A vast valley, located at the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning, echoed with deafening explosions.
Both sides of the valley were sealed off by massive boulders. The entire mountainous terrain had been reshaped by Iwa-nin using Earth Release, reducing Lightning Release's advantage and making it an ideal battlefield for their own jutsu.
On the ridges flanking the valley, numerous Iwa-nin stood in formation, their eyes locked onto the war-torn battlefield below, prepared to channel chakra and unleash their techniques at a moment's notice.
"It's been a full day and night… He's at his limit. Let me handle this."
Han, the Four-Tails' jinchūriki, watched the Third Raikage slaughter his comrades mercilessly. A flicker of hesitation crossed his face as he turned to the commander in charge.
"The Third Raikage is a man capable of fighting the Eight-Tails one-on-one. He's nowhere near his limit yet. When the time comes, I'll send you in."
The Iwa-nin commander gazed at the battlefield, eyes gleaming with excitement.
Under orders from Ōnoki, he had led a force of over ten thousand shinobi to intercept the retreating Kumo-nin returning from the Land of Wind.
The operation had been a resounding success. Not only had they seized a massive amount of supplies looted from the Land of Wind, but they had also managed to trap the Raikage, who had stayed behind to cover his troops' retreat.
If he could kill the Third Raikage here, his status within Iwagakure would soar to new heights.
The casualties? An acceptable price to pay.
"Lightning Release: Violent Thunder—!"
A charred corpse of an Iwa-nin jōnin was blasted out of the reinforced ground, landing in a heap of broken stone.
The Third Raikage barely had time to catch his breath before another wave of chūnin and genin rushed in, bombarding him with a barrage of diverse ninjutsu.
Lightning crackled around his body as he tore through the ranks like a wolf in a flock of sheep. Ordinary jutsu didn't even require him to defend—his body absorbed the attacks head-on.
Several times, he attempted to break through the encirclement, seeking to escape this stone-walled prison.
But the surrounding formations severely restricted his speed. Every time he tried to force his way out, the elite jōnin would suppress him once more, forcing him back into the valley for yet another round of relentless assault.
...
At Training Ground Three in Konoha—
"Danzo-sama, about yesterday… Kushina didn't mean any harm—"
Namikaze Minato spoke with slight awkwardness as he stood before Danzo, attempting to explain on her behalf.
He didn't want Danzo to hold a grudge against Kushina. While her behavior had been rude, it hadn't been intentional.
"I understand."
Danzo didn't seem to mind her impudence. However, her identity made him wary—he preferred to keep his distance to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Hearing Danzo's calm response, Minato exhaled in relief.
"Let's begin. Watch closely… Chakra gathering—"
Without further delay, Danzo started demonstrating the steps of the Rasengan.
Minato cleared his mind and focused intently.
On his sixth attempt, under Danzo's guidance, he finally succeeded in forming a spinning sphere of chakra in his palm.
Even Danzo had to admit—Minato was a true genius.
Though a student of Jiraiya, his talent and growth weren't shaped by his master. Instead, he had forged his own path.
What benefits could he gain by earning this young man's recognition?
The moment the Rasengan dispersed, Minato's excitement was barely concealed.
As he had suspected, this jutsu suited him perfectly—as if it had been tailor-made for his combat style.
No hand seals… High concealment potential…
"Danzo-sama, I'm deeply grateful."
Danzo frowned slightly. Every conversation with Minato was either an apology or an expression of gratitude. That wasn't exactly ideal for gaining recognition from his system.
"I heard you want to become Hokage. What do you think of the current war?"
"…Huh?"
Danzo's abrupt question caught Minato off guard.
He aspired to be Hokage, but until now, his focus had been solely on honing his strength. He had never seriously considered matters of war and governance.
Seeing his brief hesitation, Danzo understood. As a civilian-born shinobi, Minato had poured everything into reaching his current level of power. Political strategy had never been a concern for him.
"If you wish to become Hokage, strength is only part of the equation."
Danzo's tone was measured but firm.
"More importantly, a leader must make the right decisions for the village. Only then can Konoha achieve true peace."
"A foolish leader is far more dangerous than a powerful enemy."
"…Yes."
Minato had never thought about it this way before. No one had ever spoken to him about such matters.
Danzo noted the shift in Minato's attitude and gave a satisfied nod.
"Now, let's move on to nature transformation… Watch closely. I'll only demonstrate once."
As chakra swirled in his palm, the Rasengan was compressed, then expanded.
A massive sphere of light formed above his head, causing the surrounding trees to sway from the sheer force of the energy it emitted.
"I call this the Rasengan."
Danzo leaped into the air, raising the colossal sphere high, before slamming it down onto the reinforced training ground.
Boom!
The jutsu struck the earth, shattering the stone-covered terrain. The blue sphere of chakra was swallowed by the ground, detonating within.
A shockwave erupted outward, forcing Minato to leap back to safety, shielding himself from the debris. His sharp eyes remained fixed on the aftermath.
As the dust settled, a massive crater lay at the center of Training Ground Three, cracks spreading outward like a spider's web. The once-even terrain was now an uneven, fractured wasteland.
Danzo had already left the scene, leaving Minato alone to process the day's lessons.
...
Inside the Hokage's Office,
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the training session through his crystal ball, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns bright. The flame will continue to illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout."
He murmured to himself, his eyes glimmering with deep contemplation.
"Danzo… Have you finally come to understand this?"
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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