Isn't This the Will of Fire?
With a single precise strike, Chi Yu eliminated a Cloud Ninja commander.
Minato Namikaze witnessed the move with unblinking focus.
His expression was grave — this was no ordinary opponent.
Chi Yu's speed surpassed even his impressive pace at the Ninja Academy.
Moreover, he had refined his Thunder Breathing technique to near perfection, compensating for its previous shortcomings.
In the past, although Minato had never defeated Chi Yu in sparring, he could engage him in protracted battles. Now, after years apart, that gap had widened.
Minato, having trained under Jiraiya and arrived early on the battlefield, had hoped to outpace Chi Yu—but the truth was undeniable: Chi Yu remained a step ahead.
"A unique ninjutsu…" Minato murmured, brow furrowed.
Minato had mastered Wind Release techniques, yet Jiraiya was not an expert in Wind Release, limiting his guidance.
Chi Yu's mastery of Thunder Breathing — a rare fusion of ninjutsu and taijutsu — was his distinct edge.
Among the Leaf's Lightning Release users present, few knew Thunder Breathing at all. But none wielded it like Chi Yu.
Coupled with the Sharingan's ability to anticipate movement and react instantly, Chi Yu's fighting style was devastatingly effective.
Minato understood: to surpass Chi Yu, he needed his own signature technique.
His thoughts turned to the legendary Flying Thunder God Technique Jiraiya had mentioned — a space-time ninjutsu recorded in the Book of Seals. Its power was unmatched, and Minato resolved to master it once Jiraiya secured permission to train him.
In contrast to Chi Yu's direct and brutal method of identifying commanders—staring into their mouths to catch who spoke the most—Minato's approach was subtle.
He observed the enemy's formation, posture, clothing, and behavior. Commanders usually stayed behind, wore distinctive garb, and gestured frequently to direct troops.
Once he identified the target, Minato would use his signature Body Flicker Technique to close the distance silently, seal the enemy's throat with a kunai, then vanish with the same speed.
---
The clash echoed through Yugakure Village.
Corpses littered the battlefield: Cloud, Rain, and Leaf ninjas alike.
Chi Yu's clothes were drenched in blood, his breaths shallow but steady.
Surrounded by more than a dozen Cloud Ninjas, he was a beacon of deadly lightning, impossible to ignore.
The high number of fallen commanders had left some Cloud ninjas disorganized, forcing them into desperate pursuit.
When the dozen charged simultaneously, Chi Yu exhaled sharply.
"Thunder Breathing — Sixth Form: Electric Rumble, Thunder Rumble!"
Centered amid his foes, he unleashed countless lightning-fast slashes in every direction.
The Cloud Ninjas were caught off guard and cut down before they could react.
Breaking free, Chi Yu withdrew two soldier pills and swallowed them quickly.
Another group of Cloud Ninjas closed in. Chi Yu led them to a puddle-filled patch of ground.
Forming seals, he plunged his hands into the water.
"Lightning Release — Thunder!"
High-voltage electricity surged through the puddles, paralyzing the enemy.
Chi Yu methodically beheaded them with his ninja sword, conserving chakra for the long fight ahead.
Scanning the battlefield, Chi Yu spotted another enemy commander.
His body flickered with lightning as he surged forward with Thunderclap Flash.
After dispatching the commander, Chi Yu began retreating—when suddenly, a Leaf Ninja was blown off his feet and landed beside him.
This ninja, Daigo, was grievously wounded—missing an arm and a leg, blood pouring from his mouth.
With his remaining hand, Daigo grabbed Chi Yu's trouser leg, desperation raw in his voice.
"Save me... please... I don't want to die... My family is still in the Leaf... please."
Chi Yu met him with cold, unflinching eyes.
"I can't save you. If the pain overwhelms you, use what strength remains to ease it. Your family believes in the Leaf, so you must believe too — all the way to the end."
He handed Daigo several explosive tags, then vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
Daigo glanced hopelessly at the surrounding Cloud Ninjas, then at the explosive tags in his hand.
Finally, he activated them.
---
"Daigo! No!"
Minato arrived in a flash, trying to snatch the tags away.
Daigo pushed him back fiercely.
"Minato, he's right. I'm already a burden. Don't waste yourself on me. The battle's still raging—our comrades need you. I believe you'll become Hokage. I leave my family in your care."
With grim determination, Daigo steadied himself on one leg and charged the Cloud Ninjas.
An explosion tore through the battlefield.
Daigo was torn apart, but not before taking two Cloud Ninjas with him.
Minato stood frozen, tears streaming.
Rage and helplessness surged within him.
He blinked and used Body Flicker to reach Chi Yu, grabbing his collar fiercely.
"Why? Why give him those explosive tags? Even if you didn't want to save Daigo, there was no need to let him die like that—with the enemy!"
Chi Yu calmly slapped Minato's hand away, fixing his collar.
"So what? You think I killed him? Questioning me here and now, in the middle of battle?"
"That man had lost an arm and a leg. Without medical aid or supplies, death was his only fate."
"I gave him explosive tags so he could take some enemies with him. By any measure, that's a gain for us."
Minato's voice shook with passion.
"They're not numbers or tools. They're comrades. Our comrades."
Chi Yu sneered.
"So what? If it were you, would you want comrades risking their lives to save you? Even if they succeeded, you'd be a burden, dragging them down."
"Aren't we followers of the Will of Fire? Where the leaves dance, the fire must keep burning."
"I made his death count. I didn't let him die in vain or become a liability. I let him use his remaining strength for the Leaf."
"Is that wrong? Should I have let him waste away? Or dragged down my own life and those of others?"
Minato bit his lip until blood appeared.
His fists clenched, his heart torn by fury and sorrow.
He had no answer to Chi Yu's harsh truth.
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