Naruto: Flash Reborn — Minato’s Second Life

Junko Watanabe launched a deadly strike, directly slicing through Tachiyama Shinsaburo's throat.

Ninja have many ways of killing. Some people think the strength of a ninja comes from ninjutsu. The higher the level and the stronger the technique, the more formidable the ninja becomes.

Although that's part of what makes a ninja strong, it's not the whole truth.

No matter their rank, at their core, ninja are still human beings made of flesh and blood. When critical body parts come under attack, no matter how strong you may be, death eventually comes.

"Amazing!"

One of the nearest battlefields was where Minato and a Cloud Ninja Chunin were locked in combat. After witnessing Junko Watanabe successfully land the fatal blow on Tachiyama Shinsaburo, even though he had already completely overwhelmed his opponent, Minato couldn't help but be moved.

After all, with Tachiyama Shinsaburo out of the picture, their mission was basically done.

However, as he slightly turned his gaze, he saw Junko standing with her back to Tachiyama, her eyes glancing toward him—it was clearly an intention to come assist him.

Yet behind her stood Tachiyama Shinsaburo, his throat sliced open, gushing torrents of blood from his neck—but his lips curled into a chillingly sinister smile.

Perhaps unable to speak due to his severed windpipe, that horrifying expression alone told Minato exactly what he intended.

Thinking he was definitely dead, Junko hadn't kept any guard up.

Tachiyama Shinsaburo raised his blade. At that moment, clouds obscured the moonlight, plunging the already gloomy forest into an even chillier atmosphere.

[Instant Flash]!

Minato immediately abandoned his opponent, rushing violently toward Junko's location.

Clang!

A cold gleam flashed past. Junko seemed to sense something amiss behind her, yet she barely had time to react.

"Thud."

At the very last moment, Minato charged in. Though his small body couldn't block much, he managed to wrap both arms around Junko's waist and pull her backward.

But Tachiyama, once a special jonin, wielded his sword too fast—Minato's left arm took the full hit!

Swish!

Junko skidded across the ground before halting, fresh red blood splattering onto her fair face.

But there was no time to dwell on this now. She looked at Minato facing her. Usually expressionless, emotions finally flickered through her dark pupils. "Kid, you alright?"

Drip.

Minato covered his left arm, yet blood still dripped through his fingers onto the ground.

"I'm fine. Lucky it was only my arm."

Gritting his teeth through the pain, Minato offered Junko a faint smile. However, Junko could clearly see that Tachiyama's slash had torn through the flesh—bone was visible beneath.

But neither had time to hesitate now. Junko turned around again—Tachiyama Shinsaburo still stood rooted in place, his face twisted in rage. With blood spurting continuously from his neck wound, his entire outfit had become soaked crimson.

Junko involuntarily narrowed her pupils, shouting in shock, "He's still alive?!"

Earlier, she hadn't even looked back at Tachiyama Shinsaburo because, from her own experience, a throat slashed open like that should've made any kind of final counterattack impossible.

Yet here Tachiyama Shinsaburo stood, perfectly intact before her eyes. Although his clothes were soaked in blood, he appeared completely unharmed.

How could this be possible?

Minato also couldn't understand. His right hand gripped a kunai tightly while his eyes locked onto the Cloud Chunin from earlier.

Because the latter had also noticed the sudden shift in the battlefield's balance. The boy who had previously forced him into such a desperate position had now lost an arm, which filled him with delight.

Judging by the expression on his face, there was no doubt—he wanted Minato's life.

"I'll hold that guy off. Tachiyama must be killed."

Minato said to Junko Watanabe. Surprisingly, a flicker of hesitation passed through Junko's eyes as she questioned, "Kid, you've already lost an arm. You still think you can handle a Chunin?"

A ninja's limbs all play crucial roles—legs for mobility, hands for forming seals. Losing either is a serious handicap.

"Senior Watanabe, that doesn't sound like how the Anbu—the elite black ops—usually act."

At his words, Junko paused, then glanced sideways at Minato. She saw the unshakable determination in his sapphire-blue eyes.

"Kid, some words don't belong in your mouth."

With those words, she stepped forward. Her tone carried no actual reprimand; instead, she gave a light chuckle before turning serious again. "Be careful and don't push yourself too hard."

Minato nodded.

Shwaa!

In the next instant, his speed erupted once more, becoming a streak of golden light as he dashed toward the Cloud Chunin.

"What audacity from this brat!"

The Cloud Chunin was furious—how dare a kid who'd just lost an arm still try to face him?

But having faced Minato's speed before, he tried to retreat while starting to form hand seals at the same time.

He wanted to first create distance, then launch a jutsu attack from a safe distance.

Minato, however, had already anticipated this scenario. As soon as he charged forward, his focus locked onto the Chunin's hands.

Whoosh!

Without hesitation, Minato hurled his kunai, interrupting the Chunin mid-seal formation.

The Chunin hadn't expected Minato to possess such sharp foresight and battlefield awareness. By the time he realized what happened, Minato had already closed the distance again, now holding another kunai aimed straight at him.

Though surprised, he certainly wasn't afraid of a one-armed Minato. He immediately raised his kunai to meet the challenge head-on.

Swish!

Just as the two were about to clash, Minato suddenly stopped in his tracks and leapt backward.

Chunin's strength had already been superior to his own, and now with one arm severed, victory was utterly impossible. His only choice was to stall for time.

...

Meanwhile, Junko Watanabe's pretty face turned icy cold as she rushed toward Tachiyama Shinsaburo. If Minato hadn't blocked that slash earlier, she would have been the one to die.

Although she still couldn't make sense of their current situation, she refused to believe that anyone in this world was truly immortal.

With his throat slit and voice lost, Tachiyama Shinsaburo sneered coldly. As if unaffected by the earlier fatal blow, he lunged at Junko once again!

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