I Just Wanted to Slack Off, But I Was Forced to Become Hokage

Chapter 58: Yondaime, Forever a God!

"A combat strategy of hiding yourself in an unnoticeable shadow is indeed difficult to defend against when you attack," Namikaze Minato's voice sounded as gentle and composed as ever. "But Nara-kun, I must remind you of one thing. This combat strategy is ineffective against sensory-type ninja. The chakra emanating from your main body, as well as your doppelgangers, is far too obvious. This time, it is you who has caught me. And I have also caught you."

Flying Thunder God Technique!

As his voice fell, Minato's figure once again vanished from the spot, escaping the control of the [Shadow Neck Binding Technique].

"I knew he was fast, but I didn't know he could be this fast." The [Shadow Doppelganger]'s face showed a helpless expression. It immediately dispelled its technique, relaying the situation to the main body. "Fighting an opponent like this... is really too troublesome!"

Nara Keisuke instantly received the intelligence that "Minato has sensed the existence of the shadow doppelgangers."

'The Yondaime is about to turn on his map-hack...' Keisuke pressed his lips together, his gaze sweeping across the forest surrounding the Third Training Ground. He had indeed arranged for many doppelgangers to sneak into it before the battle began. The wooden spear trap from before was also activated and controlled by a doppelganger. But now it seemed these doppelgangers were about to suffer...

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

With a soft cry, a large, furiously burning fireball erupted from a remote corner of the Third Training Ground, smashing with great force towards another location.

In his normal state, Namikaze Minato was a high-speed-flow ninja who went for high-burst, one-shot-kill routes. But this did not mean he didn't know other combat methods. As the direct disciple of one of the Sannin, Jiraiya, most of the ninjutsu Jiraiya knew, Minato could also freely cast!

Knowing the basic strengths and weaknesses of the Nara clan's shadow secret techniques, after some careful consideration, Minato had ultimately abandoned his usual strategy of close-range surprise attacks and switched to a new mode of "artillery ninja."

The position that the "Fire Release: Flame Bullet" was attacking now was precisely where a [Shadow Doppelganger] was hidden, with a log-style trap set up next to it. Faced with the sudden attack of the fireball, the doppelganger, whose only function was to "activate the trap," had no strength to resist and was easily eliminated on the spot.

The memory of the [Shadow Doppelganger] before its "death" was immediately transmitted back to Keisuke's brain. He thought for a moment and decisively dispelled all the other doppelgangers on the field to avoid unnecessary chakra consumption. Among them was a small firing squad that had already prepared multiple [Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullets]...

'It's a pity,' Keisuke thought, gently exhaling a breath of turbid air, his expression calm as he looked ahead. 'But by using carefully prepared combat strategies to force the Yondaime to use the Flying Thunder God five times, it's not a complete failure.'

'It's just... the Yondaime's conventional ninjutsu abilities are completely unknown intelligence...'

At some point, Minato had flickered to the ground. He formed the Tiger seal with both hands, took a deep breath, and spewed it forward. "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

The flames released by Minato danced in mid-air like a ferocious giant dragon. Halfway through its flight, it precisely split into three streams, attacking Keisuke from three different directions: front, left, and right.

The orange-red flames drew near, and Keisuke's small face was illuminated red. Whether in speed or power, Minato's Fire Release far surpassed that of the 12-year-old Uchiha Shisui. Faced with a fire attack of this level, Keisuke's brow furrowed tightly. His figure, like flowing water, dissolved into the shadow at his feet.

[Flat Shadow Technique]!

However, what was unexpected was that the "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet" released by Minato did not directly pass over Keisuke's position. Instead, it used his standing point as its core, tightly circling around him, forming a ring of fire that firmly trapped him in the center.

At such a close distance, the dazzling light emitted by the flames continuously affected and changed the shape of Keisuke's shadow, while also increasing the difficulty of controlling the [Flat Shadow Technique] and the consumption of his Yin Release chakra.

Seeing that Minato did not take advantage of such a good opportunity to flash forward and advance, Keisuke, hidden in the shadows, knew that the Yondaime had completely given up his most accustomed "flicker backstab" assassin-style fighting method. It had to be said that during the battle just now, the [Shadow Paralysis Jutsu] that Keisuke had set up in the surroundings had indeed created a great counter-effect to Minato's combat style.

But now, the tables had turned. The Nara clan's shadow secret techniques countered assassin-type ninja who were good at advancing, but they were in turn countered by artillery-style mage-type ninja.

Helpless, Keisuke could only use the [Earth Dragon Hiding Technique], escaping the fiery encirclement of the "Fire Dragon Flame Bullet" by going underground.

Minato's eyes couldn't penetrate the flames, but his sensory abilities clearly observed that mass of chakra source moving underground. "So many doppelgangers just now, plus the amount of chakra in his main body... this is definitely not the chakra level an ordinary child should have."

Minato's brow furrowed slightly. He didn't know much about Keisuke, but from his appearance, he guessed that he was about the same age as Kakashi and the others. "The Nara clan isn't known for massive chakra reserves, and Nara-kun is definitely not the same type of ninja as Kushina, so... is he carrying some kind of special ninja tool rich in chakra?"

While pondering Keisuke's situation, Minato was also observing the other's movement trajectory. The underground chakra source was getting closer and closer. With a backward leap, Minato dodged the dark shadow spikes that pierced up from the ground, while his hands rapidly formed seals.

'My tried-and-true underground sneak attack tactic failed.'

Nara Keisuke's figure emerged from the ground along with the [Shadow Sewing Technique]. At the same time, he noticed the ball of fire approaching. 'I hate sensory ninja...'

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

From his high vantage point, Minato released a giant fireball, heading straight for Keisuke on the ground. In this situation, Keisuke simply couldn't dodge with the [Flat Shadow Technique]. He had no choice but to manipulate the materialized shadow spikes around him, forming a cocoon-like protective shield around his body.

[Shadow Shield Technique]!

Boom!

The scorching flame bullet bombarded the [Shadow Shield Technique], immediately erupting in a deafening roar. The latter's smooth, unified surface instantly cracked with dense fissures. Just a second later, the flame bullet and the shadow shield both dissipated into the air.

Keisuke saw that the landed Minato was still continuing to form hand signs, and knew that he would most likely choose to continue attacking with a powerful fire ninjutsu. He raised his hands, pointing both index fingers forward, making a gun shape.

'A proper ninja, honestly forming hand signs, are you?'

Bang! Bang!

Two lacquer-black pellets shot from Keisuke's fingertips. In the blink of an eye, they crossed half the training ground and arrived in front of Minato.

Facing this special ninjutsu for the first time, Minato had originally intended to abandon his hand signs and make a strategic retreat. But seeing that the aim of the black pellets was laughably off, he was instantly reminded of the "Shuriken All-Out Flying Technique" from before... Nara-kun's aim seems to be very poor...

Just as Minato was about to ignore these two black pellets and continue forming hand signs, the two pellets accurately struck the shadow at his side. The Yin Release chakra stored within them instantly erupted.

[Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet]!

Minato's hand sign movements came to an abrupt halt, and the chakra he had painstakingly gathered also dissipated.

"What?!" Feeling the astonishing restrictive force on his body, Minato was suddenly alarmed. "A long-range Shadow Paralysis Jutsu!"

With his "trump card" now played, Keisuke naturally wouldn't hesitate for a moment. His fingertips once again shot out two black pellets, but this time they weren't [Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullets], but the relatively conventional [Spiraling Shadow Piercing Bullets]!

The lacquer-black shadow bullets streaked through the air, seeming to leave a deep trace in space.

Minato's pupils shrank. He was forced to use the Flying Thunder God Technique again to escape the control of the [Spiraling Shadow Binding Bullet].

Keisuke wanted to continue firing, but he really couldn't confirm the Yondaime's precise location, and the distance between them was too great, so he had to give up.

And just at that moment... "Summoning Technique!"

BOOM!

An extremely enormous giant red toad suddenly landed in the Third Training Ground. Its mountain-like heavy body landed on the ground, and the whole earth trembled slightly.

"..."

Seeing this super-giant toad, Keisuke gritted his teeth and barely managed to hold back the urge to curse. The Flying Thunder God Technique is cheap, I'll endure it; being countered by an artillery-style ninja, I'll continue to endure it; but I've endured this much, and the Yondaime still summons a helper? Yondaime, you are really—

"This match is my loss, Nara-kun," Minato's voice came from afar.

[You have defeated the A-rank Ninja Combat Mission target!]

[You have obtained one A-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]

—forever a god!

The look on Nara Keisuke's face changed quickly, but it went away even faster. Just like the summoned Gamabunta, who had only made a brief appearance before being sent back to Mount Myōboku, probably without even getting a clear look at where the enemy was.

"That 'Shuriken Secret Art: Starfall Dance Type Zero' from before!" Minato formed a hand sign and flickered in front of Keisuke, looking at this child from the Nara family with great curiosity. "And that 'Nara Secret Art: Ultra Ultimate Jet-Black Burst Shadow Bullet' just now! Nara-kun, your skill level is truly beyond my expectations."

"..."

The highly praised Nara Keisuke had a look of bewilderment on his face.

Huh?

(Author's Note:)

Namikaze Minato's chakra natures are: Yin, Yang, Wind, Fire, and Lightning. So he can basically inherit Jiraiya's Fire Release ninjutsu.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet" is a C-rank Fire Release ninjutsu used by Jiraiya against Konan.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet" is a B-rank Fire Release ninjutsu used by Sarutobi Hiruzen against the Reanimated First and Second Hokage.

(End of Chapter)

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