He had already grown accustomed to it.
Orochimaru—this guy was more of a scholar than a ninja.
He looked refined, cultured, not like a ninja at all.
If it weren't for that dark, sinister aura, maybe Orochimaru would be more popular?
Hatake Sakumo shook off the stray thoughts from his mind and continued.
"Still, we need to be careful."
"Although Kumogakure may not go berserk like before, their strength cannot be underestimated."
"No worries," Orochimaru said, shaking his head. "The old man sent word—Namikaze Minato is coming."
"Namikaze Minato?"
Sakumo furrowed his brows, thinking for a moment before realization dawned. "You mean the blond-haired boy who's teamed up with Yuki Seisui?"
"Yes," Orochimaru nodded.
"His arrival should make things easier."
"Still… we should remain cautious."
Sakumo spoke, unable to fully trust Minato—even if he could use the Flying Raijin Technique.
Orochimaru glanced at him and shook his head.
Under Seisui's brilliance, anyone whose name you've heard won't be simple.
Orochimaru had once protected Seisui and Minato because of Jiraiya, back during the chunin Exams—several years ago.
Even then, Minato already possessed jonin-level abilities.
Years later, he hadn't yet witnessed Minato's true strength, but he knew it would be formidable.
A ninja's power at their age grows fastest.
One could roughly gauge someone's ceiling by their skills at twelve or thirteen.
As the two conversed, a voice called from outside.
"Commander, Namikaze Minato has arrived!"
Hearing this, Orochimaru chuckled lightly, glancing at Sakumo.
"Today's the perfect chance to cut off Kumogakure's supplies."
"Why not have Minato go with you?"
"All right," Sakumo nodded. "His speed will be useful."
"Let's hope so."
Orochimaru remained silent and walked outside.
Looking around, Minato muttered under his breath, This battlefield is much better than the Iwa one.
Over the past month, his speed had carried him across Kirigakure and Iwa battlefields.
Kumogakure battlefield was his last stop.
As Minato finished his thought, Orochimaru and Sakumo appeared.
"Long time no see, Minato," Orochimaru greeted.
"Long time no see, Orochimaru-sama, White Fang-sama," Minato replied, walking toward them.
He pulled a three-pronged kunai from his pocket and handed it to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sama, this is my Flying Raijin kunai. If I'm not on this battlefield and situations change, I can infuse chakra into it and arrive immediately."
He had left his kunai across multiple battlefields.
These weren't his original two.
He'd found them too conspicuous and crafted several three-pronged kunai instead.
Made from a blend of hardened iron and chakra-conducting metal, they were inexpensive to produce.
Thanks to the chakra-conducting metal, he could channel his chakra into the kunai and teleport instantly using Flying Raijin.
Orochimaru nodded as he examined the kunai.
"Using this kunai, you shouldn't have much combat ability, right?"
Minato scratched his head sheepishly.
"I have some combat power, but mostly for retreating."
"So you need Orochimaru-sama to notify me when to come, based on the situation."
"I usually need half a day to recover my condition."
Orochimaru nodded.
Shuttling across battlefields, half a day was enough for recovery.
"Since you're here, Minato, please accompany Sakumo-senpai."
"Huh?" Minato was stunned. Orochimaru's orders had caught him off guard.
He had just arrived, and now he was already being assigned a mission.
Has Kumogakure battlefield gotten this severe?
Seeing Minato's expression, Orochimaru understood his thoughts but said nothing. Instead, he turned to Sakumo.
"Then I leave it in your hands."
"Understood," Sakumo nodded.
"I'll intercept their supplies."
"If I fail, I'll destroy them myself."
"Safe travels, gentlemen," Orochimaru said.
Minato followed Sakumo, with seven or eight jonin from Konoha behind them.
With Sakumo and Minato leading, Orochimaru only assigned jonin as support—it was enough.
"Sakumo-senpai, has Kumogakure battlefield really gotten this severe?"
On the way, Minato couldn't help but ask.
Sakumo shook his head with a smile.
"It's not that bad."
"Because of your actions in the Sand battlefield, Kumogakure went berserk for a month but didn't succeed in defeating us."
"They're exhausted now."
"We're here to intercept their supplies."
"If successful, Kumogakure will lose their support."
Minato nodded thoughtfully.
He still didn't know that due to his speed and Flying Raijin teleportation, the golden flash reputation he earned at the Sand battlefield had begun spreading throughout the ninja world.
Against top-tier opponents, Minato's Flying Raijin and Rasengan might not break defenses.
But even for regular ninja—or even Kage-level threats—his speed was a terrifying threat.
Some fragile high-level ninja even feared him.
This wasn't mere speed.
This was instantaneous movement!
A spatial-temporal ability.
In any world, any skill tied to time and space is formidable.
Like Minato's Flying Raijin, like Uchiha Obito's Kamui.
Both were extraordinary.
With Minato's Yellow Flash, Yuki Seisui, the Ghost of the Konoha, and their small trio, only Uchiha Haru lacked a personal title.
…..
Completed version available on Available on [P]atreon.[c]om/Veltoria [remove brackets]