Seven or eight Grass Ninja were having their throats slit by kunai, falling like harvested wheat.
The Grass Ninjas instantly stopped in their tracks.
“This technique…”
An old man wearing a golden rat-head mask instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
He seemed to have heard of this technique when he was young.
“Seal off the news tonight, I will send someone to inquire with Konoha.”
“Konoha? Are you sure, Elder?”
The stout Black Pig lowered his voice.
Even though Konoha did not win in their contest with the Sand Village during the Second Shinobi World War, they won on other battlefields, and their vitality remained intact.
The Grass Village only has a dozen or so Jonin in total, not even a fraction of Konoha's numbers. Now that they've lost Silver Bull, one of their top three fighters, even the more radical Grass faction is thinking of expanding the Grass Country through other means, rather than provoking Konoha, the overlord of the ninja world, right now.
“That was before you were born, kid. Back then, I was just a nameless nobody. The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, used his superb Water Release and Flying Thunder God Technique, as well as endless forbidden techniques, to almost win the First Shinobi World War for Konoha.
Although I have never seen it with my own eyes, the instantaneous movement that yellow-haired brat displayed is undoubtedly a space-time ninjutsu, moving freely by relying on pre-prepared space coordinates. This is exactly the same as the fastest technique in the ninja world that I once heard about.
Only Konoha has this kind of forbidden technique.”
Gold Rat clenched his fist hidden under his sleeve.
This time, he truly felt humiliated.
Even though the Grass Village is one of the top ninja villages below the five major villages, they have to hold back at this time.
But this time, Konoha directly assassinated one of the Grass Village's top three figures, a top-tier fighter. Anyone would be furious.
“This… this kind of direct approach doesn't seem to fit Hiruzen Sarutobi's style. It's more like the work of that Shadow of Shinobi.”
A middle-aged Grass Elder wearing a white rabbit mask said in a deep voice.
He is a Grass Jonin known for his speed, and his strength is considered above average among Jonin. He was one of the few Grass Ninjas who could keep up with Gold Rat in the first echelon.
“Hmph, isn't Danzo Shimura also a subordinate of the Third Hokage? In my opinion, Konoha's actions this time must have other purposes!”
Elder Copper Tiger, who was burly and muscular, snorted coldly.
“Konoha… I see.”
Gold Rat pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his head and looked to the other side.
“Blue Sheep, you immediately take people back to check if that Uzumaki woman is still there. Maybe she is Konoha's real target this time. Even though Konoha watched the Uzumaki clan be destroyed back then, their relationship is well known. If Konoha is really targeting such an Uzumaki descendant, it wouldn't be surprising.
If that Uzumaki woman has really been kidnapped, then this time, it must be Konoha who did it!”
… …
… …
One day later.
“Why is the Grass Village so sure that we did this?”
In the Leaf Village of the Land of Fire, clouds and mist drifted.
The Third Hokage, known as the strongest in history, looked depressed as he puffed smoke from his pipe.
“During the Second Shinobi World War, the Grass Village accidentally captured an Uzumaki woman, and she was also taken away by that group. Most importantly, Gold Rat said he saw the person who assassinated Silver Bull use the Flying Thunder God Technique and had yellow hair.”
Homura Mitokado handed another document to Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.
The document contained a pencil drawing of a blond man wearing an animal mask. Seeing his neat and handsome medium-length hair, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately thought of his most promising grand-disciple.
“Minato?”
“Three years ago, Jiraiya converted his war merits to get a chance to view the forbidden techniques in the Book of Seals. He gave this opportunity to Minato Namikaze, and I heard that you personally suggested that he learn the Flying Thunder God Technique.”
Speaking of this, the Third Hokage was even more puzzled.
“Minato only mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique a few months ago. During this time, I haven't let him go out on missions, but rather let him familiarize himself with the application of this ninjutsu and cultivate a relationship with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He hasn't had a chance to leave the village at all.”
The Third Hokage smoked even faster.
Everyone could see Minato Namikaze's talent.
With the Flying Thunder God Technique, as long as he doesn't encounter the Gold and Silver Brothers and the Six Paths Tools under poor intelligence conditions like the Second Hokage once did, he can basically be invincible.
Unless the opponent's defense is strong enough to ignore Minato's attack, then Minato Namikaze can be worth a Kage-level powerhouse.
Moreover, he is a Flying Thunder God Technique user with extremely high mobility, and he has more strategic significance compared to other Kage-level powerhouses.
So until now, the Third Hokage has been hiding and tucking away, not letting Minato Namikaze reveal any information about the Flying Thunder God Technique, planning to reveal it in a possible future Shinobi World War to give the enemy a surprise.
In this regard, the Third Hokage's thoughts coincided with Shimizu's.
“After all, he is a user of the Flying Thunder God Technique. We don't know when he left the village. It's impossible for you and me to travel between Konoha and Grass in one night, but for the user of the Flying Thunder God Technique, this distance is nothing.”
Homura Mitokado shook his head and opened the second page of the document.
“This is the pattern of the Flying Thunder God Technique that the person who experienced this incident has roughly judged after several recollections.”
On the second page of the document, the words “Sword of Love” were clearly written.
Is it really Minato?
“Anbu.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi put away his pipe and said:
“Call Minato over and ask what's going on.”
A few minutes later.
Minato Namikaze walked into the Hokage's office.
Two or three years have passed, and Minato Namikaze has now become a handsome young man of sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a blue inner lining and a Leaf Village vest, looking sunny and handsome.
His handsome face now showed a constipated expression.
“Third Hokage… I really haven't left the village recently…”
“Of course I believe you. Don't worry, even if it's really you, it's nothing. It's just a Grass Village after all. But… can you tell me if there is anyone else in this world who can use the Flying Thunder God Technique, and the Flying Thunder God Technique they use is this pattern.”
