8
"What! Lord Orochimaru lost to that hairy boy!"
"Yep."
"Someone will tell you more about this guy later, but you must not provoke him. I heard that Danzo also suffered a loss against him today!"
"What! Even Anbu was defeated!"
"I can't say they lost, but they did suffer a minor setback."
Minato was uncertain.
Since these words were spoken by the Third Hokage himself, it meant that the mysterious master was truly powerful. Otherwise, the Third Hokage would never have advised against provoking him.
"No, for the safety of the village, we can't allow such a dangerous element to stay here. I'll visit him tonight," Minato decided, greeted the Third Hokage, and left the Hokage Building.
"Hey, Minato, I hope you don't cause trouble."
After Minato left, Sarutobi sighed. He knew Minato's temperament too well. Although young and righteous, Minato's dedication to the village surpassed even that of Danzo!
Sarutobi was sure that Minato would go to see Ye Liang tonight.
Meanwhile, the instigator of everything was holding onto Mitarashi Anko's thigh like a desperate man.
"Anko! I'm your savior! Let's have a meal, I'm really starving!"
Ye Liang's expression was exaggerated, crying and pleading. It was unclear whether he was genuinely begging or just trying to take advantage.
"No way, this is my reward for completing today's task, and I'm not giving it to you!"
"How heartless!"
"Absolutely heartless!"
"Damn it!"
Frustrated, Ye Liang stormed into the bedroom and slammed the door.
"That's my room!" Anko was speechless, but the door was already closed.
Inside the room, Ye Liang's stomach growled. Despite managing to get a bowl of ramen from Ichiraku today, he hadn't eaten dinner. He hoped Anko would sponsor him another meal, but she was unexpectedly unfeeling!
Annoyed and hungry, Ye Liang had no idea that a master was on the roof outside the window.
"Is this supposed to be a master?" Minato showed a trace of astonishment, having seen Ye Liang's shameless actions just now.
To secure food, he would even blackmail Anko, a lonely orphan. How could such a person be a master?
Minato was uncertain, doubting the Third Hokage's words for the first time.
"Should I test his skills?" A thought flashed through Minato's mind, and he threw a shuriken into the room through the window.
"Whoosh!"
A golden flash appeared in Anko's room!
S-Class Space-Time Ninjutsu: Flying Thunder God!
This was Minato's famous technique, which earned him the nickname "Yellow Flash" on the battlefield due to his speed.
Just now, Minato had placed a space-time mark on his shuriken. No matter where the shuriken went, he could instantly appear at its location!
This was the power of S-rank ninjutsu!
Ye Liang was taken aback.
He was rolling on the bed when a golden shadow suddenly appeared above him. Instinctively, he used Shinra Tensei!
"Bang!"
Anko's bed shattered into pieces...
Minato was thrown out of the window.
"What the heck! A ghost! What was that?" Ye Liang had no idea what had just happened, it was a subconscious reaction.
He had just seen Minato's figure and instinctively used Shinra Tensei!
One had to admit, Jonin's reaction speed was fast!
With a loud crash, Ye Liang felt even more troubled.
"Damn! The bed's gone, Anko will definitely be furious tomorrow! What should I say? Haunted? Will she believe it?" Ye Liang was distressed.
Meanwhile, Minato, far outside the window, was in shock.
After smashing into two or three chimneys, he landed heavily on a stable roof.
"So strong! Unbelievably strong!"
He spat out blood.
"How can anyone have such terrifying ninjutsu! I didn't even see how he acted, and I was thrown this far!"
"And I didn't even see his movements! I'm a master of taijutsu!"
Countless questions flooded Minato's mind, and his previously invincible confidence was shattered.
"The Third Hokage expected me to inherit the position of Hokage, but with my current strength, how can I be worthy of that title? With my pitiful speed, they call me the Yellow Flash! I didn't even see how he attacked me. Damn it!"
At that moment, Minato felt a deep sense of inadequacy.
"I should go out and train for a few years. My current strength can't protect Konoha Village at all!"
"Yes, that's it! Mysterious guy, when I become stronger, I'll challenge you again!" With that decision, Minato immediately left the village!
The next day.
A farewell letter was placed on Sarutobi's desk.
"???"
Kids, do you have many questions...
...
"That fool, Minato! I was planning to let him inherit the position of Hokage, and he just left like that! I'm furious!" The Third Hokage slammed his desk, breaking it into several pieces.
"What happened, Lord Hokage?"
Nara Shikaku looked at the enraged Third Hokage with a puzzled expression.
This morning, as per his usual routine, he came to report the battle situation to Sarutobi Hiruzen, but as soon as he arrived, he saw the Hokage in a fit of rage!
"Look at it yourself! This idiot is really causing trouble!" Sarutobi Hiruzen angrily handed the farewell letter to Shikaku.
"This is!"
Nara Shikaku read the letter, his expression growing more serious.
"My lord, although Minato left, he would never betray the village. I believe in him!"
In these times, leaving the village without permission generally meant defection. More so during a period of war.
"I know he hasn't defected, but as a former hero, his departure now will have a huge impact on the front line!"
"My lord, why don't we notify everyone and say that Minato is on a long-term secret mission?"
"Yes! That's a good idea!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed enthusiastically.
Although Nara Shikaku's strength wasn't exceptional, his intellect was invaluable, much like his son's would be.
After the two parted, Shikaku immediately rushed to the front lines to spread the news of Minato's departure.
"I just hope Minato won't be too discouraged. Otherwise, the upcoming Third Ninja War will be in jeopardy," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, his eyes filled with melancholy.