"Snap!"
Jiraiya didn't hold back at all.
His palm came down hard—smack—and Minato's face snapped to the side.
"Sensei…?"
Minato stared at him in shock.
At some point, Jiraiya's usual carefree expression had vanished. His face was dark with anger.
"Get a grip, Minato!" Jiraiya roared.
"It's just a failure! Don't forget—you still have me! You still have Kushina! You still have the Third Hokage backing you up!"
He grabbed Minato by the collar.
"Are you planning to rot away like this? Huh?! You bastard—do you want to die like this?!"
"Think Minato! Think!"
Minato's life up until now had been smooth sailing.
At the Ninja Academy, he was always at the top. Before graduation, he had already caught the attention of the Sannin and was taken in as an apprentice.
Later, the Third Hokage personally guided him, teaching him the Flying Thunder God Technique. He even created his own A-rank ninjutsu—the Rasengan.
He had never truly faced a setback like this.
"I…" Minato's voice faltered.
"Since you think you're wrong," Jiraiya said sharply, "then atone for it!"
"…Atone?"
"Don't forget—the Hidden Cloud hasn't been defeated yet! The Third Great Ninja War isn't over!"
Jiraiya's eyes burned.
"Are you really going to collapse now?!"
"..."
Jiraiya's words sank deep.
Minato stayed silent for a long time.
Then—slowly—the haze in his eyes cleared, replaced by resolve.
"I want to atone for my sins," Minato said firmly.
"If I'm a sinner… then I'll pay for it."
Even if he died, Minato refused to die branded as Konoha's sinner.
"Good."
Jiraiya finally relaxed, a faint smile appearing.
Just then...
The door slid open.
Nara Shikaku stepped inside.
"What happened?"
"Hidden Cloud has made contact," Shikaku said gravely.
"This time… the force is led by the Third Raikage himself."
"Those bastards…!"
Jiraiya's fists clenched.
Beating his precious disciple into this state—he felt like storming over and punching the Third Raikage right now.
He waved his arm decisively.
"Gather everyone! We'll meet them head-on!"
"I don't believe I can't beat a bunch of reckless idiots!"
"Yes!"
You probably can't, Shikaku thought silently.
After responding, he turned to make preparations.
At that moment, Shikaku couldn't help but miss Shiki.
If Shiki were here, they wouldn't need to worry about Hidden Cloud daring to attack at all.
Jiraiya didn't think that far.
He turned back to Minato.
"Minato! Are you going to keep wallowing?"
"No!" Minato shook his head sharply.
"Sensei—I will atone."
He stood up straight, his gaze unwavering.
More than a thousand Konoha ninja gathered, facing off against the Hidden Cloud forces.
"What, were you waiting for me?" Jiraiya shouted across the battlefield.
"I show up, and suddenly you decide to make a move?!"
The Third Raikage snorted, lightning crackling faintly around him.
"I was suppressed for an entire year," he growled.
"Now that the Golden Lion is gone, of course we strike back!"
It wasn't just him.
Every Hidden Cloud ninja there had endured being completely dominated—by one man—for a full year.
They were humiliated. Powerless.
Fortunately, they were all hot-blooded brutes. Otherwise, they'd have gone insane.
Now that Shiki had been transferred away, they didn't even need to destroy Konoha.
After a year of being held down, they just wanted payback.
The moment they heard Jiraiya was leading the defense, the Third Raikage gathered his troops and marched straight in.
Jiraiya wanted to swear.
This wasn't a battle—it was harassment.
Just because the Golden Lion wasn't here, they thought the Sannin were easy targets?!
"Attack!"
The Third Raikage gave no room for talk.
Hidden Cloud ninja surged forward.
"Sensei," Minato said calmly, golden light flickering around him,
"Leave the A–B Combination to me."
In a flash, Minato vanished—already locking onto A and Killer B.
Jiraiya nodded without hesitation.
He turned to the side.
"Ino–Shika–Chō," he said seriously,
"If the Two-Tails Jinchūriki is forced to fight—contain her."
"Understood!"
With their teamwork, defeating a Jinchūriki might be impossible—but restraining one was well within reach.
Jiraiya faced the Third Raikage, eyes sharp.
"Let's go."
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Bang!
Thick white smoke erupted as Gamabunta slammed onto the battlefield.
"Advance!"
Under Jiraiya's command, Konoha's forces charged.
The Third Raikage was known as the strongest spear and shield—but a serious Jiraiya was no joke.
Defeating him outright might be difficult.
But with experience and battlefield wisdom?
Holding him was absolutely possible.
"Yo!" Killer B laughed loudly.
"Isn't this Konoha's sinner, Minato?!"
"Konoha's sinner!" A sneered.
"Trash! Loser!"
They mocked him openly, not even hiding their contempt.
Minato remained calm.
He took out a Flying Thunder God kunai, his eyes steady.
"Because I'm a sinner," Minato said,
"I won't allow you to harm a single Konoha ninja."
"Boom!"
A scoffed.
Clearly, after Minato's previous defeat, they didn't take him seriously at all.
"Let's go together," A said coldly.
"See how much you've grown."
"Yeah!" Killer B laughed. "Big bro!"
They vanished in an instant, lightning flashing as they closed in.
"Liger Bomb!"
Boom!
The battle raged until dusk.
Konoha suffered heavy casualties.
Jiraiya's body was riddled with wounds from prolonged combat.
Minato wasn't doing much better—facing A and Killer B simultaneously drained him badly.
Even with the Flying Thunder God, the chakra consumption was immense.
The only strangely calm battlefield…
Was where Yugito Nii fought.
Shikaku frowned.
Something felt off.
She wasn't fighting seriously.
It felt more like… a drill.
But the battlefield was chaos. No one noticed.
Eventually, both sides slowed, an unspoken ceasefire forming.
Shikaku glanced at Yugito, then cleared his throat.
"Ahem," he said quietly.
"I'll make sure Lord Shiki hears about what you left for us."
"Hmph."
Yugito's heart lifted but her face remained proud.
She turned and left without another word.
At that moment, Inoichi Yamanaka and Chōza Akimichi walked over to Shikaku.
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