"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"
Deep underground, Aizen's hands weaved a complex sequence of hand seals. With a small puff of air, a high-pressure stream of water shot diagonally upwards like a laser beam, aimed at Minato above.
This thin jet of water effortlessly sliced through the tough layers of mud and stone, piercing the surface almost instantaneously!
"Not good!" Minato's heart pounded. Instinctively, he tried to dodge.
But the attack was too sudden and too fast. Additionally, the tricky angle from beneath the ground left Minato with almost no reaction time.
Splash!
A tearing sound resonated as crimson blood splattered into the air. Minato stumbled to his knees, clutching his right arm with his left hand. Blood seeped steadily through his fingers.
"Remarkable reflexes! Even under such timing and angle, you still managed to subconsciously shift your body, narrowly evading the blow," Aizen sighed as he emerged slowly from the ground, gazing at Minato.
He had used the Subterranean Travel Technique to hide underground, aiming the Water Severing Wave at Minato's right shoulder! A direct hit would've incapacitated him.
Fortunately, Minato's incredible reflexes allowed him to dodge at the last moment.
Despite the apparent severity of Minato's injury, the Water Severing Wave only inflicted a minor flesh wound on his right arm. It was more of a testament to his future title as the "Yellow Flash" – his evasion skills were phenomenal.
"No, you win. If you'd aimed for a vital spot like the heart, even if I dodged, I wouldn't be able to continue fighting," Minato admitted with a wry smile, despite Aizen's praise.
He understood that in a true life-or-death battle, he'd be vulnerable.
"The same applies to you," Aizen countered with a light smile. "If this weren't a duel, you wouldn't have been restricted and could've utilized your full speed advantage."
The confined space of the duel hampered Minato's signature speed, forcing him to fight Aizen within a limited range. This undoubtedly restricted Minato's true potential.
Undoubtedly, Minato still held the trump card of the Body Flicker Technique in reserve. After all, with Minato's talent, Aizen wouldn't believe he lacked a mastery of such a technique.
In an unrestricted environment, Minato's Body Flicker Technique would allow him to swiftly retreat from Aizen's large-scale attacks, then harass him with constant hit-and-run tactics to drain his chakra, instead of the current close-quarters combat. This was precisely why Aizen didn't punish Minato for stalling during the Water Rush.
Such an environment heavily disadvantaged Minato's signature speed. Aizen wasn't a true gentleman fixated on fairness; his goal was to gain real combat experience by testing himself against the strongest among his peers, not just win at all costs. Therefore, he needed Minato to fight at his best.
Minato, unaware of Aizen's true motives, interpreted Aizen's actions as those of a fair and just individual. His initial recognition of Aizen's strength was now coupled with a newfound respect for his character.
"Even so, a loss is a loss. I can handle defeat, Aizen," Minato declared, pulling out gauze from his pouch to bandage his arm before rising to his feet with a smile.
"Actually," Aizen countered with his usual gentle smile, "today's battle can be considered a draw. If we truly desire a victor, how about a rematch another day?"
'See,' Aizen thought to himself, 'such a gracious gentleman I am, charming and sophisticated like a refined scholar!'
Minato's admiration for Aizen skyrocketed upon hearing this proposition. He burst into laughter, his positive feelings towards Aizen reaching new heights.
Following the battle, Aizen and Minato conversed like close friends. They delved into jutsu, life philosophies, and ideals - a fascinating exchange fueled by Aizen's vast knowledge from his past life, which Minato found both refreshing and inspiring.
Despite being only eight years old, children in the Naruto world matured quickly. Similar to Uchiha Itachi in the original story, even at this young age, Minato pondered concepts like peace within the ninja world.
Despite the age difference, Aizen and Minato found common ground in their conversation, fueled by Minato's own talent.
Minato extended the invitation, and the chosen venue for their treat was none other than the world-famous Ichiraku Ramen, a legendary "must-visit" spot in the Hokage world.
This shared love for ramen further solidified Aizen's secret observation: Minato and Naruto truly were father and son, peas in a same pod.
Aizen had only heard rumors about the legendary Ichiraku Ramen. While his recent rigorous training hadn't left him much of an appetite, the sight of the delicious meal before him triggered an involuntary swallow.
Teuchi, the ramen shop owner, was still young, but his skills already hinted at his future mastery.
Seated at the counter, Aizen watched the delicious ramen approach, his throat unconsciously working.
"I come here often," Minato explained while slurping his noodles. "The food's amazing, affordable, and Teuchi's a great guy."
"Sounds good," Aizen replied with a forced smile.
The Ichiraku Ramen truly lived up to its reputation. Aizen and Minato enjoyed a delightful meal.
The following days saw Aizen return to his intense training routine. However, this time, he wasn't alone. Occasionally, a handsome, golden-haired boy with bright blue eyes would be training alongside him.
While Aizen secretly harbored some annoyance at Minato's uninvited visits, he recognized the need to maintain the carefully crafted facade he'd built. Since Minato's visits were infrequent, Aizen reluctantly tolerated them.
Before they knew it, the day of their grade's practical combat class arrived...