Chapter 45: Return to Konoha, A-Rank Mission Complete!
Chapter 45: Return to Konoha, A-Rank Mission Complete!
What Namikaze Minato had actually said was: "It feels like that child has been secretly looking at me. Perhaps he has something he wants to communicate, but he's probably a bit introverted and shy in personality..." Minato had rambled on for a while, but when relaying the message, Nara Shikano had made a drastic simplification.
'Is the Yondaime's sensory ability that sharp? I only looked at him a billion and two times...' Hearing the old clan head's words, Nara Keisuke felt an inexplicable sense of embarrassment. 'Oh right, the Yondaime is a sensory-type ninja...'
After various reasons churned in his head, Nara Keisuke ultimately chose to confess. "It's not that I have anything special to discuss with Jonin Namikaze. I just want to challenge him."
"Challenge Minato?" Nara Shikano's eyebrow shot up in surprise. "Why? To be honest, in my opinion, a more suitable opponent for you right now would be a Chunin of your own age, like Sarutobi Asuma. Minato's strength is extremely high, especially his Body Flicker Technique. You couldn't find many ninja in all of Konoha who would dare guarantee they could beat him."
The old clan head did indeed have a plan to cultivate Nara Keisuke. The various rewards he had given before were, on one hand, for the value of the [Lacquer Eye], and on the other hand, to compensate for Keisuke's "natural deficiencies."
For a ninja, the most useful weapon would always be chakra. When ordinary ninja molded chakra, it was basically always during high-speed combat while constantly moving. In such a combat situation, being able to skillfully mold chakra was already very difficult. To want to precisely control and maintain the output of that chakra was even harder.
But now that Keisuke possessed a [Chakra Crystal] that could resonate with him, his chakra reserves were no longer a limiting factor. In the old clan head's view, the most important task for the current Nara Keisuke was to master the use of the abundant energy contained within the [Chakra Crystal]. The second was to strengthen his own physique and increase his combat experience, especially his taijutsu combat experience. The body was the capital for all combat.
But to challenge Namikaze Minato just to gain combat experience?
Nara Shikano imagined the battle scene between Minato and Keisuke in his mind—Keisuke uses his shadow secret arts but can't keep up with Minato's movement speed. Minato closes in, draws a kunai, and decapitates him with one slice... What kind of combat experience would that provide! Experience in getting his throat slit?!
Hearing the old clan head's question, Nara Keisuke pressed his lips together. This was also the reason he had been hesitating about whether to challenge the Yondaime. Keisuke certainly coveted the challenge mission from him, but he really couldn't find a suitable, legitimate reason.
In the ninja world, even ninja from the same village would rarely spar with each other to avoid leaking information about their abilities, unless they were teammates, or beloved family and friends. But Keisuke and Minato had no connection, and today was their first official meeting. To rashly bring up the topic of wanting to challenge him was simply too tactless!
Damn it, however... "The reason I want to challenge Jonin Namikaze Minato," Keisuke let out a breath and said frankly, "is precisely because he is Namikaze Minato!"
"That's a pretty nice thing to say." The old clan head shook his head, his attitude noncommittal. "But since when did Minato's reputation become so great?"
Seeing the old clan head shake his head, Keisuke thought his chance to challenge Minato had gone up in smoke. But he never expected...
"Come with me. If we don't clear this up, I'm worried Minato won't be able to sleep tonight." The old clan head beckoned to Keisuke. "But don't get your hopes up about challenging Minato. Also, even if Minato does agree to your challenge... well, Keisuke, I hope you're mentally prepared."
Just when the path seemed lost amidst mountains and rivers, another village appears in the shade of willows and brightness of flowers?
Regardless of how un-optimistic the old clan head's attitude was, Keisuke's mood was calm with a hint of delight. Whatever, even getting the consolation prize is a success!
Led by the old clan head, Keisuke thought he would soon be able to meet Minato. But when the two arrived at the location, they only saw Akimichi Chōza, who had mostly recovered.
"Minato sensed something just now. He said another group is approaching, most likely bounty hunters." Before Shikano could speak, Chōza explained, "He took Inoichi to check on the situation. They should be back soon."
"These bounty hunters really value money more than their lives," Nara Shikano said coolly, then added a reminder. "Chōza, after you get back to the village, remember to go to the Konoha Hospital for a check-up. Although the medical ninjutsu scroll healed your injuries, we were the ones who used it, and we don't know medical ninjutsu. We can't guarantee its healing effect was absolutely perfect."
The medical ninjutsu scroll Minato had brought from the village earlier was, in essence, pre-molded medical Yang Release chakra sealed into a scroll. When needed, one would open the scroll and aim the sealed Yang chakra at the patient's wound to accelerate their healing and recovery speed. This type of medical scroll was not only difficult to make, but its raw materials were also very expensive. Its healing effect couldn't compare to a professional medical ninja, and its use had great limitations. Only injured individuals like Chōza, who were hurt in a sudden encounter and had no medical ninja nearby to assist, would need the help of a medical ninjutsu scroll.
Due to his family background, Keisuke knew a fair amount about medical ninjutsu scrolls. At the Nara Pharmacy, this kind of thing was "expensive garbage" that was left to gather dust deep in the warehouse. Those who could afford it looked down on it, and those who looked up to it couldn't afford it. That was pretty much the existence of a medical ninjutsu scroll. In comparison, although the other five elemental ninjutsu scrolls were also expensive, there was always a certain market demand for them.
Akimichi Chōza nodded, about to reply, when a flash of golden light appeared, and Namikaze Minato and Yamanaka Inoichi appeared before the three of them.
'Is this the Flying Thunder God Technique?' Keisuke looked at the Yondaime with great surprise, completely ignoring the other blond, Yamanaka Inoichi, at his side. 'And it's the improved version!'
Minato first reported to Shikano about what he had just discovered: a very ordinary group of bounty hunters who were running rampant in the Land of Fire in search of the Chinoike clan's descendant.
"Still no information on Kakuzu?" Shikano asked.
"None." Yamanaka Inoichi shook his head. "This group of bounty hunters tonight knows nothing about Kakuzu, nor have they received any special intelligence from the Bounty Station."
"It seems Kakuzu has really given up on pursuing us," Nara Shikano nodded slightly. "But we still shouldn't be careless. We'll take turns on watch tonight. Minato and Inoichi will each be responsible for a period of guard duty."
Namikaze Minato and Yamanaka Inoichi naturally nodded in agreement.
Next, Minato finally turned his gaze to Nara Keisuke. He first glanced at Keisuke, then shifted his gaze to Shikano, his eyes questioning. Shikano also looked at Keisuke, then led the two of them away from Inoichi and Chōza to an open space not far from the camp.
Under the moonlight, the old clan head got straight to the point. "He wants to challenge you!"
"Hm?" Minato's first reaction was that Shikano was joking. But he immediately realized that Mr. Shikano was not Teacher Jiraiya; he was mature and calm and would rarely joke.
So... this child was secretly glancing at me so many times this afternoon just because he wanted to challenge me? For some reason, a mixed feeling of surprise and disappointment welled up in Minato's heart.
"Challenging me is fine, you know," Minato said, clearing his mind of stray thoughts and revealing a gentle smile. "However, it's nighttime now. Based on my understanding, the Nara clan's Shadow Secret Techniques are weakened to a certain extent at night. How about we wait until we get back to the village and find another time to spar?"
What could Nara Keisuke say? "Okay." He nodded a little hesitantly.
It was their first meeting, and his request to challenge him was already rude enough. Yet Minato was still so understanding. He really... he truly deserved to be called the little sun!
"Thank you very much! And I'm very sorry!" Keisuke bowed slightly. "My request was too presumptuous."
"Not at all," Minato said with a smile and a wave of his hand. "Guiding the younger generation is the undeniable duty of a senior. Where the leaves of Konoha dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, new leaves will bud. To me, Nara-kun, you are one of Konoha's new buds."
Although he inwardly felt the "Will of Fire" was incredibly empty and lacked practical guiding principles, this was the first time Nara Keisuke had ever heard the Will of Fire articulated so pleasantly and agreeably!
After agreeing on a general time and place for the spar, the three of them returned to the camp to rest for the night.
The next day came, and the Konoha ninja methodically carried out the B-rank mission [Bounty Hunter]. By the time they saw the gates of Konoha, it was already evening. The bounty hunters around the Land of Fire's main roads had been basically cleared out.
Back in the village, Minato, Asuma, Shikano, and the others headed to the Hokage's Office to hand in the mission. Keisuke had wanted to go along with the old clan head, but he was persuaded to go home with a simple, "You're just the mission client."
When he returned to his apartment next to the Academy, a prompt suddenly popped up on his panel.
[A-rank Ninja Commissioned Mission Scroll has been submitted!]
[[A-rank Mission: "Tribute"] has been completed!]
[You have obtained one A-rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]
(Author's Notes:)
Yondaime, "四代目," is the Japanese reading for "Fourth Generation," and also a nickname for Namikaze Minato.
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Regarding the [Medical Ninjutsu Scroll], a lot was said in the previous chapter's notes. This time, based on readers' feedback, some patch corrections have been made. I'll also attach the summary of the last chapter's comments:
1. [Ninjutsu Scrolls] do exist in the original work. In manga chapter 334, during the fight against the immortal duo, when facing Kakuzu's Lightning Release: False Darkness, Shikamaru once thought of using a [Scroll] to resist, but couldn't read its contents clearly. In anime episode 304 (corresponding to manga chapter 334), Shikamaru uses a [Shield Character Scroll], with unknown effects. In anime episode 305, Shikamaru also used a [Water Character Scroll], which contained a Water Release ninjutsu. Additionally, there's the Water Prison Technique: Triggered Trap Scroll used by Hoshigaki Kisame in manga chapter 508.
2. Although [Ninjutsu Scrolls] exist in the original work, they appear very rarely, and there is no appearance of a [Medical Ninjutsu Scroll]. (If I'm wrong, please correct me).
3. The [Medical Ninjutsu Scroll] is just the author's secondary setting based on the manga's content. Everything about the [Medical Ninjutsu Scroll], whether in the last chapter or this one, is just the author's secondary setting.
(End of Chapter)
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