Boom!
No one saw how Minato counterattacked.
In a flash, Dan Katō's body arced backward like a lobster, his back hunched over as he flew through the air like a cannonball. He slammed into the trunk of a thick tree with a sickening thud!
"Pfft! Cough, cough..."
Dan Katō tumbled down the tree, spitting out a mouthful of blood. He stared at Minato with wide, horrified eyes.
"Teacher Dan!" Ayako cried out in concern, seeing Dan Katō sent flying by Minato's kick.
Nawaki quickly reassured her, "Don't worry, Minato knows what he's doing."
"One of the fundamental skills of ninja combat—Taijutsu."
Minato remained in the posture of his kick, slowly retracting his leg under the astonished gazes of the crowd.
"As the only combat ability in the ninja system that doesn't require Chakra to activate instantly, Senior Kato, your training in this area seems... lacking." (Dan Katō's physical strength was only 7...)
"Cough—"
Hearing this, Dan Katō coughed up another mouthful of blood, gritting his teeth as he forced himself to rise.
Monster!
This kid... he's a monster!
The sheer force of that kick had even given him a fleeting glimpse of his life flashing before his eyes!
How the hell is he eight years old?!
Boom!
A smoke bomb exploded at his feet. Dan Katō clutched his abdomen, his figure disappearing into the billowing smoke.
"So strong!"
Perched in the canopy of a distant tree, Mikoto watched the scene unfold, her hand covering her mouth as she gasped softly, her eyes filled with awe.
He hadn't expected Minato's single kick to nearly incapacitate a Jonin. Compared to that, his earlier fight with Minato had been practically gentle.
Deep in the forest, behind a thick, sturdy tree.
Dan Katō leaned against the trunk, his gaze fixed on Minato in the distance, his forehead slick with cold sweat.
Minato's kick had scrambled his once-clear thoughts into a mush.
Just as he was trying to figure out how to deal with this freak, a gentle voice whispered in his ear:
"Senior, what are you looking for? Shall I help you find it?"
"!!!"
Dan Katō flinched violently, ready to counterattack, but a kunai was already pressed against his throat.
"I'm sorry, Senior, but I really don't have the patience for this. I've already indulged you this long out of respect for your age."
Minato glanced at the sweat on Dan's forehead, his tone indifferent. "I don't dislike ambitious men, but you can't lay a hand on those close to me."
There was nothing wrong with liking someone, even playing a few tricks was understandable. But Dan's intentions had been too obvious.
"You... you've misunderstood, Minato-kun."
The most shameful secret of his heart had been exposed. Dan's heart sank, and he instinctively swallowed, forcing a smile. "I just..."
"I'm not here for explanations, Senior."
Minato slowly retracted his kunai, his voice leaving no room for argument: "Nawaki will apprentice under Senior Orochimaru, possibly joining the Anbu or Root. Team Seven will have new members, and we all have a bright future ahead."
A bright future...
A bitter smile played on Dan Katō's lips as he lowered his head in dejection.
He understood perfectly well that this wasn't a wish, but a warning!
If he didn't know his place, the next visitors wouldn't be Minato, but the Anbu.
The young man before him, both in power and influence, was far beyond Dan Katō's limited understanding.
"I must thank you for sparing me some dignity in front of my students."
Though cunning, Dan Katō wasn't as ungrateful as Danzo.
Minato could truly kill him!
Even if the Third Hokage found out, he might even frame Dan Katō for plotting to harm the Wood Release Bloodline Limit.
Minato shook his head slightly at Dan Katō's words, remaining silent.
He wasn't sparing the man any dignity; he simply couldn't say certain things in front of Nawaki.
Turning his back on Dan Katō, Minato walked away at a leisurely pace.
The Sharingan's power brewed in his eyes as he secretly guarded against any rash actions the man might take out of humiliation.
If Dan Katō dared to attack, he would immediately...
You, Dan Katō, the inherently evil—I will...
But even after he'd walked a considerable distance, the other party made no further moves, leaving Minato feeling vaguely disappointed.
"Let's go, Nawaki," he said.
Finding Nawaki, Minato regained his usual gentle demeanor.
Seeing Dan Katō wasn't there, Nawaki looked at Minato tentatively. "Um, Brother Dan..."
"He's slightly injured, but he'll recover soon. It won't affect the mission," Minato replied casually. After all, he was Tsunade's disciple, and he knew how to gauge the situation.
"Okay..."
Nawaki glanced awkwardly at the other two team members. "I'll head back now. Please take care of Brother Dan."
"Right..."
The two nodded quickly, afraid of angering Minato and getting kicked themselves.
As Minato led them away, Nawaki glanced at Mikoto. "By the way, I haven't asked yet. Who is she?"
"Uchiha Mikoto, Senior Orochimaru's newly accepted disciple," Minato introduced. "This is Nawaki, Teacher Tsunade's younger brother."
Mikoto nodded slightly. "It's nice to meet you. I look forward to working with you."
"A disciple of Senior Orochimaru?!"
Hearing Minato's words, Nawaki felt a surge of envy. He forgot his manners and blurted out, "Brother Dan actually took on a disciple? I thought he was too busy to teach lately! And not just any disciple—an Uchiha?"
"How rude! What's wrong with the Uchiha?" Mikoto's delicate eyebrows furrowed, her expression turning displeased.
Realizing his mistake, Nawaki offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to say anything bad about the Uchiha. I just..."
"Just feeling a bit envious, aren't you?" Minato teased. "Since you've already left the team, you could try asking Senior Orochimaru to take you as his disciple. Whether he accepts, though, is another matter."
"He'll definitely accept! We're practically family!" Nawaki said confidently. "Speaking of which, why the sudden special training?"
Minato's answer was concise: "To improve your combat survival skills."
"A battlefield..."
Nawaki frowned slightly. From the sound of Minato's words, war seemed imminent. Still, he didn't press for details; it wasn't his place to know.
As Tsunade's younger brother, he shared Naruto's rashness, but his upbringing had instilled in him a sense of discretion.
"So, what are you planning to teach me?" Nawaki asked, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as he pushed thoughts of war aside.
"How to survive!"
Minato smiled gently at his eagerness, but his words sent a chill down Nawaki's spine.
"From tomorrow on, I will attack you and Mikoto-nee relentlessly, aside from your necessary training!"
"And you only need to remember one thing: only those who survive are worthy of fighting!"
Nawaki opened his mouth, momentarily speechless.
After a long pause, he mumbled, "Um... is it too late to rejoin the team now?"
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