"That's true, but if someone attacks us first, we have to teach them a lesson. After all, this is an exam," Satoru said.
Minato carefully examined the Grass ninja, confirmed they were truly dead, nodded, and said,
"The noise from our attack was too loud. Plenty of people must be heading here now."
"We can't stay. Though we're not afraid of them, now's not the time to stir up trouble," Satoru's team immediately left the area.
No sooner had Satoru gone than a group arrived at the site of the Grass ninja bodies.
"Three corpses... Judging by the battle traces, it's definitely that guy. Don't forget our mission this time."
"We have to kill him!" said the cat-masked man to the several ANBU around him.
Meanwhile, Satoru, en route, suddenly sneezed.
"Strange, I shouldn't have caught a cold..." Satoru used Byakugan to scout the surroundings.
Byakugan's observational abilities surpassed Sharingan. Combined with his own sensory skills, Satoru could detect threats within several kilometers.
"Looks like someone's chasing us, and they're pretty fast. Interesting. Let's pick up the pace!" Satoru said immediately.
Minato and Yoshime fully agreed with Satoru. They trusted him unconditionally.
"I'll set a few explosive seals to slow them down," Minato volunteered and quickly caught up.
But this time, Satoru didn't give "Minato" a friendly look. Unleashing Monstrous Strength, he knocked him away with one strike.
"Satoru, why?" Yoshime could hardly believe her eyes, not expecting Satoru to attack his teammate.
"This guy's not Minato," Satoru said.
With sensory abilities, Satoru naturally noticed the one before him differed slightly from the real Minato.
This difference might be insignificant to those who didn't know Minato well, but it was glaring to Satoru.
"How did you spot me?" the enemy asked directly, no longer hiding.
Satoru replied,
"The real Minato wouldn't be this weak."
Satoru was telling the truth. Having once taught Minato Armament Haki, if he'd attacked the real Minato, he would've instantly used Armament Haki or Body Flicker to dodge.
But this man, facing Satoru's sudden attack, barely reacted. His first move upon recovering was to block with his arms—completely unlike Minato.
"Even using Transformation Technique, it's very hard to truly impersonate someone else. People's habits are tough to mimic," Satoru said calmly and rationally.
"I think Minato got caught while setting traps. So you're the vanguard of your team?" Satoru asked, eyeing the man before him.
"Ha-ha! No wonder the Third Hokage values this man so much! So observant! And your fist packs a punch. But today, you're doomed to die here," the ninja before him said.
Boom!
The ninja before him immediately canceled Transformation Technique.
He wore ninja garb, had black hair, and an ANBU mask. But his aura wasn't that of an ordinary ninja.
The man seemed like an emotionless killing machine.
"So that's it. You're from Root? Danzo sent you to kill me?" Satoru asked.
"You talk too much. Today, you'll definitely die here."
"I know your taijutsu is very strong, and you learned ninjutsu from the Third Hokage. But you seem completely inept at genjutsu."
"What a pity, but my genjutsu is one of the best even in Root! I can invade your mind and kill you with your own thoughts!"
"Genjutsu: Hell Vision Technique!"
Satoru expected some powerful genjutsu, but not Hell Vision Technique.
This was a basic genjutsu technique. Everyone affected saw their own fears materialized.
But Satoru's mental strength was immense, with three-tomoe Sharingan and a lifelong buff—Genjutsu Reflection.
Satoru pretended to be in agony and collapsed. Yoshime seemed caught too.
"And this is Satoru? Konoha's genius, the shinobi world's prodigy? How laughable! He didn't last a minute under my genjutsu!" The Root ninja sneered coldly, clearly despising Satoru.
But the next second, he was stunned. He saw himself tortured brutally—by Danzo, no less.
Yes, this Root ninja feared Danzo most. He hadn't expected repeated torment from Danzo.
'What's happening?!'
'Is this real or a dream?!'
'Did I fall under genjutsu? Impossible! I cast it on that brat Satoru! Did he reflect my genjutsu?!'
The Root ninja before him screamed in pain, and Yoshime broke free too.
"What's with this guy?" Yoshime asked.
"He's trapped in his own genjutsu, tormented by his fears. He'll break soon. He's no threat anymore."
"Let's go! Check on Minato!"
Satoru and Yoshime immediately went searching for Minato.
With Byakugan and sensory skills, Satoru found him instantly. Minato was surrounded by several ninja.
"More than two enemies—means at least one team allied with the genjutsu user's team," Satoru said. "We might face five ninja."
Moreover, knowing the previous illusionist was from Root meant the other five were too.
"They're all from Root, probably jonin-level. Yoshime, be extremely careful," Satoru warned.
"Don't worry. After all, I'm a Mokuton heir too," Yoshime said. Thanks to training, her power was at least jonin-level.
Soon, Satoru reached Minato. Minato was in a fierce fight, using Armament Haki and Body Flicker to battle desperately.
"Minato! Fall back!"
Satoru arrived at the critical moment. He formed seals:
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
This technique had massive power and area. Blazing flames surged at the enemies.
Minato used Body Flicker to quickly reach Satoru.
"Sorry, Satoru, I tried setting traps but got caught anyway," Minato apologized sheepishly from the start. Satoru brushed it off.