Naruto: Flash Reborn — Minato’s Second Life

"Swish!"

Sensing that Yan Uchiha was about to make a final desperate move, the Cloud Ninja Chunin also routed chakra through every part of his body at that moment. On his arm, the Lightning Gauntlet—which had originally been dull and cracked—let out thunderous crackling sounds again.

But he dared not act rashly; Yan's Shuriken Jutsu was already sinister and sharp by nature, and approaching recklessly would only be more disadvantageous.

Still, he understood that the higher the proficiency in shuriken techniques, the greater physical and mental exhaustion they caused.

From Yan Uchiha's eyes, he could clearly see it.

This kid was preparing to give it everything in the next attack.

After all, he was still just a child—a ninja must never show emotion before victory is secured.

Each side tensed like drawn blades, gathering strength for a final strike.

"Swish!"

At this moment, a sound slicing through the wind rang out. From the burnt-black woods, a figure suddenly burst forth, and a white flash filled the Cloud Ninja Chunin's vision.

"Thud!"

An enemy who moments ago was locked in life-and-death combat now collapsed like this, leaving Yan Uchiha—who was just ready to unleash his Uchiha Shuriken Web—in utter shock.

After effortlessly cutting down a Chunin, Sakumo glanced over his shoulder. Seeing Yan's current posture, he immediately knew what the boy had intended to do.

"A determined little guy."

He muttered inwardly but didn't have time to chat. From the forest behind them came violent rumbling lightning sounds.

Without further ado, ignoring Yan's surprise, Sakumo grabbed him and dashed toward Minato and Junko Watanabe's battlefield.

...

"Clang! Clang!"

"Shsh! Shsh!"

The two sounds alternated repeatedly. In the dim forest, golden glimmers seemed to flicker endlessly.

Most eye-catching, however, were Tachiyama Shinsaburo's face, pale as death, and his chilling, icy smile.

A blade carved across his chest, exposing gleaming white bones beneath torn flesh, suffering wounds nearly fatal. Screaming in pain, his expression twisted, yet no one could tell whether he was laughing or furious.

Nonetheless, he slashed back with equal ferocity, forcing a slender figure backward.

"Heh... heh..."

Junko Watanabe was panting heavily. Her blade had long since soaked in blood—again and again.

Tachiyama Shinsaburo had sustained countless grievous wounds, many directly targeting vital areas, yet he never fell. Like an immortal demon, he lunged at Junko once more.

"[Immortal Body]?!"

Junko Watanabe braced herself for the next strike. Yet watching the man's increasingly frenzied look, she felt unprecedented anxiety.

She had faced far stronger opponents before, but none were as hard to deal with as this one.

No matter how many times he suffered deadly damage, he kept coming back without pause—like an unstoppable force.

His body simply did not resemble a human's anymore.

The ground where the two had fought was soaked in large patches of blood. Even for a ninja, losing that much blood should have been fatal several times over.

Tachiyama Shinsaburo stretched out his vivid red tongue and licked the blood from his skin. The metallic stench of blood seemed to drive him into an even greater frenzy.

That look alone was enough to make Junko Watanabe shudder slightly—even she, who had stared down death countless times before.

Because what she faced now was beyond the limits of both man and ninja alike.

It was practically a monster!

"Boom!"

At this moment, near the battlefield's edge, a collision sound rang out. Following the noise, a frail figure could be seen already being overpowered, yet still desperately holding on.

The two kunai clashed violently, sending sparks flying as Minato gritted his teeth through intense pain, forcing his left arm to move once again. But with so much blood lost, it had practically no strength left.

Minato's face rapidly paled. Despite this, he tightly bit down on his now-bloodless lips, forcing himself to stay conscious.

He couldn't afford to lose—because if he fell, Junko Watanabe would be surrounded by both enemies.

Yet he had also seen Junko land what should have been fatal blows against Tachiyama Shinsaburo—but each time, the latter simply paused briefly before resuming the fight as if nothing had happened.

Facing such an opponent—one who refused to die—no matter how powerful a ninja might be, they were helpless.

Junko hadn't held back either—she'd even tried to decapitate Tachiyama Shinsaburo. Yet the latter remained a Tokubetsu Jonin after all—though clearly weaker than Junko, landing that kind of critical injury wasn't easy at all.

"Kid, are you okay?"

Junko made a foolish mistake she'd never made before. She momentarily diverted her focus toward Minato's battlefield. Upon seeing him cornered by the Cloud Ninja chunin to the brink of desperation, Junko instinctively hurled the blade in her hand toward them.

"Whoosh!"

The razor-sharp blade seemed to slice through the very air itself. Forced to defend, the Cloud Ninja chunin barely managed to block.

"Clang!"

With considerable force behind it, Junko's throw sent the burly Cloud Ninja staggering backward two meters after knocking his kunai aside.

Now would've been the perfect moment for Minato to strike the finishing blow—but at that moment, his mind was entirely on Junko's situation.

Because just as Junko threw away her weapon, Tachiyama Shinsaburo darted straight toward her with blinding speed.

Clearly unable to close the distance in time, Minato immediately hurled the kunai in his hand straight at the enemy's heart.

Yet surprisingly, Tachiyama Shinsaburo showed no intention of dodging at all.

With a nearly immortal body, what did it matter if a kunai pierced his heart?

Meanwhile, Junko was now unarmed and could only dodge. Still, she underestimated the sheer burst speed of Tachiyama Shinsaburo. Her beautiful face gleamed clearly in the blade's reflection.

If struck solidly, her head would split clean in half.

"Whoosh!"

A dazzling sapphire glow tore through the thick forest like it had ripped through space itself.

[Todoroki!]

Warm blood splashed onto Junko Watanabe's pretty face, but she quickly dodged aside. Before her, slowly falling to the ground, was actually the arm of Tachiyama Shinsaburo still gripping his sword.

[Todoroki!]

And the [Chakra Severance Beam] that had directly severed Tachiyama Shinsaburo's arm turned a huge tree pitch black before vanishing amidst crackling lightning, revealing a white chakra tanto blade.

Shushu!

Just as everyone stood stunned, rubbing sounds came from the ground. A figure appeared before Junko Watanabe — a lean but solid build from behind.

Sakumo turned his head, looking visibly concerned as he asked:

"Are both of you alright?"

Instinctively, the two nodded, then turned their bodies to face Tachiyama Shinsaburo — who now had blood all over him, had been cut off at one arm, and wore a hideous expression. Sakumo's white brows knitted slightly.

"What the hell is going on?"

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