CRACK!
Minato Namikaze didn't have time to react. The blow hammered into his gut, smashing him back into a tree trunk. He doubled over, blood spraying from his mouth.
He truly hadn't expected this. To be proven right by Qianyu. The match was over in an instant.
Qianyu strolled over, looking down at him. "You lose."
Minato wiped the blood from his lip. "That new technique you've been working on? Incredibly fast. Still Thunderclap and Flash, but… faster. Sharper." He pushed himself up, a flicker of excitement in his eyes. "The gap is huge. I couldn't even block one move. You win, Qianyu."
Qianyu clicked his tongue. "Tch. You don't look defeated. You look… thrilled. Shouldn't you be at least a little discouraged, seeing how far behind you are?"
Minato offered a strained smile. "No. I won't be. Because you are my goal, Qianyu. I am excited. I'll train harder. Start with blocking one move. Then two. Until I catch up."
"Whatever makes you happy," Qianyu muttered, turning away. "Boring match."
As he left, Minato called out. "Qianyu! You said it wasn't finished. That move just now… is it complete now?"
Qianyu paused. "No."
He vanished into the trees, leaving Minato alone.
Minato sucked in a sharp breath.
That powerful… and still incomplete?
First Form: Thunderclap and Flash: God Speed. It was indeed unfinished.
The technique required flooding the leg's chakra pathways with Lightning Release, then releasing it all in one explosive burst. But when Qianyu executed it, he felt a clear stutter. The chakra stimulation wasn't enough yet. His speed could be higher.
His legs just couldn't handle it.
Right now, they throbbed with a dull, persistent ache. The chakra cost was immense, too.
But even incomplete, God Speed far outstripped the regular Thunderclap and Flash. As a derivative of the same core form, he could force it out.
God Speed and the Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi no Kami represented two different paths. God Speed sought ultimate power through ultimate speed. Honoikazuchi no Kami, woven from other sword forms, was more versatile, though slightly slower.
Qianyu massaged his aching calves. He couldn't rush God Speed's development. It wasn't just about training. The chakra pathways in his legs needed to toughen up, to withstand even greater surges of Lightning Release chakra. Only then would he achieve the true 'God Speed'.
Finding a secluded spot, he pushed thoughts of Minato aside. In Qianyu's estimation, unless Minato mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique or Sage Mode, he stood no chance. Even creating the Rasengan would be pointless.
Time for today's training.
The next morning.
The 32 remaining combat-capable ninja assembled once more. Their commander was still Orochimaru.
"All of you," Orochimaru's voice cut through the chill air. "Create as many shadow clones and regular clones as you can sustain. Form squads. Keep your main body within the formation. We push the line forward. Jiraiya!"
"Sir!" Jiraiya responded, posture rigid.
"You and I will take the flanks," Orochimaru ordered. "Summon your toads. Use them to herd any Cloud ninja we encounter. We handle any who slip through."
"Understood!"
"Qianyu!"
Qianyu stepped forward. "Sir."
"A separate task for you. You have the best speed and mobility. Patrol a 50-meter perimeter around the main force. Scout. If you find enemies, summon a snake to report to me immediately."
"Reconnaissance only, sensei?"
Orochimaru's gaze was cold. "Engage if you're confident you can kill."
"Yes, sir."
Orochimaru swept his eyes over the rest. "The rest of you, your primary objective is to maintain the clone formation. Only engage if the enemy closes in directly. Is that clear?"
"YES, SIR!"
"Then we begin. Push forward ten kilometers. Establish a defensive line with traps. Hold position and await further orders. Move out!"
The ninja began weaving hand signs. Shadow clones and regular clones popped into existence around them. One ninja, one shadow clone, five regular clones—seven bodies each. Thirty-two ninja created an advance that looked over two hundred strong.
Jiraiya noticed Minato's unusually pale face and frowned. "Minato, what's wrong? You look terrible. Didn't you rest well last night?"
Minato shook his head. "I'm fine, Jiraiya-sensei. It won't affect the mission."
"Just be careful," Jiraiya advised. "Don't push yourself."
Orochimaru gave a slight nod. "Advance."
The force began its slow, methodical push, flanked by Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Qianyu broke away, a lone figure ghosting through the trees fifty meters out.
The first two kilometers were quiet.
Then, movement.
Qianyu's hands flashed. He pressed a palm to the ground.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Unlike Orochimaru's version from the mouth, snakes poured from Qianyu's sleeves. He sent them slithering into the undergrowth, a living sensor net. At the same time, he bit his thumb and smeared blood on his palm.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A small black snake from Ryūchi Cave appeared in a puff of smoke.
"Find Orochimaru-sama. Tell him contact is imminent. They need to be ready."
"At once, Qianyu-sama!" The snake vanished.
Soon, several scouts returned, coiling around his arm, whispering information directly into his mind.
A three-man scout team.
A cold glint sharpened in Qianyu's eyes. His grip tightened on his sword hilt.
Time to hunt.