Swish!
A shot forward, his figure a streak of lightning as he dashed toward the Konoha troops. Even among the elite shinobi, no one could react to his blinding speed. The battlefield's chaos amplified the sense of dread as Konoha's defenders realized they were woefully outmatched.
Meanwhile, Killer B remained behind, turning to face Minato alone. He knew the strategy A had devised—a trap disguised as a choice.
Minato wasn't one to fall for such tactics, but even he understood the implications. For Konoha, caught in the throes of the Third Great Ninja War, every loss of personnel was a grievous blow.
Minato's eyes narrowed. The intent behind A's maneuver was clear: force him to stay grounded and protect his allies. If he retreated or used the Flying Thunder God Technique to escape, the Konoha troops would suffer devastating losses.
Faced with such a grim decision, Minato acted without hesitation. Killer B, who had been ready to engage him, saw Minato vanish in an instant, reappearing at the forefront of the Konoha forces—directly in front of Tsunade.
"Buzz."
Blue chakra coalesced in Minato's hand, swirling rapidly into a perfectly formed orb.
"Rasengan!"
A bolt of lightning streaked toward him as A lunged forward, his fist crackling with raw power. Minato raised his Rasengan to meet the attack head-on.
Bang!
The collision was deafening, the force of their clash sending shockwaves rippling through the ground. Minato gritted his teeth as he felt himself pushed back a step.
"He's strong," Minato thought. Even with his immense skill, the sheer power of A's attack, amplified by his incredible speed, was overwhelming.
Killer B, meanwhile, had taken advantage of Minato's momentary focus. With a thunderous stomp, he launched himself forward, the ground beneath him fracturing from the force. His trajectory was clear—Minato was his target.
Tsunade, though unable to match their speed, had been observing the battle intently. She saw the blur of movement heading toward Minato and acted on instinct.
"Boom!"
Her fist slammed into the ground, sending tremors through the battlefield. A deep fissure split the earth, forcing Minato and A to break apart and retreat momentarily.
Killer B, caught in the upheaval, shifted his trajectory and skidded to a halt. His sharp eyes scanned the battlefield, momentarily assessing the situation.
"As expected of you, Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin," Killer B said, his tone laced with begrudging respect.
The Eight-Tails stirred within him, reminding him of their previous encounter with Tsunade during the height of another brutal conflict. Despite their victory over her and Orochimaru, they had never underestimated the strength of the Sannin.
Boom!
Tsunade struck again, her second blow creating another ravine that further fragmented the battlefield. The fan-shaped area between the two cracks collapsed, forcing Killer B to reposition.
As she finished her attack, a rainbow-like streak appeared in her peripheral vision. Killer B was suddenly before her, his twin daggers gleaming ominously.
Instinctively, Tsunade began to move, but Killer B's speed was unparalleled. His daggers descended with lethal intent.
Before the blades could reach her, Killer B froze, sensing a cold, deadly presence behind him. He twisted his body instinctively, lightning chakra surging around his daggers as he turned to meet the threat.
Clang!
Minato's three-pronged kunai collided with Killer B's daggers. The opposing chakra natures—wind and lightning—clashed violently, neutralizing one another.
A took advantage of the distraction and reappeared beside Minato, his arms outstretched like iron clamps. He aimed to trap the Yellow Flash in an inescapable hold.
Minato's mind raced as the three combatants converged. In one swift motion, he formed a thin film of lightning chakra over his palm and pressed it against A's chest. His other hand, still locked in combat with Killer B, twisted deftly, breaking the latter's grip.
But even for someone as skilled as Minato, the combined assault from A and Killer B proved too much. He couldn't block their attacks from both sides.
Swish!
As the final blows were about to land, both A and Killer B vanished.
Bang!
Minato stumbled slightly as the thin film of lightning chakra on his palm shattered. A faint scorch mark spread across his hand, causing it to twitch involuntarily.
"Their chakra," Minato muttered, glancing at his injured hand. A's Lightning Release Armor had overpowered his temporary chakra shield, leaving him with a minor burn.
Across the battlefield, A and Killer B reappeared in the Cloud Ninja camp, disoriented and staggering. Minato had teleported them to the location of the kunai he had strategically thrown earlier.
Their eyes, filled with disbelief, locked onto Minato, who now stood resolutely in front of the Konoha troops.
"Unbelievable," Killer B muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. "He can use the Flying Thunder God Technique like that?"
But Minato wasn't done. Behind him, the Konoha ninjas, understanding the gravity of the situation, began to move. They gathered together, grabbing each other's arms and forming a tight formation.
"Tsunade!"
Minato nodded to her, silently signaling her to prepare for their next move. Tsunade issued a command to the troops, and they rushed toward the Cloud Ninja forces.
Minato placed his hand on the shoulder of one of the Konoha shinobi, his chakra surging.
Swish!
In the blink of an eye, the entire group vanished.
A and Killer B stood frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and anger.
"He moved hundreds of people… all at once?!" A's voice was thick with disbelief.
They charged forward, desperate to close the distance. But as they did, a sickening sound echoed across the battlefield.
Thud.
The body of an elite Cloud Ninja hit the ground, his throat slashed cleanly. His lifeless eyes stared at nothing, while a three-pronged kunai lay at his feet.
"No!" A roared, his voice filled with rage.
Minato stood nearby, his bloodied kunai hanging loosely in his hand. Droplets of blood fell, staining the earth below.
"Namikaze Minato, you—!"
A's furious shout was interrupted as Minato vanished again, reappearing in a blur of yellow light.
The next moment, another Cloud Ninja crumpled to the ground, the light fading from his eyes before he even realized what had happened.
"You're dead!" A and Killer B charged, their faces twisted with fury and desperation.
Minato, however, remained calm. His icy gaze met theirs, and his voice carried across the battlefield.
"Hah," he chuckled darkly, his tone devoid of warmth. "You used my comrades as bait. Now it's your turn to protect yours."
His eyes darkened, a murderous intent radiating from his azure pupils as he prepared to strike again.
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