"Sorry, B. That was my mistake," A said in a low voice, his expression grim. "I underestimated him. I never imagined Namikaze Minato's space–time ninjutsu would be this terrifying. Even my reaction speed couldn't keep up in time."
"Tch—damn it, idiot!" Killer B snapped back. "Apologies can wait, bro. The Leaf's about to move."
"Interfering in someone else's fight isn't a good habit," Minato said coolly. "Even if you're the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. Since that's the case, don't blame us for abandoning courtesy—after all, you are a jinchūriki."
On Konoha's side, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Chōza, and Yamanaka Inoichi stepped forward, forming a triangular formation as they prepared to strike.
"The Eight-Tails' jinchūriki is far too dangerous," someone muttered. "If he's allowed to fight freely, we'll be at a serious disadvantage."
Minato spoke decisively.
"There is a ceasefire agreement between our villages. You Cloud ninja crossing into Fire Country territory—are you trying to ignite a war? Give me some face this time. King versus king. No one interferes. The duel ends when one side is defeated."
He continued calmly:
"Osayi's disappearance has nothing to do with me. And if you lose, Kumogakure withdraws."
"Agreed—but we have conditions," Dodai interjected before A could respond.
"Fair enough," Minato replied. "If you make demands, so can we. Our common goal is to avoid escalation. We should reach consensus on all fronts."
"You're from the Nara clan, aren't you?" Dodai said, eyes narrowing slightly. "I've heard the Nara are famous for their intelligence."
"You flatter us, Lord Dodai," Shikaku replied evenly. "What additional condition do you propose?"
"Best of three," Dodai said. "You've already won the first bout—Minato versus A. We want a second match between ninja or chūnin."
"No problem," Minato agreed without hesitation. "I accept. I trust you'll honor your word."
Minato's thoughts were clear: We've already secured one victory. If we win the ninja match, this ends.
And according to Sarutobi Shinku, Uchiha Ran already possessed chūnin-level combat ability. Taking the second round shouldn't be an issue.
"May I trouble you, Ran?" Minato asked earnestly, pressing his palms together. "I know it's improper to involve you in such danger without Clan Head Fugaku's consent."
"No problem, Minato-senpai," Ran replied calmly. "We're all ninja of Konoha. Contributing to the village is only natural. Besides—since the moment my parents sacrificed themselves, I've gained a power I've never truly used."
"The Sharingan?" Minato asked softly, certainty in his voice, his gaze shifting to Ran—who was calmly adjusting his glasses.
"Are you afraid your comrades might distance themselves from you?" Minato continued gently. "I've heard that many Uchiha who awaken the Sharingan are surrounded by misfortune… You're kind, Ran."
"Then I'll leave it to you," Minato said solemnly.
Uchiha Ran stepped into the center of the battlefield.
Standing opposite him was a dark-skinned woman.
"Uchiha Ran."
"Tifai."
After exchanging names, Tifai didn't waste another word. She flicked her wrist—two shuriken shot forward—then immediately rushed in, blade flashing.
Ran remained composed. He dodged the shuriken and raised a kunai to block her slash.
"You won't draw your sword?" Tifai snapped, irritation flashing in her eyes. "Looking down on me?"
Seeing no intention from Ran to unsheathe his blade, her anger flared. She lifted her arm—and dozens of shuriken burst toward him.
"Threads?" Ran's eyes sharpened. Fine, nearly invisible wires trailed behind the shuriken.
"Don't call this underhanded," A said to Minato with a grin. "Tifai joined ANBU right after graduating. She just left ANBU and is about to take the Chūnin Exams. In Kumo, she's famous—the Torture Queen. Black Widow."
"Oh? Is that so," Minato replied lightly. "I don't really mind. I have faith in my comrades. And don't blame my teammate's Sharingan for being 'unfair'—after all, Ran truly is a freshly graduated Uchiha."
Minato had already noticed it.
Three tomoe.
Three-tomoe already…
A's eyes darkened. This brat should die here.
"Tifai," A said coldly, "don't hold back."
"Like I would," she scoffed.
Another wave of shuriken laced with transparent threads tore through the air.
Ran leapt upward at an impossible angle, weaving through the storm. In midair, he drew several kunai and flicked them outward.
Clang—clang—clang!
Each kunai struck the center of a shuriken precisely, knocking them aside. Shrill metallic sounds rang through the air.
"Don't underestimate the Uchiha," Ran said, standing lightly atop a suspended kunai. "Every one of your movements is clear to me."
"Oh, I've never underestimated the Uchiha," Tifai replied softly. "But have you considered this? You're already a little insect caught in my web, Uchiha brat."
Her fingers gently stroked the threads in her hand.
"I'll let you experience the charm of Lightning Release—right here on the spiderweb. And these threads are poisoned, you know. Don't die too quickly. If you do, your Yellow Flash won't know how to explain it when he goes back."
With that, she slashed her blade across the threads.
Snap—snap—snap!
Thin lines broke one after another.
"…Huh?"
Minato watched the threads snap—and instead of alarm, a knowing smile crossed his face.
Impressive.
So this is the power of the Sharingan…
A ninja who had just graduated—yet with three-tomoe insight, he'd already reached this level.
"No… impossible!"
The scene Tifai expected—Ran bound by poisoned threads—never appeared.
Tifai was one of the few in Kumogakure to master shuriken secret techniques. In her mind, subduing a mere Uchiha brat should have been effortless—binding him, hoisting him up, then leisurely torturing him with Lightning Release until he surrendered.
Instead—
"Why… why is it me…?"
Her neck, wrists, and ankles were all bound by her own threads. She could barely speak.
"I set everything up perfectly… I laid the net…"
"Set it up?" Ran said calmly. "No—you were already defeated."
He stepped forward, voice steady.
"The moment you fired those shuriken, I read the threads and their trajectories. I used kunai to alter their paths."
"Shuriken are an Uchiha specialty. Using shuriken techniques against me—after two and a half years of dedicated shuriken training—isn't that a little arrogant?"
"D-damn you… you cursed Uchiha brat! I—"
Her curse was cut short.
Ran raised his hand to his glasses, fingers splayed, adjusting them slowly. Then he covered his face—and when his hand lowered, a pair of crimson eyes gleamed beneath the lenses.
Three tomoe, spinning.
"If you're going to hate someone," Ran said quietly,
"hate yourself… for not having the Sharingan."
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