In battle, an inch longer, an inch stronger; an inch shorter, an inch more dangerous.
Apparently, in this head-on confrontation, there was only strength and no risk.
The two young ones were skilled in using their Han swords, with solid basic skills. They forced back three Rain ninjas.
They remained unscathed. Nawaki even sliced the mask of the leading Rain ninja in half, revealing a young face.
The Rain ninja tore off the mask and threw it away, his face flushing with anger.
The three of them couldn't take down two kids and even had their masks knocked off. It was simply unacceptable.
"Water Release: Water Turbulence Wave."
"Ninjutsu: Senbon like Raindrops."
"Ninjutsu: Five Feeding Sharks."
The three Rain ninjas each used a ninjutsu to attack the two young ones.
Nawaki looked solemn and formed hand seals with both hands.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique."
Kawaki last saw Nawaki use this move last time. Now, the water dragon was significantly larger. No wonder Orochimaru said he had the strength of a Chunin.
"Earth Release: Earth's Return."
Nawaki's Water Dragon Bullet Technique countered the Water Turbulence Wave and the Five Feeding Sharks. His Chakra Reserves Amount was superior.
Then he used Earth Release to block the falling senbon.
Minato's figure disappeared behind the Earth Release and attacked the three Rain ninjas from the side.
He noticed that these three were mediocre in close - combat skills.
Kawaki saw it clearly and couldn't help but sigh that no wonder Minato stood out in the Third Great Ninja War.
At just ten years old, he had such a high combat IQ. If he hadn't died, he would surely have made a name for himself.
Seeing their ninjutsu broken and Minato approaching from the side, the three Rain ninjas had no choice but to fight back.
Nawaki also attacked from the front at this time.
The five of them engaged in an exciting hand - to - hand fight.
Thanks to the advantage of the Han swords' length, the two young ones quickly subdued the three Rain ninjas and left several wounds on each of them.
Realizing they were outmatched, each Rain ninja endured an extra wound to retreat from the two young ones' attack range.
They used ninjutsu again and stood apart, denying the two young ones the chance for a chaotic battle.
Nawaki and Minato, separated by the ninjutsu, had reached a certain limit of physical strength.
The Rain ninjas were fresh, while they had been on the road for a long time.
Gasping for breath, Minato used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to attack the leading Rain ninja.
Seeing this, Nawaki also charged forward. The two of them planned to focus their firepower to take down one of them first.
The remaining two Rain ninjas wouldn't just stand by and watch.
They launched two Water Release attacks.
In a hurry, Nawaki barely blocked part of the attacks with Earth Release and took the rest head - on.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered, then steadied himself. With a single thrust, his sword pierced through the chest of the Rain ninja who was still blocking the Great Breakthrough.
He got his first kill. Nawaki didn't have time to feel discomfort from killing someone for the first time. He pulled out his sword and turned to face the remaining Rain ninjas.
Now it was two against two, and their chances of winning increased a bit.
Kawaki was about to go and save Nawaki but stopped when he saw him starting to form hand seals.
Nawaki made a great contribution this time.
To save chakra, the two young ones chose close - combat.
Minato took out his opponent at the cost of a wound.
Nawaki couldn't defeat his opponent due to his injury. It was only when Minato came to support that they finally knocked down the last Rain ninja.
The fallen Rain ninja, watching Minato approaching step by step, pleaded for mercy.
"Please spare my life. I'm just following orders."
"As long as you let me go, I promise I won't show up in front of you again."
The speaker was a girl. Her mask had been knocked off, revealing a delicate face. She looked about thirteen or fourteen.
Under the shadow of death, she was crying her eyes out.
"Sorry, this is war."
Minato's face hardened. He stabbed down with his sword, and the girl died with hatred in her heart.
At this time, Nawaki plopped down on the land. Exhausted from overexertion and injuries, he couldn't stand up.
"Nawaki."
Minato drew out his sword and ran over to support Nawaki.
He took out a Military Rations Pill from his ninja bag and stuffed it into Nawaki's mouth.
These pills were specially made by Tsunade and worked like a charm.
"I'm fine. I'm just too exhausted."
"Why hasn't Aniki come back yet?"
After swallowing the ration pill, Nawaki showed his vulnerable side. Tears streamed down from the corners of his eyes.
"The teacher will be okay."
Minato believed in Kawaki's strength.
Although it was also Minato's first time to kill someone, he had better psychological endurance than Nawaki.
However, Nawaki was just like any novice on the battlefield. After all, geniuses were always in the minority.
"Cough, well done."
Kawaki stepped out of his hiding spot and came in front of the two young ones.
"It's just a scratch. I'll get you two back."
Kawaki examined Nawaki's wound and carried him on his back.
"I'm really glad that Minato has the strength of a Chunin."
Kawaki praised Minato unreservedly. He deserved it.
"You taught me well, teacher."
"Haha, I just love honest kids like you."
Kawaki laughed heartily. He was really chuffed with Minato's praise.
"Nawaki, you did great too."
"You found the enemy's weakness and traded an injury for a kill."
"Although I don't fully agree, it's a good choice in a last - ditch situation."
"From now on, you're a bona - fide Ninja."
Kawaki leaped across the tree trunks and encouraged his future brother - in - law.
Only then did Minato realize that this was the teacher's test for him and Nawaki.
He'd been there the whole time, watching over the two young ones.
"Aniki, I'm so scared."
"I'm afraid of disappointing you. I'm afraid I'll never see you or Onee - san again."
Nawaki cried more and more loudly on Kawaki's back.
"This is war. I hope we can stop wars in the future."
Kawaki sighed. Many people shared this wish and used different ways to achieve it.
But war was the main theme throughout the story of the Hokage.
Right then, he didn't think Nawaki was being a wimp. He had been even worse than Nawaki on his first mission.
If it hadn't been for his big brother Sakumo, he might have taken a long time to recover.
Now he'd gotten used to it and gone numb.
The three of them made their way back along the same path.
Nawaki fell asleep on Kawaki's back.
Minato ate a Military Rations Pill, and his physical strength and Chakra began to recover.
Thanks to Kawaki deliberately slowing down, he could keep up.
"Teacher, what about that Jonin?"
Minato still couldn't help asking a question. If the teacher had returned when Nawaki took action, wouldn't that Rain ninja have escaped?
"Dead."
Kawaki replied simply and clearly.
"This..."
Minato didn't know how to describe his shock. He had a clearer understanding of Kawaki's strength.
"I know a Kinjutsu that is extremely fast. I'll teach you when you grow up."
Kawaki reached out and stroked Minato's head.
How could Minato be known as the Yellow Flash without the Flying Raijin?
"Okay, teacher."
"I'll definitely learn it well then."
Minato's doubts were now resolved, and he couldn't help feeling a sense of yearning.
How fast is this so - called 'extremely fast'?
At this moment, he couldn't wait to grow up.
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