The circular clearing beneath the towering mountain range was eerily quiet, save for the faint rustle of wind through the grass. A single three-pronged kunai stood upright in the center, its polished surface gleaming faintly under the sun.
Suddenly, the tranquility shattered. Swish, swish, swish! Hundreds of figures materialized in the open space, their sudden appearance stirring a faint breeze that rippled outward. The Konoha ninjas, wide-eyed and disoriented, instinctively glanced around, taking stock of their surroundings.
At the center of it all stood Namikaze Minato. His blood-stained uniform and battle-hardened demeanor marked him as the orchestrator of their miraculous transportation. Without missing a beat, one of the senior ninjas stepped forward, his voice steady despite the awe in his tone.
"Minato-sama."
Minato gave a brief nod of acknowledgment, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered shinobi to ensure the transfer had been successful. His gaze shifted momentarily to the kunai embedded in the earth and the terrain surrounding them. Everything was as it should be. His faith in Jiraiya's preparations was well placed.
"It seems Jiraiya-sensei has everything ready," Minato said, his voice carrying a calm authority. He turned to the group, addressing them with a reassuring nod. "Wait here for a moment."
Before anyone could respond, his form blurred into yellow light and disappeared from sight.
Outside a modest tent in the heart of Konoha's forward camp, Jiraiya was reviewing battle maps when his senses flared. Even without turning, he knew who had arrived. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Minato, is it over already?" he called out as he set the maps aside.
The flap of the tent lifted, revealing Minato. Dust clung to his cloak, and faint traces of blood smeared his face, but his gaze was steady, his expression calm despite the intensity of the battles he had just fought.
"Yes, sensei. The battle is over," Minato said with quiet confidence. "I've brought all your people back to you."
Jiraiya stood, his eyes narrowing slightly in curiosity. "How did it go?"
Minato recounted the events of the battle in detail. He explained how the Kumo Ninja's surprise attack force had been annihilated, their numbers decimated, and how A and Killer B had been neutralized despite their overwhelming speed and power. His voice was calm and measured, but his account was anything but ordinary.
By the time he finished, Jiraiya's expression was a mixture of astonishment and pride. The shock of Minato's achievements gave way to unrestrained laughter, and he slapped Minato's shoulder with a force that would have staggered most shinobi.
"The war here hasn't even started, and you've already won two great victories!" Jiraiya exclaimed, his grin stretching ear to ear. "You're truly my disciple. Taking you on as my student is probably the smartest thing I've ever done!"
Minato chuckled softly, scratching the back of his head. "Sensei, there's still much to be done."
Jiraiya's laughter faded, and his expression turned serious. "You're right. There's no time to get complacent. The Rock Ninja are still biding their time. They're fortifying supply lines, waiting for the other nations to make their moves. The Third Tsuchikage, Oonoki, is a cautious old fox. He won't risk engaging us unless the odds are overwhelmingly in his favor."
Minato nodded. "Your decision to set the battle lines here in the open plains was wise. Rugged terrain would give Iwagakure a significant advantage with their Earth Release techniques."
Jiraiya smirked. "Let's just say I've learned a thing or two since the Second Ninja World War. We won't make the same mistakes twice."
Far from the calm of the Konoha camp, the Raikage's office in Kumogakure was in chaos. The Third Raikage sat behind his desk, his imposing frame radiating suppressed fury as a kneeling communicator relayed the grim news from the frontlines.
"The Kumo surprise attack force… has been completely neutralized. Out of hundreds of our elite, only a handful survived," the communicator reported, his voice trembling.
The Raikage's clenched fists trembled with barely contained rage. His normally stoic demeanor cracked as the communicator hesitated, his unease palpable.
"Continue," the Raikage growled, his voice low and dangerous. "What else?"
The communicator hesitated again, his voice faltering. "Lord C has suggested… issuing an order to all Cloud Ninjas."
"What kind of order?" the Raikage demanded, his eyes narrowing.
The communicator lowered his head further, as if trying to shrink away from the inevitable explosion. "If Konoha's Namikaze Minato is encountered… abandon the mission and run for your lives."
Boom!
The Raikage's rage erupted like a thunderstorm. He rose from his seat, lightning crackling around his massive frame. The desk beneath him shattered into splinters, and the ground beneath his feet cracked as arcs of dark electricity shot outward.
"He dare suggest such a thing?!" he bellowed, his voice reverberating through the room.
The communicator scrambled back as the office doors burst open. An elder, his build sturdy despite his age, entered the room, his sharp eyes taking in the destruction.
"What's going on here?" the elder demanded.
The Raikage paced furiously, his fists clenching and unclenching as he relayed the message. When he finished, the elder frowned deeply, his expression darkening.
"C wouldn't make such a proposal lightly," the elder said. "He knows the weight of his words. If he suggested it, he must believe it's necessary."
The Raikage slammed his fist into the wall, leaving a deep crack. "Necessary or not, issuing such an order would make us the laughingstock of the ninja world!"
"Perhaps," the elder said slowly. "But Namikaze Minato is no ordinary shinobi. He's already destroyed two of the five great nations' armies. If we underestimate him again, the consequences could be far worse. For now, we should wait and see how the other nations react before making our next move."
In the days that followed, the Sand Village announced that it would suspend its large-scale military operations against Konoha. The crushing defeat of the Fourth Kazekage and the loss of the One-Tail Jinchūriki had left them reeling, and their hesitation rippled across the ninja world.
The name of the man responsible for their defeat spread like wildfire. Namikaze Minato. The Yellow Flash. His reputation, already formidable, had grown into something legendary.
The remnants of the Cloud Ninja surprise attack force huddled in a large tent. These were the survivors, the elite who had faced Minato and lived to tell the tale.
But they were broken.
The guards stationed outside could hear them murmuring softly, their voices trembling as if haunted by ghosts.
"Yellow Flash… the Yellow Flash…"
Even the mere mention of his name was enough to send shivers down their spines.
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