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Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Minato's Suspicion

"What! Lord Orochimaru lost to that brat!"

"Hn."

"As for this guy, someone will tell you about him later. But whatever you do, don't provoke him. I heard even Danzo suffered at his hands today!"

"What! The Anbu were defeated too!"

"Well not exactly defeated... more like hit a small snag."

Minato's mind churned with doubts and suspicions.

Since the Third Hokage himself had spoken such words, it meant this mysterious expert must truly be powerful. Otherwise, the Hokage would never have advised him to stay away.

"No way. For the safety of Konoha, I absolutely cannot allow such a dangerous individual to remain here. Tonight, I'll go check him out." Minato made up his mind on the spot, gave a brief nod of farewell to the Third, and left the Hokage building.

"Sigh... Minato, I hope you won't cause any trouble."

After Minato left, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply. He knew Minato's temperament too well. Though young and upright, Minato's devotion to Konoha was unmatched—even rivaled by few including Danzo!

So Sarutobi was certain Minato would go see Ye Liang tonight.

Meanwhile, the instigator of all this drama clung pathetically to Anko Mitarashi's thigh like a complete goofball.

"Anko! I saved your life, you know! Come on, feed me something! I'm literally starving to death!" Ye Liang exaggerated dramatically, crying and carrying on, his hands gripping her thigh tightly—whether genuinely pleading or just pretending to grope her wasn't clear, occasionally giving an ambiguous little pinch.

"No way. This is my reward money for completing today's mission. Absolutely no sharing with you again!"

"So heartless?"

"That's right. Heartless!"

"F*ck!"

After failing to get what he wanted, Ye Liang stomped angrily into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

"That's my room," Anko muttered under her breath, but the door was already shut.

Inside the room, Ye Liang's stomach growled audibly. Though he'd scrounged a bowl of ramen from Ichiraku earlier, he hadn't eaten anything since lunch. Originally planning for Anko to treat him to another bowl, he hadn't expected that girl to be so cruelly heartless!

Pouting and fuming, cheeks puffed out like a disgruntled hamster, Ye Liang had no idea an expert was already waiting outside his window.

"This is supposed to be some kind of expert?" Minato wore a surprised expression. Just now, he witnessed Ye Liang's unashamed groveling, begging like he didn't care who saw.

Someone who would even try to mooch off Anko—a girl barely getting by on her own—who could possibly believe such a person was truly an expert?

Minato's doubt deepened; for the first time in his life, he questioned the word of the Third.

"Should I test him?" A thought flickered through Minato's mind, and he threw a shuriken through the window.

"Whoosh!"

A golden streak flashed inside Anko's private quarters!

[Spatial Ninjutsu - Flying Thunder God!]

This was Minato's signature technique. It was precisely because of this skill that Minato dazzled on the battlefield, earning the nickname "Yellow Flash" from countless enemies.

Earlier, Minato had placed a spatial mark upon his thrown shuriken. No matter where the shuriken landed, he could instantly teleport to its location!

Such was the power of an S-rank ninjutsu!

Ye Liang was startled.

He was lying restlessly on the bed when suddenly a golden shadow appeared above him. Instinctively, he unleashed [Shinra Tensei]!

"Boom!"

Anko's bed shattered into pieces...

Minato flew out the window as well.

"Oh f***! Is this haunted? What the hell was that!" Ye Liang had no idea what happened—he acted purely on reflex.

He had just glimpsed Minato's illusory figure and immediately launched [Shinra Tensei].

Needless to say, a Jonin's reaction speed was fast indeed!

But with a loud crash echoing afterward, Ye Liang felt a wave of bitterness rising in his chest.

"Oh crap! The bed is gone! That little girl will throw a fit again tomorrow! How do I explain it? Say it was a ghost? Would she even believe me?" Ye Liang groaned inwardly.

And outside the window, Minato stood frozen in disbelief.

After crashing through two or three chimneys, he finally landed heavily on a sturdy rooftop.

"So strong! Unbelievably strong!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

"How could someone possess such terrifying Ninjutsu! I didn't even see how this person moved—they sent me flying this far!"

"And I didn't even catch the movement! Could it really be Taijutsu mastery!"

A thousand questions raced through Minato's mind, and his once-unshakable confidence was badly shaken.

"The Third originally hoped I would inherit the Hokage mantle, but with my current strength, how can I possibly qualify for Hokage! If even my so-called 'Golden Flash' speed is this embarrassing, calling myself that name is pure mockery! I couldn't even see the attack that hit me—outrageous!"

In this moment, Minato was overwhelmed by a deep sense of helplessness.

"I should go train outside the village for several years. With my current abilities, I simply cannot protect Hidden Leaf Village!"

"Right, that's decided! Mysterious young man! When I become stronger, I'll come challenge you again!" Without hesitation, Minato headed straight beyond the village.

The next day.

A farewell letter lay on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.

"???"

"Kid, got a lot on your mind…?"

...

"That idiot Minato! I was about to let him inherit the Hokage position, yet he just left directly! This pisses me off!" The Third slammed his hand onto the desk in front of him.

And surprisingly, the wooden desk—originally as hard as iron—broke into several pieces from that single strike!

"What exactly happened, Lord Hokage?"

Shikaku Nara looked at the furious Third with confusion all over his face.

This morning, he followed his usual routine, coming to report the latest battle reports to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Yet upon arrival, he found the Hokage already in an outrage.

"You tell me! This fool is simply too much trouble!" Without ceremony, Hiruzen flung the farewell letter toward Shikaku.

"This is!"

As Shikaku flipped through the envelope, his expression quickly grew heavier.

"Lord Hokage, although the captain has left, he certainly won't betray the village. I believe in his character as our leader!"

In this era, leaving the village without permission usually meant desertion, especially during wartime when battles were raging across the country.

"Naturally I know he hasn't defected, but as a former hero, abandoning the village at this time will greatly affect our frontline operations!"

"Then, sir, how about we inform everyone that Captain Minato Namikaze has left to carry out a long-term secret mission?"

"Hmm! That's actually a good idea!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in approval.

Though not particularly powerful, Shikaku Nara had a brilliant mind — much like his son.

After they parted ways, Shikaku hurried straight to the front lines to spread word of Minato's departure.

"I just hope Minato doesn't lose all hope. Otherwise, we'll be in deep trouble when the Third Great Ninja War comes," Hiruzen said, a trace of melancholy flickering in his eyes.

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