Chapter 52: I—Don’t—Listen!!! (1/2)

"Lord Orochimaru!"

Minato's surprise and joy were palpable. Orochimaru was a highly respected senior, frequently mentioned by Jiraiya as a formidable figure.

"It's wonderful to see you here!" Minato said with excitement.

"I'm glad to see you too," Orochimaru responded with impeccable courtesy. "So, Minato, could you explain the current situation to me?"

Orochimaru glanced at his mentor.

However, he noticed that his mentor, the Third Hokage, was looking away with a bit of evasiveness...

"...It seems Orochimaru has figured something out."

"We're attempting to suppress the Five-Tails, but this child's sudden appearance is complicating things..."

In the urgent situation, Minato skipped unnecessary details and focused on the essentials.

Mission: Suppress and seal the Eight-Tails.

Key Point: A sudden appearance of an Uchiha boy, who is currently clashing with the Third Hokage.

"..."

Orochimaru felt he had solved the puzzle.

Looking at his mentor again, he felt inexplicably disappointed.

He had expected that the boy, Wakaho, might have discovered some secret of his mentor...

"My insects can't approach him."

Yamanaka Shika, who had been trying to support the Third Hokage from the sidelines, suddenly spoke up.

"I haven't prepared insects resistant to high temperatures. Just getting close would incinerate them."

"I'm curious how that child is enduring the heat..."

Minato took a deep breath. "Let me handle it!"

Given the Third Hokage's age, the chakra expenditure from this prolonged clash was too great. They could not afford to delay any longer!

But just as Minato was about to act, he felt a sudden pressure on his shoulder, accompanied by a clear pain—Orochimaru had forcefully held him back!

"Lord Orochimaru!?" Minato turned in astonishment, "What are you doing...?"

"I'm doing this for your own good, Minato-kun."

Orochimaru shook his head with a smile and looked up at Wakaho.

"This child is my disciple, not an enemy... The Hokage is merely worried about injuring him, which is why he's not using his full strength."

Orochimaru's words redefined the battle as a farce.

"Moreover, Wakaho-kun is a very upright person... Once he labels someone as an enemy, removing that label won't be easy."

"But you've already injured his companion. This child is currently in a state of rage and needs to vent."

"So, Minato-kun... It's better not to disturb him."

After speaking, Orochimaru looked again at the Third Hokage with a sideways glance.

The Third Hokage's expression was one of confusion.

It wasn't because of Orochimaru's description of Wakaho as "upright," although that was indeed a term he hadn't used before.

The key issue was... This troublesome disciple of mine! How did he manage to see through that I'm barely holding on?

Didn't he notice that I'm about to collapse?

And now he's chatting?! Does he think I'm still the same as when I first became their teacher?

"I understand..." Minato, being a perceptive person, had long suspected that the information from White Fang might be inaccurate.

With Orochimaru's explanation, Minato now understood the situation.

"Everyone, move back!"

Feeling a bit guilty but making a quick decision, Minato immediately performed the Body Flicker Technique and moved to the Third Hokage's side.

"Are you ready, Hokage-sama?"

The Third Hokage responded with a nod.

Once everyone had cleared out, Minato used the Body Flicker Technique to quickly transport the Third Hokage away.

In the next moment, the loss of chakra support for the Lightning Water Dragon Bullet was unable to withstand Wakaho's Amaterasu-enhanced Dragon Fire. The scorching flames mixed with white steam slammed into the ground!

"The Third Hokage is something else!"

Wakaho was also impressed. So this is the "Strongest Hokage"? Quite formidable!

His Amaterasu Dragon Fire was at full output, but to hold out against a combination technique like this for so long was incredible!

No wonder the Uchiha were driven out of the village core and dared not resist. It wasn't until the Nine-Tails incident that they truly understood the destructive power of the Nine-Tails and finally considered rebellion.

No wonder Orochimaru preferred to betray rather than stage a coup. He waited until the Third Hokage was 69 years old to execute his plan to dismantle Konoha, and even then, he had gathered numerous trump cards before daring to confront the Third Hokage, all while fearing being defeated instantly!

The current Third Hokage was still in his prime...

"Right now, you are no match for this human, Indra."

The Five-Tails, Gyūki, had already stood up, with steam beginning to puff from his nostrils.

"Do you need my help?"

Wakaho shook his head slightly. "No, thank you, Gyūki."

"I'm not accustomed to having help in battles against others..."

Wakaho had made his judgment.