instinctively stopped their actions, sharply looking up towards the source of the voice.
They saw a figure hovering quietly in mid-air, dozens of meters above the ground.
The sunlight behind him outlined a dazzling silhouette, making it hard to see his features clearly for a moment.
But vaguely, one could make out it was a somewhat slender youth, enveloped in a layer of soft, mysterious golden Chakra light. Most peculiarly, on both sides of his forehead, there seemed to be small, green horn-like protrusions.
Minato's pupils abruptly contracted!
With exceptional eyesight and keen Chakra perception, he instantly recognized that figure!
'It's him!'
'That black-haired youth who mysteriously appeared in Konoha a few days ago, who also used the Rasengan and Adamantine Sealing Chains, and flew away in the end!'
'Why was he here?!'
'And... the Chakra on him felt even more vast compared to a few days ago, even carrying a heart-palpitating pressure!'
For a moment, whether Konoha or Kumogakure's Ninjas, they all temporarily forgot their opposition. All attention was drawn to this suddenly descending, strangely powerful uninvited guest.
The air in the forest seemed to solidify.
Menma, hovering in mid-air, was somewhat surprised.
He had just returned from the Moon after absorbing the Giant Tenseigan's power, adapting to this new Tenseigan Chakra Mode, and was heading back to the Ninja World to find his next target, like a certain old guy hiding deep underground.
And just so coincidentally, emerging from the passage, he sensed Minato and Kumogakure's A-B Combo.
Looking at the setup, the two sides seemed to have just made contact, still in the probing attack phase.
His gaze swept over the tense atmosphere below, especially seeing the Konoha's side already showing intent to retreat.
'Since I've already changed the fate of the Moon's Otsutsuki Clan, changing a bit more probably doesn't matter either,' Menma thought to himself, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.