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The wooden sword struck Namikaze Minato's chest with the sound of breaking wind.
Hatake Kakashi only realized at that moment that what he had hit was not Minato at all.
Despite having just learned the Hatake sword technique, which he inherited from Konoha's White Fang, Kakashi's skills were already formidable. He had seized the opportunity when Minato kicked Yuichi Yuu away, believing that if Minato dodged his strike, he would find himself in an awkward position.
However, despite Kakashi's calculated move, the gap in strength between him and Minato was immense. As Kakashi swung his sword, Minato did not even attempt to dodge. Instead, just as the wooden sword was about to connect, Minato turned into a puff of white smoke.
The sound of Kakashi's wooden sword hitting wood echoed as it struck a substitution log.
"When!" Kakashi was shocked and quickly scanned the area. When did he form the seal?
While Kakashi was trying to figure out how he had been outplayed, Minato reappeared, smiling. "If you master a jutsu deeply enough, you can use it without forming seals," Minato explained with a calm tone, revealing that he hadn't needed to form a seal to perform the Substitution Technique.
At the same time, Yuichi Yuu picked up the wooden sword he had dropped earlier. Although Minato's kick had sent him flying, it had been controlled perfectly—enough to knock him back without causing real harm. While an ordinary person might have been hindered by discomfort, Yuichi's recovery ability, inherited from the Uzumaki clan, kicked in quickly. Within moments, he was feeling fine again.
With renewed determination, Yuichi grasped his wooden sword and charged at Minato once more. A sword in hand was better than nothing, after all. He believed in the basic principle of swordsmanship: cutting with strength and precision.
Minato's eyes flashed with recognition as Yuichi, with his red hair flaring, dashed towards him. As someone deeply familiar with the Uzumaki clan—especially due to his connection with Uzumaki Kushina—Minato knew what to expect. When Yuichi swung the wooden sword at his shoulder and neck, Minato didn't bother to dodge or use another substitution. Yuichi's swordsmanship was still rudimentary, and Minato could evade easily if he wished.
However, instead of dodging, Minato reached out to grab Yuichi's arm, aiming to disarm him. But at that very moment, Yuichi smirked, a gleam of success flashing in his eyes.
"Now!" Yuichi suddenly shouted, and his eyes shifted—his Magatama Sharingan activated, the scarlet glow reflecting in his pupils. As his hand released the wooden sword, Yuichi quickly formed seals at an incredible speed.
"Genjutsu?!" Minato's eyes widened slightly. Although the Sharingan's hypnotic power was not at its peak in this early stage, it still amplified the effectiveness of illusions.
Even for someone as skilled as Minato, the combination of the Magatama Sharingan and Yuichi's Genjutsu caught him off guard for a brief moment. In that split second of hesitation, Kakashi saw his chance. He rushed in and swung his wooden sword at Minato with full force.
Yet, Minato Namikaze wasn't a renowned elite jonin for nothing. Recovering from the illusion in a flash, he grabbed Kakashi's sword mid-swing with his bare hand, stopping it cold. With a gentle smile, he looked at both of them and said, "Alright, I've seen enough. I understand your strengths now."
Minato's smile radiated warmth, much like a ray of sunshine, and it left both Yuichi and Kakashi momentarily stunned.
Especially Yuichi, who felt the sincerity in Minato's expression. So this is why they call him the Little Sun, Yuichi thought. He had always wondered how someone could affect others so strongly with just a smile, but now he understood. Minato's presence was filled with warmth and harmony.
Yuichi took a deep breath and, with a serious tone, said, "Thank you, Brother Minato, for taking the time to spar with us."
Kakashi, realizing the significance of the moment, also bowed and expressed his gratitude alongside Yuichi.
"No need to thank me," Minato responded, his smile as bright as ever. "I didn't have anything else to do right now, anyway."
Then, with a slightly more serious tone, Minato said, "The Hokage once said, 'Wherever the leaves fly, the fire burns. The fire will protect the village and help new leaves sprout.' Right now, I am the fire, and you two are the new leaves."
Minato was someone who had truly inherited the Will of Fire. While Yuichi vaguely remembered that Minato had sacrificed himself during the Nine-Tails' attack to protect the village, his actions embodied this philosophy. Even if some people claimed he did it for love, what mattered most was that he had protected others.
After all, no one was perfect, but Minato Namikaze came close. His strength, kindness, and sense of duty made him a shining example of what a ninja should be.
As Yuichi pondered this, Minato spoke again. "I've assessed your strengths."
Kakashi looked at him eagerly, while Yuichi, snapping out of his thoughts, also focused on what Minato had to say.
Minato chuckled softly, motioning for the two of them to sit on the ground with him. Ignoring the dirt, Minato sat down first and said, "Let's start with you, Kakashi."
He smiled at Kakashi and continued, "For your age, your strength is exceptional. Especially your swordsmanship—many Genin wouldn't stand a chance against you."
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