This was Minato's new training method—Garp's fist technique!
Since Konoha lacked the ramming prows of warships for him to pound, he would simply smash through refined steel!
When he could smash a hundred of them, he figured he'd be nearly as skilled as Garp.
"Minato, you're bleeding!"
Kushina exclaimed, noticing the blood on his fist. She quickly grabbed his hand and examined it closely.
"Huh? Where's the wound?"
"It's already healed."
The three present fell silent.
"He's practically a monster! I've never seen you bleed before," Nawaki said with awe. "I once heard people say Grandpa is the world's strongest ninja, capable of healing wounds without hand seals. I thought they were just mythologizing him because of his achievements, but seeing Minato like this... that rumor might actually be true."
"This is too much..." Mikoto stared at Minato's healed fist, her face filled with wonder.
Her healing speed was so fast, she even suspected Minato could recover from a stab to the heart within a second.
Did our ancestor Uchiha Madara really fight beings like this?
Our ancestor had it tough...
"So, your next training method is to beat the crap out of this giant steel ball?" Nawaki asked.
"Yeah. Want to give it a try?" Minato invited.
Nawaki shook his head vehemently. "Forget it. I suddenly realized avoiding traps isn't so bad after all."
Perhaps spurred by Minato's training method, the three of them trained even more diligently afterward.
Even when eliminated by traps, they would use the waiting time to practice other skills.
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
Minato continued his relentless assault on the steel ball, the valley echoing with the dull thud of his fists colliding with the hardened metal.
The steel ball was stained with dried blood, and a thin layer of calluses had formed on Minato's knuckles. These calluses, though not thick, effectively protected his joints, preventing further injury from his full-force punches.
Clang— Clang— Clang—
After a week, the steel ball showed no signs of damage.
Minato's gaze remained calm, undeterred.
He knew this was a grind, a process of slow, steady progress that wouldn't show results in just a few days.
Just like the Eight Inner Gates, only through persistent cultivation could one achieve the desired results.
Whoosh—
Minato was in the midst of his training when a figure suddenly appeared not far away. The newcomer wore the standard-issue armor of the Anbu and a animal mask. His eyes beneath the mask glanced at the massive steel ball behind Minato, a flicker of shock crossing them. Is this how humans train?
"Genin Namikaze Minato, the Lord Hokage summons you. Please proceed immediately to the Hokage's Office."
"Understood," Minato nodded, leaving behind a Wood Clone. To the Anbu's astonishment, he immediately used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to Tsunade's courtyard. A few more flashes of the technique and he was at the Hokage Office Building.
"Lord Hokage," Minato said, entering the office and nodding respectfully.
"Ah, Minato," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, his gaze steady. He was not surprised by Minato's speed, having already learned from Orochimaru that the Genin had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique—the very reason he had summoned him. Noticing the dust still clinging to Minato's clothes, Hiruzen smiled. "My apologies for interrupting your training."
"Not at all, you are too kind," Minato replied. "Is there a mission you need to assign me?"
"Hmm..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, his expression growing somber.
"The front lines have reported that Hanzō, the leader of Amegakure, has personally entered the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure. His strength is formidable, particularly his mastery of poison, which has already claimed many ninja lives."
"The situation in the Land of Rain is highly chaotic, making it difficult to obtain timely updates from the front lines."
"Your Flying Thunder God Technique offers an irreplaceable advantage in intelligence transmission and emergency support. I want you to lead a team to a forward outpost on the border of the Land of Rain and await orders. Your mission will be to relay intelligence between the village and the front lines as quickly as possible."
"Could I go alone?" Minato asked.
"No."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stated plainly, "Not to mention the importance of Wood Release to the village, but to prevent accidents and the risk of intelligence leaks, intelligence missions are never allowed to be undertaken alone unless the situation is exceptionally dire."
"Even with your Flying Thunder God Technique, the battlefield is inherently dangerous."
"I understand," Minato nodded, realizing that without revealing his elemental transformation ability, a solo mission would be impossible.
Even if we were to keep Nawaki and the others in the village, they would likely be assigned other missions.
"Also..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, his tone turning serious. "Minato, I know your strength is immense, perhaps even surpassing many Jonin. But the battlefield and sparring are two entirely different things."
"On the battlefield, you can never predict what will happen next—poisons, traps, ambushes, encirclements... Any lapse in vigilance could be fatal, especially against an enemy like Hanzō. He would never offer you a fair fight."
Minato nodded earnestly. "I understand. I'll be careful."
Looking into Minato's calm and steady eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a slight ease in his heart.
He had been observing Minato for some time now, and the boy always inspired a peculiar sense of reassurance.
Though only eight years old, he was more reliable than many adult ninja.
"By the way, about Kushina..."
"I understand, Lord Hokage."
Minato knew what he meant without the Third Hokage needing to finish: "Let her stay in the village. I wouldn't feel at ease sending her to the battlefield either."
Nawaki had at least graduated from the Ninja Academy, but Kushina was still a genuine eight-year-old girl!
Konoha's current situation hadn't yet deteriorated to the dire state of the Third Shinobi War.
Hearing this, a flicker of approval crossed Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. "Excellent. Any other questions?"
"Teacher, shouldn't you be heading to the front lines?" Minato asked. "Since Hanzō uses poison, the front lines must be desperate for Medical Ninjas, right?"
"Tsunade is currently working around the clock to develop an antidote for the Salamander's deadly poison. The conditions at the front lines are far worse than in the village," Hiruzen replied, shaking his head. "Besides, the war hasn't fully erupted yet. Our forces at the front are limited, so we can't spare any Medical Ninja units."
During this era, the Medical Ninja system wasn't as well-developed as it would later become. Medical Ninjas were precious resources, especially leaders like Tsunade, who would never be sent to the front lines lightly.
"Then I have no more questions." Minato nodded, accepting the scroll Hiruzen handed him.
This is for the best, he thought. Kushina will have someone to look after her in the village.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."
"Hmm."
As soon as the word left his lips, Minato's figure vanished in an instant.
Watching him go, a trace of nostalgia flickered in Hiruzen's eyes.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique..."
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