"How is this possible?"
Minato subconsciously turned around, caught off guard by a pair of demonic Sharingan. In that instant, his mind reeled.
"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock on me!"
Pikachu's familiar Growl reached his ears, and Minato's body shook. The scenery before his eyes spun. He shook his head, and his vision cleared, only to find one Hayato pointing a Kunai at his waist, while another Hayato stood far away on a tree branch, observing with a cold gaze.
Is this—Genjutsu: Sharingan?
Minato's mouth curved into a bitter smile, and he raised a hand to rub his forehead: "As expected of the Sharingan, a Bloodline Limit that can activate Genjutsu just by making eye contact. I've lost again."
"Minato, don't be discouraged. The Sharingan is indeed very troublesome." The Shadow Clone dissipated, and Uchiha Hayato jumped down from the tree branch, his tone calm but not lacking in comfort. "It's very difficult to fight without relying on sight in battle. The Sharingan's Genjutsu can only be dispelled by an external force disrupting the Chakra flow."
"In fact, didn't you successfully break free from the Genjutsu? If you combine fighting with hearing, it might have a miraculous effect on me. That Quick Attack technique of yours, for a Ninja encountering it for the first time, it certainly has great potential, especially against an opponent you're meeting for the first time; it's quite lethal."
Hayato smiled with relief. As expected of Minato, he could use even a simple Shadow Clone tactic so cleverly.
"It's the Double Shadow Split Sky Quick Attack Gale Slash Two Style!" Minato corrected him with a hint of displeasure. "I spent a lot of time coming up with that name. How is it? Not bad, right?"
After speaking, he bent down to pick up the battered Pikachu, then leaped towards Hayato's location, his eyes filled with determination.
Next time, he would definitely develop an even stronger technique.
"Burn Heal, this is for Pikachu." Hayato's mouth twitched. He offered no comment on Minato's naming style. Let Minato continue to be naturally clueless, as long as he didn't include him in his technique names.
Pikachu nestled in Minato's arms, weakly calling out in response.
Meanwhile, the girls watching the battle.
"Yay, Hayato, you won again!" Kushina cheered, waving her fists, behind her were the stunned Yakushi Nonou and Hyuga Ruri.
Uchiha Hayato was one thing, but when did this Minato Namikaze become so strong?
Ruri gritted her teeth, strengthening her resolve to stay. This person had said, hadn't he, that he would welcome her if she joined.
At the same time, on the way to the training ground.
"Hideki, is that Uchiha Hayato really as interesting as you say?"
A boy walked beside Sarutobi Hideki, his hands clasped behind his head, speaking lazily.
"I'm not sure, but his Pokémon is indeed very cute." The image of Chimchar appeared in Hideki's mind. "Father also said that Uchiha Hayato might become the First Hokage from the Uchiha Family."
"The one who becomes Hokage in the future should be me!" The speaking boy raised his chin, his face somewhat resembling Uzumaki Naruto's. "I am the grandson of the First Hokage who founded the Konoha Hidden Village. One day, I will inherit the title of Hokage."
"And Hideki, didn't you say you would become an Advisor to assist me?" Nawaki gritted his teeth, complaining to Hideki. "Whose side are you on, anyway?"
"Now, now!" Hideki pushed away Nawaki, who had leaned his face close. "I'm just repeating what Father said. Of course I support you."
"Hmph, that's more like it." Nawaki turned his head to look around. "Seriously, why did this Uchiha Hayato set up the training ground so far away? If Orochimaru-sensei wasn't back yet, I wouldn't have come here with you."
He wasn't a child anymore. In his opinion, he was far more mature than when he was in his second year. How could Uchiha Hayato and the others, who were the same age, be as excellent as the Third Hokage said?
"It should be just ahead." Hideki pointed to the entrance of the training ground and walked in with Nawaki.
"No one's here?" Nawaki was a bit disappointed. He had gone through all this trouble to accompany Hideki, but he hadn't seen Uchiha Hayato. "Hideki, how are you going to compensate me? I walked all this way and didn't even see anyone."
"Hahaha, don't be in a hurry." Sarutobi Hideki looked around the field, not finding Uchiha Hayato's figure. He pursed his lips. "There's someone training over there; let's go ask him."
Dekai wiped the sweat from his face, having finished a round of high-intensity training. He hadn't gone to watch the battle; neither Hayato nor Minato was someone he could easily defeat right now, and he didn't have the same Pokémon as Hayato and the others.
Dekai was still very envious; it was impossible not to be tempted. The three of them, Hayato, had a very good relationship. Although Dekai and they had already buried the hatchet, they were never that close. Only Might Dai, who occasionally came to train, would actively pull him along.
Although the invitation was touching, Might Dai constantly trying to sell him green jumpsuits was still too much for him. How much courage did it take to wear that outfit?
Someone's coming?
Dekai's gaze shifted. The boy who had come looking for Hayato that day and another unfamiliar person walked up to him. "You..."
"I'm here to find Uchiha Hayato." Before Hideki could speak, Nawaki spoke first. "I heard Uchiha Hayato is someone who can become Hokage. As a descendant of the Senju Family, I want to meet him and see if he's really as the Third Hokage-uncle said."
"The one who becomes Hokage in the future will definitely be me!" Nawaki's face beamed with a smile as he pointed to himself.
Why do so many people want to become Hokage? Dekai muttered to himself. Being admired was great, but the position of Hokage carried too many people's expectations. He couldn't do such a thing.
Senju Family, Third Hokage-uncle? It seemed this person in front of him was Nawaki, the legendary grandson of Senju Hashirama and Tsunade's younger brother.
"He and Minato Namikaze just went to battle. I don't know when they'll be back. You can wait a bit or come back another day." Dekai said sincerely.
"Battle? Could it be that he's scared of me!" Nawaki laughed. "As expected, the reputation of me, Lord Nawaki, has spread throughout Konoha."
Nawaki stood with his hands on his hips, laughing loudly. Hideki shook his head. Nawaki's behavior was completely unlike his teacher Orochimaru, and more like Jiraiya-Big Brother.
Especially when he laughed up at the sky, could it be that Nawaki had actually chosen the wrong master?
"Are you also going to battle Hayato?" Dekai asked, puzzled. "If it's alright, how about I accompany you?"
Dekai clenched his fists. He had been training by himself all this time, and after watching Minato and Hayato battle so much, he was also itching for a fight. Since someone had come to him, he could take the opportunity to test his training results.
"You?" Nawaki stopped laughing and looked at Dekai.
The boy in front of him was tall, and the sweat-soaked clothes on him showed signs of training.
"You were just training, don't you need to rest?" Nawaki asked. He didn't want to bully an opponent who was in poor condition.
"No, now is when I'm in my best condition." Dekai shook his head. While feeling this training sensation, he might be able to fully master this technique.
Nawaki's smile faded. Was the person in front of him looking down on him? He was a little provoked.
"Just so you know, you're the one who wanted to battle me. I didn't force you. And, I've learned a lot of Ninjutsu from Orochimaru-sensei. If you lose, don't cry, okay?"