Haruki had planned to wait a few more days, but an unexpected event occurred sooner than anticipated.
The slug placed on Kushina Uzumaki was triggered, indicating she had suffered a fatal injury.
Haruki frowned slightly. After all, she was his student and he couldn't just ignore it.
At the same time, he felt a bit puzzled. With Minato Namikaze mastering the Rasengan and Mikoto Uchiha having the Three Tomoe Sharingan, ordinary Jonin shouldn't pose a threat to them.
Haruki began to form seals.
Flying Thunder God Technique.
He had previously marked Minato Namikaze with the Flying Thunder God seal. With his ample chakra, he appeared instantly in front of Minato.
It was nighttime.
The starlight on the river shattered suddenly. Minato, awakened from his thoughts, retreated warily, only to halt when he saw the familiar figure.
"Sensei? How did you… Flying Thunder God?"
He quickly realized.
"Yes."
Haruki nodded, "I sensed a disturbance with the slug; what happened to Kushina?"
Minato fell silent briefly, looking apologetic.
"I was too reckless."
He recounted the events.
It wasn't complicated. After Haruki left, the three of them used the Sharingan to quickly locate the Sand Village's supply storage.
Originally, they were supposed to return, but having gone through several battles, they had a clearer understanding of their strength. Minato suggested they could go further and destroy the location, potentially completing an A-rank mission.
In fact, that was exactly what happened. They received a notification from Sakumo Hatake to disperse and operate in smaller units. The three decided to wreak havoc in the Sand Village's rear for two days, gaining much attention and success.
However, this made them overconfident, leading them to confront the A-Bee duo from the Hidden Cloud Village. If Minato hadn't mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique at the critical moment, the three of them might not have escaped.
After listening, Haruki raised an eyebrow.
Learning Rasengan in a week, and Flying Thunder God in three days—who's the protagonist here?
"Don't be discouraged."
Haruki ruffled his spiky hair. "Do you know who you encountered? One is a future Raikage, and the other is the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. The fact that you escaped unscathed is comparable to the legendary Sannin."
Minato was stunned, thinking Haruki was comforting him. After all, Haruki himself was already as strong as Tsunade.
"That rapping guy was the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"
Minato seemed to understand something. "No wonder he kept targeting Kushina. Her sealing techniques must have been the biggest threat to him."
"Remember his name, Killer Bee."
Haruki teased him. "When someone you like gets hurt, you definitely need to get back at them."
Minato felt a bit embarrassed but didn't deny it. Now that he had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, he wouldn't be so helpless next time.
"I'll go check on Kushina."
Haruki went into the tent, lifting the curtain.
Kushina lay quietly on the bed, eyes closed, her young face slightly pale but not distressed.
Mikoto Uchiha sat hugging her slender legs, resting her head on her knees, seemingly dozing.
Hearing the noise, she turned her head. Her dark eyes sparkled with joy. She put down her legs, slipped on her shoes and socks, and stood in front of Haruki.
"Sensei, you're here."
"Keep your voice down, don't wake her up."
Haruki raised a finger. "Why aren't you resting?"
"Kushina couldn't sleep earlier, so I kept her company."
Mikoto looked at Kushina with sisterly affection. Being a few years older, she was more mature and steady.
Haruki felt a bit guilty. Kushina must have been terribly frightened. Regardless of future achievements, she was still a twelve-year-old girl on her first mission.
But this ordeal had greatly helped their growth.
Haruki walked to Kushina, extending his hand, with light green chakra flowing over her body. After a while, he said, "Mikoto, go rest. She's fine."
"Okay, Sensei."
Mikoto nodded, reassured by Haruki's words.
"Minato, you too."
"I'm not tired." Minato instinctively shook his head.
Haruki glanced at him, seeing the worry on his face. He understood.
"Since there's nothing to do, let me teach you a new jutsu."
Haruki walked to the riverbank.
"Now that you've mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, which was a bit surprising, it shows your talent is indeed extraordinary."
He took out a kunai with the Flying Thunder God seal on it.
"Watch carefully."
Minato barely saw the kunai before it flew at him. Instinctively, he dodged, but Haruki appeared behind him, pressing the kunai to his head.
Minato's eyes widened. So fast! There was almost no time to react.
"This is one way to use it."
Haruki distanced himself, pulling out a short sword from a scroll.
"Pay attention."
Before Minato could fully grasp it, he felt a pain in his heart. Haruki appeared next to him, pointing the short sword at his heart, ready to pierce through.
Minato wiped sweat from his brow, feeling the true lethality of the move.
"Third method."
Haruki took a few steps back, throwing a kunai. It was slower than the first one. Minato quickly dodged with the Body Flicker Technique.
Haruki raised his hand, and the kunai, connected by a thin wire, turned into a black streak. Minato's eyes widened as the single streak turned into countless streaks, resembling a blooming flower.
At the edge were sharp air currents.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
Minato spat out a blue whirlwind, breaking the wires, scattering the kunai, and peppering the riverbank with them.
He didn't dare relax, bracing for another attack. Haruki disappeared, and white light filled his vision.
The short sword was at his neck, cold and sharp.
"How? There's no Flying Thunder God seal on the kunai."
"Deception. The sheer number was to mislead."
Haruki picked up a kunai, revealing the hidden seal.
"All's fair in war. The Flying Thunder God Technique is about trickery."
"I understand, Sensei." Minato nodded earnestly.