426.Minato’s Speculation

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The two figures crossed paths mid-air. 

The yellow-haired young man wore a calm expression, while A's face was stormy and intense. 

In that fleeting moment, their eyes met, and both left a profound impression on the other. 

"Thud! Thud!" 

As the two landed on the ground and faced each other, Darui and Bee arrived at A's side. 

Darui glanced curiously at the yellow-haired man, feeling a mix of surprise and disbelief. 

This guy's speed surpassed A's, even with the Lightning Release Armor activated. Unbelievable! When did Konoha produce someone this strong? 

"Big brother, looks like you're slower than this guy," Bee teased, his hands behind his head, flashing a grin of bright white teeth. 

A's expression darkened immediately. A bulging vein popped on his forehead as he delivered a heavy punch to Bee's head and growled. 

"Shut up, Bee!" 

The yellow-haired youth watched the scene unfold, a gentle smile gracing his face. He spoke softly. 

"You're from the Cloud Village, aren't you? I'm Minato Namikaze. Thank you for your assistance to Konoha during these challenging times." 

Hearing his introduction, A regarded him seriously, his tone solemn. 

"Minato Namikaze, you're strong." 

Darui, observing A's uncharacteristic attitude, chuckled quietly to himself. 

It's rare to see A show such respect to anyone. 

His gaze shifted to Minato, and he thought. 

Minato Namikaze, huh… What an impressive guy. Konoha truly is a cradle of genius ninja. First Aizen Sousuke, and now another extraordinary talent. 

Minato responded to A's words with a modest smile, his tone warm and infectious. 

"You're all very strong as well. I heard about the three Cloud Ninjas who helped the Hokage fend off the Tsuchikage earlier. If I'm not mistaken, those three must be you." 

Darui's half-lidded eyes gleamed faintly as he thought. 

On top of being powerful, he has keen analytical skills. Interesting. 

Stepping forward, Darui leaned in to whisper something into A's ear. 

A maintained his serious expression as he addressed Minato. 

"You're correct. We did assist the Hokage in stopping the Tsuchikage earlier. It was our duty as Cloud Ninjas." 

He extended his hand and said. 

"Nice to meet you, Minato Namikaze. I am A." 

He gestured toward Bee but hadn't even finished his introduction when Bee stepped forward, rapping and gesturing. 

"Yo yo, what's up, Minato Namikaze? You can call me Killer Bee!" 

A's expression darkened again. He landed another heavy punch on Bee's head, roaring like an enraged gorilla. 

"Bee, stop embarrassing the Cloud Village!" 

Minato blinked in surprise at the spectacle but soon chuckled, a soft smile forming as he replied. 

"Nice to meet you, Killer Bee." 

Darui, watching with amusement, introduced himself. 

"I'm Darui. Nice to meet you, Minato. One thing A didn't mention. he's the son of the current Raikage, and Bee is his younger brother." 

Minato's eyes widened slightly in realization. He murmured. 

"A and B… Ay… Bee… You must be the legendary 'AB Duo' of the Cloud Village!" 

His expression brightened with excitement as he confirmed his guess. 

A and Bee exchanged glances before nodding at Minato. 

So it's true! 

Minato's cerulean eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. He said with a smile. 

"I've heard about you from Jiraiya-sensei. Your exploits during the battles with the Stone Ninjas are already legendary. I didn't expect to meet you in person today." 

The trio was momentarily taken aback. Darui's eyes narrowed as he thought. 

He's Jiraiya's disciple? One of the Three Legendary Sannin's students… 

"I didn't expect you to be Jiraiya's student," A remarked after a moment of silence. 

Minato smiled with pride, his tone filled with respect. 

"Yes, meeting Jiraiya-sensei was one of the luckiest moments of my life." 

Darui interjected with a suggestion. 

"Minato, it seems you're not with your comrades. If you don't mind, why not join us for now? We'll likely have to face many more Stone Ninjas ahead." 

Minato considered this briefly, then nodded with a smile. 

"If you're inviting me, I'll gladly join you. Besides, I'd love to see the famous AB Duo in action." 

Darui smiled faintly, while Bee raised his arm and gave a thumbs-up, boasting in his rhythmic style. 

"My bro and me, a duo so strong, you can't go wrong, yo yo!" 

"Wham!" 

Before Bee could finish, another punch landed on his head. A's angry shout followed. 

"Bee, stop embarrassing the Cloud Village!" 

Minato and Darui exchanged amused smiles as the group moved deeper into the forest. 

---

As they walked, Darui turned to Minato with a question. 

"Minato, what's your take on the Stone Village's invasion of Konoha?" 

The group continued moving as Darui's calm voice broke the silence. A maintained his stoic demeanor, showing no reaction. 

Minato paused for a moment, his expression growing serious. 

"The Tsuchikage's hostility toward Konoha is no secret. This war was inevitable." 

He fell silent for a moment, his blue eyes reflecting a thoughtful glint, as if considering something deeply troubling. 

The others exchanged puzzled glances, wondering why he had stopped speaking. 

After a pause, Minato continued. 

"However, the current state of affairs is because of one person." 

The group froze momentarily, surprised. 

"One person?!" Darui and A both looked doubtful. 

While ninja culture revered individual strength, it was hard to believe that one person could trigger a conflict of this scale among the Great Nations. 

"No one could orchestrate such chaos alone," A said firmly. 

Minato lifted his head slightly, his expression complex. A faintly bitter smile crossed his lips as he softly uttered a name. 

"Aizen Sosuke." 

The others froze, their expressions turning serious. 

"Aizen… Sosuke," A repeated, his tone heavy. 

"The leader of Hueco Mundo," Darui added, his eyes gleaming. 

"I'll admit, Aizen's strength is extraordinary," Darui continued. "Even though he defected from Konoha, his ability to face both the Hokage and the Tsuchikage without faltering is something even the Cloud Village respects. The Raikage has spoken highly of him. "

"But to say one person alone caused all of this? That seems exaggerated." 

Minato lowered his head, remaining silent for a moment. When he finally looked up, his smile returned, albeit faintly. 

"Perhaps you're right. I hope you're right."