Seeing Minato Namikaze strolling over with a female companion, a murderous urge flared within Aizen. Years of meticulously crafted persona threatened to crumble. Yet, with a practiced flick of his internal switch, Aizen transformed his expression into one of genuine joy. "Minato! Long time no see!" he boomed, rushing forward to hug his old friend in a suffocating embrace.
Minato, momentarily startled by the suffocating hold (reminiscent of a giant snake), quickly dismissed it as Aizen's enthusiastic greeting. Years of friendship and a well of camaraderie masked the underlying tension. Meanwhile, Aizen, his face still plastered with a warm smile, released Minato. Everything appeared perfectly normal.
He then turned to greet Kushina Uzumaki, who readily engaged in conversation with Aizen. Their bond, too, had blossomed thanks to their shared connection with Minato.
After catching up and reminiscing, they finally acknowledged Jiraiya, who had been patiently waiting. "Forgive me, Jiraiya sensei," Minato apologized sheepishly, "Aizen's arrival brought back a flood of memories." Aizen and Kushina echoed Minato's sentiment, although a tad unconvincingly. Of course, Aizen's awkwardness was a mere facade.
Jiraiya, ever the carefree soul, chuckled heartily. "Haha, the feelings between you young people, of course, I am very clear, after all, I was young too!" Jiraiya laughed, not caring at all.
Seeing Minato engage in lively conversation, Jiraiya felt a wave of relief wash over him. "There's Konohagakure's next generation for you!" he thought to himself. "Talented, strong-willed, and with a deep bond – they'll surely surpass our generation when the time comes to lead the village."
Suddenly, a sweet voice interrupted his thoughts. "Indeed, Jiraiya-sensei! You seem youthful yourself!" chirped Kushina Uzumaki. Aizen chimed in, adding, "Yes, you wouldn't believe it, but Jiraiya sensei is only in his twenties this year. He's practically a youngster!"
Jiraiya couldn't help but chuckle at their playful jabs. "Oh, you two! Flattery won't get you anywhere," he teased. However, their lighthearted banter had eased some of the tension that hung in the air between him and Aizen.
As the group continued to chat, a comfortable camaraderie blossomed. The awkwardness between them vanished, replaced by a sense of camaraderie that grew visibly stronger with each passing moment.
Suddenly, Jiraiya remembered their purpose for gathering. "Ahem," he cleared his throat, "Aizen, you understand that teamwork is important for any successful combat squad. Building mutual trust among teammates is key. Therefore, I need to gauge your current strength to make informed decisions for future missions."
Aizen nodded in agreement. It was a reasonable request. Jiraiya was about to elaborate on the assessment when a voice cut through the air. "Jiraiya-sensei! I want to spar with Aizen!" Minato declared, raising his hand enthusiastically.
A flicker of surprise crossed Aizen's face at Minato's challenge. Jiraiya, equally taken aback, glanced between them. Seeing no objection from Aizen, he offered a smile.
"Alright, Minato. This is a good opportunity to gauge your progress. But remember, keep it light. Aizen should showcase his abilities, but we need to conserve energy for the afternoon mission."
"Understood!" boomed Minato.
With a burst of speed, Minato launched himself onto the training ground, assuming a fighting stance. Aizen responded with a faint smile, mirroring Minato's movements across the field.
"Let's see what you've got, Aizen," Minato called out, excitement lacing his voice. "Go all out!"
Minato adopted a purely defensive posture, prepared to deflect rather than attack.
"Very well, Minato," Aizen replied, a sly glint in his eyes. "Prepare yourself."
A sudden flurry of hand signs erupted from Aizen's fingers.
"Water Style: Crashing Wave!"
A surge of chakra coursed through Aizen and the surrounding air crackled with energy. In a blink, a torrent of water materialized, swirling into a monstrous wave that towered four or five meters high. With a deafening roar, the wave surged towards Minato, threatening to engulf him completely.
"Still the same fondness for large-scale Water Style ninjutsu to control the battlefield," Minato observed, a hint of nostalgia in his voice as he faced the familiar attack.
But Minato was no longer the same ninja he was two years ago.
Just as the wave seemed poised to drown him, Minato dissolved into a puff of smoke with a sharp "pop." A moment later, the real Minato materialized behind Aizen, a kunai glinting dangerously in his hand.
"Shadow Clone from the very beginning, clever," Aizen acknowledged, a hint of amusement playing on his lips. "You've grown considerably, Minato. But..."
Aizen's voice trailed off as a surge of unseen energy – his Zanpakuto's spiritual pressure – slammed into him with an invisible force. The impact sent him staggering forward, momentarily disrupting his concentration.
"Perhaps your reflexes haven't quite caught up to your cunning," Minato quipped, his voice laced with a playful challenge.
The fight was far from over.
"Water Style: Water Wall!" A torrent of water erupted from Aizen's outstretched hands, seemingly anticipating Minato's next move. The force of the geyser knocked Minato back a step, effectively negating his Shadow Clone movement.
"Impressive Water Style," Jiraiya murmured, appraising Aizen's performance. "He's a perceptive one as well, seeing through Minato's Shadow Clone so quickly. Otherwise, that initial attack could have landed a solid blow."
The sparring match continued. Aizen showcased a variety of escape techniques alongside impressive physical prowess and swordsmanship. He wielded his blade with surprising dexterity, displaying mastery of the basic six sword forms. However, he cleverly kept his core techniques and Zanpakuto's true abilities hidden.
Despite Aizen's impressive display, Minato managed to hold his own, landing a few well-placed counters. Yet, a nagging feeling persisted – Minato couldn't shake the suspicion that Aizen wasn't revealing his full strength.
Sensing he had adequately demonstrated his abilities, Aizen called a halt to the duel. Minato, though slightly reluctant, readily agreed.
With the sparring session over, Jiraiya praised Aizen on his skills and dismissed the team. Everyone needed to return home and prepare for their afternoon mission – a trip to the Rain Country battlefield. Aizen and the others readily complied.
Later that afternoon, once everyone was geared up, Jiraiya simply uttered "Go!" and the four of them transformed into blurs, leaving Konohagakure behind like arrows loosed from bows. Their speed was formidable – in less than ten days, they reached the border of the Land of Rain.
Unbeknownst to them, an ambush awaited them, concealed along their only path forward.
.....
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