Even though Minato's techniques and ninjutsu still seemed quite immature in Madara's eyes.
That previous round of evasion had excited him. A strong person's intuition, this kind of thing is mysterious and profound. Most people who possess this kind of intuition become powerful figures of their generation, while a small portion are strangled in the cradle.
This intuition is not something everyone can possess, nor does it mean a strong person definitely has this intuition. It only means this intuition can make it easier for a shinobi to become strong, not that they will definitely become strong.
Minato did not speak. He looked at Madara, thinking to himself how close that was. Just a bit more. He never expected that even a casual move from Madara could make him unable to fight back. This was simply too terrifying.
Madara looked at Minato and chuckled lightly. "What? Don't dare to make a move? Don't worry, this is just training. It won't take your life." After saying this, Madara extended one hand, curling his four fingers, gesturing for Minato to attack.
Minato seized the moment, using the Body Flicker Technique along with the Rasengan to charge forward. Madara focused his spirit, covering his arm with the power of the Susanoo, and grasped towards Minato's Rasengan.
An intense sensation of friction and breakthrough came from the palm of Madara's hand. Immediately after, the Susanoo began to crack. Minato's eyes lit up. He increased the Rasengan's output power, gathering a large amount of chakra in his hand.
Madara smiled without speaking. Watching Minato's serious expression, he felt happy inside. However, going easy was impossible. At most, he would see how much power Minato could force him to use.
His hand, covered by the Susanoo, clenched, crushing the Rasengan. Then he struck a palm against Minato's palm.
Boom.
Minato was struck and forced back, stumbling back seven or eight steps. In contrast, Madara stood firm, his face still looking completely at ease. Ryun, sitting there, understood upon seeing this.
The two were simply not in the same weight class. This sparring match, to put it nicely, was called sparring. To put it bluntly, it was instruction. Madara was using power similar to Minato's, teaching him how to fight.
Tsk tsk, what a shame. If Minato had been facing anyone other than Madara, his Flying Thunder God Technique would be an unsolvable existence. But he was facing that Madara, the one who, because his brother was killed by a white haired man, spent midnight dreams pondering how to break the Flying Thunder God. Thus, the outcome was decided from the very beginning.
"Lord Madara, I have lost." Minato sighed. He scratched his head and gave an embarrassed smile. Sure enough, compared to Lord Madara, I still have a long way to go. As for the matter of succeeding as Hokage, it's better to delay it a little longer.
If Ryun knew Minato's thoughts, he might fly into a rage, then beat up his grandfather. "I want to retire, want to retire, retire. Tire."
"You are very good. When I was your age, I was not as good as you. Do not unduly humble yourself." What Madara said was also the truth. He probably only had the two tomoe sharingan at that time. Compared to this Minato, a civilian shinobi, he was quite a bit worse.
But unfortunately, in this world of shinobi, some things cannot be compensated for by effort alone. Perhaps Minato's strength has already reached the peak for a civilian shinobi, even unafraid of some bloodline limit shinobi.
But compared to the talent of Madara and Hashirama, effort is not even worth mentioning. Ryun, was thinking about something in his heart. Perhaps he should let him make contact with Sage Mode.
Or, find another Tailed Beast for him. But who? He sighed, shaking his head. If he couldn't think of it now, he would deal with it later.
Ryun stepped forward, smiling. "Grandfather is mighty and magnificent. Minato also displayed extraordinary skill. Our Konoha is full of talented people. The future will depend on you." Ryun placed one hand on Madara's shoulder, his other hand gripping Minato's shoulder.
"Grow up quickly, Minato. Come and take over quickly." Ryun thought to himself.
"Hah, the future depends on us? Then what about you? What will you do?" Madara shot a glance at Ryun, somewhat speechless. Clearly this child's strength is very powerful, why does he always think about retiring.
"Yes, teacher, you are still young, in the prime of your life. Konoha still needs to trouble you a lot." Minato said with a smile.
"Tsk tsk, you two are just trying to annoy me. Alright, everyone, make preparations. We depart for the Cloud Hidden Village." Ryun rolled his eyes and snorted coldly.
The two also stopped teasing and joking around. Instead, they followed behind Ryun, heading together towards the northern Cloud Hidden Village. Passing by the border area, Ryun did not see any shinobi guarding it. Probably the Cloud Village had just finished resolving its internal strife and had not had time to manage border affairs yet.
He did not think too much about it, continuing towards the Cloud Hidden Village.
Cloud Hidden Village.
Inside the main tent, the Third Raikage and the young lord A were discussing how to deal with those rebels of the Cloud Hidden Village. Just then, an Anbu reported from outside. "Report. Lord Raikage. There are three Konoha shinobi outside the village requesting an audience."
The Anbu member seemed exceptionally young, probably a new recruit. He looked to be only about eleven or twelve years old. The Cloud Village was truly short on people now. To have a child this young serve as an Anbu shinobi.
The Third Raikage was startled. He looked at the young lord A. "A, you go and invite the Konoha shinobi in." Then, the Third Raikage paused. No, no, I should go to welcome them myself. "Forget it, you follow behind me. Let us together see who it is."
"Yes." Regarding his father's words, the young lord A was sincerely convinced. He followed behind his father, walking towards the village entrance.
Ryun looked at the devastation inside the village. Some buildings were even stained with blood and bore the marks of Lightning Release ninjutsu. He couldn't help but tsk tsk twice. It seems the actions of A and his son this time have caused dissatisfaction among the villagers.
These should be traces left by the coup of those dissidents. But seeing such a result, Ryun could only laugh and say, "Serves you right."
The Third Raikage and the young lord A had already arrived at the village entrance. Everyone might wonder why the Eight Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, did not come. He was currently helping A and his father deal with the families of those rebels.
The Third Raikage would not do this kind of thing himself, because his position did not permit him to do so. As for his son, the young lord A, that was even more unacceptable. Sooner or later, the young lord A was to inherit the position of Raikage. How could his hands be dirtied.
But currently, the Third Raikage had very few people he could use under his command. So he had the most obedient, most easily controlled Killer B handle these matters. Killer B did not say anything. Since it was the request of his brother and uncle, he would do it.
Only, the Gyuki inside his body felt very angry about this. Why? Just because B is honest? Because B is obedient, he has to handle the dirty work for you two.
Because of this matter, Gyuki had not spoken to Killer B for a whole day and night. Furious at his lack of ambition. What are you still doing in a village like this.
Besides, didn't you save the two of them from the Iwa nin forces. And before that, seriously injured the Five Tails Jinchuriki Han, defending the Cloud Village.
Aren't these two things enough to repay the kindness the Third Raikage and his son have shown over all these years. Really, Gyuki really did not want to speak, but also felt a bit unable to hold back.
"Oh, so it is the Hokage and Lord Madara who have come. And, the Yellow Flash." The Third Raikage smiled. His skin was thick enough. At this moment, it was as if the relationship between their Cloud Village and Konoha Village was very good.
Ryun sneered. "What? Is the victorious village coming to visit the defeated village something that surprises the Raikage." As soon as Ryun said this, it caused dissatisfaction from the Third Raikage and the young lord A. The two narrowed their eyes. Just as the young lord A was about to speak.
The Third Raikage grabbed him, forcibly pulling a smile onto his face. "Guests are guests. A, go get the good wine. I want to share a few drinks with the Hokage."
"Father, your injuries." The young lord A hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping. He opened his mouth, but was glared at sharply by the Raikage, instantly wilting. He was just about to go get the wine when Ryun raised his hand to stop him. "Wait."
"We have no interest in drinking with the defeated. Furthermore, we are not friends, but enemies. Your invasion this time has already shown us what kind of village the Cloud Village is, and what kind of leader its leader is."
Ryun's words hid daggers. To be honest, the fact that he did not say outright that the Raikage and the Cloud Village were all beasts was already a testament to his high quality.
The young lord A was full of anger. He did not know the specifics of what the Cloud shinobi had done. The Third Raikage had not said anything, only told him they were defeated, not the process. The young lord A had not asked either. But even if you are the victorious nation, isn't speaking like this a bit too much.
"Our Cloud Village is, after all, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Isn't your side's speech a bit too harsh. My father treats you with courtesy, yet you look down on us like this. Could it be that you want to."
After all, on the battlefield, tens of thousands of Cloud shinobi died on the battlefield, only he survived alone. Whatever he said, wasn't it all up to him to decide.
"A. Shut up." The Third Raikage shouted, making his son shut up. Then he composed himself, a full smile blooming on his face. "Haha, my son is immature. Please forgive the laughable sight."
"Since this is a negotiation, then please state your demands. Our side will obey unconditionally. We only hope your side will be merciful and not wipe us out completely." The Third Raikage said with a smile.
What he feared most now was Konoha directly taking action and annihilating his Cloud Village. After all, their actions this time were indeed a bit excessive. They just never expected that Konoha would make peace with the Sand Village so quickly, and that reinforcements would arrive so promptly. If he had known, he would have long since withdrawn his troops.
Now he was the defeated side, a defeated side that had consumed eighty percent of its reserves. No matter what, he could not withstand an attack by Ryun and Konoha Village. He could not, and did not want, the Cloud Village to be destroyed under his leadership.
Therefore, he could only deal with them duplicitously, trying his best to satisfy all of Ryun's demands. Even if it meant a massive loss, he could only accept it, and could not refuse. This was the fate of a defeated nation, a weak nation, an aggressor nation.
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